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ILONA ANDREWS

#1 New York Times Bestselling Author

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Where is the Precious?

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Hi everyone, Mod R here.

House Andrews are deep in the editing cave for Sweep of the Heart (coming on December 13, preorder and excerpt here).

A few of you have emailed that you cannot find the Sweep of the Heart chapters online. This is by design, one of the steps all Innkeeper serials go through, and it was announced last week.

The serial has been archived in preparation for edits and release. This is double duty- one because the edits will change the book, and having two versions of something leads nowhere good (Ilona explained more about the process online serials go through in this post). The second reason is because we want you to forget as much as possible before the book is out in 2 months. There will be a lot to discover anyway, the last chapter is…”mega-doozy” doesn’t quite capture it, but it’s all I’ve got. Not long now!

There may be a special Sweep of the Heart page coming soon on the website, in preparation for all of the exciting extras in the book. I won’t spoil the surprises before release day, but yes, amongst them will be the comissioned Isabeau Backhaus character illustrations. The ones you’ve seen… and the ones you haven’t. Mwaha. Haha. Ha.

Oh dear, a bit of evil slipped there. My apologies.

Kosandion by Isabeau Backhaus
Unessa Sybate by Isabeau Backhaus
Lady wexyn by Isabeau Backhaus
Orro by Isabeau Backhaus

A lot of you have also asked which project will House Andrews be working on next. I’ll remind you here that the official stance, for now, is:

We will not be telling you what we are working on. We will not be announcing it. You will hear about it when it’s ready to go up for preorder.
From now on, we will be like Beyoncé dropping her surprise album. We will quietly work and then go, “Here it is, all done!”
When things are ready to be published, they will be up on the Release Schedule. We will announce them on the blog and in the newsletter. The retailers will also notify you of availability. We got this.

Ilona, from On Being Difficult

We will still get the usual treats and goodies, and maybe even a clue now and again (no, the question about Curran’s middle name was not one). But we will hear official news when it’s the right time for everyone, including House Andrews.

To set your mind at ease, there have been no official news on the following series being abandoned/finished, so they are not: Iron Covenant, Aurelia Ryder, Innkeeper Chronicles.

Sequels and new projects are all in the cards, meaning Ilona and Gordon will continue to take us on many adventures to come. We are a beloved and most lucky Horde!

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Comments

  2. Of course! Finished my rereading Sunday. By the way, I asked a few days ago, if it shouldn’t be called bk No 6. Amazon calls is No 6, but what do they know……

    • I think Amazon (or rather some countrys’ Amazon, because it differs) doesn’t always recognise the .5 books. I’ll see what can be done about it 🙂

      “Sweep with me” was a novella, 3.5 (because it’s Dina POV following One Fell Sweep). Sweep of the Heart is the 5th full size novel but the 6th overall instalment in the series.

  5. Lol, the title of this post makes me think of Erra crying out, “Where is the baby!?”

    Happy editing to you all.

  6. You crack me up!! Thanks for the update ModR. The Horde doesn’t deserve you! (or maybe we do…the evil version anyway. ????)

  7. ha ha ha ha ha ha I love the title of this post.

    Can’t wait to read this book.
    And waiting eagerly for the next one, of course.

  8. Oh Mod R, such a titillating post. Just the right amount of sneaky. We will wait patiently (Ha!), and savor our reward when it arrives.

  9. Mod R is right, “We are a beloved and most lucky Horde”!

    Thank you all for all the fun! Have pre-ordered and am waiting (semi) patiently!

  11. Dang! I knew I should have reread it one last time when I saw the final reveal but I had no time. Looking forward to the polished version and last mystery chapter.

    For the next two months I will strive to forget the beta version.

    • Truly! I managed the last few sections again to take with me into the months of darkness lol.

      I always look forward to seeing the final edit after the serialization ends. So much fun! This is my 4th of their six now and I’ve loved it the most, I must admit. And possibly it may be the least stressful thanks to ModR’s work. I have distinct memories of some real unpleasantness involved in the third one. So, many many thanks ModR!

    • SO fluffy!

      When I first called the Horde fluffy I was quoting a vintage British sketch from the comedy duo Fry and Laurie, which I cannot find online right at the moment sadly. So really we are a lot of other gorgeous things too 😀

      “To be gorgeous, and high and true and fine and fluffy and moist and sticky and lovely, all you have to do is believe that one is gorgeous and high and true and fine and fluffy and moist and sticky and lovely.

      And I believe it of myself, tremulously at first and then with rousing heat and passion, because, stopping off for a second to be super again, I’m so often told it.

      That’s the secret really.”

      ― Stephen Fry, A Bit of Fry & Laurie

  14. The BDH is ravenous!!

    I love that House Andrews is taking a page out of Queen B’s book, and I hope it gives them more creative freedom and room to breathe without everyone else’s opinions weighing them down. Happy writing!

  15. I’m trying to decide what to do when SotH arrives in my mailbox. Do I kick everyone out of the house, get my well-creamed coffee and my doughnuts, turn on some soft music and binge? Or do I run giggling to my bedroom, slam the door shut, and leave family to wonder WTF? Or do I wrap myself in a blanket in the LR, with family watching TV, and take myself out of my world and into the Gertrude Hunt? I just can’t decide!?

    • I’m definitely going to have strawberry donuts in the house. Maybe apple cake too. Let the holiday gluttony commence 😀

      • I can see donuts becoming a thing with the BDH.

        I also have this image in my head of walking down the bakery section of the grocery store and seeing a brand of donuts called “Red Cleaver” with a picture of a hedgehog in a chef’s hat.
        Can you imaging squealing excitedly and having everyone around you look at you like you’re crazy? (unless they too are BDH, then they’d likely be squealing with you)

      • Ooh, talking of the apple cake, iirc the recipe was part of an installment post. I understand why they have been pulled but could the recipe maybe be reposted? I didn’t write it down ????

    • I think I’m going to go with the donuts and apple cake, homemade hot chocolate, wearing cozy flannel pj’s, wrapped in a quilt, in the locked bedroom, with NO interruptions allowed! ????

    • You should run giggling, slam the door and leave your family wondering.

      Though it’s quite possible they know very well, even if they don’t necessarily get the appeal.

      • I think so too. By December and all that waiting, I might be that crazy. Now I have to decide–do I start over at the beginning and let the anticipation build up once again? OR do I immediately flip to that last chapter, read it, swoon, and then start over with the entire book? All these decisions!!

  16. Nice! The illustrations being included (plus new ones!!) just makes the attempt to find p******* and w*** that much more arduous hehe. It’s in the calendar with multiple alerts, not that I expect to forget the date.

    Mega doozy. That works. Every time I think about this book I want to whoop with glee and I’m really too damned old for that! Or maybe not

  17. The title of the post made me laugh. Next we’ll be going through Mordor to find the precious. 😀

    Mod R, you know giving the Horde hints will just make everyone go nuts even more. Next thing you know, you will have to debunk every conspiracy that comes across your path.

    Hey, I’m all for waiting and patience when it comes to new books. Yep, I said the two swear words the Horde doesn’t want to say. Whatever Ilona and Gordon write and hold secret is fine with me. 🙂

  18. Thank you! By mega-doozy, is there going to be a cliffhanger?

    Somehow, since reading about the portal by dominion, I have been expecting the book to end in a cliffhanger. Something like, Sean and Dina go through the portal, things quickly turn extremely bad, and, the end!

  21. Was the question of Curran’s middle name resolved?? The last post didn’t seem to find it by the… 220th reply or so.

    Thanks, Mod R, for keeping us up to date! =)

  23. Book Devouring Horde Memeber #x19

    Yes! Very lucky indeed. ????

    This means I will now have to stalk the Book Release page religiously.

  24. Obviously nothing is guaranteed BUT as of this moment will we find out where the Inn is building the door too when Sweep of the Heart is released? I am not asking for the answer because I know you cannot ruin the story. I just want to know if we will find out in December. I really want to know and for some reason that is a bigger desire to know then what Maud said to Klaus when she presumably talks to him after she recovers from the med ward at the end of Sweep of the Blade. Which before now was something I really wanted to know to the extreme.

      • yeah!!! One mystery of the universe that will be answered. Now if only other mysteries like the Lock Ness Monster could be solved. Though obviously HA does not need any ideas to create amazing stories but I can totally see Nessie sightings starting because a Inn Keeper’s alien guest decided to go for a swim in the lake and therefore ignoring the neutrality treaty. While the Inn Keeper would be constructing fake Nessie’s to make the humans doubt themselves.

        • Ohh. And it was a mess up by that Scottish innkeeper, Liam McGrouchy, which is why he’s so …grouchy.

          • I still think Officer Marais and his wife might be perfect for dealing with Lachlan…maybe one has Innkeeper ancestry from someone who married out?

  26. Quick Question: Are there plans, or a release date, for a hard copy/print edition of SotH? Or did I miss that somewhere?

      • G’day- add another 1 for hardcopy book.

        Our state public library gets one and it’s usually a 4 month wait for a read- yep very popular.

        That’s my cue to buy… physical books always take longer to reach us down here ????

      • Do you know what company is going to be doing the printing, so I can put in a calendar reminder to buy it from them once it’s released?

        • For a personal copy, the print format will be available for purchase from all the usual retailers ????. Links will be made available on release day.

          If you’re ordering for a bookstore, the Ingram code will also be shared ????

  27. This member of the BDH will wait and re-read as needed. There are always books to read but the anticipation of a new HA book just whets the appetite.

  28. Love the post name!

    I managed to read through the serial again, though I fell asleep Sunday night before I finished. I would wake up and read a few paragraphs and conk out again. I had vivid dreams that night! But I finished!

    Now I am willing to be a patient member of the BDH and wait till December and order it as soon as it is done and pretend I have never read it before!

    Then I will curl up in a cosy chair in a cabin by the ocean (will be on vacation then) with a chocolate covered donut and my favorite tea and read all the way through to the end.

    I solemnly pledge to myself, I will not read the last chapter first!

    Thank you ModR!

  30. I love the cover … I love the seriousness on their faces …. it has me thinking about Sean, and how extremely lucky he was to find Dina and the Inn. Where else on Earth could he have found both vocation and the physical/emotional and protective challenges that his body is built for? And in Dina he found someone who actually understands that and finds it to be a normal part of her own view of reality? The perfect couple, in the perfect vocation. So satisfying!

  32. Thanks, ModR! Honestly, I think you show remarkable restraint. I’d be letting SO MUCH EVIL slip through in your position.

    The character art is amazing. Can’t wait to see “the ones we haven’t.”

    I thought the next project was rest? I’m willing to lend aid and nap in solidarity with House Andrews.

    For now, I’ll just bounce like an excited toddler about the upcoming treats.

  35. Enjoy having less pressure on your next project 🙂 looking forward to the big ending, and another print copy for the set.

  36. I do hope one of the extras to discover includes the first meeting between Commander Karat and Olasard, the Destroyer of Souls. After all, she brought treats.

  37. Oh Mod R, you made me laugh when you mentioned that bit of evil. I was away when the notifications came out, so thank you for explaining!

  38. I saw an interview of HA in the NY Times.
    Quote:
    Ilona explained, “We are in the planning stages for the next trilogy and we have our romantic candidate for the heroine of the series and we do not agree.”
    Is it Arabella?

  41. One of my favorite things is telling a new person that I belong to the Book Devouring Horde…followed by nom nom noises for dramatic emphasis.

    We are a lucky horde.

  43. If they ever figure out Currens middle name I’d like to know what it is. I look forward to the rest ????

  44. Did we find the missing middle name? What is it? Also, that illustration of Orro is just so spot on!

    • No, although some people are convinced they have seen it.

      It’s the BDH’s own Mandela effect at this point ????

      • Well, in that world, if you believe in something hard enough, it can become real. So all we have to do in all believe in the same middle name and *POOF* it’s cannon! ????‍♀️????✨️????????

  45. you don’t have to worry about me remembering the serialized version,in one eyeball and out the other, my memory is that bad.

    My only request as part of the book devouring horde is if you would consider an Orro novella as a future endeavor. If I had the money I would finance an inkeeper movie and get Dave Bautista to play Orro ( both of which highly unlikely, I play lotto and am lucky to get 1 number in 5 picks)

  46. Can’t wait for December and what’s next! The title of this blog made me laugh. I could feel the outrage

  48. Thank you so much for the picture of Orro! ???????????? For some reason I’ve struggled with picturing him in my mind. Now I don’t have to!

  50. I sometimes envision the horde camped outside the walls of Cassa Andrews. Sitting around campfires sharpening our utensils for the next feast. Occasionally sending representatives to the gates with our lists of demands … err I mean very polite questions ????
    Setting up earth works in an attempt to dig under the walls and locate new precious documents.
    Holding festival days each Friday as we gather for the release of the next installment.

    And now we settle into the dry season while we wait for Dec 13.
    We gaze longinly at the walls, refresh, refresh, surley one little snippet will fall from the walls?

    In the temples we lovely unwrap the remains of the sacred documents. Does Curran have a middle name?

    The minstrels reenactment of our favorite scenes will have to sustain us for now. A Movie in our Minds must tide us over ????????

  52. I saw it was disappearing on Monday, so I reread the whole thing this past weekend. What a treat that was. I had reread a few chapters here and there, but it was really fun to go back to December (!) and read it all.

    I love the serial format, as frustrating as it sometimes is. It’s fun that all of the BDH is experiencing something new and reacting together.

    I pre-ordered, and am really looking forward to reading the finished book when it’s fully edited. That’s the joy of a good book: it stands up to multiple reads.

  53. Glad no info on what is being worked on – I for one get my brain embroiled on next books instead of focusing solely and being most immersed, and appreciative of the new release in front of me!
    Thanks for Brain Freedom????

  54. It is all AWESOME, loved and cherished by us all anyway so I for one dont care whats next. I will LOVE, buy and be super excited no matter what.
    Thank you Mod R and please share the love with house Andrews while keeping some for yourself!

  55. But you didn’t mention Hidden Legacy – LEON. I am anxious about him. Did he register or didn’t he? And what about his talent – is expert shooting a passive field and his active field is Tactical at one level, and at a higher level Strategic? When he was doing audio for bad guys dying, he knew which would/should be targeted next – that’s Tactical. How could he use a tactical/strategic talent as a civilian and not military? Concern, concern, concern.

    • I didn’t mention Leon, because this post isn’t about Leon ????

      As to how he can use his talent as a civilian, we’ve had several books to see it.

  56. Was there a recent Sweep serial? I must have forgot what it was about. The last one I remember began with a gutted dog.

    • That’s the one she’s talking about. It began in December, and we’ve had weekly additions until they posted the penultimate chapter last week.

        • Yes, he meant Gorvar, the Auul wolf.

          I got confused out of surprise ????, Henry has been steadily commenting on SotH chapters, including the ones last week, so I was puzzled that he couldn’t remember a recent serial. I think he was making a joke about “forgetting” the book hehe.

  57. Love Sweep of the Heart, probably my favorite Innkeeper yet, and number 2 IA book, after Iron Magic ❤️ of course.
    The fact that my fav 2 are books with subjects I do/did not care about (past Hugh and bachelor anything) speaks to how incredible talented and overall amazing HA is. You are the best!

    Also very grateful to HA for commissioning the art. This makes us extra beloved and most lucky Horde! Isabeau Backhaus is so talented, can’t stop looking at the portraits already shared. Thank you HA and Isabeau ❤️

  58. I’m enduring my very own apocalypse this week named Hurricane Ian. I have never before experienced this level of devestation, never been without power for more than 3 days before now. And this inspired me to pick up Magic Bites because misery really does love company. There are lovely people constantly giving us water and MREs. Red Cross drives down my street giving out cooked meals. You can shower at the Lowe’s down the street. At least I don’t have to deal with magical monsters.

    • Sorry to hear you were impacted by the hurricane. It’s so much to deal with for so many people, I can’t even imagine. Hang in there, you’ll get past this! Good thoughts and virtual hugs sent your way…
      ????????????

    • I do hope your life is approaching normal soon. Magic Bites is a good choice in your circumstances.

      I have friends in Florida, but outside Ian’s path.

      Good luck to everybody in the state.

    • I hope everything gets cleared and power lines up and running down your street so you can start re-building. Glad you have Kate to read during this trying time.

  59. My wish for House Andrews is some time away at what ever place of relaxation that makes their hearts happy! ????

  60. Ms. Backhaus’ illustrations are Amazing. Very talented lady. Thx for the posting.

    Did not read Sweep of the Heart online. Looking forward to December!

  63. It’s not that I don’t trust you to have something wonderful in process, or that I’m a demanding B that can’t ever be satisfied and always has to have some new thing coming out from you. It’s that I’m addicted to your voice (not your literal voice, the writerly one that’s unique to you). It’s like literary dark chocolate, and life is just not as interesting without a snippet, or a post, or some kind of re-read to keep me going. But of course as you are the only one I can get a metaphorical fix from, I will try to just recite bits of dialog and rock in a corner until the next new thing is available. If you weren’t so GOOD at what you did, I wouldn’t be so needy…

  64. Ooh, all the pretties… What will the options be for getting the illustrations in color / quality?

  65. This is awesome! Can’t wait for the next Innkeeper from House Andrews!!
    Also Am I the only one who squealed out loud when Graphic Audio announced Ilona Andrews BFF Jeaniene Frost’s – Night Huntress series – starting with Halfway To the Grave – is coming out “as a movie in your mind” this month?? Can’t wait ????

  66. Dear Mod R, thank you for the update! Do you happen to know (can share with us) if there any plans for another calendar with book covers or book art for 2023?

    • This will be down to the artists who create the illustrations- as far as I know there are no plans at the moment ????

  67. Thank you House Andrews. Thank you for everything. You have told us some of the difficulties of a writing career and I am grateful you just keep working through it all. Thank you for writing even though you have had regular people struggles. An embarrassment of riches you give us. Others may have sites where they do serials like this but this particular site is my favorite. I look forward to your future projects.

  68. Didn’t get a chance to comment before, but I had to share: when we met The Priestess the song Desire by Meg Myers immediately came to mind. Enjoy ????

  69. Re Sweep of the Heart, I reread the serial over the weekend as Ilona had advised it was to be taken down on Monday. I am sure there will be changes as a result of the editing process but that’s all part of the fun. I still remember reading the published book of One Fell Sweep and thinking how the changes made (eg Maud helping Dina tend to Arland after the scene with the world killer) strengthened the story as it illustrated Maud’s growing relationship with Arland despite her reluctance to become involved with a vampire again.

    I keep meaning to try out the apple cake recipe and haven’t yet so I hope it is included in the published book. If Ilona is ever looking for a subject for a blog she can always just give us some recipes eg Dina’s apple cake, Catalina’s salsa and fajita recipes, Orro’s salads from the lunch in One Fell Sweep not to mention the best chicken in the galaxy from Sweep in Peace!

    I realise House Andrews is looking forward to a break to recharge their batteries and then plan to work on other projects but I do hope the last Innkeeper story to complete this story arc is not too far away. I have grown to love the characters and eagerly anticipate Dina finding her parents. It was great to catch up with Karat, Dagorkan, Cookie, the Costco Lady, Gaston, as well as discovering Caldenia’s back story. I keep wondering when we will hear more of Sean’s parents ( if I was them I’d be moving to Red Deer in anticipation of the possibility of grandchildren sometime in the future! ) . I also hope that one day we get some “ in the world of Innkeeper “ stories featuring Helen as a grown up, Karat and Klaus. Of course more Dina and Maud stories are always welcome!

    I hope House Andrews enjoys a well earned break after the edits are finished. Thankyou to you and Mod R for all the enjoyment you have given the BDH this year.

    • Along with those stories, I’m curious about the back history of Gertrude Hunt. What happened to the last inn keeper? Did they die of old age and there was no one to take over?

  70. Unrelated: I would like to know what happen to Peneloppe, Catalina’s mother, I know she lost her PI licence but what does she do for work? By the way, love love love Orro’s picture!

    • Penelope Baylor oversees House Baylor security. She can also work for Baylor Investigative Agency- you don’t need a PI licence to do case work or research.

  73. It’s going to be so weird to go back to Fridays and not have regular Frinnsdays. Those little scenes have made this year easier, knowing that whatever new problem the universe decided to drop in my path, there was always a tiny bit of light waiting on Friday. I wish other authors would follow the HouseAndrews example and that the horde could grow through its connection over stories because we cannot ask any more of HouseAndrews. They have given so much and asked for very little (stop asking what we’re working on!) in return. Sigh. I need to find a strawberry doughnut to have for breakfast on Friday. For Orro, Gertrude Hunt, HouseAndrews and the BDH!!!

  74. Isabeau Backhaus’s illustrations are wicked awesome! Just freaking perfect!

    Did she do the Sean and Dina one at the top, too? Because that one is perfect, too. That version of Sean makes me sit up and say “Yum!” The Tapas one is good, too, in an anime style.

  75. Pre-ordered! Woot! Woot!

    We are beyond lucky to have such a talented duo who keep writing these amazing stories. I love reading about these worlds, creatures and stories. Thank you!

  76. I am sad as I had set aside today to read the last 2-3 chapters. Any chance there’s a way to access? Obviously, I will be purchasing the book but currently I’m hanging in the wind!

    • No, the authors do not wish for it to be available at the moment.

      Not long until December!

  77. Hi there, You mentioned before that you cannot release a book with deleted scenes because people will complain about it being a money grabbing plot and that you had some bed experiences with that, but what about publishing them here for the BDH to read? No one will accuse you of re-releasing the same book for money and we would ***love*** to read them. The worlds and characters you created are fantastic, we want more of them. Have a nice restful time now that you have finished Sweep of the Heart. Cheers!

  78. YES. The deadlines have died.
    I am very happy for the authors. Writing is True Art, I mean think about it. What are some of the most notable things lost in history. Just one example, the great library of Alexandria.
    When an author can create an entire universe, and it works it’s an amazing thing. I loved the space-time/ magic rubber band theory that Leon had to work out.
    Authors shouldn’t have to race to the deadline. They should be able to write at the speed that works best for them. It’s unfortunate that so few authors have this opportunity.
    For me, I can wait. One author that I love puts out one book about every three years. The series is wonderful. I only regret that this causes the author hardship. I never realized that a top published author with such a fine series ( each book released could be divided into three, three hundred page books ) would not be financially well off.
    I degress. May HA enjoy their future writing and take time to smell the cacti ????

  79. So I keep wondering, are there members of the BDH who plan to read the polished, published SotH from beginning to end, or is everybody planning on going right to the last chapter first (spoilers!!).

    • Yes there will be a physical book, available for order on release day ???? (December 13). The Print on Demand format doesn’t allow preorders.

  82. Oh nooooooo, I skipped the last few chapters so i could read the ending in one go!!

    I’m having an Orro breakdown! Where’s my mango!!!!

  83. Thanks for all the creative adventures you share with us. I will impatiently await Dec. 13th for the print edition and look forward to your next amazing literary composition.

  84. This really sounds like a healthy approach. I imagine it’s quite the pressure when all your fans know what you’re working on currently and are waiting for you to drop it as soon as possible. Since I’m a fan of everything HA has written so far I don’t mind either way

  87. Sorry..not related to anything in this post but I know I read a short about Kate knowing Julie was in Atlanta for Ryder. but I can’t find it anywhere! I love the KD series (actually all the series by House Andrew) but would like to read this short as I have re read Julie’s book. thank you.

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