The weather is cold and grey and we are back from Kisscon. We really enjoyed meeting everyone. The Kisscon went great, I think everyone had a lovely time, and we wish we had more opportunities to hang out with you.
The Kisscon itself was held in Mohegan Sun Casino. It was my first time in a casino. It was crowded, loud, and there were a ton of lights everywhere. Also smoke. Because if you leave the casino to smoke outside, you might have some second thoughts about spending more money. At some point we were wandering through it and saw a procession of older people carrying crockpots. We finally stopped someone and asked about it. Apparently, the casino has a loyalty program and if you spend enough money to qualify for it, they will periodically give you free things, like crockpots.
We got to catch up with other authors. Johanna Shupe is just as cool in person as I thought she would be. Tessa Dare still loves goats. Oh and if Sarah MacLean is in a scary cemetery at night and she happens to see a mysterious blue light shining through the dark trees, apparently she goes toward it. The beginning of every scary folk story ever. If you run into her on social media, ask her about the circus in the cemetery.
Thursday was a bit stressful.
My husband prefers to be at the airport 2 hours before the plane takes off. The Thursday flight to Philadelphia left at 7:00 am, which meant he wanted to be up at 3:00 am and leave at 4:00 am. I refused.
Usually I just gripe and go along with it, but I was really tired. So we got up at 4:00 am and left a little after 5:00 am. We hadn’t counted on Austin remodeling the airport. What used to be a five minute walk is now a fifteen minute torture of elevators and badly marked pathways through the two parking garages. At some point we reached a long bridge with an art installation in the middle, which consisted of differently shaped rectangles of rough concrete, lit from inside.
Gordon: What the hell is this?
Me: It’s a city.
Gordon: How?
Me: Look, shorter rectangles, then taller rectangles, then tall rectangles on wires. Suburbs, high rises, skyscrapers.
Gordon: You know, the probably paid hundreds of thousands of dollars for this.
Me: Yep.
We get to the terminal. I check in my bag. No problem. Gordon tries to check in his – nope, denied. We go to the counter.
AA representative: We have a 1 hour cut off time for the bag check in.
Me: I have never heard of this. This wasn’t on the ticket anywhere.
AA rep: There is nothing I can do. I can book you on the next flight.
So we are bumped to standby, which leaves in 5 hours. It was pointed out to me that had I just agreed to leave an hour earlier, we would be on the plane except waiting for 5 hours. Gordon wasn’t mad. He was just very disappointed.
The standby flight is boarding and suddenly there is only one seat. Someone has to take that seat, because if one of us doesn’t, nobody will be at the signing at 7:00 pm in Delaware.
Me: You take it. I already feel bad. It’s my fault.
Gordon: It is your fault, which is why you’re going to get on that damn plane. We have never not shown up to an event, and we are not starting now.
So I got on the plane. He would be flying 90 minutes behind me.
I’m a writer, which means I have a vivid imagination. The flight to Philadelphia was 3 hours and 20 minutes, and for most of it I contemplated the fact that if my husband’s plane crashed, I would have killed Gordon and he would be horribly dead.
Finally the plane lands and I find the chauffeur. We grab our bags – mine and Gordon’s had made it – and the poor chauffeur stuffs me into the car. We had called corporate to advise them of the travelling mess I had created and they must’ve given him strict instructions to “Get the idiot author to the event at all costs.” We have 90 minutes until the signing. He looks at me and says, “We are going directly to BN.” I don’t know how far the store is so I just nod.
He got me to the store in 20 minutes. I walk into BN at Christiana Mall in Newark. My hair is in full Merida mode. I’m wearing my travelling get up, which is boots, jeans, a cardigan, and a giant black T-shirt that says “Easily Distracted by Dogs.” I have no makeup. I am carrying a backpack. I am frumpy.
I walk to the counter and three nicely put together employees look at me.
Me: Um, hi, I’m the author, all this happened…
The manager: Oh, that’s perfectly alright.
The other employee: Yes, you know, the author signings are so relaxed now.
The manager: Yes, very casual. You’re perfect, relaxed, like a rock star.
The staff at BN was amazing. They wouldn’t let me pay for my tea, even. Also, they have 11 fiction clubs, among which is a very active romance book club, so if you live nearby, I envy you, because I want to live next to BN at the Christiana Mall.
I did my best. I can’t tell you what I blabbered on about during the Q&A because I’d been awake since 4:00 am and very eaten up by guilt. Miraculously, Gordon appeared just before we started to sign. Apparently he landed and his chauffeur tried to take him to the hotel.
Chauffeur: We have to go to the hotel.
Gordon: No, you will take me to BN.
Chauffeur: I don’t know if I can do that.
Gordon: You can and you will.
My husband can be very insistent when occasion calls for it.
So we hope you had fun. I took yesterday off. I went to the gym, made stew, I cleaned, and I fixed Kid 2’s hair for her coffee photoshoot.
Kid 2, texting: So I went to Starbucks because I wanted real coffee after the shoot, and this lady stopped me and told me I should be the next bachelorette.
Gordon: What?
Me: It’s the hair. She’s wearing the prom queen hair updo.
Today I’m in a full “rock star” mode, wearing a T-shirt that says “But Baby It’s Cold Outside” and sweatpants. Hoping to jump right in and make some words happen.
All I can say is that you had an adventure. Enjoy being back home and snuggled into comfy /warm clothes.
Am I living under a rock? I had absolutely no clue there was going to be an event in Newark NJ and I feel like I follow the blog pretty regularly. I should visit the “Events” or similar tab. Totally my fault -_-
I can see why Kid 1 got “The Bachelorette” suggestion. The hair and makeup are amazing. She’s super lovely too, of course. Can you imagine those “Meet The Family” segments? That would be all kinds of great television 😀
Newark, Delaware, Christiana Mall. Easily 3hours south of Newark, NJ. Oh, how I wish they’d come to Newark, NJ, although I’m not sure if there’s a BN in that city.
I’m so glad Gordon got to the signing eventually. Too bad you didn’t get a crockpot. 🙂
We hardly have any BNs in the whole state, for God’s sake. It’s dreadful.
(Essex County, here)
Essex County here too. Waving to you!
There are 37 BN within 50 miles. Livingston Mall, Clifton. Springfield, Clark.
We are pretty close to Mohegan Sun. Less than 3 hours?
We do have a nice used book store in Montclair. Used to be lots of fantaynand a I didn’t back when I could read small print. Have that lovely lovely old book smell.
Omg I was going to cry until I read this. Thank god I didn’t miss another one. I live in NYC and missed a meet when they came to NY. I’m still kicking myself.
Kid2 looks like my mental vision of a Bolshoi ballerina. Wow
YES, Absolutely.
Traveling is an adventure- I have been fortunate that I mostly travel for pleasure. I am SUPER STRESSED until the moment we are at the airport. Then I unwind and that is it. I’ve given up my seat before in the middle of my plane trip (had a layover and a family would have gotten split up). Got to spend 8 hours in a neato city, free food, and got bumped to first class for the second leg. More people should give up their seats when able.
I also would have refused to get up that early.
I hope you get to travel for work/pleasure. Maybe travel somewhere fun to scope it out for a book?
I live in South Africa where we have very strict smoking laws. I am always amazed when I read about people smoking in public spaces- I cannot imagine how bad that must smell and look! I am with Gordon about flights – glad you were both ok at the end.
Casinos are the exception to a lot of rules. They have to get special designations for it.
I’m still blinking about the Chihuly sculpture and smoke. Poor cleaners.
Hi! I was at the Delaware signing. You did great! Your stories were entertaining. You were like a fun dust devil. I didn’t even miss Gordon!
Hooray that all, eventually, went well. Maybe for the next Gosh Awful Early flight you and Gordon can compromise on a 90 minute window. As for casinos, I’m with you, I hate them. We travel through Nevada a couple of times each year, and we always seem to end up in one. All I can say is that the larger ones in Las Vegas and Reno have confined the smokers to their own “areas”, much like the smoking lounges in airports. It makes it more bearable, but the general depression on everyone’s faces and the noise are still a thing. But, they do have some money for beautiful artwork!
Here’s an idea from my parents travels and travails. When they were bumped from the last flight of the day, and given the earliest flight the next day, they checked into a nearby hotel and utilized their complimentary shuttle. This happened more than once. They found that they were more rested for the airport hassle when they didn’t have to commute for early morning flights. I just made sure they would contact me for the delay, preferably before the original flight was supposed to arrive(hour commute to/from airport).
Your daughter is beautiful. I’m really glad the Kiss Con was great. I drove to Dallas on Friday to go to the Buns and Roses in Richardson Tx and got to meet Jessie Mihalik and had a high tea for the first time…I was impressed. Rest and enjoy looking forward for your next book.
Glad you both are home and doing well.
That was pretty a pretty eventful trip. My hubby is like Gordon, wants to be at the airport 5 hrs before we need to be there, I wonder if its a military thing. But aside from your airplane fear, sometimes I dont think it matter when you get there. Once we were stuck in Atlanta for 3 days. I was 36 weeks pregnant and needed to be on a flight to Japan before I turend 37 weeks. We got to the airport early check in and was still bumped off multiple flights due to storms and overbooking. Was so much fun that trip!
I absolutely love my B&N here in Jacksonville NC. We have a few book clubs and multiple programs for the little non readers. The staff is amazing and so friendly! If you ever feel like coming to NC come to the Coast and see them/us.
Hope your words flow today and its just a boring workday!
Going to hijack this. I will be in the New Bern area at the end of Nov. seeing my kiddo. Anything interesting going on in Jacksonville the weekend before Thanksgiving. Or what can I sight see. Have already done, New Bern, Moorehead, and Beaufort. Anything historical or antiquing I enjoy.
The farms are all get ready for their Christmas lights, but a few may still have their fall hayrides available. Look up Mikes Farm, Humphreys Farm and maybe Garners farm too.
We usually drive to Raleigh for ‘big things’. If you guys dont mind the 2 hr drive I’d look there and see what going on. We have tickets to Booth Amphitheatre Chinese Lantern show which starts that weekend.
Loved seeing you at KissCon and my signed books are utterly fantastic! Thank you so much for making the trip!!
It’s not just the hair. She is a very beautiful young lady. I’m sure she has just as lovely a personality. And she would probably be the most entertaining bachelorette.
Since I’m a parent, I’m so prouder of my children instead of me. If you’re not exactly perfect, no problem, you made this beautiful person.
And, of course, if one day I meet you, I won’t care about your t-shirt. At all. Just about meeting you two. And saying that I love your books, that’s all.
+1 Good kids, good parents, good fun, good time.
Traveling used to be an adventure. Now it seems to be an endurance race. Glad you’re back and all is well! I’m waiting for the cold to come to Houston…#sweaterweather!
It’s arrived in Fort Worth. We’re getting rain and have a freeze watch in effect. Had to finally turn the heat on. Tomorrow night we’ll be below freezing.
Ouch don’t you hate when things turn out so the hubby is right. Sigh the anger and guilt are terrible. Love the hair and makeup pretty girl.
+1!
I loved meeting you at B&N and appreciate the time you took to sign my book. Thrilled that you made it and I thought you looked perfect – almost like a paranormal romance author. I fly all of the time for my job and can relate to the scenario. As a side note, alternative airports nearby might be a solution as well. BWI is approximately 1.5 hours from Delaware B&N. Looking forward to seeing you at the next event.
I am Gordon. My husband is you. We usually compromise – I want to leave an hour earlier than he does and so we leave a half an hour ahead of when he wants to. Sometimes it helps – horrible security line even with TSA precheck, horrible traffic etc. and other times we breeze trough everything and are really early, waiting at the gate listening to the imaginary crickets. Glad it all worked out and you both still made it and the weekend went well.
Your daughter is gorgeous and the hairdo is stunning.
Oooohhh, the “I’m not mad, I’m just disappointed” line. Translation: “I’m really furious, but won’t say so because I can make you feel so much more guilty this way.” Tried and true by parents and spouses worldwide.
If we leave on an early flight I now insist we go to one of the hotels right by the airport. We can usually get free parking while we’re gone, and take the 5-minute airport shuttle to get to the 5:00 AM check in.
But still sounds like a blast to see you in person!
Correction: We go the night before the flight to one of the airport hotels.
Been to Austin three times this past year since my kiddo started at UT, Austin. 🙂
The art installation always makes me stare at it when I walk by all those concrete blocks.
I also like getting to airport early.
Kid2 looks lovely. And her hair looks amazing!
Flying today is just so much hassle! I hate getting up early but I hate being late even more. It should take us 30 minutes to get to the airport but with traffic that can be anywhere from 1 to 3 hrs. So when we have an early flight like yours we stay the night before at a hotel near the airport. In the morning we take the hotel shuttle to airport and park our car for free at the hotel while we are gone. Easier and the free parking usually makes up the the hotel charge.
Kid 2’s hair is gorgeous! I’ve always thought you had a hidden self that wants to be a couturier as you descriptions of your heroines’ dresses are so compelling. Someday you should consider publishing a “Fashion Companion to Ilona Andrews.” I’d buy it in a hearetbeat!
I’ve never really posted before, but I read all of your blog posts and the comments (and of course ALL of your books).
I just had to say how incredibly impressed I am that you did her hair like that. It’s beautiful (as is she)! You mentioned it so casually, but IMO that’s a real talent. I can barely french braid my daughters’ hair.
P.S. Your travel debacle sounds exactly like something I would do / would happen to me. Glad you made it to the signing! I hope you decide to come to SoCal someday 🙂
I’m kind of with Gordon on being two hours early. One time my son took me to the airport it was a race from start to finish ” It’s so early, it won’t be crowded.” Ha! Wall to wall people and the “take your shoes off” lines were lengthy. Oh well, I made it but it was close. I don’t like to rush. This next trip is 6 a.m. departure in both directions and he’s an hour from the airport. Hopefully no snow or ice on the road and very little traffic that early. It was 2 degrees in my area of Montana this morning, brrr.
Some day I’ll make to a signing, glad it all worked out.
YEP it’s the smoke, I’m allergic, not a little bit , it’s hives on the roof of my mouth and right on down my throat…..SO never, never again!!!!
Ilona if you did her hair you missed your 2nd calling as a professional up-do perfector! Her hair is amazing!!!
Everything you said about traveling sounds just like my husband and me… and I would also be thinking the way you do!
I just love how you take this awful situations and make them funny and enjoyable. You’re the best.
Great stories! I’m so impressed with travelers. Done for me. VeryVERY DONE for me.
Stories are always much better after you survive them. Very glad the planes didn’t crash (you could just as easily have saved his life and your plane have gone down, not his), and you would have felt over dressed for the Q&A anyways. Folks want you, not a persona. There and Back Again. 😉 Andrews style, not Tolkien style.
I soooo enjoyed meeting you and Gordon at Kisscon. I agree the cigarette smoke is bad, but it’s honestly not as prevalent as it was about 10 years ago (last time I was at Mohegan Sun).
When I mentioned I’m from Cape Cod, Gordon said he loves the ocean, so now you need to come visit Cape Cod and go on whale watching trips, and fishing trips, etc. And if you like, you could sit on my deck overlooking the harbor while he does the boat trip (assuming fishing and boating aren’t your thing).
Also, I went to play with my new puppy to be on the next day. Those Papillons are just so stinkin’ cute!
Has anyone ever had the thought that Gordon IS Curran? Just in passing?
Kid 2 looks like a star. The sweater is very becoming and her eyes are to die for. I wish I could do my kid’s hair one fraction that well.
Doesn’t sound as if you got to see any lovely New England foliage, but hopefully the trip was worthwhile. Thank you in advance for making words happen.
Kid 2 is simply stunning. Also, I love that your clothes are perfect for the signing. That outfit would be something I would wear as well. Thank you for sharing your adventures with us. Also, glad you all are safely at home.
Kid 2’s hair was GORGEOUS!! Thanks for sharing — and for confirming my commitment to getting to the airport 2 hours in advance of the flight. 😉
I am in awe of your hair skills. Holy crap.
It seems like she’s having a fair amount of success with modeling. That’s very cool.
Delta did the same “capricious baggage cutoff “ to my hubby and he had to spend the night in Chicago. We have learned to fly Southwest whenever possible—they will grab your bag and say, “Run!” (True story).
Kid 2 looks amazing! I’m so glad she’s enjoying her photo shoots. And I’m happy to hear the convention went well despite the frazzled beginning of the trip. Glad everyone is safe at home!
Sounds like a day off was exactly what you needed! Also, great job on her hair. She looked beautiful
Your daughter is beautiful but too good for the bachelorette. Tell her to pass lol. Sorry you had such a hard time traveling but it happens to the best of us. PS I love your Hidden Legacy series it is like literary crack. I can’t wait for the next book.
Almost all my flying has been done as business for a foreign airline. Therefore I would arrive very early, present my airline ID and if necessary an approved request, so they could count me present. Then I would wait, and wait until the last passenger would go on board. If there was still a seat I could go. Otherwise, rinse and repeat for the next flight.! I will be quite happy never to set foot in an airport again. While inter-airline finagling can be stressful I never ceased to marvel at how pleasant the airline employees, not even from my own airline, were to me me , and how helpful they tried to be. I carried bags of Lindt truffles as thank you gifts and handed them out freely.It was a great success with no international currency problems..
Living in BFE as I do, I will never meet you at a book signing, but that’s OK. I order books online because there isn’t a book store within 60 miles of where I live. That’s very sad to me. We used to make several trips to the local book store every year, and when we walked in, all employee breaks were put on hold until we had our two dozen books and got them sorted out and checked out and put into bags to lug around. We’d put together lists of authors and they’d find what we needed, and it usually only took an hour for all four of us to get what we wanted. It was fun to do every few months. We were voracious readers. Our lists were long. Then the employees would suggest new authors and we’d be off on a new tack. I cried real tears when they closed down our lone book store. I was forced to buy a Kindle. *heavy sigh* Nobody gets a signed Kindle book.
I’m very glad that you could go and meet the people to whom you matter so much that they’d attend this type of event. You should know how much we rely on your work to make our lives so much more enjoyable. It’s astounding to me that you stress over whether someone will read your books. If you were just typing it all stream-of-consciousness and not caring how it turned out, nobody would. You put your thoughts together so well that your books flow smoothly and it’s always a pleasure to pick up one of your books, even when it’s the fifth time reading it.
But I’m glad you’re HOME now. It’s awful to know that Hidden Legacy is still in the writing stage, because I’m just drooling to find out how the Innkeeper folks are doing, too! This is very unusual, because most authors can’t write more than one series worth reading. They try, but things fall flat when they drop one world to build another. You never disappoint.
Oh no – I hate airport messes!!
If you liked the Dale Chihuly sculpture, you should see the installations at the Missouri Botanical Garden – I was among the million visitors who waited in long lines to view his work at night at the Garden. Just beautiful! I won’t link here, not sure if you can, but google Missouri Botanical Garden Chihuly and there are lots of photos online.
And then google the Chihuly Garden and Glass in Seattle. A very memorable museum, esp. the Glass House.
I saw that exhibit when I was in St. Louis a couple of years ago. I’m originally from the St. Louis area and went to the Botanical Gardens. The entire place is beautiful. My favorite spot is the Japanese garden.
We’ve just had a beautiful exhibit of Chihuly sculpture at Kew, absolutely stunning, totally suits the area as very botanical I thought, like huge exotic blooms.
Kid 2 trumped your post. She is drop-dead gorgeous.
Back to your post. Sounds dazzling and I admire your panache in getting thru the signing so well. Kudos to you!
I live in NYC and I always book first flight out , 5/6 am. And I try to get there 1 1/2 hrs early. Just because, things happen. And I never check my bag. And pray not to get bumped.
Saw photos from Barnes and nobles, you looked fine, loved the T-shirt.
You are so talented doingyour daughters hair. And she is just lovely and too good for bachelorette show.
Glad you had a good time and Gordon make it to the signing.
Envy the lucky people who got to see you in person.
Thanks
Ilona, are gray/blue eyes a Russian ethnic thing? I have been looking for a way to describe a Russian ethnic character. I have seen Russian actresses with similar eye color and shape. I wondered how common it was in the general population.
The eyes are form Gordon. His are greenish blue. There is no such thing as a Russian ethnic thing. While there are some combinations of facial feature that occur most often in Russians than others, Russian population is very diverse. I’m fully Russian and my eyes are hazel.
This is why I don’t travel anymore! So glad you are both safe at home again. Travel is so stressful even when you do get up on time. K2 would probably be a hoot on TV, if she is anything like her parents!
My grandmother-in-law has a “store” in her basement with all the casino swag she gets.
=)
My friends and I met with some friends during a stop-over in Kuala Lumpur on our way to New Delhi. We had lunch in a mall beneath the Twin Towers, talked then had post lunch coffee and dessert in another store.
One of our KL friends wanted to drive us back to the airport directly after lunch, the other said we had enough time for coffee and the local dessert – a beignet look alike made of sweet potato. So we stayed and lost track of time, talking.
Guess what? It was the day before Chinese New Year and everyone is driving to their ancestral homes! Traffic and chaos ruled the highway to the airport.
Long story short, we got left by the plane despite our friend’s heroic effort to get us to the airport on time. We had to rebook our flight for a fee, stay overnight in KL and miss a day of our New Delhi itinerary.
Your pictures of the casino look beautiful! I work in a casino in Switzerland as a live game dealer and it feels really small compared to the one you visited. There is definitely something to everything is bigger in the US!
The hairstyle you did on your daughter is so great! I am jealous! Enjoy being back home!
Seeing your photos of the Dale Chihuly sculpture (which looks like a galactic Christmas tree!) reminded me of how Dina was a fan, so this made me dig out Clean Sweep for the quote:
“When I was around ten, I saw a documentary about a Dale Chihuly glass exhibit and became obsessed with the strange bright shapes. My parents’ inn had grown glass tendrils on the ceiling in every color of the rainbow. When the sun hit it in the morning, my room had shimmered like a mermaid’s underwater palace in the middle of a magical reef.”
…I miss Dina. So looking forward to the next time we get to see her. 🙂
Airport number One sounds suspiciously like TF Green in Providence RI. They used to have a great rental car setup in the terminal. Now, it’s a half mile hike to the transit center…
According to the Anerican Airlines website (and every other airline I fly) its 45 mins. And the fact that your bag got checked, but Gordon’s didn’t is ridiculous. I’m so sorry you guys had to go through this due to poor customer service.
I live in San Francisco, is there a reason there don’t seem to be many romance cons or author signings here? Or maybe I just miss them because I don’t pay enough attention. It feels like whenever I see notices for cons or meet and greets I’m like “Ooh! I totally want to go and meet… oh no, no, it’s in Texas. Or Delaware. Or….” I imagine tour locations are mostly based on demand, so maybe there just aren’t many romance readers here?
There’s at least one, me in Richmond!
San Jose for me 😁
Kid hair is amazing. How did you do that? Is there an instructional video that you could share?
My 5 year old and I agree that kid 2 must be a princess. I was holding out for daughter of a village chief, but her eye makeup is too amazing.
Almost all cruise ships have a smoke filled casino. The real profit for cruise company is alcohol and gambling.
FYI Authors, musicians, finance advisors…military discussion leaders can be a Guest Lecturer and cruise free in return for unpaid lecturing about three times per week. I believe you can bring one guest.
You can sell your books.
A Rom-con books at sea event? Our fav authors, trapped. Woo hoo.
though the BDH might follow them like lemmings all day.
Wow. What an… adventure. Let’s call it an adventure. The hair is gorg. You got talent lady. Kid 1 looks lovely, intelligent, and coffee appropriate and not at all bachelorette-ee.
You guys are awesome
Just have to let you know kid 2 is ridiculously beautiful! I would love to see her photo shoot work. Very Photogenic
IA (and I think Brandi also, but I don’t remember) posted a link to Instagram: if you look for Ms.Oksanaa you’ll see the photos from the shoot. House Andrews is a very artistic family. I liked everything: the hair, how the photos were taken, the attitude of the model.
P.S: I was not in KissCon, but I’m very glad you could make it. Thanks for sharing your point of view. I hope to be able to assist to one of your signings someday 🙂
SUCH stunning bone structure! I agree, she’s very beautiful.
I think my thought process was “Holy crap, she’s gorgeous.” So with you.
From what I can tell re: the glimpses we’ve been given here, K1 & K2 have had a really great upbringing, which is fantastic. 🙂
I’m glad all went well once everyone got together for Kisscon.
At least both of you got to the signing. All I could think of is this is a comedy of errors. Glad you’re back. 😁
“You can and you will”. Bwah hahaha! Nice. Glad to hear all your travel travails worked out. Nice prom queen ‘do!
Hope House Andrews has a nice quiet week. 🙂
For real.. That’s what I’ve been stuck on for the rest of the story lol The heroines and their take no bullshitness was already a given, but now we know where the guys get their Like a Boss vibe from
Love the pictures! Your daughter is beautiful. I have always wanted to see some of Dale Chihuly’s work up close. Travel problems are never fun but you made it home safe. I like Gordon, like to be there early which is why I don’t like super early flights because you just have get up so early. M husband travels so much for work he has it down to an art, I am always telling him I don’t want to run thru the airport. 🙄
I had the amazing opportunity to listen and meet both Ilona and Gordon at KissCon. I enjoyed talking about what is coming up, hearing of some of the problems you both face , you asking the group their opinions and meeting other fans.
Sorry to hear of your travel escapades and glad you are safe at home. Thank you both for giving us so much of your time!
Kid 2, I remember when she was just a rambunctious young lady accidentally gluing her glasses to her desk. Now all grown up
I am thrilled you and Gordon were able to make it to Kisscon as I enjoyed meeting both of you and I appreciate the two of you signing my books. I hope you will come this way more often, but with less travel stress. So glad you made it home safely.
Your daughter is gorgeous and you are very talented at updos!
I’m so glad you had a good time at the KissCon. And believe me, most fans only care if you show up and talk to us.
And Kid 1 is gorgeous! Does Gordon look stern and forbidding when she brings guys home? Or clean any weapons while they visit?
Thank you for post, Ilona Andrews. You admitted it was your fault so pull up your big girl panties and get over it. The world did not end, no one was killed, hurt or maimed. You two are alive and well…
I am like Gordon. I can fly and I prefer to be early as I do not care to run thru the airport either. I have a sibling that can not fly even drugged into a stupor. Not even on transatlantic planes… i prefer littlier planes where i can look out window. fortunately trains are okay as the motion or the g forces are sufficiently different.
So be happy. Enjoy the rain. Write some words. Relax. You both survived again. Thanks for the post.
Titan and i have to go shopping today. Apparently he was playing kill the rope ball and killed the tv screen with the ball. Sigh. Big dogs. Big spiderweb crack. Tv repairperson said cracked screens can not be repaired. Cheaper to buy a new one. At least was not my computer screen. Grin.
Beautiful hair! I am slightly obsessed with hair styles and I would LOVE to have Merida hair! Your daughter is a lovely young lady! The Austin airport is just plain NUTS. Thank you for the photos of Dale Chihuly’s glass. That man has fascinated me for years!
What a time.
Glad Gordon made it to the signing with you.
Ilona, I’m sure you’ve heard this, but Kid 2 looks just like you, but with Gordon’s hair. What a fabulous combination.
It was wonderful to meet you both at KissCon. I loved having the opportunity to sit down and chat with you and other fans during the later event. You were both so gracious. I was anxious to go to the VIP part by myself (my husband came to the earlier event with me) but I ended up having a great time! It was exciting to get to talk about the books and ask questions with you. My husband and I were also wondering what was happening with all the crock pots and he actually tried to get one while I was in the second event! He thought it would be hilarious if I came out and found him with one. 😂🤦🏻♀️
Also hi to all the other people from the event it was so nice to meet everyone!
waving! KissCon was exciting!
Austin airport is nuts. When I told the rental car guys, of all the airports I’ve traveled through, Austin is the most confusing, disorganized mess they replied, “keep Austin weird!” Although that response annoyed me, it makes sense. It’s as if through the miasma of the airport, Austin opens its proverbial arms to us outsiders to indulgence in some Austin weird.
LOVE the hair. I’m going to struggle with that, since I have a little girl, and I am not a girlie girl… at ALL. YouTube, here I come! 😀
Glad your travels were safe, if not super easy.
About the 1 hour luggage cut off – not sure this will work again or for anyone else, but this worked for me once:
Check-in guy: You missed the 1 hour baggage check cut-off.
Me: OK, never mind the bag, just print the boarding pass.
*Me – takes boarding pass and my giant suitcase and sprints for security.*
Security: You can’t take that huge case through – it’s too big for a carry-on.
Me, totally lying: It’s OK, they told me to check it at the gate because I missed the checked baggage cut-off time.
*Security lets me put the suitcase on the conveyor belt and go through. I sprint for the gate.*
Gate staff: You just made it. Everybody boarded. I was just about to close the gate.
Me: Thank you! You are the best. Can I please check my bag with you?
Gate staff: Sure. Here’s your tag.
I think that the check-in people at the airlines are primed to refuse to give concessions to customers missing the deadlines, probably because they can’t ensure the bags get loaded on time if they allow a late bag check. However, since the gate staff are able to just sling the bag onto the plane at the last minute (in case all the carry-ons don’t fit into the carry-on compartments) there’s a very good chance they’ll let you.
Another thing I did once (I swear, I only cut it this close twice in over twenty years of flying!) when I missed the checked bag deadline, was run to one of those overpriced gift shops and buy their cheapest carry-on (in this case, a large tote), and stuff the most essential things from my big suitcase in the carry-on, and throw away the rest including the big suitcase. On that occasion, I had barely missed the deadline, so I still had about 50 minutes before the gate closed, to buy the carry-on and repack. I made it on that flight, but had to sacrifice all my shampoo/conditioner/lotion bottles.
Your daughter is a real beauty.
Side comment but I don’t think AA actually likes people. I fly JetBlue they just seem nicer.
hahaha about the crock pots. Young people were carrying them, too! The swag bag was much better….advanced copies of books and other goodies, and didn’t weigh nearly as much. Thanks for doing a meet and greet in the Northeast, I had tried to attend one in New Orleans a few years back but sadly, my travel plans didn’t work out.
LOVED being at the KissCon!
Wow…your daughter is Julie! That’s exactly how I always imagined her! Is she a wicked hand with axes?
The thoughts you had on the plane are hilarious and completely understandable. You also have a beautiful daughter and amazing talent with hair design.