Welcome to Gertrude Hunt!
We are so happy to see you once again. Your innkeepers, Dina Demille and Sean Evans, will see to your every need. No matter what accommodations you require, the inn will oblige. Physics are not an issue for us. Our Red Cleaver Chef is delighted to impress you with his culinary mastery. Rest assured that your safety is our first priority.
Enjoy yourselves, relax, and above all, remember the one rule all visitors must abide by: the humans must never know.
Sweep of the Heart is a free serial novella set in the Innkeeper Chronicles featuring Sean Evans and Dina Demille. New Chapters are posted every Friday.
Latest Post
Chapter 18 Part 1
House Andrews, in their loveliness, sent over this week’s chapter from Florida. When we last left the inn, Kosandion’s date with the Uma candidate, Ellenda, did not go to plan and her delegation made a move against the Dominion’s Holy Ecclesiarch. Will Dina and Sean manage to eliminate the dangers gathering around the Sovereign? In…
Story Posts in Chronological Order
Chapter 1
There was great wisdom in striking the iron while it was hot. I took a sip of my iced tea and brushed a little bug off the skirt of my yellow sun dress. I was sitting on the back porch of Gertrude Hunt Bed and Breakfast in a comfortable wooden recliner. In front of me…
Chapter 2
Before we jump into this, look on the blog menu. Do you see Sweep of the Heart? Click it. That will take you directly to the Sweep of the Heart serial. (Thanks to Mod R for the new title.) If you are worried you might miss a post, sign up for our Blog Updates newsletter.…
Chapter 3
Sean frowned at the communication unit. We stood in the narrow alley just outside the door leading to Baha-char, dressed in our travel innkeeper robes, simple garments that hid our clothes. His resolve to not look for Wilmos lasted about as long as his piece of cake. “Nothing?” I guessed. “It’s not even picking him…
Innkeeper Cover Reveal
Pssssst. You there, BDH. ::a hand mysteriously appears and motions you into Unicorn Lane:: Come see what I’ve smuggled out for you! I know we’ve all been enjoying Sweep of the Heart and I just had to share what the amazing Doris has created as a cover illustration. Her space backgrounds are always so amazing,…
Chapter 4 Part 1
For those of you who enjoyed the Graphic Audio adaptation of Clean Sweep, Sweep in Peace will be released by the same company on March 7. Here is the preorder link. Samples coming soon. The sphinx approached, his movements unhurried, almost lazy, circled the two towers, and lowered himself to the ground by the one…
Chapter 4 Part 2
I rushed through the streets. The koo-ko had no trouble keeping up with me despite being about half my height. If needed, all of them, including the First Scholar and two of his helpers, one carrying his hat and the other dragging a long stick of polished blue wood with a bright red tassel attached…
Chapter 5
We were in the War Room, a round chamber where a root of the inn emerged in a round platform, allowing for a tighter connection to Gertrude Hunt. Innkeepers and our inns existed in symbiosis, always aware of each other but distinct and separate. Linking with the root merged us into one. Screens lined the…
Chapter 6 Part 1
We’re working on the edit, so shorter scene today. No worries, we will make it up to you in the next week or two. Twenty-six hours later, Sean and I sat in front of the communication screen again. The iteration of George in front of us was much more in line with his usual appearance.…
Chapter 6 Part 2
“It’s a spouse selection,” I explained. We sat in the kitchen, Sean and I on one side of the table, Caldenia and Marais on the other, with Orro on the end, on Sean’s right. “It involves a powerful head of state,” I continued. “The spouse selection is very complex and in a large part, based…
Chapter 7
The inn chimed, announcing visitors. I groaned softly and opened my eyes, abandoning the Dushegub containment unit in mid-renovation. The tangle of Gertrude Hunt’s branches cradling my body hummed with energy. I had cocooned myself to speed things up. We had managed to convince the Seven Star Dominion that 48 hours was an unrealistic timeline.…
Chapter 8 Part 1
The Seven Star Dominion spread across nine star systems, five of which had more than one habitable planet. The Dominion was a powerful force. Their economy was robust, their scientific research and development was well-funded, and their military was disciplined, trained, and equipped. If they ever took over our solar system, within three hundred years…
Chapter 8 Part 2
Sean settled deeper into the couch and stretched his legs, and the inn thoughtfully grew an ottoman under his feet before they had a chance to hit the floor. “Resven is going to be a pain in the ass.” I slumped on the soft cushions. We were in the small break room we had made…
Chapter 9 Part 1
We are late, because of the copyedit of Ruby Fever. Sorry about that. We should finish early next week, so we can keep to the schedule a bit better. Watching Gaston eat was like witnessing someone have a religious experience. He cut a small piece off the duck leg, wielding his fork and knife with…
Chapter 9 Part 2
“It all started in childhood, you see.” Gaston sipped his wine. We were back in the Ocean Dining Room at the same table in the same seats, with the addition of Cookie, who was treated to his own serving of the “delicious duck.” His posse was settling in their rooms and would come to dine…
Chapter 10 Part 1
The portal swirled with pale green. “Here we go,” I murmured. It was the delegation arrival day, and the four of us waited, positioned around the portal, Sean and I directly in front, Gaston on the left, and Tony on the right. Sean and I wore our robes, Tony opted for a plain brown robe…
Chapter 10 Part 2
The Grand Ballroom was full. I stood to the left of the throne, at the edge of the raised platform. Sean stood at the opposite side of the room to the right of the entrance. Between us, positioned in rough clumps, waited the twelve delegations, each clustered around their spousal candidates. We arranged them in…
Chapter 11 Part 1
Kosandion was an excellent orator. His diction was perfect, his voice modulated to carry through the space without sounding harsh but conveying just the right amount of gravitas to underscore the importance of every word. “We all know why we are here, but I shall reiterate for the record.” Oh, it was all about the…
Intergalactic Bachelor: The Reckoning
By popular demand, a summary of the Sweep of the Heart story so far, with a list of all the spouse candidates and their delegations. Obviously, only spoilers ahead for those who are not reading along. Story so far… A werewolf nuisance brings news of Wilmos being kidnapped, just as Dina and Sean are settling…
Chapter 11 Part 2
We have a small announcement for you this morning. Sweep of the Heart has exceeded the novella length. Therefore it is now SWEEP OF THE HEART, a novel. The Story So Far: Kosandion, the Sovereign of 7 Star Dominion, had arrived to the inn to begin the selection of his future spouse. He is assisted…
Admin Note: Innkeeper Delayed
We had an animal emergency today. PSA: snow globes contain antifreeze in the amounts highly toxic to cats. If for example, the cat breaks a snow globe, and the liquid splashes on their paw, and they lick it, it’s enough to kill them. Ethylene glycol causes irreversible renal failure. It’s 10:34 pm as I type…
Chapter 12
When we last left Dina, Sean, and the Inn, Kosandion was still looking for his spouse. The introduction ceremony had finished, everyone had dinner, and we learned about the collective empathy of the Dominion citizens. Dina recalled the complete emotional breakdown the Dominion guests experienced at her parents’ inn when they learned that Caldenia murdered…
Chapter 13
I stood on the balcony in Kosandion’s private quarters and watched Resven struggle to contain his irritation at my presence. Being included in a very private discussion of the Dominion’s state secrets wasn’t in my plans, but Kosandion requested my attendance during the breakfast, and here we were. I had built the Dominion suite to…
Intergalactic Bachelor Vote
The citizens of the Dominion have had their say, now is the turn of the Book Devouring Horde! In the ring today, 12 official candidates and one surprise crowd vote: Name: Nycati of the Gaheas Description: lithe, long limbs, long violet hair, androgynous, can melt a sapient mind Harmony &: Artistic Beauty Keywords: Psionic Elf…
Chapter 14 Part 1.5
“Do you think the data is real?” Sean asked. We were walking through the short dim hallway side by side. Beast trailed me, and Gorvar trotted by Sean’s side. The two animals had decided to ignore each other’s existence, concentrating on guarding us instead. “Kosandion is Caldenia’s nephew, so he’s devious enough to manufacture this…
Chapter 14, Part 2.
Before you dive in: Jeaniene and the two of us are having a chat on Zoom this Saturday at 5:00 pm EST. The event is sponsored by Ashland Library, and it will be an informal fun chat. If you would like to attend, register here. If you would like a signed book from this event,…
Chapter 15
When we last left the Arena of the Trials, Nycati, the psionic secret elf prince, and Prysen, the scholar representative of the hypochondriac Kai, were asked a simple question: why are you here? They are now trying to answer it. Grab a coffee and get comfy. It might take them awhile. “… however, applied meaning…
Intergalactic Bachelor – First Challenge Vote
Book Devouring Horde, to the polls! The first challenge of the intergalactic spouse selection is over. You now have the chance to make your preference heard and vote for your favorite of the 12 candidates, based on their performance in the debates and your general impression of them! Name: Ellenda from Team Frowns Debate Stance:…
Continue Reading Intergalactic Bachelor – First Challenge Vote
Chapter 16
Heads up: the next 3 weeks will be chaotic for us. We will do our best to keep bringing you the updates on the situation at the inn, but life sometimes interferes. However, here is the whole chapter today. When we last left the inn, the debates were finished, and the Dominon citizens Book Devouring…
Chapter 17
Our house is undergoing renovations. The painters are kicking us out. We are leaving for a couple of weeks, and we will try to keep up with the installments, but we might not be able to pull it off. Half of the house is packed, and we are both really tired, so we will see…
Admin: No Innkeeper this week
Hi everyone, House Andrews are on holiday this week and what most of us wished for them has come true: they have entered vacation mode! Which I wish for all of us this weekend. https://youtu.be/NG0AL0WFMBc They’ve shared with me that they have had a very productive week creative-wise, and made progress on several projects. Apparently,…
