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I built the coziest keyboard ever.

You might remember that earlier I was looking for a better keyboard. Whenever I searched for a keyboard, I always ended up with the gaming keyboards. HyperX. Razer. Black, lots of RGB, that type of thing. I’ve tried ergonomic keyboards, I’ve tried unorthodox keyboards, I’ve tried a lot of things.

Then, as I was browsing Instagram, I stumbled on to a video showcasing “the coziest keycaps ever.”

Computer keyboards consist of 3 main parts:

• The keyboard case and the electronic guts inside it
• The switches, which are small chunks of electronic in a plastic housing with a couple of contacts sticking out and a spring. When you press the keyboard key, that’s what you actually feel.
• The keycaps, the little pieces of plastic that your fingers make contact with when you are typing

The keycaps are supposed to be removable but I’ve never messed with them. However, it occurred to me that I would like the cute keycaps. And these weren’t just cute, they were cozy.

There is an entire genre of games, like Stardew Valley, that specializes in creating a cozy, comforting feel. These games are usually farm-based, but sometimes you make potions or run a magical bakery.

These keycaps were objectively cozy. I googled “changing keycaps” and promptly fell down the rabbit hole.

Modern keyboards are modable. Meaning, you can mix and match keyboard base, switches, and keycaps. You can add or remove foam to change the sound. And if the keyboard is marked as hot-swappable, the switches just pop right in. No soldering required.

The volume of information about modding keyboards is staggering. I was aware of different switches before. Red switches were tactile, meaning they had a little bump when you press them, and they were loud. Brown switches were linear and quiet. Or was it the other way around? Blue switches were ….. something eh? What the hell is a holy panda switch? What is a creamy switch? What does thocky mean?

I have watched a ridiculous amount of instructional videos, and I’ve learned that it’s all about preference. Some people love silent keyboards; others want ASMR sound. Some want tactile switches with a bump; others want smooth linears. Some people want specific features like volume knobs or certain features like weightier keyboards. Some want full layout with the number pad, other like TKL without it, or 75 or 65 keyboards. The whole point of this exercise is to customize your typing experience.

I decided that I like keyboards that made comforting sounds, loud, but not too loud, and not that clacky. The jury was still out on switches at that point. I also wanted a volume control and at least 75 layout. I consulted with Gordon, who pointed out that keyboards are our primary work tool so I might as well get the keyboard I want. Thus emboldened, I bought all the things.

I started with the keycaps. But I also needed to put those keycaps into something. My first keyboard purchase was a Keychron, which is kind of a good starting point to learn about modable keyboards. It is a decent keyboard, no amazing, but it felt a lot better than my previous keyboards. In retrospect, I shouldn’t have bought it, but it gave me a baseline.

Keychron V3 Max TKL

Finny thing – I do not recall making this purchase. I was online late at night and although I must’ve bought it, I have zero recollection of it. This is a TKL layout, meaning everything except for the number pad, which I do not use. It is programmable, it has a bit of rgb, and the volume knob – which I really love – and it came with Gateron Jupiter banana switches. These are tactile switches that give you a little bump to let you know the key has been pressed.

Here the sound of Keychron in action as I’m writing this post. Not super amazing. The sound on all of the videos is up. The keyboard and all others are not quite that loud.

But I ordered my cozy keycaps and I wanted a proper keyboard for it. Also I didn’t want to spend a butt ton of money on it because this adventure can get expensive fast. I started looking around at “budget” modable keyboards and came across this one from Akko.

It is wood. It is very elegant, too, but I didn’t care about the elegance. I was all about the cuteness.

Not only this wood go beautifully with my keycaps, but I suspected that it would also match my sound preferences. The entire point of modding a keyboard is to make it exactly the way you like it and sound is a big part of that. I like a little bit more resistance in my switches and I wanted a pleasant typing sound. Keychron wasn’t doing it.

As an aside, people get super-serious about this. Keyboards can sound clicky, or creamy, or thockky, or clacky. Some switches have longer travel distance, some shorter. Some have to be pressed harder. Some are silent. I will have some links for you down below.

Anyway, I ordered the Akko.

Here it is on my desk.

It is a lovely keyboard. It is solid, and heavy, and I love everything about it. It came with rosewood switches, which have a deeper typing sound. I listened to them and promptly yanked them out to try all the other stuff I ordered. There was a slight learning curve, but after some trial and error, success was achieved. I swap switches like a champ now.

I tried Asura switches. I tried Akko creamy blue and lavender. I tried Gateron Bananas. I tried a lot of things. So far the best switch I’ve tried is HMX Butter. It is surprisingly a linear switch and I seem to prefer tactile because I type with some force, but it is just a very nice switch. It is smooth, and it feels very nice to type on.

Full disclosure: I have more switches coming. There is no hope for me. The Pandora’s box has been opened. I have also modded a keyboard for Kid 2.

And then, yesterday, my keycaps arrived. They arrived in a beautiful box with a handy keycap removal tool, so switching them was a breeze.

Behold, the coziest keyboard known to man.

Click to enlarge Froggie left Froggie right

I love it, I love it, I love it!

But what does it sound like? Please keep in mind that half of it is still rosewood switches and half HMX butter. I’m still deciding. (Link for email readers.)

I want this!

I’ve got you:

• Link to the Youtube channel where I got my education: Hipyo Tech and in particular this video is good to start: 50 keyboards
• Akko wood keyboard available from Amazon.
• KiiBOOM Cozydiaries Rainy Froggy Day Keycap set

Now, please excuse me. I have some typing to do.

The post The Coziest Keyboard Ever first appeared on ILONA ANDREWS.

Is it boxing day again, already?

Every day are boxing day!

It is a truth universally acknowledge that a good box is in need of a cat.

All in favor of the motion signify by saying meeerup.

1. Branch Affinities
2. Essentia Capacity
3. The Board
4. Sigi Recycling

…to get my upcoming class, “Craft in the 21st Century,” for the early bird price. Right now, it’s $200. After it goes live tomorrow, it’ll be $250. Hurry on over  if you want to refresh your writing for the 2020s. Click here to get more information and order the class.

We’re also offering some coaching on publishing your work.

We’ve been conducting a writer’s block course, and in the webinar, we learned that one thing which actually blocks writers in 2025 is the learning curve for indie publishing. People get stuck at various different places, so we can’t just do a simple do-this, do-that course anymore. (It was possible ten years ago; isn’t possible now)

So Dean wants to help as many folks as he can. But he can only do it one at a time. Therefore, for 3 months, he’ll help a few people get started from wherever they’re stalled. Then, if that works, he’ll do it again for a different group.

If you’re interested, check out this post: https://deanwesleysmith.com/coaching-getting-your-stuff-out/

Truly looking forward to the third book. In the meantime, the three below are my favored topics of coverage.

1.) Branch Affinities
2.) Sigl Recycling
3.) The Board

While there are others I want to include mentioned by others in the comments, I feel those may be plot points meant to be explored as the books reveal them.

Sigl fashion
Attunement
Essentia Capacity

Dead series?

Sigle Recycling
Attunement
Sigle Fashion

I am most interested first in closing out knowledge of essentia and sigils.

After that, the structure of the drucrafting world more broadly.

So my order would be:

1 – Essentia Capacity
2 – Attunement
3 – Branch Affinities
4 – Sigl Recycling
5 – Country Affinities
6 – The Board
7 – Corporations

1.Sigl Fashion
2.Sigl Recycling
3.Country Affinities
4.The Board
5.Corporations
6.Branch Affinities
7.Essentia Capacity
8.Attunement

The Board

Sigl Recycling

1. The board
2. Corporations
3. Sigl recycling
4. Country affinities
5. Sigl fashion

1. Essentia Capacity
2. Sigl fashion

1) Sigl Recycling & Essentia Storage (Aurum)
2) [Write-In] Spiritual Entities/factions & their special ‘Gifts’
3) [Write-In] Cults (like The Winged) who align to Spirits
4) [Write-In] Creating Sigl for other species (As above)

1. Country Affinities.
2. Branch Affinities.
3. Corporations.
4. The Board.
5. Essentia Capacity.

Not sure if these would count as spoilers but if not then.
1. Spiritual Entities that grant’s Steven’s Essentia Sight and other “gifts.”
2. The big Cults from the Winged, the Order of the Dragon and the other big Cult.
3. The minor Cults such as Ogun and Perun that the gang and strike teams follows as well as other similar groups.

The lavender was dying. Elara surveyed the wilted stalks, with drooping leaves and sagging buds. There were five main causes of lavender wilt: overwatering, underwatering, poor drainage, not enough light, and too much heat. None of it applied. They had grown lavender in this greenhouse for years.

Next to her Jean Bradshaw twisted her hands. A plump, middle-aged woman, with golden skin and a gathering of freckles on her nose, Jean was the aromatics master. Basil, mint, rosemary, all of it was her domain.

Behind Jean three of her gardeners waited, their expressions pinched.

“It isn’t anything you did,” Elara told her.

“I’ve tried everything. Nothing works.” Jean rubbed her face and pressed her hands, palms together, to her lips, as if praying.

They both knew what this meant. They were going to lose this lavender harvest.

Lavender was a staple. It wasn’t exciting, rare, or expensive, but they used it constantly in all sorts of ways. It was a go-to aromatic for cosmetics and bath products. It soothed headaches, calmed nerves, prevented the formation of scars, and it was slightly antiseptic. It was employed in child blessing rituals and for sun invocations. Magic users who meditated bought it by the sack. A big chunk of their income depended on lavender. There was a reason why they grew it year around.

Elara resisted the urge to rock back and forth. Why was this happening? Why?

“And the thing is, the lavender in the Red Greenhouse is perfectly fine,” Jean said. “Same soil, same watering schedule, same light conditions… The two greenhouses are next to each other. You’d think if one went bad, the other would too, but no, it’s this one and the Blue and the Yellow. And the Yellow is almost fifty yards away.”

An idea tugged on Elara. She turned and strode out of the greenhouse into the gardens. The fall air mugged her, dry and cool after the humid warmth of the greenhouse.

The Red Greenhouse with its perfectly healthy lavender was to the left and behind her, about twenty yards down the path. The Blue Greenhouse, full of dying mint, stood about twenty yards in front of her and to the right. Then the Yellow Greenhouse, where oregano had turned to near dust, was all the way to the left and forward…

Ismael came running down the path, flying as fast as his ten-year-old legs could carry him. He crashed to a stop in front of her and struggled to catch a breath.

“Take your time,” she told him.

“People from Aberdine are here,” he announced.

What now? “Did anyone send a word to the Preceptor?”

Ismael nodded frantically.

Ever since Hugh took his Iron Dogs and saved Aberdine, they treated him with a respect bordering on reverence. She had been supplying them with beer, medicine, and cosmetics for years, and none of that mattered compared with Hugh riding in to save the day in his black armor. She provided them with necessities, and he had given them a hero. A big strong man in black armor on a giant pale horse.

In some regards, it was a proof of her success. She’d done her best to appear as a good, reliable, non-threatening neighbor. They had no idea how scary she could truly be. They would never see her as a possible savior. But Hugh? Oh yes. When that man wanted to, he could be damn impressive.

Individuals were complicated, but people were simple. Hugh understood that. He knew by some uncanny instinct what people needed him to be and then he became that to get what he wanted. Even now, she had no idea if the Hugh she saw every day was truly who he was or if he’d just assumed the role for some secret gain.

One thing for sure – Hugh could turn on a dime, and when that mask came off, he unleashed shocking brutality and he did it without hesitation or doubt. If Aberdine was very unlucky, it would learn that today.

“Where are they now?” she asked.

“Johan put them into the visitor room. They are beat up.”

“The Aberdine people?”

Ismael nodded.

Beat up Aberdine people was the last thing she needed right this second.

“Johan gave them drinks and sandwiches.”

“Go back and tell Johan to keep them occupied. Then go to the wall by the front gate and wait until Hugh comes back. Come and get me as soon as you see him ride out of the woods.”

Ismael nodded again, turned around, and took off like a deer back up the road toward Baile.

“Maybe it’s him,” Jean said.

“Who?”

Jean hesitated. “The Preceptor.”

“What about him?”

Jean paused.

“Say what’s on your mind,” Elara prompted.

“The herbs started dying after the Iron Dogs showed up.”

The three gardeners went very still.  Clearly, this theory had been discussed. By now it had probably spread all through the gardener crew.

She had to nip this in the bud, or it would fester.

“When do you think the first wilt happened?” she asked mildly.

“Jimsonweed field,” Jean said.  “A month after they came.”

Elara shook her head. “You’re thinking in terms of fields and greenhouses. Think before that, to something much smaller. What was the first batch of plants that died just like the lavender?”

Jean pondered it, frowned, looked at the sky, and turned to her. “The kitchen garden!”

Elara nodded. The cooks maintained a small herb garden for the Baile’s kitchens, a few rows of onion, garlic, dill, and parsley. One day it had simply withered.

“When did it die?” she asked.

“The end of July,” Jean said. “We thought the fertilizer had been contaminated with something.”

“And the second wilt? Who can tell me?”

Caro, one of the gardeners, raised his hand. “The raspberry bushes. They died on the fifth of August. I remember this because it was Savannah’s birthday.”

The patch of raspberry bushes had sprung up by the castle walls completely on its own.  They didn’t know if someone planted it or if some raspberries had been discarded there.  In any case, the bushes grew wild until one day they wilted to nothing.

“Hugh d’Ambray didn’t even know we existed until September,” Elara said.

Jean opened her mouth and closed it.

“The Iron Dogs fought and died for us,” Elara said. “This is their home. The Preceptor has no power over plants, and even if he did, why would he interfere with our herbs? The Iron Dogs depend on us for their shelter, food, and equipment. They’ve been salvaging metal from the forest to help us offset the costs. What would they gain from causing us to lose money?”

Silence answered.

“I need the four of you to go back to the people you gossiped with and let them know what I said,” she told them. “There is no more us and them. We stand as one. Do you understand?”

Heads bowed. 

“Yes, my lady,” Jean told her.

“Thank you. Now let’s see the other greenhouses.”

The post Chapter 2 Part 2 first appeared on ILONA ANDREWS.

Happy February! It’s the season of love so I thought it was the perfect time to share the cover for my next book, THE HOUSE SAPHIR. If you follow me on Instagram, you’ve heard me talk about working on this Bluebeard retelling for some time now, but now that it has a cover, it feels really real! It comes out in November and I’m so excited to share it with you.

Mallory Fontaine is a fraud. Though she comes from a long line of witches, the only magic she possesses is the ability to see ghosts, which is rarely as useful as one would think. She and her sister have maintained the family business, eking out a paltry living by selling bogus spells to gullible buyers and conducting tours of the infamous mansion where the first of the Saphir murders took place.

Mallory is a self-proclaimed expert on Count Bastien Saphir – otherwise known as Monsieur Le Bleu – who brutally killed three of his wives more than a century ago. But she never expected to meet Bastien’s great-grandson and heir to the Saphir estate. Armand is handsome, wealthy, and convinced that the Fontaine Sisters are as talented as they claim. The perfect mark. When he offers Mallory a large sum of money to rid his ancestral home of Le Bleu’s ghost, she can’t resist. A paid vacation at Armand’s country manor? It’s practically a dream come true, never mind the ghosts of murdered wives and the monsters that are as common as household pests.

But when murder again comes to the House Saphir, Mallory finds herself at the center of the investigation―and she is almost certain the killer is mortal. If she has any hope of cashing in on the payment she was promised, she’ll have to solve the murder and banish the ghost, all while upholding the illusion of witchcraft.

But that all sounds relatively easy compared to her biggest challenge: learning to trust her heart. Especially when the person her heart wants the most might be a murderer himself.

And voila, the cover:

Don’t you love it?

Artist: Andrew Davis @andrewdavis_designs

Cover design: Rich Deas @richdeas

THE HOUSE SAPHIR comes out November 4, but you can preorder your copy now at my store at Bookshop.org or wherever you get your books. Don’t forget to keep those receipts *hint, hint*.

While you’re book shopping, if you haven’t picked up the HEARTLESS ebook, now’s a great time – it’s on sale all month. In other great news, Bookshop.org (that supports indie bookstores) now has ebooks so you can grab your copy there.

Speaking of sales, everything at my Etsy shop is 25% off for all of February. From stickers, to wearables, find your official Marissa Meyer and The Happy Writer merch here.

It’s been a couple of weeks since THE HAPPY WRITER, Get More Ideas, Write More Words, and Find More Joy from First Draft to Publication and Beyond came out and I couldn’t be more grateful for the amazing feedback my first non-fiction book has already received. This book is so personal for me and encompasses everything I try to practice in my own writing life, so finding that it’s resonating with readers is so validating.

Thank you for reading and sharing your feelings on social media and in reviews!

Here are a couple of review snippets from Goodreads:

An incredible exploration of the writing world unfolds here, covering everything from imposter syndrome to query letters and much more. Marissa transitions seamlessly between topics, keeping the flow engaging. I was captivated from beginning to end, and her narration in the audiobook added an even more uplifting vibe to the experience. Being a happy writer encompasses so much more than just the craft; it truly is a calling. ~ Amanda

“The Happy Writer” by Marissa Meyer is a helpful guide for seasoned writers and beginners alike. This guide has a wide array of practical advice from where to find inspiration to showing kindness to yourself throughout the writing process. Marissa’s tone encapsulates the joys of writing. Her stance is uplifting, showing all writers that they can work through challenges to find their flow. Marissa is like a warm, encouraging friend who believes in you, giving you the pep talks you need so you won’t give up on your draft. The conversational tone makes this guide a breeze to read and the tips are easy to apply. ~ Danielle

If you haven’t picked up your copy yet:

Buy Links: Bookshop | Barnes and Noble | Indigo (Canada) |

Don’t forget, the audio is available, too, read by me!

More buy links and audio/ebook excerpts here.

Until next time, stay inspired and keep writing.

With love,

Marissa

The post Love, Deals, and a New Cover in the Air first appeared on Marissa Meyer.

I hope you're ready for episode 3 of DOGE- Supernatural Division because they're visiting the infamous Area 51 next. No one is safe from High Wizard Elron's determination to save American taxpayers money (maybe not even aliens if he finds any).

I am teaching a new lecture-only class called “Craft in the 21st Century.” I’ve been doing a lot of work with professional writers this past six months, and I’ve noticed some new problems that I hadn’t seen before. Plus, I’m encountering a few things in my own writing that didn’t exist before either.

Life changes. The act of reading changes. The act of writing changes. People’s tastes change. All of this is normal, but sometimes hard to keep track of. So, I’m going to talk about it in this class.

This is a craft class. Like the in-person craft classes that I teach, there will be no discussion of politics or religion. We won’t discuss current events. We will be talking about trends and changes in the world, often dictated by technological change.

So, join me for this. The class will start on Monday. The price is $200 right now, but it will go up to $250 on Monday when the first video goes live. Sign up here.

You want to hear more about the class? Take a look at this video.

 

The reason I’m wearing the dorky Back To The Future shirt is because I recorded that video on the same day as Dean and I recorded “The Kris & Dean Show Does Back To The Future.” We go through the movie bit by bit to show how to develop characters and how to plant information so that readers/viewers don’t really notice it. The entire show went live last night.

Here’s a taste of how goofy the two of us get when we’re together:

You can sign up for that here. And if you missed “The Kris & Dean Show Does Die Hard,” you can find that here. In that one, we have a lot to say about plotting and keeping up a thriller pace.

And yes, there will be more.

Why is this all happening now? Well, because we moved our WMG offices to Las Vegas. We can record these ease.

So take a look. I hope you have fun with them!

Oh, and the picture of Angel Kitty? That was just to get your attention. ?