CHAUTAUQUA INK HOUSE / MEMBERS
What’s New

BEFORE YOU JOIN

A few things you might be wondering.

Clear answers about reading, free accounts, and optional membership. You do not need to sign in to read this page.

What can I try without an account?

You can browse the House, read every Ink House Classic and available public book previews, and play the three free interactive adventures. Book and story listings show their available access.

Browse books · Try an interactive story · See the free account preview

Is a website account free?

Yes. A free account includes the complete Mourning Lattice: Anchor novel and gives you a member profile, free avatar choices, access to the lounge and forum, friends and private messaging, Ink Rewards, and access to approved Community Library books. Private messages begin after a friend request is accepted.

You do not need a paid membership to get started. Choose a name or pen name and a House avatar, or upload your own picture. That is all your profile needs to get started. Your bio, frame, and other personal touches can wait.

Create a free account
How is a free account different from Founders membership?

Founders is an optional paid membership with additional benefits, including the complete illustrated book The Whisker Three, premium avatars, and unlimited daily Story Mode access while the membership is active. Other storefront books may be sold separately unless marked as included. The Ink Society page explains current prices, benefits, and terms.

Memberships use secure Stripe checkout here on the site. Manage your plan from My plan & access.

Compare current membership options
What is Story Mode?

Story Mode adds optional visual scenes, atmosphere, and music around your reading. Free members can enjoy Story Mode for up to 30 minutes per day. Active Founders receive unlimited daily access.

You choose whether to turn it on. Closing its settings panel leaves it running; use its on/off switch to stop it.

See the illustrated reading guide
Do Ink Points cost money or get used up?

Ink Points are earned through eligible reading and community activities. They mark lifetime milestones and are never spent. Reaching a milestone unlocks its rewards automatically.

Points do not buy membership or extra Story Mode time. The rewards page explains the activities and their limits.

See how Ink Points work
Can I bring my own book?

For personal reading, My Library lets you add a DRM-free EPUB you own or have permission to read. EPUBs added on this device stay in this browser unless you explicitly upload a private copy to the Plus cloud library. Keep your original files. Signed-in reading progress can sync to your account; syncing your place does not upload the book itself.

To share a book you created, use the Community Library. Your submission stays private until Shawn and Bria approve it for the member library.

My Library · Community Library

How do I continue an interactive story on another device?

While signed in, choose Bookmark this page in the story. On your other device, sign in to the same account, open the same story, and choose Return to bookmark. That restores the page and choices you saved. Save a new bookmark when you want to replace it.

The shared book reader also syncs signed-in reading progress to your account. Guest progress stays on the device. Give changes time to save before switching devices; an offline session cannot sync until it reconnects. For a device-only EPUB, you still need the book file on the other device or an eligible private cloud copy.

Are the people and conversations in the visitor preview real?

No. The visitor preview uses fictional names, sample messages, and an example points balance. Trying an avatar there does not create or save a member profile.

The visitor preview opens when you choose to explore it. It does not automatically interrupt your visit. You can return to it from the free account preview link whenever you like.

What if I cannot sign in or find my confirmation email?

Follow the message shown after signup: if your profile setup opens, you can continue without waiting for an email. If an email confirmation is requested, check your spam or junk folder. If you already have an account, choose Sign in instead of creating another one. Use Forgot password on the sign-in form if you have forgotten your password. Open the reset email, choose a new password, then sign in. If a confirmation or reset link has expired, request a fresh one. Confirmed your account on another device? Sign in here with the same email and password.

Never share your password, confirmation code, or payment information in a community post or message.

Open sign-in and account help