A bit of bad news...

 

I received some bad news today that I have to relay to you so that you aren't left wondering what's going on with Dark Veil and Sweet Silence's release. Some of you know that for the past six books (Grace Series, Gossamer, Quiver) I've done each of the covers on my own. It's something I love doing and I really don't plan on stopping any time soon.

However, for both books, I commissioned artists to do the artwork that would get incorporated into the individual covers respectively. With regards to Dark Veil, the original release date was for just before Christmas. I wanted to have it made available to you before the holidays so that you could enjoy it before the new year. Unfortunately, the artist has not yet completed the cover and informed me today that it won't be completed until next year. That means I won't be able to deliver the book for publishing until mid January at the earliest. I am disappointed but I have been given assurances that the resulting cover will be phenomenal and can only wait for the end results.

Because of this, I am going to be putting Dark Veil up in my store for sale cover-less for those who are more interested in the story than the cover. When the artwork has been released and the cover made, those who've purchased from my store will be able to download an updated version for free. Please look for it this weekend.

Now on to Sweet Silence.

In May, I commissioned a comic book artist to do the artwork for the cover. I admired his work and really wanted him to be a part of the project. Unfortunately, the minute the money had been sent, all communication ceased. For four months, he would not respond to my emails or twitter messages. Finally, in September, I contacted a lawyer and was told to make one final attempt to either a) receive my work or b) demand my money back. I contact the artist publicly on Twitter and was given assurances that my emails weren't going ignored, that my money had not been absconded, and that my cover was nearly complete. I even received a small sample of what was to come.

Excited and understanding, I decided to be a bit more patient.

It is now December 20th, seven months after the money was paid. I was told a month ago that I'd receive my artwork in a week. It's been four and, you guessed it, no artwork. I originally wanted to get Sweet Silence out to you by August of this year. As you all know, there is no Sweet Silence for purchase because, again, there is no cover.

I think what makes this particular experience all the more frustrating is that I've been witness to this artist's tweets about all things pertaining to work and entertainment, all while sitting here empty-handed, $350 poorer, and with emails and messages that I can give no definitive answers to with regards to the release date. To say that I'm frustrated, disappointed, angry, upset, disgusted, and above all else, jaded is an understatement. I admired this artist's work, praised it, only to be let down time and time again by him.

I am once again in contact with an attorney and will let you know the outcome of all of this. 

So I apologize to you, the readers and the fans, for what looks like a disappointing end to 2011. I wish things had been different. I wanted to give you something pretty and awesome to look at before you delved into the worlds I created, but I have failed. It is a mistake that I will not repeat.