Yeah, I have some sad news to announce. I really hate to do it, but there's no way around it, and so I must just come right out and say it.
Sweet Requiem will NOT be released this Friday. I am so, so sorry to all those who are waiting for the 3rd book in my Sweet Series, but let me tell you, no one is as heartbroken about it as I am! The LAST thing I ever wanted to do was miss a deadline. In fact, when I first published Sweet Oblivion, I promised myself that I would never break a deadline for my readers. Which is the reason I was so hesitant to set a release date for Sweet Requiem in the first place. I never felt fully confident on when it would be ready, but I had so many asking for its release date, I decided to just give it one. I REALLY wanted to release Sweet Requiem on October 24th for Nari's birthday, but that just was not going to happen. So I gave myself a month, and is why I changed it to November 29th. However, I knew in the back of my mind that wasn't going to be a good date either. I felt bad delaying it longer than a month, but I knew better. I shouldn't have promised a date that I wouldn't be able to fulfill. I deeply apologize for that.
So when will it be released, you ask? Well, here's the other sad part of this announcement– I'm not sure. =( I really want to promise that it will be next month, but it's looking more like some time in January.
Let me explain.
There have been numerous setbacks for me during the past few months. I've had two deaths in the family back-to-back, my full-time job has become ten times more demanding, prior obligations that had to be fulfilled, and unforeseen disturbances are wreaking havoc on my creative juices.
Please know that I am in no way looking for pity by sharing the above. I simply want to explain where my mind is at right now. Writing has constantly been on my mind, but honestly I have not had the will to actually do it. Emotionally and mentally I just cannot give the story what it deserves.
And I want you to love this story. I don't want to release something that is half-way good. I want to give it my all so that when it is finally released, you don't go "Hmm, that was okay." I want you to go, "That was totally worth the wait!"
This story and these characters mean so much to me. I want them to mean that much to you as well. And so it would kill me if I didn't do the story or the characters justice.
Don't get me wrong - Sweet Requiem WILL BE RELEASED. I know exactly how I want the story to go. I have everything up in my head, it's just a matter of getting it down on "paper" and written in a way that is better than just a bunch of words thrown together. I read this saying the other day - "Don't worry about word count. Worry about words that count." And that's my motto when writing. I could sit down and bang out 50k words in two weeks, sure. You'd have a 110,000 word novel in your hands. But would it be good? Heck no. I want my words to be meaningful. I want them to touch you. Not all will, I know that, but still - the point is, I want my writing to matter and not just get the story out of me to get it out. It has to come out, yes, but there is an okay way and a good way to tell a story. And I refuse to publish a story that is told in just an "okay" way.
I hope you understand, and I'm sure you will, but please, please stick with me. Don't give up on this story. I can promise you this - I LOVE this story. You WILL have it. You will get Sweet Requiem and the 4th, final book of this series soon. VERY soon.
And you will not be disappointed when this is all over with. =)
Thank you so incredibly much for caring and all your support. If you have any questions, I'd be happy to answer them. Also, to say THANK YOU to each and every one of you, I am making Sweet Escape FREE - Yes, you read that correctly - COMPLETELY FREE on Amazon for the first time ever this Thursday and Friday (28th & 29th). So that means BOTH Sweet Oblivion and Sweet Escape will be absolutely free!! Please tell all your friends and everyone you know to download the 1st and 2nd books of the Sweet Series while they are both free. =)
And, as an additional way to say thank you, here is a taste of what is to come in Sweet Requiem! =D Enjoy!
-Sweet Requiem Excerpt *UNEDITED*- Coming soon!
A slap across my face jolted me into an upright position.
Rydan stared into my eyes with a look of pure terror on his face. Probably similar to how mine must look.
“What the hell?” he breathed, instantly pulling me against his muscular chest. I melted into him, wiping my wet face on his shirt. He wouldn’t care.
I couldn’t speak. I couldn’t shake the images and feelings I was just experiencing. Rydan soothed me by slowly rubbing my back as I pulled myself together. Eventually, I began to realize where I was and that it had only been a nightmare.
“What are you doing in my room?” I asked in a whisper.
“Ender got me. They said you wouldn’t wake up. You were screaming,” Rydan explained.
“I can’t. I can’t go back to sleep.” I started to panic, not wanting to relive that ever again.
Rydan lifted me out of the bed like I was lighter than a feathered pillow.
“She’s sleeping with me,” he announced to the room, though I didn’t even look around. I kept my face buried into his neck. He carried me out into the hall. The old wood floors creaked below his feet. Like so many countless times before, I inhaled his smoky scent that I was so accustomed to using as my balm.
I involuntarily shuddered from leftover fear and emotions. That was the worst nightmare I have ever had. It topped all the ones with Ray on my eighth birthday from hell, the ones I had of the Black Eagles, any I had of monsters and whatnot. Absolutely, what I had tonight would probably forever be my worst.
Rydan laid me down in his bed, then climbed in next to me, pulling the blankets over us both. Laying my head in the crook of his shoulder and neck, he enveloped his arms around me. I trembled even still. Gently, he ran his fingers up and down my back. I drew my attention to his touch and tried desperately not to recall the images that were trying to force their way back in my mind.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered into his skin.
“Was it Ray?” he whispered back into the top of my head. He knew about my nightmares I used to have.
“No.” I slightly shook my head. “But for the first time ever, I wish it had been.”
“Please tell me,” he requested, wanting me to open up and finally let him in. I used to tell him everything, but this just seemed to hard to voice. To actually say the words out loud made me shudder yet again. Rydan was always like this. He always urged me to be open with him, but he rarely bestowed the same privilege to me in return. It wasn’t often he’d share his secrets with me. Then again, I never forced him to. I was always afraid to lose him.
“It’s too horrible. You’d be disgusted with me if I told you.” I cringed, the words left a bitter taste in my mouth.
“You know that’s not true,” he disagreed, like I knew he would. He didn’t understand. He had no idea what kind of things I had done in Luïnil. The things I did to his kin.
One of the boys made a sudden snort sound, making me jump right in Rydan’s arms from the unexpected intrusion. Thankfully, they all stayed asleep as Rydan and I continued our quiet discussion.
“C’mon, just tell me. You know you’ll feel better,” Rydan urged again. My heart squeezed tight, just hating the thought of telling him. But I knew he was right. I needed to tell my best friend. It was probably the only way for me to cope. I might not ever be able to forgive myself, but I needed to learn to live with my actions before I had a mental breakdown like Mycah predicted I would.
