I’ve been putting off this post for a while. I’m not usually a procrastinator, so this is unusual for me. But this has been hard to write. I’ve debated all sorts of cheery, “good news-bad news” ways to say this, and decided they were all a little silly. Because the truth is that I’m disappointed, and it would be lying to pretend I’m not.

So here goes…ripping off the bandaid.

The Watchers won’t be coming out in August. It’s been delayed. The new publication date is April 3, 2012. For those of you who were looking forward to it, all I can say is that I’m just as sad as you are. Maybe more so. Probably more so.

Why the long delay? Isn’t the book already written? Didn’t you show us the bright and shiny ARCs months ago? Yes. And yes. The book is written. ARCs were printed.

Here’s what happened: after coming up with the cover for The Watchers, and after printing all those ARCs, my publisher got feedback from some booksellers that the cover and title of Delcroix Academy: The Candidates weren’t doing what the cover/title were supposed to do: draw in readers and explain what the book is about. Though I loved the flames and the girl’s picture, I have to admit that I can understand why some folks didn’t like it. Because really, if you’ve read the book you know it’s not a story about flames and hellfire. It’s about a girl. A young girl. A girl who really doesn’t intend to blow up the world.

And although Delcroix Academy is the name of the school, it’s a hard name to pronounce. And the title “The Candidates” doesn’t tell you that this is a story about kids with superpowers.

So my publisher decided to come up with a new marketing strategy. One that, they hoped, would do a better job of communicating: 1) this is a story about a young girl; 2) this is a book about kids with superpowers.

And here we get to the good news part of the story. Delcroix Academy: The Candidates will be launched in paperback in March, 2012, with a new title and a new cover.

The new title, The Talents, will hopefully do some work for us, and the new cover will hopefully convey a few things as well. Like the fact that the heroine is 14, adorable, is not Carrie, and is headed to boarding school. ;-)

Now, I did promise that I’d give you two new covers, right? And so far you’ve seen one, for the paperback release of Book 1. So…what about Book 2?

HERE IT IS:

Beautiful, right? Absolutely spot on model for Dancia, and perfectly conveys the mystery and intrigue of the book. I just love it. And a new title, to go along with the new cover! And now when I blow these covers up for my wall, it will look like I’ve published FOUR BOOKS, instead of two. LOL!

Now, despite the LOOOOOOOONG wait for Book 2, I will have lots of ARC giveaways in the months ahead. In fact, I have an ARC to give away RIGHT NOW. It’s got the old cover on it, which I am sure will make this worth MILLIONS someday.

Comment to win and spread the word — The Marked (AKA The Watchers) is coming April 3, 2012. But you can win it NOW. Contest ends Friday May 27.