I think one of my biggest pet peeves has got to be non-responsive publishers. Year after year it gets worse. I've already been on the agent hunt, and this produced 280 non-responders out of 440 submissions. The below listed publishers are at the six-month mark and much longer, and I'm calling them out. Granted, quite a few warn up front that they will not respond. I've also sent a few dozen nudges, and NONE of those were answered. I've got nine fulls out there and the rest are queries or synopsis' or chapters. What really irks me is the non-response to simple questions that involve submission instructions, genre preference, editor's names or other such questions. And, yes, there are specific info links on publisher's websites that are supposed to get you through to the right source/person for a simple inquiry.
The problem here is that it's a huge time-waster--a sinkhole for both sides. Not only does the author have to look up the correct address, and possibly find the right editor (if no spreadsheet was maintained), and then send the message off, but the editor has to check their records (if they are a responder), which means searching the archives/database then drafting an apology letter or some other response. That's if they legitimately missed it somehow, which means it could have been caught in their spam trap or they erased it by accident.
I think we all know the simple solution to this. An auto-paste. I don't care if they tell me to fugg off, never darken their stoop again or take flying leap into the netherworld. The point is, all mysteries and questions about whether your precious sub made it to destination or not is answered in one quick, painless blow. Then we can cross them off our list and forget about them popping up in our nightmares. We often blame ourselves, wondering if we followed procedure correctly or not--if we hit the right editor or failed to notice that they accept from agents only.
I performed a little experiment. It took about 12 to 18 seconds to title a rejection letter and do an auto-paste. Not much time, considering they might receive a dozen or two subs a day. Done that way, their worries are over and it's a big finish for both sides.
SO, PUBLISHERS, HOWZ ABOUT GETTING OFF YOUR ASS AND TERMINATING US THE RIGHT WAY. It's really a good habit to adapt. That way we won't be clogging up your mail box with panicky queries, or drafting semi-apologetic, frustrated letters of inquiry.
BTW, if your records indicate otherwise with the below listed houses, drop me a line or comment. Or, you can compare the list to your records. Recognize anyone there? Then don't feel so bad.
Anachronpren—D.I. Pages or Full—12-16-2011
Crescent
Moon—Screamcatcher—Full--10-10-2011--Nudged 4-12
Dark
Quest—Scream--Chapters or Full—9-11-2011
Elder Signs
Press—Scream--Synop and 3 chapters--1-16-2012
Steward
House—Shafer—Fusion--full--synop--3-18-2012
White
Cat (Charles)--Fusion--3 chapters and synopsis—4-22-2012
Glasshouse
Press (Judy)--Girl--Synopsis--4-25-2012
Sourcebooks--Girl--query-synopiss-full--4-27-2012
Diamond
Heart Press—Query and bio—Girl--5-10-2012 (neg advance)
Bolinda—Girl--query
only and question—6-4-2012
Lands
Atlantic—Girl--Synopsis and 1 chapter—8-21-2012
Amulet
Press—Girl--Query and five pages (Ms Metre)--9-3-2012
Albert
Whitman and Co—Girl--Query and five pages (Whitman)--9-3-2012
Atom
Press—Girl--synopsis--3 Chapters—9-3-2012
Diamond
Heart Press—Girl--synopsis and three chapters (form)--9-3-2012
Sunbury
Press—Girl--(Mr. Knorr)--synopsis--9-9-2012
Dark Quest—Girl--(ms. Morris)--query--9-9-2012
Dark Quest—Girl--(ms. Morris)--query--9-9-2012
Ephemera
Publishing--Girl--query--full--9-9-2012
Shaddowfall
Press—Girl--online form--full--9-9-2012
White
Cat Press—Girl--synopsis--3 Chapters—9-11-2012
Precious
Gems Pub—Girl (Ms. Lignor)--query only—9-17-2012
Montag
press—girl—full, copyright and synopsis—9-18-2012
Lerner
Press (Carolrhoda books—Mr. Karre)--Girl--SENT FULL—9-20-2012
Coliloquy
Press—Girl—Synopsis--(Ms. Rutherford)--9-20-2012
Haven
Books—Girl—Synopsis--9-20-2012
47th
Street Publishing (Amazon), Girl—synopsis, marketing,
full—10-3-2012
Zharmae—Screamcatcher--synopsis--3
chapters—10-11-2012
War Gate Author's Note: The antagonist character, Wax Man, is not for the squeamish. I warn you ahead of time that he is the most disgusting, vile creature/human you're ever likely to read about.
HOW DOES A WOMAN BECOME FIVE MONTHS PREGNANT JUST BEFORE HER EXECUTION, WHEN SHE'S BEEN IN SOLITARY CONFINEMENT FOR 14 YEARS? THE INMATES SCREAM, "IT'S A GHOST LOVER!"
When the reincarnated Avy Labrador is kicked out of her stepfather’s house on her 18th
birthday, she has no idea that the man who raised her framed her mother
to cover his murder so he could acquire a major software empire. Now,
years later, with the help of her magician boyfriend, Sebastian, Avy is
about to discover that her birth was otherworldly and for a purpose. The
ancient Roman God Janus was so appalled by the heinous murder of Tom
Labrador by his brother Drake that he opened up a War Gate. Avy has
received half of her mother’s soul light and half of a God’s essence.
Her mission is to put the real killer behind bars. The only catch: she
must learn to “Gate-Walk”, that’s time traveling to the layman. She soon
finds out that she is a drunk driver on the space/time continuum super
highway.
“This was a solidly written tale with a
trace of fantasy and complex thought used in defining the concept of
leaping from one time gate to the next—excellent job of structuring.”
Terrie G, Bitten by Books, 4 out of 5.
“The War Gate is a captivating book.
Mystery, magic and the paranormal blend together in a perfect mix. I
would thoroughly recommend this book to fantasy enthusiasts who also
like romance."
Orcid, Aurora Reviews, 5 out of 5.
War Gate Author's Note: The antagonist character, Wax Man, is not for the squeamish. I warn you ahead of time that he is the most disgusting, vile creature/human you're ever likely to read about.
