Jim Melvin's Death Wizard Chronicles

It's my pleasure to depart a little bit from what I normally write about, to introduce Jim Melvin and a recent interview I had with him. He is the author of the heralded six-book epic fantasy series The Death Wizard Chronicles. 
 

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 http://www.amazon.com/Forged-Death-Wizard-Chronicles-ebook/dp/B0091KI1XS/ref=sr_1_5?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1372563454&sr=1-5&keywords=jim+melvin

Jim Melvin is the author of The Death Wizard Chronicles, a six-book epic fantasy. Books 1-3 (Forged in Death, Chained by Fear and Shadowed by Demons) are now available at a variety of venues via Bell Bridge Books. Book 4 (Torn by War) is in the editing process. All six books of the 700,000-word series are written and should be out by the end of 2014.

Jim's body of work also includes Dream House: A Ghost Story (published by Out of Bounds Press) and Dark Circles (not yet published), the first book of an epic fantasy for middle-schoolers and above. With the exception of Dark Circles, Jim's works contain adult content. Jim was an award-winning journalist for the St. Petersburg Times for twenty-five years. He now works at the Charlotte Observer. Here is a Q/A with the rising author.

Given the immense scope of The Death Wizard Chronicles, what motivated you to keep at it for three years and produce a six-book series?

I wrote my first novel when I was 21 years old, and I shopped it around to various publishers and got no bites. But I wasn’t particularly concerned at the time. It’s usually the second or third novel that hits it big, so I went about the business of writing my second book.

My roiling imagination gave birth to a character named Torg, and he was to be king of a band of desert warriors called Tugars.

Needless to say, I was full of zest and excitement — but not necessarily of maturity. Over the next several years, every time I sat down to write about Torg I’d get a few pages in and then hit a wall. Each time, my excuse was that I was just too busy. I already was married, raising a family, and working a challenging job.

Years turned into decades. It wasn’t until age 45 that I wrote my second novel. And my how things had changed over the course of that time. I was remarried and had five daughters, the youngest three of whom were adopted from Cambodia. But most importantly, at least as far as my writing career was concerned, I finally had developed the worldliness to bring Torg and the Tugars to life at the level of quality they deserved. After almost 25 years of starts and stops, The Death Wizard Chronicles was born for real. I wrote the first page of Book 1 in September 2004. Almost 700,000 words later, I wrote the last word of Book 6 in late 2007. 

The series was soon published, but the first publisher went out of business. Luckily, I later was picked up by Bell Bridge Books, which is publishing the series now, hence the large gap in time from when I finished the series until now.

Your protagonist MC uses death energy to achieve magical powers. Your antagonist uses the Sun's energy. Why the trope reversal and did you consider it risky?

The major theme of my series is the "fear of death" and how it pervades everything we do, both consciously and subconsciously. However, the even deeper theme is that it's not really death we should fear but rather a life filled with ignorance. Therefore, I created a paradox that carries throughout the series -- that the powers of good are fueled by death energy and the powers of evil by the energy of life (the sun). I didn't consider this to be risky, however, because most of what I've described here occurs between the lines. On its surface, The DW Chronicles is a fun, sexy, action-packed read. So if you're into something deeper, it's there for you to explore. But if you prefer to read just for entertainment's sake, you won't be disappointed.


Tolkien was a major influence in my first attempt at an epic fantasy. Are we in the same boat with that inspirational notion?

I have always been in love with Tolkien. I started reading LOTR back in the mid-'70s and have read it, literally, more than 30 times since. For me, it is a Rite of Spring. I adore Tolkien's characters even more than his story. Their depth and richness have charmed me for decades. However, my series is a more on the adult side than Tolkien's, more along the lines of George R.R. Martin's Game of Thrones or Steven Erikson's Malazan series. And taking this thought further, it's more like Erikson than Martin because it is loaded with monsters and magic. My characters also tend to jive with the conventions of high fantasy, as in the good guys are morally high-minded and vice versa.

I have to know if your wife explored your writing exploits right along with you and how much she contributed to some of your ideas.

My wife is also a book author, though she writes non-fiction. And she's an amazing editor. She'd be the first to admit that she's pretty much clueless when it comes to high fantasy, but that didn't stop her from reading and editing the entire series for me. I adore her for it.

Where in the heck are you going from here? Are you experimenting with any other genres now in which you'd love to make a splash?

I've written Dream House: A Ghost Story, which is my first stab at horror. It turned out to be be loaded with sex as well as horror, and I have mixed feelings about that. I might eventually revise it and tone down the sex. Dream House is certainly nowhere near as good as The DW Chronicles, but it makes for a fun "beach read," especially if you've had a few marqueritas and are feeling feisty. :) 

Book 1 of Dark Circles is my first stab at young adult. And it's actually middle school as opposed to YA. My youngest daughter, who is 13, is a voracious reader, and she loved Dark Circles, but I'm still in the planning stages of how to go about getting it published. 

As for experimenting, I would love to attempt a collaboration with someone (either fantasy or horror), but I've yet to find the right author. Maybe I'm too much of a pain!

Do you have any new series ideas? If so, could you give us a glimpse? 

Well, Dark Circles is new. It's called Dark Circles because the ordinary kids who enter the fantasy land of monsters and magic aren't able to sleep. If they do, evil beings enter their dreams and try to kill them. So when the kids return to the real world, they have dark circles under their eyes from lack of sleep.

Also, there is a physically powerful and emotionally complex dragon in my DW series named Bhayatupa who a lot of my readers have really enjoyed. And there are references in the series to "dragon wars" that occurred 30,000 years before the time frame of The DW Chronicles. So I'm planning a prequel book involving Bhayatupa and the dragon wars, when thousands of dragons ruled the land from the skies.

Otherwise, I do want to write more horror -- the really scary kind. (I love Stephen King too, of course.) I have some ideas, but they're better left under the bed for now.


What is your favorite appeal with epic or road fantasy?

Ha! Believe it or not, "road fantasy" is a new one on me. I actually prefer the title "epic fantasy" over any of the others. As far as my favorite appeal, I don't really have a concrete answer for that other than that epic fantasy is what I most enjoy to read and to write, with horror a relatively distant second. I've always loved the concept of magical beings -- real magic that flows out physically and tangibly, versus more subtle magic such as trickery or illusion. And though it has become kind of unpopular these days, I still do enjoy characters that are one-dimensional, at least in the sense that they have sided either with good or with evil. A few of my characters are mixed and gritty, but I more often follow the Tolkien model in this regard, for better or worse.

Anyway, thanks for having me, Chris. I'm a big fan of yours, as well. 

-- Jim Melvin, www.jim-melvin.com, https://www.facebook.com/TheDeathWizardChronicles

YA and Taboos

I've got a YA fantasy thriller knocking around out there and have pulled in about 12 publisher rejections. Yet, I've also yanked in four offers, but declined them all. I'm just looking for a better deal. I'm fairly new to the YA category (two years) and something just struck me last week after another rejection. This rejection pointed out that my manuscript was unsuitable because it contained pot, underage alcohol consumption, some dated slang and a stereotypical American Indian character. I was only interested in trying to decipher the reason for the pot and alcohol comments (actually had two different editors remark about this). I've got a 16, 18, 19 and 20 year-old cast. Now if these were Christian publishers I could well understand it. They were not, nor did they stipulate that such behavior would not be tolerated anywhere in their YA guidelines or mission statement.

I just couldn't understand it at all. The pot scene involves a blunt being passed around and they all take a couple of swigs of liquor from a flask. The scene is tiny and disappears in a flash, never to be repeated again. Now, as far as reality goes, this type of behavior was part of my teenage years and just about included everyone else around me. I don't think it's gone the way of the dodo today and might even be a bit more prevalent. I was just very surprised because it was highlighted in the rejections. It's seems that all the other Rs, and even the offers, paid no mind to it at all, or I certainly would have heard about it in some fashion. I'm all for more moral turpitude but I'm crafting realistic fiction here with some real teenagers who are not dyed in the wool, church-going WASPs. I could understand plenty of this type of consumption in urban or ghetto fiction--it's part of the whole essence.

So here's my question to you--was I really out of line in exploring these taboos? Are some publishers apt to run with these types of scenes without it bothering them? Is this an editorial preference and variable to the specific publishing house? It seems to me that many publishers will run with it and others are dead set against it.

I guess the way to interpret a publisher's moral stance is to read a few of their books in this category and genre and see what goes. I just haven't had the time to read all those books since I'm watching my wallet lately. I suppose one could read the mission statement of the publisher or even the tone of the book blurbs to get a hint. 

Anyway--short blog post here. You're welcome to chime in on this one and let this old bird know wass up with this type of subject matter. 





In a remote compound in Wyoming a geneticist created the first female human-wolf hybrid and adopted her as his daughter. When Melina Salinger discovers who and what she really is she escapes her father's domain and sets out into the wilderness—any other life would be better than the one that was forced upon her.

Seth Anson, a ranger stationed at the Wheeler Ridge watchtower, is trying to get over a bitter divorce—working in the majestic Shoshone forest is the only way he knows how to get on with his life. Consequently, he is unprepared for the strange and mysterious woman he accidentally shoots and then must nurse back to health. As Seth and Melina form a close bond that leads to something deeper—they have no idea that the geneticist’s other creation—the result of a DNA cloning experiment gone horribly wrong—is bent on finding Melina and committing a monstrous act.

Publishers Who are Gun-Shy of Agents

I just had an experience with a publisher that was a little unsettling. And disappointing. When you consider I lost a sale because of it, it might be termed a worse case scenario in the submission process. Without further ado, I'll post this publisher's email letter to me after I received their contract offer. I just mentioned in the thank you letter that my agent would be delighted to look over the terms and report back to the both of us. Yah-deh-da-deh-dah. You know how it goes. I changed the wording in the publishers reply so that it wouldn't be quite so traceable, but there was still no disclaimer in their email about revealing privy information. And it doesn't really make this publisher out to be a monster.

Hi, Chris;

I'm sorry but this is a little unorthodox for us. We like to deal directly with the writers who query us. Since there is now at this time an agent involved, this changes the dynamics a little.
 
I'm sorry but we have so many submissions at any given time that we like to stick with one contact person, the person who submitted to us. Presently we don't wish to bring an agent into the deal. If an agent queries us in the beginning, we are more than happy to work with them. However, since this was not the case with your submission, it looks more like it will confuse matters on our end.
Because of this we feel that (Publishing House) is probably not a good fit for you at this time.

We wish you and your agent tremendous luck in your future endeavors!

Have a wonderful day.

My Response:

 Well, I'm indeed sad that you feel that way. Truly. Just to clear the air a little, (Agent name) has been my agent for a couple years and aids me in migrating the legal-speak of contract issues. I didn't bring him/her in on the tail end of the deal just to leverage anything. He/She's not the type to go after a publisher with a knife in one hand and a money bag in the other. My relationship with he/she is almost symbiotic in that I'm allowed to solicit and sub to the best of the best small press houses, while he/she takes care of the larger NYC imprints and such. I'm only required to coordinate with he/she and give he/she a heads up if there's interest, and not make any subs that would cross his/her's list--I provide he/she with my own list. I'm also sorry that you missed my listing of him/her in my bio/credit section that I sent along with the first query and/or following submissions.
 
(My Book) sold four times before you expressed interest. My agent and I declined all of them, but we kept (This Publisher Name) on the top shelf. I understand your point about agent first contact, but I'm sure you know as a result of your own publishing experience that many agents are reluctant to submit to small press houses because they're not known to be especially lucrative. It's just a pure business thing. However, some agents don't mind signing such contracts when all avenues have been exhausted and the author could really use/benefit by the association.

I'm not sure that you have an agent since I don't see one in any acknowledgments in your books listed on Amazon. I can't describe to you what it's like having one in only a few sentences--I've had three in the past 26 years. But it might be a good idea if you include your preferences for-or-against agent involvement on your website--in the FAQs or Submission areas. If I glossed over it, that's my fault.

I sincerely hope you believe/understand that agents aren't the enemy and a faction to be avoided. They're much better at diplomacy than us, ofttimes, irrational, impatient and demanding authors.

Respectfully yours,

Chris

What else could I say? How would you have worded it? When this person used passive words in the vein of, "like, looks more like, feel, probably, wish to" and other such phrases, I tend to think that he/she's either very sorry and trying to let me down easy or that he/she's very aware that what's happening here is not quite the right thing to do. Maybe. I tend to think this publisher has never dealt with an agent before and I suspect that this person has never been represented by one. I can think of Jim Baen of Baen Books, who did not suffer agents well and he expressed this displeasure to all in sundry. In fact, his staff alerted me to this when I was very close to a full-read determination. But Jim Baen was a dinosaur, God rest his soul, and I think everyone rode his wave even if he told you how to surf it. Heavy hitters in the pub bizz get that respect.

It could have been that this publisher had no intention of budging from their token advance amount or their royalty allotment. Quite possibly, they'd never had agent contact before. And from all that we writers have been told about the positives of having an agent handle everything, you have to admit that this is bizarre and, I'll use his/her's term, "unorthodox."

I didn't want to burn any bridges. I wanted to inform with a plea of understanding and not come off like some pompous brute who knows-it-all. I hope I managed to do that without offense. But I will say this, if you come across a similar situation, turn mother's picture to the wall and get out. I think this publisher is living in the stone age and really doesn't understand the dynamics of publishing. They are new to the scene, about a year or more into their business, but I don't think that qualifies as a legitimate excuse. At the very worst, they're hiding something. Something stinks on the shoreline and it's best that you walk right on by without investigating or picking it up.

This is one case where having an agent nixed a sale instead of pulling one off. Crikey, wot?

 

 Captain Zachary Crowe and the crew of Planet Janitor Corporation are adept at handling environmental clean-ups and close system jumps to collect precious ores and space trash. The problem is they have yet to complete an assignment without a mishap to add to their not so stellar record. Scraping the bottom of the barrel, Orion Industries contracts Planet Janitor for a clandestine operation that no one else wants, offering them more money than they could spend in three lifetimes. The mission entails a 12 light-year trip to a newly found habitable planet in the Tau Ceti system. The crew will lose 26 years on Earth due to the cryo jump, but that is the least of their problems. What they find on Tau Ceti will rattle their wits, test their courage, and threaten their very survival.

Phase 2--Does Nudging Work?

Sorry if I haven't been around for weeks. Just got over an acute case of salmonella poisoning that lasted for three weeks, including hospitalization. I'm still not over this dastardly affliction--it tore me to shreds. My stomach, sides and lower back are still numb and I have no clue why. If it gets worse, I'm off to the white sheets and nurses again. On top of that I lost Internet for two weeks because my WiFi router shorted out. That required an upgrade--more expense.

On to the subject at hand...

I've never thought nudging worked and I've only used it sparingly over the past six years. My thinking has always been, why would they respond if they didn't respond in the first place? And how in the heck would I determine the proper or appropriate length of time to get that message off to them? Well, I've always known about ballpark figures, so I'd thought I'd refine those a bit. It goes something like this for me:

Query--nudge after three months
Chapters--nudge after four months
Fulls (requested or standard sub format)--nudge after five months.

As for submissions to agents, I think I would remove a month or 45 days from those numbers. That's up to you.

Now, I know that some publishing houses state that their response time might take six months and longer. But for me, that's just TOO damn long, especially if they did, indeed, lose my manuscript or never got it in the first place. What a hellacious circumstance! That could double the wait time and really leave you with a nasty taste in your mouth. Imagine getting bumped from an initial five month wait into another four or five months! Crikey, what are they trying to do to us?

I also DON'T bother with agents or publishing houses that state that a "No Response Means No."

Does it work? Well, it sure did this time. I went after the chapters and fulls for 12 publishers. I started getting results within days. The longest was nine days. Now, why? Had to be the subject line, even for the identical sub address: SUBMISSION INQUIRY STATUS. That seemed to work just fine, lighting a fire under some keesters. I can only think that interns or editors scan their emails every day and look for such subject line titling. The reasoning HAS to be that, for them, this will be a quick and easy answer.

Out of the 12, eight responded. I was asked to resubmit by six of them, and one, believe it or not, offered a contract. Two excuses dominated the replies: "We're sorry, but we have no record of your submission during that time frame" and "We must have lost your submission--please try us again." One publishers admitted that they had switched their email address, while another said that they'd gone to the form-type submission format. Anyway, I re-subbed and I'm currently waiting. Oh, the sale? I declined the offer after speaking with my agent. They were just too new and didn't have a good back list--their advance was a bit small too.

Here are some samples for three different books, and I've included some special circumstances in my wording. You'll get the idea. You can tailor it however you want.


Greetings,

Please consider this a polite inquiry in regard to the status of my full submission of Fusion, an adult thriller, to (Publisher) on (Date. Any information about its ongoing reading or rejection would be much appreciated.
Most kindly yours,
Chris Stevenson


Greetings,
Please consider this a polite inquiry in regard to the status of my full submission of The Girl They Sold to the Moon, a YA SF distopian to (Publisher) on (Date). This book has taken the first place grand prize in a YA novel writing contest, but I have forestalled any commitment and advance in favor of seeking out other interested publishing houses. Any information about its ongoing reading or rejection would be much appreciated. If you would prefer my agent resubmit the book, I can arrange it. My agent is:
The Sara Camilli Agency (Address and phone number)
 Most kindly yours,
 Chris Stevenson
 
Greetings,
Please consider this a polite inquiry in regard to the status of my chapter submission of Screamcatcher, a YA urban fantasy thriller (Publisher) on (Date). This book has received two offers but I have forestalled any commitment in favor of seeking out other interested publishing houses. Any information about its ongoing reading or rejection would be much appreciated. If you would prefer my agent resubmit the book, I can arrange it.
Most Kindly Yours,
Chris Stevenson 

As you can see, these are "sales nudges" in that I did obtain offers. So, I kind of held my own little mini-auction. For a normal, non-pressure nudge, the first example or something like it works just fine. They're short, sweet and to the point. In summary, I've found that publishers are not as infallible as I thought. Mistakes are made--a lot of them. What surprised me was the offer and, you know, that could happen again. 

Currently I'm keeping an eye on my submission spreadsheet, waiting for publishers to enter that "danger zone." Once they lag, I'm going to be on them like a tornado in a trailer park. No more "write them off and move ons." I bet it'll work for you too.

 Welcome to The War Gate, a paranormal romance/thriller with a time-travel twist.

“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.

Tag Line: Through a miraculous conception, Avalon Labrador must give birth to herself before she is executed, to solve her husband’s murder and her own wrongful conviction.

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.

Just when she believes she has too much on her plate to contend with, she learns that she’s pegged the wrong man as the killer…her boyfriend is not who he appears to be…and Janus, the so-called God of new beginnings, doorways and gates, just might be the biggest conman and liar she has ever met.

The War Gate has a heavy mystery structure, as well as paranormal/magic and romance elements.

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. Not for younger readers under 13.

Do You Need an Agent?

You don't need an agent to be published. There are myriads of publishers out there that take un-agented subs and, quite surprisingly, dozens that offer token and higher advances plus distribution. For some reason, the larger, more prestigious small press houses refer to themselves as "Independent Publishers." Don't forget University presses that take fiction. Google up a list of those and read the guidelines.
 
One of the biggest reasons for rejection does not have anything to do with the quality of the submission. Keep in mind that an agent might only allow 2 to 5 new writers on board per year, and they receive thousands of submissions in that time frame. Some pretty tight odds, there. Many agencies are full up at the present but accept submissions because it gives them the appearance of being active and receptive. Writing clients die, fire their agent and move on, and this always leaves a few slots open for newcomers. Timing has more to do with getting hooked up with an agent than you would have thought.
 
Hint: if you have more than one book polished and ready to go, your chances are better of getting picked up. Especially if they are in the same genre (agent's specialty), or your halfway through a series, or have completed a sequel or a trilogy. State that fact in your query's bio/credit list. This gives you legs with the agency--they're interested in your future and commitment to putting out several books on down the road.  I had four books ready to go that I'd swarmed the small press with. I used all the comments from those editors (who rejected me) to rewrite and revise every book. Yes, I used them as beta readers. Then I went agent hunting and got scooped up by four agents. I settled on the A-lister, who loved all of the stories and intended on repping all of them. 
 

Here's a few small press and independents that pay token and small advances ranging from $100 to $2,500. I think Journalstone forked over $6,500 for their last acquisition (that's their claim, anyway). Many of these have real book store placement via legit distribution. A $200 advance seems to be a very popular threshold. Sorry for any errors--I wrote it fast:

Zharmae (really has some communications problems—failure to follow through)
Journalstone (excellent, exacting editor here)
Bell Bridge (probably one of the best small press pro staffs extant)
Soho (whopping reputation)
Sourcebooks (award winner and very popular)
LLDreamspell (one to watch)
Diamond Heart
Prometheus (the best advances and distribution)
Steward House
Scarlet Voyage
Pyr (top of the line—very well respected in SF and fantasy circles)
47th Street (?)
Snow Books (Long time popular press with many awards and celebrity authors)
Red Deer
Limitless
Shadowfall (Illness has forced a temporary shutdown here)
Random House (new digital imprint—Alibi, Flirt, etc,.)
Grand Central (Forever Yours Digital)
MP
Buzz Books (?)
Top Publications
Arthur A. Levine
Grand Mal Press
Variance
Seventh Street
Luna
Angry Robot/Strange Chemistry (agent, I think, but a huge trend-setter)
LLewellyn Worldwide
Permuted Press (really making some huge strides)

Blue Leaf
The Story Plant (the famed Lou Aronica and Peter Miller launch)
Mischief Books
Etopia (with stipulations--straight romance and erotica)
Oneworld Press (advance?--distribution)

Limitless (best covers in the industry—hands down)

Intrigue Press

Nightshade (agent sub, and they've had some financial trouble lately which forced a bankruptcy)

PLANET JANITOR CUSTODIAN OF THE STARS--Starship Troopers meets Robinson Crusoe on Mars. A must read for classic and Golden Age Fans!

 http://www.amazon.com/Planet-Janitor-Custodian-Illustrated-ebook/dp/B004IASH8K/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1330380990&sr=1-2

 

Captain Zachary Crowe and the crew of Planet Janitor Corporation are adept at handling environmental clean-ups and close system jumps to collect precious ores and space trash. The problem is they have yet to complete an assignment without a mishap to add to their not so stellar record. Scraping the bottom of the barrel, Orion Industries contracts Planet Janitor for a clandestine operation that no one else wants, offering them more money than they could spend in three lifetimes. The mission entails a 12 light-year trip to a newly found habitable planet in the Tau Ceti system. The crew will lose 26 years on Earth due to the cryo jump, but that is the least of their problems. What they find on Tau Ceti will rattle their wits, test their courage, and threaten their very survival.

Review

"Planet Janitor does deliver an interstellar romp that hearkens to the best of Robert Heinlein or Philip José Farmer... A rollicking plot-driven adventure... The dangers are intimidating, the wonders evocative and the thread that ties it all together is always just a little more tangled than it seems." --The Canadian Science Fiction Review, December 13, 2010

"An intriguing and exciting cross between Aliens and 10,000 Years B.C. - Stevenson shows us a future filled with proof that we should listen to Stephen Hawking's warnings about alien life forms and what they want to do to us." --Gini Koch, author of `Touched by an Alien' & `Alien Tango', December 1, 2010

"Stevenson's book considers the possibility of an elite industry of environmental cleanup specialists who take on all sorts of bizarre environmental jobs... Clearly, this is a timely topic that hits home in the wake of the Gulf oil spill." --SF-Fandom, September 21, 2010

From the Publisher

A great deal of care went into the quality of this book, with case laminate library binding, wrap around cover art, and 26 illustrations.

Lost Your Mojo?

There's been quite a few posts over at the Absolute Writers forum, one thread in particular that has quite a few writers complaining about lack of interest in their WIPs--lack of confidence--no validation--zero spark--out of ideas--stuck/blocked--discouraged, thinking about giving up and other negative statements that run the gamut. Many of them haven't been published or gone through the torturous submission ritual. This is a pretty common occurrence, given the fact that writing is a thankless pursuit that pays nothing upfront and requires endless hours at the keyboard. People wonder why they even began to punch plastic and spray pixels across the screen. Yet, they grudgingly admit that it's the Love of writing that spurs them on. So how did they lose the love? Well, seeing as how writing is considered a hobby or a part-time endeavor, it's easy to put the blame on it and cast it aside and then wallow in self-doubt. 

Bad breath, bad luck, the stars not in proper alignment, we'll offer up any excuse to explain our displeasure and all the pain that authoring a book can throw at us. But if we could turn back the clock and recapture that moment of euphoria when the idea struck and we hit the keys in a white-hot fever, we'd really realize that it wasn't the story that changed or suddenly felt flat or uninspired; it was our attitude that changed. Our confidence plummeted because we allowed it to happen. Self-doubts began to creep in and take over our mindset. Once we'd let a few doubts in it was like uncorking the flood gates. The flood came and we became awash in nothing but self-ridicule and negativity.

Stuck somewhere in the narrative jungle without a machete? 

Do this: back up a dozen or so pages on the manuscript and read through it up until the point you stopped or hang-fired. See if you can get back in the rhythm--find that pace. Try a chapter. Hell, go back to the very beginning if you need to and see if you can pick up that spark again. Recognize any of your writing that really had some punch? Good or great dialog? Excellent characterization, tone, mood or atmosphere? I'm sure you'll see it--you just have to look for it. How can this help? It shows you what you've done right--not wrong. These are the highlights of your prose--the parts of the story that kept you going.

Have some beta readers go over what you've written. Ask them if they see any strong points in your style/voice, or anything that pops in a good way. You don't need to know any of the rough spots at this point. What you need is a little validation, kind of a pat on the shoulder for a job well done. Take the positive comments to heart. Let it feed your ego a little, just enough to know that you don't suck and your story far from blows. There's probably nothing major wrong.

If you're convinced that your manuscript is dismal failure, try another idea and see how far you get. If you've got something else eating at you that feels better, try and get it out of your system. But I can tell you from experience what is just about ready to happen. You'll plow ahead on that new idea only to get hung up worse than you did with the first project. I can't tell you how many 50-page novels I have in my database. I've lost track. They got there because I went through fits of indecisiveness--bouts of procrastination. Inevitably, I ended up right back on that first story, determined to hammer through that brick wall. Know why? Because that damn new idea had less legs than the other story! 

Are you stuck in a scene that seems flat or static? No action? Why not leave a little hanger or red herring and transit out of that scene. How about making that chapter a short one? That way you can change your subject matter, swap POVs or start a new hook. There's always a way out of a tight spot without abandoning the project. It starts with a simple paragraph. And then you follow it up with another and another until you have a page. A page is progress.

Now, if it really seems hopeless and you're convinced that everything you write is steaming shit, put that story in the cornfield for now. For now. Write some short stories or poems and submit them until hell won't have it. Try flash fiction if you haven't before. Get published. Get that hash mark on your sleeve. The minute you realize that someone is willing to pay you for something is the day you'll wake up and understand that your efforts were not wasted. If that's the validation you need, then go after it in a white hot fever. Use it as ego ammo to blast those doubts out of your head. It can be the first credit in your resume and nothing can be more official than that! 

 

Click to open expanded view

Welcome to The War Gate, a paranormal romance/thriller with a time-travel twist.

“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.

Tag Line: Through a miraculous conception, Avalon Labrador must give birth to herself before she is executed, to solve her husband’s murder and her own wrongful conviction.

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.

Just when she believes she has too much on her plate to contend with, she learns that she’s pegged the wrong man as the killer…her boyfriend is not who he appears to be…and Janus, the so-called God of new beginnings, doorways and gates, just might be the biggest conman and liar she has ever met.

The War Gate has a heavy mystery structure, as well as paranormal/magic and romance elements.

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. Not for younger readers under 13.

Are You Submitting to Ghosts?

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

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

47^th Street Publishing (Amazon), Girl—synopsis, marketing, full—10-3-2012

Zharmae—Screamcatcher--synopsis--3 chapters—10-11-2012

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!"

http://www.amazon.com/The-War-Gate-ebook/dp/B008SDVEQU/ref=sr_1_5?s...

When the reincarnated Avy Labrador is kicked out of her stepfather’s house on her 18^th 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.

KDP Select Freebies Not Dead?

 Looks like I'll have to salt the brim of my fedora and eat the damn thing. Or cram some crow pie down my neck. KDP Select freebies are not quite ready for the grave yard. I'd thought they'd seen their day. 

I just came off a two-day free trial period on the 18th and 19th, for my paranormal romance thriller The War Gate. Now, in the past two free trial periods (months ago), one two-day and one three-day event, I pulled 479 and 580 free downloads respectively. I didn't get a real great sales jump form either, probably about two books per event. 

This last time I stacked up 3,300 free downloads and ended up #3 in paranormal category. I couldn't believe it. I was gobsmacked. Then I had, and am still having, a sales rush right now. It even kick-started two other titles that carry different genres. Now that's never happened before. Those aren't really spectacular numbers, but for ME it IS. Any change like that points to something that I did right this time or differently. And I've been busting my brain to figure out what it was.

I announced the free trial period two weeks in advance in about eight of the typical free trial listing sites, including the one on the Kindle boards. I blogged about it--but it was very late on the last day. I hit up book blogs and pasted in there, as well as FB, Twitter and my major writing sites--about four of those. But I announced the freebies on FB and Twitter three times each per day--one morning, one afternoon and one evening for the two days running. I don't think I did that before, having done it only once each for each day.

This wasn't too different from the previous events. Then what was it?

I went to the Kindle Boards and scrounged around every relative thread that I could find that might have an explanation. I discovered that authors that had the most downloads had the most sales when they went live. That didn't make sense but then I kept reading examples of it. It made me a believer. Only because my last freebie period had the highest downloads. They also said that with the increased free downloads, if you had enough of them, then word-of-mouth would kick in. That's never happened either. Because word-of-mouth creates a small feeding frenzy which usually snowballs. Now, I'm hoping that's what I have here--a tiny little snowball. They say, normally, after going active from a free trial period you do begin to drop and things level out. Other cases say it never stops and you fly to a loftier position and pretty much stay there.

But one thing made the most sense of all and it hadn't occurred to me. My past events happened over the weekends. Both of them. The three-day event began on Friday and ended Sunday. Now, I know from being on the internet for the past eight years that my email traffic is 50% less than the weekdays. This last free trial period was on a Monday and Tuesday. Viola! That made perfect sense. For some reason, I had the most reader traffic on Amazon on Monday and Tuesday.  Is that when people returned home from work and settled down in front of the laptop/computer? It had to be.

If any of this helps you with your next free trial period, have at it.  I particularly recommend trying Monday or Tuesday and comparing your past results. 

HAPPY DAY!

It's Me and My Titles!

 CHECK OUT THE WAR GATE ON AMAZON--IT'S FREE TODAY AND TOMORROW--2-18 TO 2-19!!!

I haven't done the shameless self-plug in awhile so I thought I throw out everything that's available. This happens when sales start slipping and those ranks start rising (in a bad way). Everything is affordable, and the shorts are marked down to $.99. If you're not in the mood to buy, I could use the likes.

HAPPY HUNTING:

THE WAR GATE, A PARANORMAL ROMANTIC THRILLER, NOW SLASHED TO $2.99! Full-length, 332 pages of thrills, romance and chills. MEET ROMULUS ONE OF THE MOST HORRIFIC CREATURES TO APPEAR SINCE THE GINGERSNAP'S MONSTER. Available on Amazon Kindle:

http://www.amazon.com/The-War-Gate-ebook/dp/B008SDVEQU/ref=sr_1_5?s...

Tag Line: Through a miraculous conception, Avalon Labrador must give birth to herself before she is executed, to solve her husband’s murder and her own wrongful conviction.

When the reincarnated Avy Labrador is kicked out of her stepfather’s house on her 18^th 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. Not for younger readers under 13.

Welcome to THE WOLFEN STRAIN. Half Jurassic Park, half Wolfen. A Beauty and the Beast tale flipped and ripped on its ear, with A CREATURE THAT MAKES THE GINGERSNAPS BEAST LOOK LIKE A STUFFED TOY IN A NURSERY. Still reduced to 4.49!
http://www.amazon.com/The-Wolfen-Strain-ebook/dp/B008G0PE2U/ref=sr_...
 

Product Description

In a remote compound in Wyoming a geneticist created the first female human-wolf hybrid and adopted her as his daughter. When Melina Salinger discovers who and what she really is she escapes her father's domain and sets out into the wilderness—any other life would be better than the one that was forced upon her.
Seth Anson, a ranger stationed at the Wheeler Ridge watchtower, is trying to get over a bitter divorce—working in the majestic Shoshone forest is the only way he knows how to get on with his life. Consequently, he is unprepared for the strange and mysterious woman he accidentally shoots and then must nurse back to health. As Seth and Melina form a close bond that leads to something deeper—they have no idea that the geneticist’s other creation—the result of a DNA cloning experiment gone horribly wrong—is bent on finding Melina and committing a monstrous act

PLANET JANITOR CUSTODIAN OF THE STARS--Starship Troopers meets Robinson Crusoe on Mars. A must read for classic and Golden Age Fans!
 

Captain Zachary Crowe and the crew of Planet Janitor Corporation are adept at handling environmental clean-ups and close system jumps to collect precious ores and space trash. The problem is they have yet to complete an assignment without a mishap to add to their not so stellar record. Scraping the bottom of the barrel, Orion Industries contracts Planet Janitor for a clandestine operation that no one else wants, offering them more money than they could spend in three lifetimes. The mission entails a 12 light-year trip to a newly found habitable planet in the Tau Ceti system. The crew will lose 26 years on Earth due to the cryo jump, but that is the least of their problems. What they find on Tau Ceti will rattle their wits, test their courage, and threaten their very survival.

Review

"Planet Janitor does deliver an interstellar romp that hearkens to the best of Robert Heinlein or Philip José Farmer... A rollicking plot-driven adventure... The dangers are intimidating, the wonders evocative and the thread that ties it all together is always just a little more tangled than it seems." --The Canadian Science Fiction Review, December 13, 2010

"An intriguing and exciting cross between Aliens and 10,000 Years B.C. - Stevenson shows us a future filled with proof that we should listen to Stephen Hawking's warnings about alien life forms and what they want to do to us." --Gini Koch, author of `Touched by an Alien' & `Alien Tango', December 1, 2010

"Stevenson's book considers the possibility of an elite industry of environmental cleanup specialists who take on all sorts of bizarre environmental jobs... Clearly, this is a timely topic that hits home in the wake of the Gulf oil spill." --SF-Fandom, September 21, 2010

From the Publisher

A great deal of care went into the quality of this book, with case laminate library binding, wrap around cover art, and 26 illustrations.


Dive into THE MOON IS NOT ENOUGH, from the PLANET JANITOR SERIES:
http://www.amazon.com/Planet-Janitor-Science-Fiction-ebook/dp/B0077...
 

The Crew of Planet Janitor are contracted to survey the damage to a lunar mining facility caused by a meteor shower. When a second job proposition proves too sweet to turn down, Captain Zachary Crowe must enter the devastated base. But will the reward be enough to outweigh the consequences of taking on such a risky mission.


Check out JOURNEY INTERRUPTED from the PLANET JANITOR series--
http://www.amazon.com/Planet-Janitor-Journey-Interrupted-ebook/dp/B...
 

The crew of Planet Janitor Corporation are on the tail end of a salvage mission in the asteroid belt when they encounter a ghost ship. Faced with a volatile substance on board, the crew race against the clock to commandeer the vessel before it reaches the Exon Refueling Station. What they find on the ship will stress their abilities to the limit, and put their lives in imminent danger.

Rejecting Publishers

Rejecting publishers? You would think it's always been the other way around. Yet maybe you don't realize that you do have that option and can enforce it any time you like. I'm not talking about random dismissals or motives sparked by revenge or anger. I'm referring to instances where the publisher seems, not only not right for you, but something else is amiss. Something's not kosher and you can't quite put your finger on it. Although you're desirous of seeing your book in digital form or print, and nothing would boost your ego more or delight your family members than having that happen, you'd better slam on the brakes and start thinking with your gray matter instead of listening to your heart. 

A BOOK THAT IS BADLY PUBLISHED IS WORSE THAN ONE NOT PUBLISHED AT ALL.

Remember that. Because if you don't heed that warning you're likely to end up with a very bad publishing decision that could hamper or even ruin your writing career. I've been through this more than once, so allow me to throw you a life preserver if you feel lost, alone and confused in a potentially hazardous environment. There are also subtle warning signs as well as the obvious ones, and I'd like to point out some these traps and snares that could land you a very bad contract and end product. 

The Obvious--do some research. Visit sites like Predators and Editors, AbsoluteWrite (writing group) and Piers Anthony's e-book publishing forum. Type the name of the publisher into the search bar and bring up the dirt, if there is any. You'll find comments or articles from past authors or site managers who've accumulated reports and testimonials about the publisher. Look for "not recommended" declarations, poor performance, late or no royalty payments, low royalty percentages on "net", non-communication or response, unimpressive back-list numbers, lack of distribution to even the online retailers, back-end fees, irregular publishing schedules, requests for family and friends email links, any charge upfront contingent upon editing, the printing process or distribution and anything else that might immediately warn you off. 

What if everything looks good, even great on the surface and you find no negative reports? These are the ones that can slip by you, suck you in and sink you. You'll find these red flags in the contract, but before you even get that far, read their website from stem to stern--open up every link and peruse all of their files. The mission statement is where you'll start, followed by the submission guidelines, then the "About Us" page. After 25 years I've seen it all. In just the past 2.4 years I've rejected 14 publishers, putting two of them in the dugout.

Here are some not so obvious and obvious warning signs that you're headed for trouble:

When the publisher asks you for an itemized email list of your associates, group members, family relatives and friends, co-workers or any other contact source. This will be for a mass, spam e-mailing campaign, targeting potential customers. Nothing could irk your friends and associates more than this unexpected ad slam.

When a publisher mentions or stipulates that an author's duty is to self-promote and market the book, including examples on on how to do so--sell at conventions or street corners, solicit major radio, newspaper and television media, hold bookstore signing events where you purchase bulk copies of your books without the financial aid/assistance of the publisher, recommendations to purchase banner or page ads, entering fee-charging contests, and so on, you're headed for trouble. This type of information/participation doesn't have to be mentioned--it's already implied--most writers dig in and promote anyway, but if it's emphasized, especially more than once on the website or contract, you know this publishers is going to do little or nothing to get your name and your book out there. If you fall for this one, congratulations. You've just hired yourself on as an unpaid sales and publicity person. 

When the publisher suggests or has an agreement that you purchase a specific number of copies for resale, and you are provided a special discount price to do so. In this case, the reader is not the customer--the writer is.  Vanity.

When the publisher states that you must reach a certain e-book sales threshold before you are allowed to go to print. This one is becoming more prevalent, but it also indicates a lack of financial solvency. They don't have the basic start-up print funds. Avoid.

When you find in the contract that the publisher will not provide any free author copies. Look for this one.  This one's very subtle and it might not mean much to you. But take heed; it means the publisher is a shoe-stringer and the only alternative you have is to purchase your own books for posterity and/or for giveaways or reviews. This is mirroring a vanity operation with the mirror being held very far a way.

When the royalty amount is based on net. Net can mean postage, editing, cover art, retail discounts, returns and just about anything connected with the book's production and distribution. You'll need it spelled out in the contract in regard to what constitutes their interpretation of net royalty. 

When the publisher sells exclusively on their website, with maybe one other retail source. Here's a list of a few retailers where you'd like to see your book available for sale.

Amazon Kindle
Amazon Create Space
All Romance
Bookstrand
iTunes (iBookstore)
Sony
Kobo
Copia
Barnes & Noble Nook
Overdrive Content Reserve (distributes to libraries and various retailers)
Lightning Source (an Ingram Company

When a publisher will not provide even a token advance. They have NO financial backing, regardless of their excuse that their high royalty rates more than makes up for it. The entire sales of the book and risk is on you. Not them. They have no incentive to make their money back, only the production costs, and that's likely after YOU have sold a sufficient number of copies to recoup the expense. 

When a publisher has an extravagant termination clause--$500 plus, ranging into the thousands.

When a publisher who does POD and e-book charges you a set-up fee for a print addition. Again, this means their pockets are empty.

When a publisher refers you to an in-house or associate editing service before the contract is signed.  Does conflict of interest ring a bell?

When a publisher keeps delaying or pushing your print schedule ahead. This is more often a sign that they are experiencing some type of difficulty, probably financial, dealing with the set-up and print fee. This is after all the work (cover art and editing) has been completed.

When a publisher places very high prices on their e-book or print books. Either their overhead is unnaturally high or they've got Mr. Greed whispering in their ear.

When a publisher has a very small back-list or none at all. This shows they're new to the game, perhaps too new to have established an adequate reader fan base. Two years in the business is enough time to determine if they're in this for the long haul and have a decent roster of authors and books.

When a publisher does not send out ARCs (author's review copies) or galleys to the major or even minor media review sources. Reason--high cost of books and postage for print editions. For e-books? Plain laziness. 

When a publisher switches editors (or several) on you midstream. Something's up. Like a disgruntled commission-paid employee has jumped ship, the editor is sick (multiple times), or some other snafu is interrupting the process. Generally, one or two-person publishing operations are very limited in what they can do so when an emergency arises it has them scrambling for back-up help that they never had to begin with.

When a publisher suffers not, agents. Any publisher who refuses to deal with agents is one you don't want. Something is amiss with their business practices and they don't wish to reveal, haggle over it or amend their contract. 

Listen and feel for your Spidy sense, people. If something seems off, investigate it more thoroughly. Don't settle. You don't have to.