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.