The Best Laid Plans

Ever get the feeling that no matter how far ahead you get there are unseen dangers lurking in the night ready to yank you back? Those quiet demons snickering as you think you are finally making strides? My friends, we all know the sensation. How do you deal with it?

As many of you know, I signed a 5 book deal for the complete Lazarus Men Agenda series sometime last year. Now, I won’t mention the publisher’s name, but things were good. I had just done the pronunciations for the audio book and book one was set to be released Oct 19th. How exciting! I was promised- in writing- a whole gamut of marketing, publicity, etc to get the train rolling. While I was busy taking care of the other 26 books in my collection, I had confidence this would help boost my numbers and business.

Then about early Sept everything went dark. No word, no comms from the publisher. She simply disappeared. Her other authors grew anxious, complete with conspiracy theories and ill feelings. I get it. They were owed money and no one had heard a word from this lady.

We eventually got a letter stating she was sick and etc…

I personally don’t believe that at all. Investigators got involved and uncovered a slew of red flags. The authors started pressuring the publisher and we arrived at the point where she finally told us she was closing shop, reverting our rights, and have a nice life.

What’s the moral of the story? I don’t know. I’m back at square one- with this book- and forced to reevaluate my decisions. I do know I’m done with small publishers. Most of them are corrupt, perhaps meaning to do well but often get in over their heads and wind up screwing everyone over.

So where do we go from here? Full steam ahead, baby! That’s the only way to be. Sure, I’m disappointed, but that can’t stop me. I am barreling through this darkness and forging my own destiny. We are celebrating our second straight month of over 100 sales and I am gaining steam.

I don’t know where this crazy train is headed, but I don’t want to stop. Who’s coming with me?