In the publishing world, receiving an offer that someone out there wants to pour their money, time, and energy into making your hard work into a real book—especially as a new-ish author—can feel like winning the lottery. After dedicating hours to writing and revising with no external payoff, the idea of getting your work into readers’ hands is incredibly exciting.
I faced this situation last week when a small publisher (who won't be named) extended an offer to publish my manuscript.
However, after careful consideration, I chose to pass.
This post shares my journey, explains the reasons behind my decision, and provides practical advice for other authors in similar situations. If you're an author feeling pressured to accept the first deal that comes your way, this may resonate with you. And if you have no interest in writing books and find this subject dreadfully boring, you have my apologies.
****IF YOU READ A DAY IN FALL AND LIKED IT (OR DIDN'T) PLEASE TAKE THIRTY SECONDS AND LEAVE A REVIEW ON AMAZON OR GOODREADS****
The Initial Excitement
When I opened the email from the publisher, I wasn't sure what I expected but was ecstatic to see an acceptance and attached contract. Here was the opportunity I'd been waiting for. The small press expressed strong interest in my manuscript and offered terms that seemed pretty standard. It felt great to have someone recognize A Day in Winter's potential.
However, as I started going back and forth with one of the publisher's reps, let's call her Marge, the excitement subsided a little bit. I stopped planning my marketing campaign and launch party in my head and wondered if I was getting ready to make a costly mistake.
Excitement can cloud our judgment. I had a peculiar situation when my first novel, A Day in Fall, was published back in 2022. The company's owner died a few weeks after my book hit virtual shelves and the publisher went defunct. It became a battle of sorts to get my rights back and figure out where the royalties from initial sales went (I never did get paid, but that was secondary to regaining possession of my work.)
That was a bizarre and uncommon scenario, and I'm not sure what could've been added to the pub contract to hedge for such an occurrence. But it drove home the lesson that it's better to be prepared upfront. If the deal doesn't feel right, no one can force you to sign on the dotted line.
What made this working relationship start to feel wrong? Well, a number of things.
Red Flags and Considerations
As I engaged in discussions with "Marge", several reddish flags began to emerge. There was a lack of clarity and communication. I sent an email with several questions that required fairly detailed responses and got a couple vague sentences in return. I like details and they were hard to come by.
The publisher's website wasn't good and the cover designs on their recent releases were even worse. They gave me permission to use a few different cover options I designed, so that assuaged some of those concerns.
**Unless you're publishing a book purely to stroke your own ego, make sure it has a cover design that's worth a damn. I don't always choose books by their cover, but if the cover sucks I won't give it a second look. That's just human nature.
Now, I don't think a publisher's website really matters, but this site didn't inspire much confidence that they could help at all on the marketing front. Selling a book is hard, and I expect to do the heavy lifting (or try my best), but nothing I saw was encouraging. I got the vibe that this publisher didn't care if I sold 30,000 copies or 30. I didn't get the warm and fuzzies over that.
The kicker was when I asked a lawyer friend of a friend to look over the contract. He got back to me with several weak areas where the contract needed clarification or extra wording to cover potentially relevant situations. It also left me open to bad things happening specifically to me in a few fringe scenarios. I passed these concerns along to Marge.
Yes, I was probably going overboard, but after my last book I figured it's better to cover my ass than hold my breath and hope nothing bad happens.
A couple examples: If the publisher lost any type of lawsuit regarding my book, no matter how ridiculous, I was liable for all costs. There was no ownership retention or royalty structure for the event that A Day in Winter got translated to any other version beyond paperback, eBook, or audio book. If it got optioned for a movie (slim chances that would happen but still...) I guess we'd be going to court. And if there was any dispute it would be arbitrated in the most expensive way possible in some random county in rural Texas.
I asked for clarification on this stuff and passed on the lawyer's suggestions. That's when I was told point blank that the contract wouldn't change. My questions didn't get answered.
That isn't how I begin a years-long working relationship. So I said thanks, but no thanks.
Good communication with a publisher is key for several reasons:
Guidance and Support: Publishing can be daunting. A responsive publisher can help authors navigate this process smoothly.
Relationship Building: The journey to publication is collaborative. A strong, trusting relationship fosters creativity.
Long-Term Implications: If issues arise during publishing, clear lines of communication are vital for resolving problems.
Clearly, this wasn't a Big Five publisher I was dealing with. That's totally fine, but I still expected them to be decent and present a contract that covered all of our bases and didn't screw me over for no reason.
Odds are, everything would've been fine. The book would've gotten edited and typeset and come out in May or June. But it didn't feel right. And if something went wrong I was stuck without any leverage for the next three years.
The Value of Research
I realized the importance of conducting thorough research about the publisher. They claimed to be publishers of award-winning books. The sales rankings for their advertised releases that I found on Amazon were, let's just say, less than inspiring. They didn't look like books I would pick up at a bookstore and maybe buy. They didn't look professional, if I'm being honest.
Here’s an essential takeaway: Always do your homework. Overlooking warning signs or ignoring positive feedback can lead to unfruitful partnerships that may hinder your growth as an author.
When evaluating any publishing offer, consider these factors:
Publisher's Reputation: Investigate their previous titles and the experiences of other authors. For example, a publisher with a track record of successful authors can indicate reliability.
Communication Channels: Assess their responsiveness and accessibility. A publisher who answers promptly is often more reliable.
Contract Details: Review the terms carefully—royalties, rights, and responsibilities can vary widely. My royalty rates were between 40 and 50 percent depending on format and copies sold. That wasn't the issue; it was all the other holes in the contract and a lack of willingness to offer any clarification.
Support Systems: Analyze the level of support they offer in editing, marketing, and distribution. A strong marketing plan can significantly boost your book’s visibility. Even if you have to do the work, a good publisher will help craft your plan because they care about sales as much (or close) as you do.
My first instinct was to jump on this offer because they so seldom come around. Getting a publisher to say yes feels like winning the lottery. But we as authors have more resources at our disposal than ever before. You can self-publish your book and make it look almost indistinguishable from something a big time publisher puts out if you know what you're doing. It's tricky, but it isn't rocket science.
Though it was tempting to accept the offer, I paused to reflect on my long-term goals as an author. What was my vision for my work? What type of partnership would I ideally want?
A Day in Winter deserved a more suitable home. If this wasn’t the right fit, I would prefer to wait for a chance that aligned better with my needs and vision.
Rejecting the offer was not easy. I felt pressured (mostly by myself and because 2025 is the perfect time for my second book to come out) and feared making the wrong choice. The desire to secure a publisher looms large, but I came to realize that my integrity and peace of mind were paramount.
It’s completely normal to experience a range of emotions during this process. Here are a few tips to help manage stress:
Talk It Out: Share your concerns with fellow authors or supportive friends. They may offer helpful perspectives.
Take a Break: Stepping back from decision-making can provide clarity. Fresh thoughts often come when you distance yourself from the stress. I waited over a week to think things over and ultimately decline the offer.
Reaffirm Your Value: Your work is important. An offer does not compel you to accept if it doesn’t feel right.
Building your negotiation skills is critical to advocating for yourself in the publishing landscape. In my case, they didn't want to negotiate and wouldn't even address my concerns. Hopefully others have better luck in that regard. Here are some tips to consider:
Know Your Worth: Understand what you offer. It’s not just your manuscript; it’s your unique voice and creativity.
Stay Informed: Familiarize yourself with current publishing trends and author rights.
Ask Questions: Don't hesitate to seek clarity on aspects you find concerning. If a publisher avoids answering directly, that should raise a flag.
If you find yourself in a similar situation to mine, take time to embrace the waiting period:
Use this time to hone your writing skills.
Build your author brand through networking or engaging in social media best suited for writers.
Explore new genres or creative ideas that inspire you.
Patience can lead to the opportunity that truly excites you.
To all authors, regardless of experience: recognize your value, advocate for your work, and don’t hesitate to decline offers that don’t align with your vision.
When the time comes to sign with a publisher, it should feel right—not simply a requirement on your journey, but a genuine, exciting partnership. So, take a deep breath and realize that you have more power than you think.
Out of all of this came something good, a pen name for my Echelon spy novel series. I want to keep this series separate from the other things I'm trying to do - this is a side project of sorts - and a pen name maintains that thin line of separation.
My pen name is Edward Hawke. Do you like it? Hate it? Let me know in the comments or publicly congratulate/shame me on Twitter @Charles_Harned, TikTok @charlesharnedauthor, or Instagram @charlieharned.author.
If this helps even one writer with ambitions of getting published then I'll be happy.
(A Day in) Winter is coming. (Game of Thrones reference). But seriously, thanks for reading and please share this with anyone that might find it interesting or helpful.
-- Charlie Harned
Love this!!! So glad you took time to share the process and tips. Also the pen name is fire.