Major publishing companies were less accepting of Lee's later works. The companies which Lee worked with for numerous years even refused to look at her proposals. Smaller companies were publishing just a few of Lee's works. The refusals did not stop her from writing and she had numerous novels and short stories which were just sitting in her cupboard. Mail from fans even asked if she were dead because no new Lee works had been released. Lee even tried changing her genre, but to no success. However, Internet sales succeeded in reviving her writing.