The Mostly Unfabulous Homepage of Ethan Green

One of the most hidden aspects of publishing is the impact of the people who work behind the scenes - the editors, publicists, agents, and production staff that all work to bring an author's work to the reading public. And this is as it should be. The writers's work is the focus of what we do and, when done well, any job in publishing is a largely invisible craft. But, for just a moment, I'd like to pull aside the velvet curtain.

Mikel Wadewitz

Mikel joined Stonewall Inn in 1995 as an Editorial Assistant and soon made his presence known. With a (mostly) quiet efficiency and superlative organization skills, he was able to bring some semblance of order to a largely chaotic office. More than that, however, he brought a new perspective to the work we do. Well read, intelligent, personally engaged in the work published by Stonewall Inn, and confident (read - stubborn), he had a great impact on the various books bought and published by us. Through his enthusiasm and hard work, he has made a solid contribution to gay/lesbian publishing in general. As a valuable sounding board and implacable task master, he made each of our jobs that much easier.

Beyond the various good works that an assistant can do for writers and editors that smooth the whole confusing process of publishing, Mikel was able to make his own sensibility known through the books he himself acquired, edited, and published. Drawn in particular to the kinds of voices and stories not often seen in mainstream gay/lesbian publishing, he was directly responsible for books such as A Girl's Guide to Taking Over the World, The Necessary Hunger, Call Me, and the forthcoming Mongrel, among other books. And like the best editors, his belief in his (and our) writers and devotion to their work, helped to bring them to the attention of the widest possible audience.

In an imprint with a staff as small as Stonewall Inn, the departure of even one valued member, can be an incalculable loss. Mikel's departure is such a loss. While the rest of us remain as devoted as ever to the mission of Stonewall Inn, in him we are losing a valuable co-worker, ally, and friend. Please join us in wishing him the very best as he moves on to the next phase of his professional life and takes on new projects.

Keith Kahla is the senior editor who calls the shots at Stonewall Inn.

Previous "Having Our Say" topics:

• Happy Birthday to Us
• Words to Guide a Community
• Why Don't Gays and Lesbians Read?
• The Case for Gay Books

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