I was never prom queen but this I'll take!

My few years here at Cleis have flown by, always a sign you are having fun. I vividly remember getting my job the day before the stock market crashed in fall of 2008 and the recession began. I was worried my time at Cleis would be all-too brief. But, founders Felice Newman and Frederiqué Delacoste were unfazed having bootstrapped their way through two bankrupt distributors and countless banned books. Instead, we "doubled down" October 2008 and launched VIVA, expanded Cleis and I was encouraged for the first time to boldly pursue my publishing passion. For me, it is not enough to just chase dollars and treat books like "product." That, in fact, offends me. Inspired by a graduate course taught by KQED's Michael Krasny, I wrote "Women of the Beat Generation" to give voice to writers who had been kept in the shadows, ignored and overlooked. This same purpose drives me at Cleis Press & Viva Editions, as evidenced by the #OutWriters project. I go to a lot of our author events and it isn't to fill a seat or out of obligation. It is for me. Because I am moved when gay teens come to author events and tell our authors Jon Ginoli and Bob Mould that their music and writing saved their lives. Because Rachel Pepper's Transitions of the Heart reminds us to accept and love all our children. And that cancer survivor Mark Nepo's words on the page have helped thousands of others survive and thrive. I am gobsmacked, honored and humbled to be named Indie Fab Publisher of the Year. But mostly, I am encouraged to keep at it. Because there are many more voices we need to hear.