Everyone always asks how Out in All Directions came to he published. People want to know: Who came up with the idea? How did we convince a mainstream publisher to take on such a book? Did we have an agent? Generally speaking, most authors of fiction write a book first and then, with or without the help of an agent, they try to get it published. Nonfiction writers usually start with a proposal and some sort of chapter outline. which they try to sell before completing the manuscript.
Out in All Directions, however, followed a somewhat different course on its way to publication. It was born one night in 1992 when Loretta Barrett, a New York literary agent, and Maureen Egan, editor-in-chief of Warner Books hardcover division, were having dinner. Loretta and Maureen had first met twenty-five years earlier, when they both worked at the same publishing company. As their careers progressed, they’ve stayed friends, getting together throughout the years to talk shop and catch up. That evening, they hit upon the idea of a gay and lesbian almanac—something they would both love to read.
Loretta immediately thought of Sherry Thomas, a writer she’d known for twenty years and whose work she’d edited in the 1970s, and gave her a call. Sherry had just begun work on a new job, so her initial impulse was to pass on the almanac. Loretta suggested instead that she think it over during the weekend. By Monday. an arrangement had been worked out whereby Lynn Witt, who was great at managing complex projects, would oversee the almanac and would be involved in the daily development of the book, while Sherry provided creative input and direction. A proposal was put together for Warner Books, complete with sample pages. Shortly thereafter, Eric Marcus, author of several books including Making History: The Struggle for Gay and Lesbian Equal Rights, 1945–1990, joined the creative collaboration.
Everyone took an active part in editing and shaping the final product, the scope of which is enormous. The ten chapters of the almanac cover more than 175 different topics; fifty-five contributors wrote over ninety original pieces, and 125 writers granted permission to reprint previously published works.
Each of the editors assumed a different role. In San Francisco, Sherry. provided creative direction and “big picture” assessment, and she shared her contacts around the country. Her publishing background and guidance were invaluable to the book’s completion. Lynn spent the first four months of this project traveling around the country soliciting contributors. Returning to San Francisco, she coordinated the day-to-day activities of the project, soliciting articles, organizing chapters, managing volunteers and paid staff, and writing introductions and other pieces as needed. In New Fork, meanwhile, Eric provided contacts for potential contributors, feedback on the structure and content of each chapter, and moral support.
Late in the project, Don Romesburg was brought in as an assistant editor. With his experience working on Long Road to Freedom and Young, Gay and Proud, he was just the boost we needed to get this book out on time.
The result is a book that we hope will amaze, astound, inspire, and inform everyone who picks it up.
—LYNN WITT, SHERRY THOMAS, AND ERIC MARCUS