Eyes on the Prize
What is it like to be at the helm of the editorial process for a small publishing company whose mission is to promote dignity while igniting hearts and minds? I found out a few weeks ago when I had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Susan Lumenello, Managing Editor of Beacon Press, an independent publisher of serious non-fiction based in Boston, Massachusetts.
Susan has a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and a master’s degree in Writing and Literature. Before coming to Beacon Press eight years ago, she worked at Harvard University, writing for the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences’ alumni magazine. She also freelanced as a copy editor for the Asia Center at Harvard.
In my naïve view of publishing, I'm always trying to draw parallels. Susan entertained me as I explained the role of managing editor as I had known it from my years of working in television news. I thought I was clever by calling the ME a position that was akin to a liaison between the production staff and the senior level management. She must have smiled to herself as I said those words. Then she laid out what her day to day function is like at Beacon, and it's a whole lot more than just liaising.
"There's a lot of stuff to do at any given time," Susan said. "The description for my job is to maintain the editorial integrity of our books, so it's important that I try to make that happen."
Not only does Susan personally edit books, but she also oversees the editorial staff, the production staff and also deals directly with the authors. Beacon Press puts out two to three publication lists per year, so that is a hefty workload for a managing editor but she says there are lulls.
“Sometimes the manuscripts are with the authors, or sometimes the manuscript is with the typesetter, so it's out of my hands for a brief period, but I'm laying my eyes on every book to greater or lesser degrees. ”
It's a huge responsibility, to say the least, but that is what Susan loves about her position. She helps improve manuscripts that become books that inform people and are useful to society.
The mission of Beacon Press is to promote the inherent worth and dignity of every person; justice, equity and compassion in human relations; acceptance of one another. With the works they publish, Susan and her colleagues hope to achieve the goal of a world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all. In a nation that’s become increasingly polarized and in a year that we’ve heard such vitriol from presidential candidates and their supporters, this mission seems more important than ever.
Outside of her role at Beacon, Susan is also a playwright. In 2010, her play “Easy to Love” which poses the question of what if homosexuality were the societal norm was a featured reading at the Provincetown Playhouse. Susan is also a native of Cape Cod, having grown up in Yarmouth.
Seeing this as a departure from her day job, I asked her if writing a play was hard.
“The plays that I finish are not that difficult. It’s the ones that I don’t finish that are difficult and that’s why I’m not able to finish them. It’s a creative act and it takes some time and effort but it’s all a good time, generally. I can’t say it’s challenging – if it was that hard I wouldn’t do it.”
I shouldn’t have been surprised by her response, after all, she consumes more words on a daily basis than most people probably do in a year. Perhaps her practical nature is the result of her grinding work schedule, the frenetic production cycle that never ceases. And she notes that being incredibly busy is better than being out of work.
“Considering all the publishing that’s left Boston over the many years, it’s a good thing that we’re still here. I think we’re all proud of that.”
Susan has a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and a master’s degree in Writing and Literature. Before coming to Beacon Press eight years ago, she worked at Harvard University, writing for the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences’ alumni magazine. She also freelanced as a copy editor for the Asia Center at Harvard.
In my naïve view of publishing, I'm always trying to draw parallels. Susan entertained me as I explained the role of managing editor as I had known it from my years of working in television news. I thought I was clever by calling the ME a position that was akin to a liaison between the production staff and the senior level management. She must have smiled to herself as I said those words. Then she laid out what her day to day function is like at Beacon, and it's a whole lot more than just liaising.
"There's a lot of stuff to do at any given time," Susan said. "The description for my job is to maintain the editorial integrity of our books, so it's important that I try to make that happen."
Not only does Susan personally edit books, but she also oversees the editorial staff, the production staff and also deals directly with the authors. Beacon Press puts out two to three publication lists per year, so that is a hefty workload for a managing editor but she says there are lulls.
“Sometimes the manuscripts are with the authors, or sometimes the manuscript is with the typesetter, so it's out of my hands for a brief period, but I'm laying my eyes on every book to greater or lesser degrees. ”
It's a huge responsibility, to say the least, but that is what Susan loves about her position. She helps improve manuscripts that become books that inform people and are useful to society.
The mission of Beacon Press is to promote the inherent worth and dignity of every person; justice, equity and compassion in human relations; acceptance of one another. With the works they publish, Susan and her colleagues hope to achieve the goal of a world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all. In a nation that’s become increasingly polarized and in a year that we’ve heard such vitriol from presidential candidates and their supporters, this mission seems more important than ever.
Outside of her role at Beacon, Susan is also a playwright. In 2010, her play “Easy to Love” which poses the question of what if homosexuality were the societal norm was a featured reading at the Provincetown Playhouse. Susan is also a native of Cape Cod, having grown up in Yarmouth.
Seeing this as a departure from her day job, I asked her if writing a play was hard.
“The plays that I finish are not that difficult. It’s the ones that I don’t finish that are difficult and that’s why I’m not able to finish them. It’s a creative act and it takes some time and effort but it’s all a good time, generally. I can’t say it’s challenging – if it was that hard I wouldn’t do it.”
I shouldn’t have been surprised by her response, after all, she consumes more words on a daily basis than most people probably do in a year. Perhaps her practical nature is the result of her grinding work schedule, the frenetic production cycle that never ceases. And she notes that being incredibly busy is better than being out of work.
“Considering all the publishing that’s left Boston over the many years, it’s a good thing that we’re still here. I think we’re all proud of that.”
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