Personnel changes at Realms of Fantasy: Douglas Cohen, who has been the Assistant Editor and Nonfiction Editor and Art Director since Warren Lapine’s Tir Na Nog Publishing bought the magazine (see this article) has been promoted to Editor. Lapine will take a step back from the technical work that goes into creating each issue.
Cohen says “I will still be handling all of my old duties with the magazine. In addition, I am taking on the managing editor duties. So everything I will now be doing is getting lumped under the title of Editor. It will be my lone title appearing in the masthead.”
Fiction Editor Shawna McCarthy will not be affected by the change. Cohen notes that he’s been asked if he’ll be replacing McCarthy. “To that I say no. Emphatically no. Shawna is the heart and soul of this magazine. She had a hand in its creation and is the only person who is left from the first issue. I could never replace her. Shawna remains the Fiction Editor, which is her current listing in the masthead. She maintains complete control of the fiction department. When it comes to this department, it will be as it has for almost five years: I’m her tireless assistant editor, trying to find slush survivors for the magazine, handling queries, etc. What she says goes.”
In his acceptance speech for the promotion, Cohen says “thanks to Warren for having so much faith in me. Words can’t express my appreciation. Thanks for saving the magazine. Thanks for bringing me back. Thanks for throwing extra duties my way early on. Thanks for the countless bits of advice and for always making yourself available. In short, thank you, boss!
“Also, I would be remiss without thanking Shawna. She was the one who hired me as Assistant Editor back on May 10th, 2005. Over the years she has encouraged me, taught me, recommended me, and demonstrated to me her many levels of awesome. Warren would not have been able to offer me this position if she hadn’t taken me on to begin with. So a big thank you to Shawna as well.”
Related articles previously published on SFScope:
New Realms of Fantasy art guidelines, and a promotion (12 March 2009)