The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA) hosted its annual reception for the publishing industry last night. The Authors & Editors event is a fixture of the sf field’s annual calendar, usually happening the Monday night after Philcon (which in years past, as one of the major conventions, drew guests from across the country). After several years at the Society of Illustrators building, this year the event moved into Times Square, to a private party space on the fourth floor of Planet Hollywood. Executive Director Jane Jewell and Events Coordinator Steven H Silver managed a wonderful evening attended by more than 250 writers, editors, agents, publicists, reporters, and others. There were hors d’oeuvres a-plenty, two open bars, and—as Darrell Schweitzer remarked to me—a setting that would have been at home on the cover of a 1950s science fiction magazine. The only thing missing from that cover-come-to-life were a few aliens sitting at the bar.
This location was also an interesting return to the past for me. Soon after Dell Magazines bought Davis Publications (while I was on the editorial staff of Analog and Asimov’s science fiction magazines), they moved us into what was then known as the Bertelsmann Building, at 1540 Broadway. Planet Hollywood is on the ground level of the southwest corner of that building. The first company Christmas Party we had there was either in the space now occupied by Planet Hollywood, or the adjoining space (the Virgin Megastore). I’ve since left the magazines, they’ve been sold, and the book publishing divisions have moved uptown into the Random House building, but it was an interesting return to the past for me.
I spent most of the evening talking with people, but I did remember to take out the camera for some photos of the crowds. I know I missed a lot of people, so in addition to the photos below, if you took and posted any, let me know, and I’ll link to them on this page (or you can comment below).
Elaine Silver, SFWA Event Coordinator Steven H Silver, author John Moore, agent Eleanor Wood, and SFWA Executive Director Jane Jewell.
Author Keith R.A. DeCandido, agent Shana Cohen, and publishing professional Sean P. Fodera.
Author Laura Anne Gilman and author Robert Greenberger.
Crowd shot.
Writer/editor Matthew Kressel, author Eugene Myers, agent Eddie Schneider, author Devin J. Poore, and Tor editor Liz Gorinsky.
Publishing professional Sean P. Fodera and author/publisher Lawrence M. Schoen.
Artist Alan F. Beck, former SFBC editor Ellen Asher, Tor editor Moshe Feder, and Tor art director Irene Gallo.
Crowd shot.
Analog Science Fiction and Fact editor Stanley Schmidt and artist Beryl Bush.
Agent and Realms of Fantasy fiction editor Shawna McCarthy, Asimov’s Science Fiction editor Sheila Williams, and Publishers Weekly editor/blogger Rose Fox.
Author William Shunn, Laura Chavoen, Asimov’s managing editor Brian Bieniowski, Analog managing editor Trevor Quachri, and SyFy’s Craig Engler.
Crowd shot.
Kim Kindya and Jean Krevor.
Realms of Fantasy editor Douglas Cohen, Paradox Magazine editor Christopher M. Cevasco, author and editor Andrea Kail, and author Saladin Ahmed.
Baen Books editor Jim Minz, author Greg Cox, and author David Mack.
Crowd shot.
Two dapper gents: author and reporter João-Pierre S. Ruth and editor John Joseph Adams.
The restaurant at Planet Hollywood.
Thanks for posting the photos. It was also a return to 1540 for some of us who worked for the Science Fiction Book Club, as our offices were in the Bertelsmann building for several years. It was great catching up with people at the event.