Steve Berman
Encyclopedia
This article is about the writer. For the lawyer, see Steve Berman (lawyer)
; for the Mayor of Gilbert, Arizona see Steven M. Berman
.
Steve Berman is an American
editor, novelist and short story writer.
, and raised in an affluent suburb in southern New Jersey. Berman realized by junior high school he was gay. Years later, Berman chronicled his first homosexual experience, which occurred while he was away at college, in the creative essay "Coming Out 101: Final Exam." Despite the title of this piece, Berman remained closeted from family and friends until after he graduated with his first undergraduate degree.
He attended first Tulane University
, earning a Bachelor's degree in English literature, then later studied History at Rutgers-Camden
campus in Camden, New Jersey
as well as a Master's degree in Liberal Studies in 2006. He briefly worked in the publishing industry, both as a senior book buyer at an academic and then trade wholesaler, and in the marketing department of a small publisher in Philadelphia.
One of the most influential relationships in his life began through d8 Magazine, a shortly-lived periodical devoted to roleplaying gaming culture, when he met Holly Black
. A few weeks later, Berman took an editorial assistant position with the medical publishing company Churchill Livingstone in New York City, where Black also, coincidentally, worked. The two developed a long and abiding friendship and remain critique partners to this day.
Berman is a former member of Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America
(SFWA) and one of the few lifetime members of the RPGA
(many of his early publications involved roleplaying games). Most of his short fiction could be considered dark fantasy or urban fantasy. He was a participant in the Nameless Workshop, based in the Philadelphia region, which includes such writers as Judith Berman, Victoria McManus, John Schoffstall, and Ann Zeddies.
In 2001, Berman founded Lethe Press. The first few titles included his first short story collection, Trysts, and several books in the public domain. In 2004, he met author Toby Johnson
through an online newsgroup devoted to queer writers. He offered to reprint Johnson's award-winning book, Gay Spirituality. In the years since, Johnson's role with Lethe Press has grown.
He attended the Clarion East 2006 class, the last year that workshop was held in East Lansing, Michigan
.
Though raised Jewish, Berman wavers in his belief between secular Judaism and Agnosticism
. He sits on the Advisory Council for the White Crane Institute
.
As of January 2007, he has sold nearly 80 articles and short stories, many of them dealing with queer speculative fiction
. Several of his urban fantasy stories are set in the Fallen Area. Berman has been a finalist seven times for the (now moribund) Gaylactic Spectrum Awards
and thrice for the Lambda Literary Award
. His first novel, Vintage: A Ghost Story was released in 2007 and was a finalist for the Andre Norton Award
. In June 2009, he launched the quarterly publication, Icarus, the Magazine of Gay Speculative Fiction.
Steve Berman (lawyer)
Steve Berman is an American plaintiff's lawyer who founded and is Managing Partner of Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro, a 42-attorney law firm based in Seattle, Washington.- Background :Berman helped found his namesake firm in 1993...
; for the Mayor of Gilbert, Arizona see Steven M. Berman
Steven M. Berman
Steven M. Berman is a past mayor of the Town of Gilbert, Arizona. Mayor Berman is an Arizona native and has lived in Gilbert since 1981. He is a former captain in the United States Army and holds a bachelor’s degree from Arizona State University. He owns a business that sells cell phones and...
.
Steve Berman is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
editor, novelist and short story writer.
Biography
Berman was born in Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
, and raised in an affluent suburb in southern New Jersey. Berman realized by junior high school he was gay. Years later, Berman chronicled his first homosexual experience, which occurred while he was away at college, in the creative essay "Coming Out 101: Final Exam." Despite the title of this piece, Berman remained closeted from family and friends until after he graduated with his first undergraduate degree.
He attended first Tulane University
Tulane University
Tulane University is a private, nonsectarian research university located in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States...
, earning a Bachelor's degree in English literature, then later studied History at Rutgers-Camden
Rutgers-Camden
Rutgers University in Camden, New Jersey, USA , is a state-funded, coeducational, public, research university. Founded in the 1920s, Rutgers–Camden began as an amalgam of the South Jersey Law School and the College of South Jersey. It is the southernmost of the three regional campuses of Rutgers,...
campus in Camden, New Jersey
Camden, New Jersey
The city of Camden is the county seat of Camden County, New Jersey. It is located across the Delaware River from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 77,344...
as well as a Master's degree in Liberal Studies in 2006. He briefly worked in the publishing industry, both as a senior book buyer at an academic and then trade wholesaler, and in the marketing department of a small publisher in Philadelphia.
One of the most influential relationships in his life began through d8 Magazine, a shortly-lived periodical devoted to roleplaying gaming culture, when he met Holly Black
Holly Black
Holly Black née Riggenbach is an American writer and editor, best known for writing The Spiderwick Chronicles, a series of children's fantasy books she created with illustrator Tony DiTerlizzi.-Early life and education:...
. A few weeks later, Berman took an editorial assistant position with the medical publishing company Churchill Livingstone in New York City, where Black also, coincidentally, worked. The two developed a long and abiding friendship and remain critique partners to this day.
Berman is a former member of Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America
Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America
Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, or SFWA is a nonprofit association of professional science fiction and fantasy writers. It was founded in 1965 by Damon Knight under the name Science Fiction Writers of America, Inc. and it retains the acronym SFWA after a very brief use of the SFFWA...
(SFWA) and one of the few lifetime members of the RPGA
RPGA
The RPGA , is part of the organized play arm of Wizards of the Coast that organizes and sanctions role-playing games worldwide, principally under the d20 system...
(many of his early publications involved roleplaying games). Most of his short fiction could be considered dark fantasy or urban fantasy. He was a participant in the Nameless Workshop, based in the Philadelphia region, which includes such writers as Judith Berman, Victoria McManus, John Schoffstall, and Ann Zeddies.
In 2001, Berman founded Lethe Press. The first few titles included his first short story collection, Trysts, and several books in the public domain. In 2004, he met author Toby Johnson
Toby Johnson
Toby Johnson is an American novelist and writer in the field of gay spirituality.- Life :Born as Edwin Clark Johnson in 1945 in San Antonio Texas, Johnson attended Catholic parochial school and then the college prep school associated with St. Mary's University, both run by the Brothers of Mary. A...
through an online newsgroup devoted to queer writers. He offered to reprint Johnson's award-winning book, Gay Spirituality. In the years since, Johnson's role with Lethe Press has grown.
He attended the Clarion East 2006 class, the last year that workshop was held in East Lansing, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
.
Though raised Jewish, Berman wavers in his belief between secular Judaism and Agnosticism
Agnosticism
Agnosticism is the view that the truth value of certain claims—especially claims about the existence or non-existence of any deity, but also other religious and metaphysical claims—is unknown or unknowable....
. He sits on the Advisory Council for the White Crane Institute
White Crane Institute
White Crane Institute is a United States non-profit organization headquartered in New York State.White Crane Institute is an educational non-profit dedicated to publishing the Gay wisdom and culture quarterly magazine White Crane .The institute has published classics in modern gay literature...
.
As of January 2007, he has sold nearly 80 articles and short stories, many of them dealing with queer speculative fiction
Speculative fiction
Speculative fiction is an umbrella term encompassing the more fantastical fiction genres, specifically science fiction, fantasy, horror, supernatural fiction, superhero fiction, utopian and dystopian fiction, apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic fiction, and alternate history in literature as well as...
. Several of his urban fantasy stories are set in the Fallen Area. Berman has been a finalist seven times for the (now moribund) Gaylactic Spectrum Awards
Gaylactic Spectrum Awards
The Gaylactic Spectrum Awards are given to works of science fiction, fantasy and horror that explore LGBT topics in a positive way. Established in 1998, the awards were initially presented by the Gaylactic Network, with awards first awarded in 1999. In 2002 the awards were given their own...
and thrice for the Lambda Literary Award
Lambda Literary Award
Lambda Literary Awards are awarded yearly by the US-based Lambda Literary Foundation to published works which celebrate or explore LGBT themes. Categories include Humor, Romance and Biography. To qualify, a book must have been published in the United States in the year current to the award...
. His first novel, Vintage: A Ghost Story was released in 2007 and was a finalist for the Andre Norton Award
Andre Norton Award
The Andre Norton Award for Young Adult Science Fiction and Fantasy, named to honor prolific science fiction and fantasy author Andre Norton , is a yearly juried award presented by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America to the author of an outstanding young adult science fiction or...
. In June 2009, he launched the quarterly publication, Icarus, the Magazine of Gay Speculative Fiction.
As editor
- Charmed Lives: Gay Spirit in Storytelling (co-edited with Toby JohnsonToby JohnsonToby Johnson is an American novelist and writer in the field of gay spirituality.- Life :Born as Edwin Clark Johnson in 1945 in San Antonio Texas, Johnson attended Catholic parochial school and then the college prep school associated with St. Mary's University, both run by the Brothers of Mary. A...
) (2006). The inaugural title in the White Crane Wisdom Series, this anthology of inspirational essays and short fiction for gay men was a finalist for a Lambda Literary AwardLambda Literary AwardLambda Literary Awards are awarded yearly by the US-based Lambda Literary Foundation to published works which celebrate or explore LGBT themes. Categories include Humor, Romance and Biography. To qualify, a book must have been published in the United States in the year current to the award...
. - So Fey: Queer Fairy Fiction (2007, Reprinted 2009). This is an anthology of LGBTLGBTLGBT is an initialism that collectively refers to "lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender" people. In use since the 1990s, the term "LGBT" is an adaptation of the initialism "LGB", which itself started replacing the phrase "gay community" beginning in the mid-to-late 1980s, which many within the...
short fiction dealing with faeries was a finalist for the Gaylactic Spectrum Awards and the Golden Crown Literary Awards. - Magic in the Mirrorstone (2008). This is an anthology of young-adult fiction, all stories dealing with magic.
- Best Gay Stories (2008–10). An annual anthology reprinting quality short fiction and essays that have gay themes. Peter Dube has taken over editorial duties in the series with the 2011 issue.
- Wilde Stories (2008–11). An annual anthology offers reprints of the prior year's best works of speculativeSpeculative fictionSpeculative fiction is an umbrella term encompassing the more fantastical fiction genres, specifically science fiction, fantasy, horror, supernatural fiction, superhero fiction, utopian and dystopian fiction, apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic fiction, and alternate history in literature as well as...
and interstitialInterstitial artInterstitial art is a term first coined in the 1990s, and increasingly popularized in the early 2000s, that refers to any work of art whose basic nature falls between, rather than within, the familiar boundaries of accepted genres or media, thus making the work difficult to easily categorize or...
fiction with gay characters and themes - the 2008 and 2010 editions were finalists for a Lambda Literary AwardLambda Literary AwardLambda Literary Awards are awarded yearly by the US-based Lambda Literary Foundation to published works which celebrate or explore LGBT themes. Categories include Humor, Romance and Biography. To qualify, a book must have been published in the United States in the year current to the award...
. - Speaking Out (2011). A young adult anthology of inspirational short fiction aimed at LGBT teens.
- Boys of Summer (2012). A young adult anthology of summer-themed short fiction aimed at gay teens.