The Sunday Archive: Ann VanderMeer
An interview from the archive with Ann VanderMeer; plus, an excerpt from her "Storyteller" foreword
Happy Sunday and welcome to our second edition of The Sunday Archive, where we re-publish interviews with Storyteller contributors, friends, and colleagues of Tanith Lee.
Today, we are sharing this exclusive excerpt from Ann VanderMeer’s foreword for Storyteller, along with an interview, originally published on February 14, 2024. Ann is a renowned editor, and both admired and worked with Tanith Lee extensively.
Excerpt from Storyteller’s Foreword by Ann VanderMeer
I first met Tanith at a major publishing event in London. At the time I was nobody, absolutely no one. I had a tiny press magazine called The Silver Web. From a professional standpoint, few people knew or cared about my work as an editor. Everyone you could possibly think of in the genre publishing community was at this party, along with me, the relative newbie. If you’ve ever seen a picture of Tanith, you’ll know she’s hard to miss. Of course, I recognized her immediately. I was in awe and—honestly—hesitant to meet her. But when we were finally introduced, I was shocked to find she knew of me and my work! In fact, she quickly took me, the fledgling publisher, under her wing and made it her business to introduce me to as many people as possible. She even dragged me along for a dinner with her and other creatives. That Chinese restaurant is forever imbedded in my mind. It was the first time I felt truly seen as a professional. And it was absolutely true to who she was as a person. Part of Tanith’s beauty and her power was her generosity, not just with her time, but also with her consideration and kindness. Tanith had a largess of spirit. She was a spark—a catalysis—for many, and not only did she actively take on that role, she rejoiced in it.
Over a 30-year career, Ann VanderMeer has won numerous awards for her editing work, including the Hugo Award and World Fantasy Award. Whether as editor-in-chief for Weird Tales for five years or in her current role as an acquiring editor for Tor.com, Ann has built her reputation on acquiring fiction from diverse and interesting new talents. As co-founder of Cheeky Frawg Books, she has helped develop a wide-ranging line of mostly translated fiction. Featuring a who’s who of world literature, Ann VanderMeer’s anthologies include the critically acclaimed Best American Fantasy series, The Weird, The Time Traveler’s Almanac, Sisters of the Revolution, and the forthcoming Big Book of SF (Vintage).
Not one for long videos? Check out this playlist, where you can find segments of the interview sorted by topic.
See you on Wednesday for our Spotlight on a Storyteller series!
The Essential Dreams Press Team
Thank you! I loved reading the excerpt. It brought so much to life for me, in my mind's eye - the event, the energy, the Chinese restaurant even, but most especially Tanith's presence, as Ann's unexpected supporter, guide, and inspiration. I look forward to reading more!