To the unsung heroes of comic and book publishing

This morning I saw an 'Open Letter to All the Producers Out There' from New York-based producer, Sharon Lew.

Dear Producer,

Yesterday, someone said to me, 'You make this look easy. ’

It was a kind thing to say. Of course, I immediately brushed it off with a witty, yet self-deprecating response.

Early in my production years, I was taught to not make anything about myself. Not take things too personally. And to put the creatives and director's needs first. I have almost always tried to follow these tenets of production. Whether that advice served me or not, is another topic.

This small but kind comment got me thinking of all my friends, colleagues, and clients who also 'make this look easy' without much acknowledgment, ever.

You, the producers, the brave souls who are probably juggling 20 things right now — approving this, waiting for approvals on that, fixing the glitch, explaining (again) why you can’t shoot 6 locations in one day for 85K. Writing your list of deliverables for 100 different mediums, sizes and languages.  All while trying to have a life outside work.

You, dear producer, are on my mind today, and I feel the need to properly acknowledge you.

You are the calm in the chaos. The translator of the creative language. The budget ninja. The wrangler of talent, time and now, technology.

So, I just wanted to drop in and say:

✨ We see you. We respect you. We’re here for you. ✨

And I say WE because I speak for all my friendly competitors, who I know feel the same way!

Carry on, production hero. The industry could literally not run without your magic.

Whether you need a second opinion, a fixer, or just someone to vent to — consider me there and grateful to have you in my world.

With admiration (and snacks)

Sharon

It got me thinking about all the unsung heroes that work in book and comic publishing who often get forgotten:

• Editors who catch the plot holes we miss and send feedback at 11 pm with a kind word of encouragement to keep us going.
• Letterers who somehow manage to fit in last-minute script changes and still hit their deadline.
• Proofreaders who iron out embarrassing mistakes before readers ever see them.
• Production coordinators who juggle print deadlines, spec sheets, and ever shifting schedules.
• Editorial assistants who send out updates, track revisions, manage inboxes, soothe nerves and keep the entire machine from falling apart.
• Marketing assistants who write the copy, schedule the socials and cheerlead our books even though they haven't slept since the last launch cycle.
• Writers assistants who wrangle our schedules, remind us to breathe and act as a much-needed buffer to the real world.
• Retailers who handsell our books with a passion that makes us cry.
• Librarians, event organisers, right agents, junior designers...

The list goes on and on – and I know I've forgotten some along the way. So many people whose names don't appear on the cover or in the credits but whose fingerprints are on every page.

So, like Sharon, this is me dropping in to say:

✨ We see you. We respect you. We're here for you ✨

Thank you for your invisible work, for the late nights, the quiet support and the kindness behind the scenes.

You make it look easy, but I know sometimes, it's anything but.