Patrick Merla

Patrick Merla is a gay American "literary agent, editor and prominent figure in gay publishing."

Born in New York City. Patrick Merla edited three of the most well-known gay publications in the United States: Christopher Street, The New York Native and the James White Review. His literary essays, interviews, and film, theatre and book reviews have appeared in Saturday Review, New York Newsday, Out, Christopher Street, New York Native, Interview, Theatre Week, and House Beautiful.

Reviewing his book Boys Like Us, the Washington Post said, "Aside from the sheer literary quality, this book is an important step in providing role models to ease the pain of young gay people as they approach their own self-identity. Highly recommended for all public libraries and especially for gay/lesbian collections."

Works

• Tales of Patrick Merla Ballantine Books, New York. 1985. ISBN 0-345-32252-5
• Boys like us : gay writers tell their coming out stories / edited by Patrick Merla. 1st ed. New York : Avon Books, c1996. xviii, 365 p. : ill. ; 25 cm. ISBN 0-380-97340-5 (hardcover)
• The touch : what you don't know can kill you, with Stephen Altman. ibooks, New York, Simon & Schuster London, 2000 ISBN 0-7434-0715-6

Further reading

• Science Fiction & Fantasy Literature, 1975-1991. A bibliography of science fiction, fantasy, and horror fiction books and nonfiction monographs. By Robert Reginald. Detroit: Gale Research, 1992.

Sources

• (about the editor) Boys Like Us: Gay Writers Tell Their Coming Out Stories, Patrick Merla (ed.) Avon Books. 1996