"Care on both sides of the desk": A look at author–editor relationships at McClelland & Stewart

In the book publishing industry, "author care" is an integral component of author–editor relationships. However, the concept is tenuously defined and rather slippery to grasp—those who work in publishing have an idea of what it means, but there are no explicit guidelines or handbooks on how to practice it. This project report explores the current state of author care, how its processes and expectations have changed in the last century, and if there are any gaps to be filled to create a healthier publishing landscape. This report is structured as a timeline, narrowing in scope. In the era of "gentlemanly publishing," the patriarchal, male-dominated industry and slower production meant there were fewer books published, but there was an emphasis on long author–editor relationships. This era transitions into contemporary publishing, wherein multinational conglomerates have acquired many of these small publishers. This shift in the publishing industry introduced new challenges for both authors and editors. With a cursory look at the mental health challenges facing authors and editors alike, this report concludes with an analysis of specific author–editor relationships at McClelland & Stewart and my own personal findings as a temporary full-time employee at PRHC and MPub student.