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

Born in New York City

New York City

New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...

. Patrick Merla edited three of the most well-known gay publications in the United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

: Christopher Street

Christopher Street (magazine)

Christopher Street was a gay-oriented magazine published in New York City, New York. Known both for its serious discussion of issues within the gay community and its satire of anti-gay criticism, it was one of the two most-widely read gay-issues publications in the United States...

, The New York Native

New York Native

The New York Native was a fortnightly Pre-Immunization Revolution newspaper published in New York City from December 1980 until January 13, 1997. It was the only paper in New York City during the early part, and pioneered the notion of cancer in combination with AIDS, when most others ignored it...

and the James White Review. His literary essays, interviews, and film, theatre and book reviews have appeared in Saturday Review, New York Newsday, Out

Out (magazine)

Out is a popular gay and lesbian fashion, entertainment, and lifestyle magazine, with the highest circulation of any gay monthly publication in the United States. It carries itself in a similar editorial manner to Details, Esquire, and GQ. Out was published by PlanetOut Inc...

, Christopher Street, New York Native, Interview

Interview (magazine)

Interview is an American magazine which has the nickname The Crystal Ball Of Pop. It was founded in late 1969 by artist Andy Warhol. The magazine features intimate conversations between some of the world's biggest celebrities, artists, musicians, and creative thinkers...

, Theatre Week, and House Beautiful

House Beautiful

House Beautiful is an interior decorating magazine that focuses on decorating and the domestic arts. First published in 1896, it is currently published by the Hearst Corporation, who purchased it in 1934...

.

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