Shelley joined SAS Press in early February 2008. At that time, we asked her to share a few thoughts about her new role as an acquisitions editor.

What is your role in SAS Publishing?
I am responsible for recruiting authors. We've worked with some terrific authors over the years and I'm here to help find more people interested in writing books. It can be someone new to the authoring world, or one of our existing authors with a new story to tell.

Are there particular areas that you're focusing your recruiting efforts on?
SAS is especially interested in industry-related books. We see a need for books specific to the retail, financial services, health care, manufacturing, communications, insurance, and pharmaceutical industries. But, of course, we're open to any industry as long as there's a need for the content. And we can't forget the analytics and programming books; these continue to be in great demand by SAS users. It's a long list; I could go on and on. Let's just say I'm open to talking about any topic!

What should people do if they're interested in writing a book?
Our Web site has a lot of good information on it. That's a good place to start. It gives a nice overview of the authoring program and how SAS Press helps guide authors through the entire process. If prospective authors will be attending any of the SAS or users group conferences this year, they can stop by the Publishing booth and speak to a representative. And they're always welcome to e-mail me directly. I love hearing from the people who know and use our software. So, start sending me those ideas.

What most interested you about becoming an acquisitions editor?
I had worked in book publishing several years earlier in my career, first as an editorial assistant, then as an acquisitions editor for a trade publisher. I worked on everything from cookbooks to biographies to novels. I have always enjoyed working with books and with the people who write them. When the opportunity came available to become an acquisitions editor here at SAS, I knew immediately that's what I wanted to do.

What will your new position involve?
I will be working with authors already under contract with SAS Press, helping them complete their books. I will arrange for technical reviews of the manuscript and help the author respond to reviewers' comments and suggestions. Finally, when everyone is satisfied that the book is correct and complete, I will pass it along for copy editing, working with the copy editor and author to put the finishing touches on the book. I will also work with graphic designers to try to find just the right physical design of the book. Though most of my job will start after the contract is signed and end prior to the creation of the finished book, I am interested in the whole range of the process, from initial idea through the marketing.

How do you enjoy spending your free time?
A lot of my free time is spent outdoors. Soon after joining SAS, I began running regularly again, an activity I had gradually given up over the years. In the past few years, I have entered several marathons. While not breaking any speed records, I enjoy getting outside for long runs, sometimes with groups and sometimes alone. I also recently began backpacking again after many years. Last year, my son and I spent seven days on the Appalachian Trail in Virginia.

Tell us a little about your editorial experience prior to becoming an acquisitions editor for SAS Press.
Prior to coming to SAS, I worked for several years at Oxford University Press here in Cary, North Carolina, first as an administrative assistant, then as an in-house copyeditor, production editor, and finally as assistant managing editor for academic and trade titles. SAS is just down the road from OUP. When I joined SAS, I reduced my twelve-minute commute to nine minutes (not that I'm counting).

How did you get interested in publishing?
Having graduated with a degree in English, I first tried high school teaching. When I couldn't convince those tenth graders to love Shakespeare as much as I did, I decided to make a fresh start in publishing, and fourteen years later I still enjoy working with authors and books as much as I did when I first started out. I love the feel and smell of books, and the size of my personal book collection ensures that I will live out my days in my current home.

What do you enjoy most about being a SAS Press acquisitions editor?
Authors are the heart of any publishing house, and SAS Press is no different. I enjoy interacting with authors and reading and editing their work. SAS Press authors and I share the same goal: to produce reader-friendly, informative, and high-quality books that help readers use SAS more efficiently and productively. That is what keeps me coming to work each day.

Anything that you'd like our readers to know about you?
I love sports, especially football. Fall will find me traveling to Knoxville, Tennessee, and Charlotte, North Carolina, to watch the Tennessee Volunteers and Carolina Panthers play football. Although I don't currently participate in any team sports, this year I am training to run (or jog, depending on how loose your definition of "run" is) my first full marathon in Memphis, Tennessee, in December. If running 26.2 miles does me in, then look for the interview with my replacement in issue 1 of the 2009 Authorline.