About Us
We’re committed to bringing the best of contemporary writing to a discerning readership. The Bywater Books imprint features lesbian- and feminist-themed fiction and narrative non-fiction, while Amble Press primarily publishes fiction and narrative non-fiction from writers who identify as people of color, and those writing across the broader queer spectrum.

Salem West
Publisher & Editor-in-Chief

Marianne K. Martin
Director of Operations

Ann McMan
Director of Creative Services
Ann McMan is the Director of Creative Services for Bywater Books. McMan is a two-time Lambda Literary award-winning author with more than thirty-five years of professional experience in graphic design, marketing, and brand identity. Her design work has received national and international recognition. In recent years, she has become one of the most sought after brand developers and cover designers in LGBT publishing and is a four-time winner of the Tee Corinne Award for Outstanding Cover Design.

Stefani Deoul
Director of Social Media
Stefani Deoul is the Social Media Director for Bywater Books, a television producer, and the award-winning author of four novels. All three of Stef’s jobs offer her the opportunity to explore the power of persuasion and probe the intricacies of relationship building. Stef is a strong believer in fostering the relationships that bind our communities together. To learn more about Stefani Deoul—the author and the television producer—please stop by her website.

Fay Jacobs
Managing Editor, Bywater Books

Kelly Smith
Editor Emerita

Michael Nava
Managing Editor, Amble Press
Michael Nava is the author of an acclaimed series of seven crime novels featuring gay, Latino criminal defense lawyer Henry Rios. The Rios novels have won seven Lambda Literary awards and Nava was called by the New York Times, “one of our best.” In 2001, he was awarded the Bill Whitehead Lifetime Achievement Award in LGBT Literature from the Publishing Triangle. A native Californian and the grandson of Mexican immigrants, he divides his time between San Francisco and Palm Springs. Michael had a distinguished legal career, having earned his law degree from Stanford University—he retired from the law in July 2016.

Rachel Spangler
Romance Editor
Rachel Spangler is the award-winning author of a bookshelf full of lesbian romance novels and has spent more than a decade learning the fine art of writing romance from some of the best teachers in the business. They bring this significant experience to Bywater Books by working with many of our romance authors to help them get the very best from their characters and storylines. Rachel authors the widely popular Wonder Boi Writes blog, where they are on a never-ending quest for new and better ways to build a bigger table for the lesbian literary community. Rachel lives with their wife Susan and son Jackson in Western New York.

Elizabeth Andersen
Editor and Proofreader

Nancy Squires
Editor and Proofreader