Derek Weiler
Encyclopedia
Derek Xavier Weiler was a Canadian
magazine editor and author. In a career that culminated in his editorship of Quill & Quire
, Canada's national book trade magazine, he became an important figure in Canadian publishing. His editorials, as well as the direction in which he steered the publication, shifted from straight service and booster journalism to a critical view of the industry they served.
Weiler received a B.A.
and M.A.
in English literature from the University of Waterloo
and a certificate in Magazine and Book Publishing from Centennial College in Toronto
.
His first job in publishing was as an editor for Key Porter Books
. After being hired at Quill & Quire as a staff writer in 1999, his first job of national significance, he rose through the positions of review editor and news editor to be named editor in chief in 2004. During his tenure, which included the magazine's 70th anniversary in 2005, he also wrote book reviews and articles for the country's three major newspapers: The Globe and Mail
, the Toronto Star
and the National Post
.
Weiler described the magazine's modus operandi
under his leadership thus: "We don’t think reviews should only be positive, and we don’t think our news coverage should pretend that the future is rosier than it seems to be. We don’t shy away from hard questions or unpopular subjects, but at the same time, we do strive to be fair and judicious." Though Quill & Quire under his leadership became a more objective, and as a result a more credible, magazine, Weiler, his publishers and his editors, managed to maintain their good relations with the publishing houses, literary agents, bookstores and writers that make up the largest share of the magazine's subscription base.
Weiler had a textual tattoo on his inner forearm that read "I can't go on. I'll go on," a well-known line from Samuel Beckett
's The Unnamable
, and a reference, as he revealed in a blog post, to his ongoing struggle with a longstanding heart condition, the details of which he did not reveal.
Weiler died suddenly, the result of his heart condition, on April 12, 2009, in Toronto at the age of 40, the day his last book review, of a debut story collection by Wells Tower
, appeared in the Toronto Star.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
magazine editor and author. In a career that culminated in his editorship of Quill & Quire
Quill & Quire
Quill & Quire, a Canadian magazine about the book and publishing industry, was launched in 1935 and has an average circulation of 5,000 copies per issue, but its publisher claims a readership of 25,000...
, Canada's national book trade magazine, he became an important figure in Canadian publishing. His editorials, as well as the direction in which he steered the publication, shifted from straight service and booster journalism to a critical view of the industry they served.
Weiler received a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
and M.A.
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
in English literature from the University of Waterloo
University of Waterloo
The University of Waterloo is a comprehensive public university in the city of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. The school was founded in 1957 by Drs. Gerry Hagey and Ira G. Needles, and has since grown to an institution of more than 30,000 students, faculty, and staff...
and a certificate in Magazine and Book Publishing from Centennial College in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
.
His first job in publishing was as an editor for Key Porter Books
Key Porter Books
Key Porter Books is a Canadian book publishing company. Founded in 1979 by Canadian publisher Anna Porter and Key Publishers Limited of Toronto, the company specializes in Canadian non-fiction, although it has published some fiction titles as well. A controlling share of the company was purchased...
. After being hired at Quill & Quire as a staff writer in 1999, his first job of national significance, he rose through the positions of review editor and news editor to be named editor in chief in 2004. During his tenure, which included the magazine's 70th anniversary in 2005, he also wrote book reviews and articles for the country's three major newspapers: The Globe and Mail
The Globe and Mail
The Globe and Mail is a nationally distributed Canadian newspaper, based in Toronto and printed in six cities across the country. With a weekly readership of approximately 1 million, it is Canada's largest-circulation national newspaper and second-largest daily newspaper after the Toronto Star...
, the Toronto Star
Toronto Star
The Toronto Star is Canada's highest-circulation newspaper, based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Its print edition is distributed almost entirely within the province of Ontario...
and the National Post
National Post
The National Post is a Canadian English-language national newspaper based in Don Mills, a district of Toronto. The paper is owned by Postmedia Network Inc. and is published Mondays through Saturdays...
.
Weiler described the magazine's modus operandi
Modus operandi
Modus operandi is a Latin phrase, approximately translated as "mode of operation". The term is used to describe someone's habits or manner of working, their method of operating or functioning...
under his leadership thus: "We don’t think reviews should only be positive, and we don’t think our news coverage should pretend that the future is rosier than it seems to be. We don’t shy away from hard questions or unpopular subjects, but at the same time, we do strive to be fair and judicious." Though Quill & Quire under his leadership became a more objective, and as a result a more credible, magazine, Weiler, his publishers and his editors, managed to maintain their good relations with the publishing houses, literary agents, bookstores and writers that make up the largest share of the magazine's subscription base.
Weiler had a textual tattoo on his inner forearm that read "I can't go on. I'll go on," a well-known line from Samuel Beckett
Samuel Beckett
Samuel Barclay Beckett was an Irish avant-garde novelist, playwright, theatre director, and poet. He wrote both in English and French. His work offers a bleak, tragicomic outlook on human nature, often coupled with black comedy and gallows humour.Beckett is widely regarded as among the most...
's The Unnamable
The Unnamable (novel)
The Unnamable is a 1953 novel by Samuel Beckett. It is the third and final entry in Beckett's "Trilogy" of novels, which begins with Molloy followed by Malone Dies. It was originally published in French as L'Innommable and later adapted by the author into English...
, and a reference, as he revealed in a blog post, to his ongoing struggle with a longstanding heart condition, the details of which he did not reveal.
Weiler died suddenly, the result of his heart condition, on April 12, 2009, in Toronto at the age of 40, the day his last book review, of a debut story collection by Wells Tower
Wells Tower
Wells Tower is an American writer of short stories and non-fiction.-Early life, education, and early career:Tower was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, but grew up in North Carolina....
, appeared in the Toronto Star.
External links
- "Farewell, Derek Weiler", Shelf Life, The Globe and MailThe Globe and MailThe Globe and Mail is a nationally distributed Canadian newspaper, based in Toronto and printed in six cities across the country. With a weekly readership of approximately 1 million, it is Canada's largest-circulation national newspaper and second-largest daily newspaper after the Toronto Star...
- "The funny/sad thing", Author profile, Miriam Toews, Quill & QuireQuill & QuireQuill & Quire, a Canadian magazine about the book and publishing industry, was launched in 1935 and has an average circulation of 5,000 copies per issue, but its publisher claims a readership of 25,000...