Alison Gervais
Tell us a little about yourself.
My name is Alison Gervais and I am the Director of Production at Abrams Books. I oversee our Adult and Kids divisions as well as some imprints under the Abrams Comic Arts division. I moved to the Bronx just a few years ago after 25 years in Brooklyn. I have a 3-month-old Mini Goldendoodle named Quinn and besides books, I love running, art, knitting, and music.
How did you become involved with NYBF?
I previously ran the program committee for the Book Industry Guild of New York and after several years of not being involved in industry-related organizations, I reached out to folks I knew on the NYBF Board to see what opportunities there might be for me to help out with building this new organization.
What does your role at NYBF entail?
I am a board member and on the membership committee. I also try to help with our literacy programs as well as other initiatives where I can. Since we are a young organization, and compromised of volunteers, we all do what we can to ensure the success of our organization.
How long have you been working in the book world?
Like many folks in production, I pretty much fell into it. I didn’t really know what it entailed when I accepted my first job in the industry as a Production Assistant at Harper Collins. That was now almost 27 years ago.
What makes you personally passionate about literacy?
I realized as a young child that reading not only took me to places and introduced me to people that were outside of what I knew in my day to day, but I could also find myself in books as well, and it was these things that made me seek out more and more books to read. I constantly had my nose in a book, and if I really loved a book, I’d read it all over again. I want to make sure that other children, as well as adults have the opportunity to see themselves in books, and experience life outside of what they know through words on pages.
Anything else you’d like to share about NYBF?
Being part of an industry organization is a wonderful way to stay connected with folks that you’ve worked with in the past, and to meet new people. And with NYBF specifically, it’s a wonderful way to be a part of an organization whose goal is to educate and promote literacy, something I am proud to be a part of!
What is your favorite karaoke song?
Rebel Yell by Billy Idol
And if you were stuck on an island and could only have 1 book with you, what book would it be?
New and Selected Poems by Mary Oliver