Publisher at Center of Convention Fur-Fly

by Christopher Dreher, PW NewsLine -- Publishers Weekly, 9/2/2004

Front and center at the convention this week is an unlikely figure--a small publisher. Cecil Staton, founder of Stroud & Hall publishing and a friend of Democrat senatorial curio Zell Miller has been accompanying Miller as he makes the convention rounds, including the highlight of the trip: a keynote address to the Garden assembled tonight. He's here in part because Miller can't use taxpayer funds to fly up members of his own Democratic staff.

Miller, of course, is the author of last fall's controversial A National Party No More: The Conscience of a Conservative Democrat, which brought the Georgia senator and his message to national attention. Sources say his next book, which has not been announced yet, is likely also to be with S&H. As for Staton's role this week, the publisher said, "I'm just trying to be any assistance I can be. I'm here as his publisher and friend," before adding, "And to plug the book."