On October 21, 2025, award-winning publisher and author David Stern releases Elevator Boy, a deeply personal and culturally resonant memoir chronicling his extraordinary life journey. From early tragedy to professional triumph, Stern’s story is one of resilience, reflection, and revelation.
The title references a pivotal moment in Stern’s life—his father’s death in an elevator accident when Stern was just 15. That trauma set the stage for a life marked by survival and transformation. At 16, Stern ran away to Hollywood, navigating the streets during the turbulent 1970s and later witnessing the devastation of the AIDS crisis.
Written in a poetic and candid voice, Elevator Boy offers readers a front-row seat to Stern’s rise as a media pioneer. He co-founded IN Publications, acquired Frontiers Media, and created the first Lesbian and Gay Wedding Expo. His work helped shape LGBTQ+ visibility and advocacy in Southern California and beyond.
“Queer history is often erased or overlooked,” Stern says. “This memoir is my way of preserving it—through my own story and the stories of those I’ve loved and lost.”
Alexander Rodriquez, publisher of Los Angeles Blade, calls the memoir “a moving and truly intimate life share… a slice of gay history that all generations should be exposed to.”
Stern also founded the Frontiers Awareness and Education Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to mentoring future LGBTQ+ media professionals. His previous work includes the children’s book The Tailor’s Gift – A Holiday Tale for Everyone.
Elevator Boy is available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kindle, Threads, BookTok, Tumblr, and other platforms.