Tuesday morning, as I distractedly went about various day-job activities and checked intermittently whether my Ransom Notes post had gone up, I had no idea that I had already passed into a new era. When the post went up, I scrambled to my Twitter account, placed a link to it and went back to work. Maybe half an hour later, when I returned to the check the link, I had to scroll through what seemed like hundreds of terribly sad messages proclaiming the news that David Thompson had died suddenly at the age of 38.
Thompson was some one I’d looked up to for years. He was, after all, just a humble bookseller, (as was I), with a great enthusiasm the for mystery and crime genres, (as was I). But David’s involvement with the literature he loved didn’t end with passing it on to the grateful folks who took his advice and purchased their new favorite book from him. David became a publisher. Man, did I want to be him.
In 2005 he started Busted Flush Press primarily to bring back into print deserving titles that were overlooked or abandoned by large publishers. (In his own words.) “…nothing irritated me more than to discover a wonderful writer to handsell, then have the publisher drop the author since the sales weren't sufficiently large for their tastes. I started up BFP as a way to reissue some of the authors and books that were employee and customer favorites.”
The first book he published? A Fifth of Bruen—a collection of novellas and short stories previously unavailable to readers in the U.S. who were beginning to catch on to that Irish guy. He went on to reprint, (among others), Reed Farrel Coleman, Vicki Hendricks, Don Winslow, Ace Atkins, Zoe Sharp and BFP’s latest timely resurrection, Tomato Red by Daniel Woodrell, (with The Death of Sweet Mister due in 2011).
And if that points to his terrific taste and commitment, I would venture that the original titles BFP put out speak to his reach and influence. Pick up a copy of the Duane Swierczynski edited Damn Near Dead anthology or Megan Abbott helmed A Hell of a Woman and check out the names included therein. It’s not just a list of fantastic talents who positively bled goodwill for and gratitude toward David, but a fine glimpse at the future of the genre and they all considered David a friend.
On August 26, Tyrus Books announced that they had purchased Busted Flush and with David still very much involved, were poised to take over the world.
David may not be with us any longer, but, (in the mystery community), we will be feeling his influence and impact for a long time. This Post-Thompson era, I hope will be marked by more bright, bold and enthusiastic readers taking up for the authors and books they love. I hope that more quality small presses follow his example and publish what they love for the pleasure of spreading the word to the rest of us.
Here are a few links and tributes…
David was hard to resist. His enthusiasm and love of the book biz was infectious, he had superb taste, and he did so much for so many of us who were floundering a bit without him. There will be a lot of rudderless boats on the water for a good while to come.
- Daniel Woodrell
David was also one of the most enthusiastic people I ever met and that is no exaggeration. Being in his vicinity was like being on the edge of a tornado and you just got sucked right up into whatever it was that was exciting him. He inspired me to be better than I am, kinder and more open minded. Knowing David honestly made me a better person.
- Jon Jordan (editor of Crimespree Magazine)
David was the King of booksellers, of editors, of human beings. He was worth any dozen of those of us still standing.
- Scott Phillips
For another great tribute and a more comprehensive list of them, I'll direct you to Sarah Weinman's blog.
Jedidiah Ayres writes fiction and keeps the blog Hardboiled Wonderland.
