Westholme is an independent trade publisher of nonfiction, focusing on original titles in American, military, and European history. Since its founding in 2002, Westholme has produced a number of nationally acclaimed titles, including the bestselling, The Year of the Hangman: George Washington’s Campaign Against the Iroquois, a finalist for the Thomas Fleming Award for the Outstanding Revolutionary War Title of 2005, and most recently, Indian Wars: The Campaign for the American West, which the Wall Street Journal called, “suberb. . . . a book that has the rare quality of being both an excellent reference work and a pleasure to read.” Westholme also publishes a series of handy guides to the museums of major cities in the United States, including Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, and Philadelphia. These are the first-ever uniform compilations of permanent collections open to the public.
According to Bruce H. Franklin, the founder and publisher of Westholme, it is not a coincidence that a young vibrant press has chosen a like company to produce its books. “I first began working with Thomson-Shore when I began my career at the University of Chicago Press. I had always been impressed with the quality of their workmanship and when the time came to select a printing partner for my company sixteen years later, I was pleased to renew my relationship with Thomson-Shore.” Franklin, whose publishing experience moved from book production to marketing and finally to editorial, was pleased to return to his publishing roots, since few persons who run publishing houses are intimately familiar with the design and production of their products. “I have always appreciated the details of a book’s production and, having compared books produced by many companies, Thomson-Shore’s standards remain among the highest in the industry.” Franklin’s enjoyment of all aspects of publishing might be a reflection of his ancestry; he is a descendant of Benjamin Franklin’s brother, John. “Perhaps the desire to work hard comes from being a Franklin, but I began with about as much start-up capital as he did—a loaf of bread and an idea.” Bruce Franklin’s first idea was a reprint of the original 1940 biography of the racehorse Seabiscuit, a book that served as a primary source for Laura Hillenbrand, but that had been forgotten and was nearly impossible to find. Franklin encountered a copy at a flea market and the rest became Westholme.
One of the reasons for Westholme’s success so far, Franklin suggests, is the fact that Westholme reminds authors of an earlier era of publishing. “With Westholme,” Franklin explains, “authors can talk to me directly. I make the decisions and when decisions are explained to authors and a sense of collaboration is there, everyone can feel good about the prospects.” Because of this, Franklin looks toward growth. “Communication will be a hallmark of Westholme. Right now we publish fifteen titles a year. We plan to double that output over the next several years, keeping in mind that strong communication between a publisher and author is integral to any publisher’s success.” The same can be said about a publisher and the company chosen to produce its books.
To learn more about Westholme Publishing, please visit them on the web at: www.westholmepublishing.com
