Professional History
Ben LeRoy started and ran two critically acclaimed independent publishing companies—Bleak House Books and Tyrus Books—until the latter was sold to Simon & Schuster in 2017.
Books published by the two companies won or were finalists for a variety of awards including the Barnes & Noble Discover Award, the Edgar Award, the Lambda Award, and many others. He was a frequent speaker at writing and publishing conferences. He was named to Publishers Weekly “40 Under 40” list of people making a change in the publishing industry. He is the former Executive Director of the Independent Publishers Caucus.
He co-founded Collaborist in 2022 with Jason Buchholz.
Personal Philosophy
I’m a Midwest dude whose been to and made friends in all 50 states. I’ve slept on couches and had dinner at the kitchen table in most of them. What I care about is bearing witness to others to give comfort and better understand the world I’m living in. I always joke that editing and writing has given me a chance to be an unlicensed therapist and collarless priest. I always joke.
But also, I mean it.
I don’t know how long I’m here. I’m not interested in stacking money or social media fame. I’m just as awed by the questions of why we’re here and what we’re supposed to do about it as I’ve been since the day I was born and found myself inheriting the space among the rest of you.
While we’re here trying to make sense of it all, if I can help you make sense of the things bouncing around inside, let me know. I’m a phone call or an email away.
I’m on the board of two non-profit organizations — Common Wealth Development & Wrath Bearing Tree. Additionally, I volunteer time reading the creative writing of the currently incarcerated.
Seeker. Pilgrim. I’m a Wikipedia rabbit hole enthusiast. As fixated on what is not as I am on what is, both domestically on Earth and the universe outside its boundaries. Definite proponent of exploratory modalities like Reiki, sensory deprivation, light manipulation, sound chaos, and others in pursuit of the brain’s lesser understood capabilities.
