Soho Press Publisher Laura Hruska Dies

Laura Hruska, co-founder, longtime publisher and editor-in-chief of Soho Press, died on Saturday after a long illness. She was 74 years old. Hruska had been at Soho, which began publishing literary fiction and crime novels since 1987, from the very beginning, and took over as publisher from Juris Jurjevics (the house's fellow co-founder, along with her husband, Alan Hruska) in 2006. Her daughter, Bronwen, was recently named publisher; now it appears we know why this announcement was necessary so recently.

Through Soho Crime, Hruska worked with and launched the careers of writers such as Dan Fesperman, Rebecca Pawel, Tod Goldberg, Stan Jones, Martin Limon, Jacqueline Winspear, Cara Black, James Benn, Adrian Hyland, Stuart Neville and Leighton Gage, to name just a few. Soho also published literary and mainstream works by the likes of Edwidge Danticat, Stephen Fry, Sara Gran, Barbara Gowdy and Susan Richards. Earlier in her career, Hruska published three novels, two under the pen name of Laura Chapman and one under her real name.

A memorial service for Hruska will be held this Friday, January 15th, at 11:30AM at the Campbell Funeral Home, 1076 Madison Avenue, New York, NY.

Comments

[Cara]

Besides being a brilliant editor with eclectic taste and a feisty, independent vision for Soho, Laura was a caring, insightful person. Seeing ahead she prepared Bronwen to take over Soho and to the end kept editing. Among many others, I'm privileged to have had Laura as my editor. Blessed that she edited my work and owe her more than I can say. I tried to never disappoint her.
Laura took the subway to Soho, and until she got a Sony reader, carried manuscripts in her bag and edited on her way to work. I see her now, sleeves rolled up, red pencil in hand and peering up over her glasses. A smile on her face. I will remember her like that

[Dan]

Laura was a fine editor and a finer person, supportive and gentle and accessible. Juris and she made Soho into an outstanding house by operating under the deceptively simple concept that they would publish the manuscripts they enjoyed and appreciated, instead of always trying to determine which ones would be the most marketable.

[Stuart Neville]

I only knew Laura for about a year, and only met her twice, but I owe her a huge debt of gratitude. I am honoured to have known her for the short time that I did.

[Jim Benn]

I'm stunned. Laura taught me so much.
Jim Benn

[Rebecca]

I've already said elsewhere, and will say again, that this is a loss to publishing, as well as to all the people who knew and loved Laura as a person. To Cara's picture, I'll add the memory I have of her sitting at the round table at Soho, with twenty of my 9th graders seated around her at her feet like little elementary school students, listening spellbound while she explained the business of publishing to them, holding up unbound galleys, and ARCs, and jacket mock-ups, so that they could see the stages of a printed book. She was as kind and gracious to them as to all of her authors. She will be missed.

[Leighton Gage]

Laura was a great lady.
There are people who, to the end of their lives, will remember her with fondness and admiration.
I am one of them.

[Kelly Cherry]

She was an excellent editor. I am so sorry to hear this.

[Garry Disher]

Laura broke my Australian-set police procedurals into the US market, for which I'm eternally grateful, and was kind and gracious to me on my author tour last May. I'll remember her with great fondness. Garry Disher

[Robert Pépin]

What a loss! Laura was such a sweet, kind and knowledgeable person. Talking books with her in her office was always a treat. I'll miss you terribly, Laura. Robert Pépin

[tn360]

I only met Laura once and I can felt that she is such a nice person. I am so sorry to hear this and it's really a loss to publishing.