(MADISON, WI) Ben LeRoy and Alison Janssen announced today that they will leave their positions at Bleak House Books (a division of Big Earth Publishing) and begin a new venture, Tyrus Books.
LeRoy began publishing crime and literary fiction in 2001, with John Galligan’s Red Sky, Red Dragonfly. Titles bearing the Bleak House banner started in 2003, and to date, the company has published over fifty titles. In 2005, Bleak House Books was acquired by Big Earth Publishing, a “family of independent publishers.”
With LeRoy and Janssen at the helm, Bleak House Books titles have garnered much critical attention and praise, including seven starred reviews in trade publications, inclusion on several “Best of the Year” lists, and over a dozen nominations for prestigious awards in the mystery community. In 2008, three Bleak House titles were named finalists for the Edgar® Awards — a first for a small, independent press.
LeRoy and Janssen are incredibly proud of the successes they’ve built with Bleak House Books, and are looking to build upon their experience in this new endeavor. “We believe in the power of the written word. Especially in its ability to share a meaningful human connection,” says LeRoy. “We look forward to continuing the tradition started with Bleak House Books, perhaps even moving into non-fiction projects that share the essence of the fiction we’re known for publishing. ”
Tyrus Books will launch its first titles in August. “We’ll of course be sticking with what we know: tight, affecting, honest fiction dealing with crime and its repercussions,” says Janssen. “I’ll always be interested in stories of men and women making mistakes, and seeking redemption in some form or another. Our name is changing, but our commitment to quality storytelling remains the same.”