Peter Workman, Successful Independent Publisher, Gone at 74

I knew Peter Workman, founder of Workman Publishing, who died last Sunday at age 74. I started ordering Workman titles from him and his sales reps in 1978, when I opened a bookstore. The past 5 years Peter and I were fellow members of the same monthly lunch club. He last attended one of our luncheons last November, after which he missed the next month and we learned he’d become ill. He never rejoined us. Peter’s company was one of the most successful independently owned publishers of our time.I’ve been tweeting and sharing about him since Sunday. Here’s a selection of my timeline since then.

RT @shelfawareness Sad news: @workmanpub founder Peter Workman has died, age 74.

— Publishers Weekly (@PublishersWkly) April 7, 2013

Peter Workman – best publishing entrepreneur of his time RT @publisherswkly: Peter Workman Dies at Age 74 pwne.ws/ZISzct

— Dominique Raccah (@draccah) April 8, 2013

A few details hint at Peter Workman’s legacy-publisher of Preppy Hndbk, Silver Palate Ckbk&What to Expect franchise. bit.ly/ZbdoOJ

— Philip Turner (@philipsturner) April 7, 2013

Sad-thinking of Peter Workman passing today. After I went thru a layoff in ’09 he had me at his office&to talk abt my next steps-he listened

— Philip Turner (@philipsturner) April 7, 2013

Stunning stat in Peter Workman @nytimes obit-“worthy of Cooperstown-1 of every 3 @workmanpub books sold 100K or more. nyti.ms/17ow58c

— Philip Turner (@philipsturner) April 9, 2013