Meet LD Thompson | Publisher, author, public speaker

We had the good fortune of connecting with LD Thompson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi LD, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Almost every business I’ve started began with the thought ‘Well, if he/she can do that and succeed, I’m sure I can’. I don’t mean to make light of others’ successes. Rather, every one of my new endeavors – presenting workshops, starting a consulting business, producing television, making documentaries, starting my own production company, writing books, founding a nonprofit – each of these was the result of meeting someone who was doing it and being inspired by their success. Starting a publishing house is no different. The man who published my first two books is a successful publisher. He was an important mentor for me. When he phased out the imprint under which he published my first two books, the rights to my books reverted to me. After feeling a bit crestfallen, I realized that it was a golden opportunity to start a new business. And so, Bespoke Press was born. I used the creation of a new edition of two of my books as my ‘beta phase’ setting up a relationship with a global distributor, purchasing ISBNs establishing a relationship with editors, layout artists, ePub specialists, proof readers, translators, etc. Not surprisingly, as soon as we announced the imprint, we had several authors ready to send us manuscripts – some of them previously published with an established audience and some wanting to publish their first book. It’s been very gratifying.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
One of the things I am most proud of is how all of my entrepreneurial efforts set the stage for the creation of a nonprofit – The LGBT Sanctuary Palm Springs. I know without a doubt that if I hadn’t understood the focus, determination, hard work and relationship-building it takes to build a successful business I wouldn’t have been able to withstand the challenges and set backs we experienced creating this nonprofit to house and mentor LGBT foster youth as they transition to adulthood.

Creating that nonprofit was a master class in marketing and brand building which will, ultimately, help in the development of the branding of Bespoke Press.

But most importantly, all throughout my career what I have found most fulfilling is collaboration and so, with Bespoke Press, the aim is to create a collaborative environment in which the writers who become Bespoke Press authors will share more on the profit side of the publishing partnership, breaking a long-established model of unfair profit-taking by publishing houses. It is also common in film distribution. When David and I made our first documentary, ‘For My Wife …’ the distributor who marketed our film made money and we never saw a dime. In fact, they claimed that we owed them money by the time we asked to be released from our contract. I don’t want that to happen to any artist. Collaboration makes for a synergy which then allows everyone to win.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
There is such a plethora of beauty and creativity in Southern California but I admit that I find a particular enchantment in the world south of the border. In fact, we keep a place there at kilometer 16. A great house perched over a private beach overlooking the Coronado Islands. Amazingly, Tijuana has a robust and refined culinary scene. So, I would begin by taking my best friend to Caesars in TJ. Legend has it that Caesar, who founded the restaurant, also created the salad which is now known around the world – the Caesar Salad. And it is quite a show to order one there. And without a doubt the best tasting Caesar you will ever have.

After that, we would head south to the Valle de Guadalupe, which has become world famous for its wines. Friends of ours have an inn and a winery there – La Villa del Valle. Their award winning wines – under the label Vena Cava – are astonishing. World class. And, in fact, they are distributed widely. A little known secret is that they offer a pre-fixe dinner there at the inn for their guests. It is over-the-top perfection. Incredibly imaginative, and each course is perfectly paired with one of their finely crafted wines.

Then on the 45 minute drive back to our casa on the cliff, we would stop at the beach at La Mision and go for a horse back ride on the wide sandy beach there. All in all, a very satisfying, unexpected (and quick) getaway.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My spouse, David Rothmiller, is also my comrade in arms. Most all of my business endeavors have been the result of our mutual effort. Our relationship began when we were producing our first television series – Beyond the Line. It was a co-production with the CBC in Vancouver, Canada. So right out of the gate we were taking big risks, moving out of the country with a start up production company which was both nerve wracking and exciting. That brand of risk taking then became de rigeur for us. We have mentored one another and been mentored by some of the most generous, insightful and wise people in all of the industries we’ve tackled. Television, filmmaking, real estate, food service industry, product development, nonprofit creation, ghost writing and now publishing. He is a WGA screenwriter and film director as well as one of the most astute proof editors I have ever known.

Website: www.ldthompson.com and www.thebespokepress.com

Instagram: ldthompsonofficial

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ld-thompson-710087116/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/anchoringanewconsciousness

Image Credits
David Rothmiller,