Thread by @BFriedmanDC

I want to say a few things about Jim Hornfischer. Most people expressing shock over his passing and gratitude for his work mention his writing as an author and naval historian. He was great at those. Last Stand is one of the best military history books ever written.

https://twitter.com/stavridisj/status/1400164067025817604

Most fans of his writing, however, don't realize he started his career as a big-time New York book editor who later kept his day job as a literary agent. Not only was Jim a great writer, but as an agent, he created other great writers over two decades.

I've had two serious writing mentors in my life. Jim was one of them. When I decided to try writing a war memoir in late 2004, Jim took a chance and became my agent. At that point, I'd never written anything outside of school. So Jim basically tortured me.

He told me my writing was bad in a variety of creative ways. Over and over. He crossed out entire pages. He was harsh, sometimes bordering on being insulting. It was very military. But it was a war memoir, and that style worked for my military brain.

Each time he tore my writing apart, he took the time to explain why. And he taught me how to make it better.

Ultimately, the book didn't become a bestseller. But it got good reviews, and in 2010, the @MilitaryTimes named it one of "The Best Military Books of the Decade."

I've always been proud of that. But it never would've happened -- like not even close -- without the mentorship of Jim Hornfischer.

While we hadn't kept in touch much over the last few years, I was privileged to know and work with Jim. He will be missed.