James Alexander Thom, the author of some 15 books who was perhaps best known for his 1981 historical novel Follow the River, "about the 18th-century escape and journey of Mary Ingles, who had been captured by the Shawnee and made the 400-mile trek home," died January 30, IndyStar reported. He was 89.
Thom's many honors included induction as a member of the Indiana Journalism Hall of Fame and being an Indiana Authors Awards Lifetime Achievement Honoree and National Winner, but "it was his humor, graciousness and easy connection with people that stuck with those who met him," IndyStar noted.
"He treasured books only second to human beings," said his wife, writer Dark Rain Thom, for whom he drew the illustrations in her book The Shawnee: Kohkumthena's Grandchildren.
Early in his writing career, Thom worked for newspapers and other publications, as well as a magazine called Nuggets, which contained words of wisdom that comforted those who had lost loved ones. His "knack for connecting with readers during deeply emotional events would continue as he began writing historical fiction--a passion that would be a major part of the rest of his life," IndyStar wrote.
Follow the River made the New York Times bestseller list and by 2021, 40 years after its release, had sold about 1.3 million copies. Thom said at the time: "The basic thing is that this was a true story and people have found it utterly inspiring. I've had thousands of fan letters from people who have been encouraged to go on through tough situations because of the story."
Thom's other books include Time It Was Now: The Art & Craft of Writing Historical Fiction; Fire in the Water; St. Patrick's Battalion; Long Knife; From Sea to Shining Sea; Red Heart; and Warrior Woman (with Dark Rain Thom).
Blue River Press, which published three of Thom's books, paid tribute to the author, writing in part: "During his long and highly regarded career as a journalist and teacher, James impacted many people. As an author, he impacted many more. It was perhaps through his prose that most people came to know him. But James was never one of those cloistered writers we often see in the movies. He had a love for getting out there and meeting his readers. So many of us were lucky to get to know James even if just a bit....
"His mastery of the genre of historical fiction is renowned.... We at Blue River Press and Cardinal Publishers Group salute James Alexander Thom on a life well lived and a legacy that will earn him a spot in the pantheon of great Hoosier writers. He was a very lucky man who had an enviable career and an essence of peace always within himself and the family and friends that surrounded him."