{{Short description|American writer}} {{Infobox writer <!-- for more information see :Template:Infobox writer/doc --> |image = |imagesize = | |name =Thomas Kohnstamm |pseudonym = |birth_date ={{birth date and age|1975|11|24}} |birth_place=Seattle, Washington, United States |death_date = |death_place= |occupation =Writer, video producer |genre = Non-fiction, fiction |movement = |notableworks=''Do Travel Writers Go to Hell?'' ''[http://www.lakecitybook.com Lake City]'' |influences = |influenced = }}
'''Thomas Kohnstamm''' (born {{birth date|1975|11|24}}) is an American author from Seattle, Washington.
==Fiction==
Kohnstamm announced in late 2023 that his next novel, ''Supersonic'', will publish in early 2025. His first novel ''[http://www.lakecitybook.com Lake City]'' was published by Counterpoint Press in January 2019. The dark comedy was called “a caustic satire on class privilege and deprivation” by The Seattle Times<ref>https://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/books/in-lake-city-a-neer-do-well-narrator-prowls-seattles-back-streets/ The Seattle Times</ref> and “hip, intrepid, and philosophical” by Publishers Weekly.<ref>https://www.publishersweekly.com/978-1-64009-142-9 Publishers Weekly</ref>
==Non-fiction==
Kohnstamm's book ''Do Travel Writers Go to Hell?'', a gonzo style memoir was published by Random House/Three Rivers Press in April 2008. The author drew criticism, and according to the author, death threats,<ref>{{cite news |author=KC Summers and Thomas Kohstamm |title=Can You Trust your Travel Guidebook? |date=April 29, 2008 |work=The Washington Post |url= https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2008/04/25/DI2008042502737_pf.html }}</ref> after he said in publicizing the book that he had performed a "desk update" of a guidebook - before later clarifying that he had only been commissioned to write the front-of-book (introduction, history, culture, etc) chapters and oversee the other writers.<ref name=Hum>{{cite news|author=Frank Bures|author-link=Frank Bures|title=Thomas Kohnstamm's Lonely Planet: The Firestorm Around 'Do Travel Writers Go to Hell?'|date=April 14, 2008|work=World Hum|url=http://www.worldhum.com/qanda/item/thomas_kohnstamm_the_firestorm_around_do_travel_writers_go_to_hell_20080414/}}</ref><ref name=Delusion>{{cite news |author=Peter Munro |title=A guide delusion makes it Lonely at the top |date=May 4, 2008 |work=The Age |url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/guide-delusion/2008/05/03/1209235234265.html }}</ref> He also called into question both the accuracy and the practices of his fellow travel guide writers.<ref>{{cite news|author=Tim Shipman|title=A travel writer on a not so lonely planet|date=April 14, 2008|work=The Daily Telegraph|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1584987/A-travel-writer-on-a-not-so-lonely-planet.html}}</ref>
Lonely Planet's publisher Piers Pickard defended their rate of pay, and the accuracy of their work.<ref name=Delusion/><ref name=Lonely>{{cite news|author=Lonely Planet|title=Thomas Kohnstamm and our guidebooks|work=Lonely Planet|url=http://www.lonelyplanet.com/about/thomas_kohnstamm.cfm|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080807184910/http://www.lonelyplanet.com/about/thomas_kohnstamm.cfm|archivedate=2008-08-07}}</ref> Other guidebook writers defended some of Kohnstamm's claims, contrasting with those of Pickard who had first claimed "no freebies — period", before then admitting freebies could be taken under some circumstances.
The book received positive reviews. The New York Times observed "were I his editor, I’d want his blood",<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/04/travel/04armchair.html|title=Armchair Traveler|newspaper=The New York Times|date=4 May 2008|last1=Woodward|first1=Richard B.}}</ref> but also admitted "As a reader...I could not get enough of the most depraved travel book of the year". Another review praised Kohnstamm's "spirited prose".<ref>{{cite news |author=Kirkus Reviews |title=Starred Review - Do Travel Writers Go to Hell? |date=February 1, 2008 |work=Kirkus Reviews |url=http://www.kirkusreports.com/kirkusreviews/headlines/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003702280 }}</ref>
== Notes == {{Reflist}}
== External links == * [http://www.dotravelwritersgotohell.com Official Site]
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kohnstamm, Thomas}} Category:American travel writers Category:Bowdoin College alumni Category:1975 births Category:Living people