After years of pondering the perfect name for an online literary journal, Greg Wharton hit transgressive gold in July 2000 when he launched suspect thoughts: a journal of subversive writing.

Then Greg decided he wanted to publish an anthology filled with the edgy type of fiction his web journal showcased. And in June 2001, Suspect Thoughts Press was born with the publication of Of the Flesh: Dangerous New Fiction. And dangerous it was as it broke all the rules en vogue in bookselling today: that anthologies should stick to one genre, one gender, and, most definitely, one sexual orientation. (Pansexual just doesn't pan out for most book buyers, alas.)

The book was beautifully designed and filled with fierce fiction. The standards had been set. And with the help of his husband and partner in crimes against nature and publishing Ian Philips, 40+ more books, just as fierce and beautiful, have come down the pipeline.

In fact, as Suspect Press has grown into its terrible infanthood, it has become known as the go-to press for hip, queer lit. Of course, not every reader craves this—poor dears—so Suspect Thoughts Press has birthed a litter of imprints worthy of any freakshow:

She Devil Press for feminist fiction and nonfiction with bite;

Three Roads Press for Alt-Lit served more or less str8 up; and

Reverse Rapture Books for those who love their sacred cows well tweaked.

Some praise:

"Alternaqueer lit publishing was drowning, with publishers either going under or going straight. And then Suspect Thoughts Press dove in, like a hunky savior in shiny swim trunks, and wrestled underground queer lit to shore, before administering the sloppy wet kiss of life. In the past few years, Suspect Thoughts has gone from an obscure webzine to a publishing powerhouse. More than anything Suspect Thoughts has put playfulness and risk-taking back into queer publishing."
—Charlie Anders, other

"BTWOF applauds Greg and Ian for not only making a commitment to publish literature by women but for flying the feminist flag high. In a society where even publishers that publish decidedly feminist books shy away from the "F word," these two gay men embrace the mantle for both themselves and their new imprint. Let's see the world accuse them of being man-hating lesbians!"
—Suzanne Corson, Books to Watch Out For

"Almost everything published by Suspect Thoughts stands tall in the sometimes-shrubby field of queer-interest lit."
—Richard Labonté, Book Marks

"With its wide-open definition of the word queer and fearless publishing choices that ricochet from risky to risqué, San Francisco's Suspect Thoughts Press has made the book world a more interesting place to inhabit. Suspect Thoughts has swiftly become the hot press for connoisseurs of transgressive, intelligent literature."
—San Francisco Bay Guardian

"If you're looking for some edgy, thrilling, strange, and/or sexy books to read this summer, I highly recommend heading over to the Suspect Thoughts site and checking out some of their titles. Suspect Thoughts is exciting because they're doing edgy, risky books at a time when (sadly) fewer and fewer people read, at a time when (sadly x2) most mainstream publishers are only publishing their tried-and-true moneymaking standbys."
—Scott Heim, noise