“The third thing” is the idea that emerges when we use imagination instead of compromise to solve a problem, meet a need, repair an injury, right a wrong, answer a question, question an answer, to get where we’re going, to go somewhere new.

The 3rd Thing is an independent press dedicated to publishing necessary alternatives. Every year or so we publish a cohort of projects representing in form, content and perspective our interdisciplinary, intersectional priorities. We think of each project in the cohort as a break in the stockade—a way out of the settlement and into the wilderness. Come through.

Often our books are the result of an artist working in a non-dominant discipline—a playwright writes a book of poems, a theater-maker writes a book of essays, a filmmaker writes a book of theory…. And while our emphasis is on print traditions, our projects may take any number of forms: books, broadsides, performances, installations, colloquia, video anthologies, etc. 

We publish work primarily by artists and writers who identify as members of traditionally marginalized groups, primarily Indigenous people, womxn, queer people and people of color.
 
Who Does What
 
The press is operated by a small, entirely volunteer staff.
 
Editor/Publisher: Anne de Marcken
Promotions/Project Editor: Alison Bailey
 
Founding members of the press include Sarah Tavis and Grey. 
 

Support Independent Presses & Artists

Purchasing books and other projects, such as our broadsides, directly from our website ensures that a significantly greater portion of the amount you spend goes to the press and to the author. This is true of most independent presses. Often we are able to pass that savings along to readers by offering significant discounts on direct purchases. Always check to see if it is possible to buy directly from a publisher.

“Over the years, I’ve seen many excellent literary presses come along, and yet I’ve not seen anything quite like what The 3rd Thing has done…. The books both stand on their own, acknowledging and speaking from their own place, and are also in communion with the others published that year, and in times prior. Eight titles in, I look forward to what is to come.” -Rick Simonson, Elliott Bay Book Company

Make your tax-deductible donation to The 3rd Thing through our fiscal sponsorship with 501c(3) Northwest Film Forum. Donate Now

Contact Us

A good way to stay in touch and find out about book releases, sales, readings, and other author events is to follow us on Instagram & Twitter.

Pre-sales

Bookstores & Educators

    • Our books are distributed to the trade and the academic market by SPD. Visit their website to inquire about stocking 3rd Thing books and about course-adoption.

Reviews, Author Events & General Inquiries

    • If you would like to review one of our books, host an author event, or for general inquiries about the press, please contact us by email at editors@the3rdthing [dot] press.

Submissions

    • At this time, we are considering projects only by invitation. If you know – or if you are – an artist or writer who you think we should know about, drop us a line at editors@the3rdthing [dot] press. We are always on the lookout for necessary alternatives. Include relevant links to work, but no attachments. We won’t open any message with an attachment. Keep it simple. And please forgive the slowness of our response time. Sign up to receive our periodic dispatches and follow us on social media (Instagram / Twitter) to find out about open reading periods and other specific opportunities to engage.