Skip to content
Back to independent presses

Twelve House Books

Open now
Independent publishing3 open opportunities listed

About the press

Twelve House Books is an independent publisher and literary arts organization founded in 2015 with the conviction that the book form remains a vital site for aesthetic risk and intellectual inquiry. Operating at the intersection of poetry, experimental prose, and artist's books, the press has cultivated a reputation for work that resists easy categorization, favoring texts that engage language as material and form as argument. Its catalogue reflects a commitment to slow, deliberate publishing—each title is treated as an object of care, from editorial development through design and production. Beyond publishing, Twelve House Books maintains a modest residency and reading series, fostering a community of writers and artists whose practices challenge conventional boundaries of genre and medium.

Publishing focus

Twelve House Books is an independent publisher of Speculative Fiction, Quirk, and Poetry.

PoetryFictionCreative NonfictionNovellaShort Story CollectionsPoetry Collections

Selected authors
Aaron Padley, Lamont A. Turner, Lord Treacle XIII, Stefani Christova, David Kart, Cassidy Shea, Evan James Sheldon, Ron Yungul, Kim Malinowski, Alex Baylor

Calls & opportunities

3 listed

Manuscript submissions

Reading periodJan 1 to Dec 31
Reading feeNo
Response timeLess than 3 months
Simultaneous submissionsNo
Unsolicited submissionsYes

Twelve House Books accepts submissions through periodic open calls, announced on its website and newsletter. Given the press's focus on experimental and hybrid work, applicants should familiarize themselves with its catalogue before submitting. Manuscripts that demonstrate a coherent aesthetic project and a thoughtful engagement with the book as a medium are most likely to resonate. Include a brief cover letter that contextualizes your work within contemporary literary or artistic conversations, and avoid generic descriptions. Simultaneous submissions are typically permitted, but please notify promptly if your manuscript is accepted elsewhere. Response times can be lengthy due to the press's small staff; patience is appreciated.

Every person is a storyteller in one way or another, but not everybody is a writer. Your writing will be judged against classic literature written between the early 19th and early 20th centuries.

Read official guidelines