Tom Thumb Press is a micropress based in Essex, United Kingdom. It’s still very much in its infancy, as I established it in September 2024. The Press publishes chapbooks of collections of microfiction, flash fiction, short stories or full novellas, as long as they can fit into a chapbook format (about 10 A4 pages or 40 printed pages when folded). Since every copy is handstitched and stamped by me (founder, editor, cover designer, typesetter, stitcher, trimmer and general dog’s body), the Press produces titles in limited runs of 40-50 copies. The name of the Press is inspired by my young son, but also the nature of the books we produce – micro but mighty.
I set up Tom Thumb Press when I was looking for somewhere to query with my debut chapbook, Maybe Just One Bite. I’d pulled this collection of flash fiction together and was chomping at the bit to get it out there. At the time when I felt the manuscript was ready, I saw that existing indie publishers who I thought might take the collection were closed to submissions. Once they opened, there’d be all the time it would take to query them and wait for responses, all of which could take several months with no guarantee of an acceptance. I was too excited and eager (probably not the best state of mind to be in to be fair, when sending out your work) so thought “Why couldn’t I do this myself?”.
Doing something more in the literary world
apart from my writing – such as setting up a lit mag or zine – had been a
desire running around my head for a while. So, with my collection and general
impatience, it felt like it could be the right time to set up a micropress.
Even though there are so many wonderful magazines and zines and indie presses
out there, it seemed like there were still never enough to accommodate all the great
writers producing their stories too. I want to do more to help bring the voices
of writers to their readers and I hope the Press can be a vehicle for that.
I also saw Maybe Just One Bite as a bit of a test run as well. By publishing my own collection first, I could try the whole thing out without risking doing another writer’s hard work a disservice if it all went to hell in a handcart (which it still totally could, I’m surprised it hasn’t already really). I was drawn to the idea of small-scale publishing and making the books by hand, as I’ve always enjoyed crafting. Other presses that produce these kinds of books, like If A Leaf Falls Press and Porkbelly Press, were a big inspiration to me when thinking about what Tom Thumb Press would do. It also seemed more feasible and manageable for one woman, especially given I want to keep up my own writing alongside my day-job and raising a family. As far as I’m aware, Tom Thumb Press is one of the few (possibly the only) micropresses in Essex. I’d love for the Press to become more embedded into and amplify the voices of our local writing community as it keeps going. Anyone reading in Essex or the East of England, do get in touch and say hello (our contact details are on our website)!
And that’s the story so far. Maybe Just One Bite was released the same day the Press went live, so the focus has been getting the word out about that and ourselves at the same time. It’s been exciting but daunting. On the boring admin side, wrapping my head around various tax systems to make sure I’m on the right side of the taxman has been very challenging. And my brain just refused to understand typesetting and how to get my software / computer / printer to do at first. There’s been a fair bit of imposter syndrome too on my part, mostly from the fact that the Press’s first title is my own work (and worrying about whether people would take the Press or my writing seriously as a result). Then there’s the anxiety around doing this all myself, whether I’ll be able to keep it up and do it justice and juggle it with everything else I have going on. However, if I never did anything that I was worried about, then I’d achieve nothing at all. I can only give it my best shot. To add to that, the reaction we’ve had from people has been warm and the Press has a nice wee following forming out there. I’d love to get to more in-person events and fairs as we grow in future.
In terms of more immediate plans, the Press will be opening to submissions in the new year (6th January 2025, get it in your diaries) with the aim of releasing another one or two titles next Autumn. I’m giving myself plenty of time and not rushing the process now that others’ work will be in play. Admittedly, that’s taking all the willpower in the world because I’m excited about the future and can’t wait for what comes next. If I can be sitting this time next year with another title out and more people engaging with the Press (in whatever form that may be: submissions, buying our books, just communicating with us and enjoying what we’re doing) I’ll be a very happy woman.
Sophie Thompson is a writer originally hailing from Northern Ireland. She currently lives in Essex with her partner, young son and three chickens. She was the runner up in the Farnham Flash Fiction Competition February 2024 and her work has appeared in publications such as Funny Pearls, Roi Fainéant, Ink Sweat and Tears and the Hooghly Review’s Weekly Features. She is also the founder of Tom Thumb Press. You can find her at www.sophie-thompson.com or on Instagram as @sophietwrites. You can find the press at www.tomthumbpress.com.