The Quiet Room Press
The Quiet Room Press is a small press based in New Zealand, publishing literary fiction and reflective nonfiction. Writing that is clear, thoughtful, and emotionally honest — work that engages with grief, loss, and the quiet reckonings that shape a life. Stories that stay with you. Work that is not afraid to ask difficult questions, or to sit with uncertainty.
Latest Release
A Thousand Little Deaths by Leigh Marsden is a meditation on living and dying, literary fiction that blurs the lines of self and nature, and asks what it means to truly let go.
A Thousand Little Deaths
Literary Fiction
By Leigh Marsden
Leigh Marsden is a New Zealand writer and well-being practitioner whose work is shaped by years of teaching yoga, meditation, and trauma-informed practices. In her recent writing, she is drawn to stories about what it means to live and keep going through life’s turning points. A Thousand Little Deaths is her fourth novel.
About This Title
Liz is dying. She’s always been dying, but now she knows it. Now there is a countdown, an inescapable reality. Cancer. An ending of the self that becomes the beginning of understanding. If one knows how to listen. Before becoming Liz, she was Elizabeth. From her very first breath, she grows through other kinds of death, little deaths. And with each little death, a breath, a little beginning. Before and now, she seeks the timeless whispers of nature to answer the ultimate question: When is it time to let go? A rich meditation on living and dying, A Thousand Little Deaths blurs the lines of self and nature, uncovering a deep wisdom that carries us on the great journey we all face… the journey of embracing life and letting go.
ISBN: 978-0-473-77122-5
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About The Quiet Room Press
The Quiet Room Press is a small independent publisher based in New Zealand. We focus on literary fiction and select nonfiction that explores the deeper layers of human experience, including grief, loss, and the quiet work of healing.
We are drawn to emotionally honest writing. Stories that stay with you. Work that is not afraid to ask difficult questions or to sit with uncertainty, without needing to resolve everything.
Clarity
We value writing that is precise and unforced. Language should serve the work, not draw attention to itself.
Depth
We are interested in work that engages with real experience. This includes complexity, contradiction, and the parts of life that are often left unspoken.
Our list is intentionally small. Each book is chosen with care and given the attention it deserves, from editing through to design and publication.
We publish for readers who value depth over distraction, and for writers committed to their craft.
Care
We take a considered approach to publishing. This means thoughtful editing, strong relationships with authors, and attention to the full life of a book.
Integrity
We stand by the work we publish. Each title reflects our standards, our taste, and our commitment to meaningful literature.
Submissions
We publish a small number of books each year and work closely with our authors over time. Editing is attentive and collaborative, with respect for the integrity and pace of the work.
Submissions are currently closed. Join our mailing list to be notified when submissions reopen.
We welcome manuscript submissions from writers whose work aligns with our focus. If you write literary fiction or reflective nonfiction and are looking for a New Zealand publisher who will work closely with you, we'd love to hear from you. Before submitting, please read our guidelines to ensure your work is a good fit. We review everything carefully and aim to respond within 12 weeks.
