Three Rooms Press runs on people⁠: co-directors Kat Georges and Peter Carlaftes; all of our astounding authors; the amazing readers of the world⁠—and our hard-working editorial and publicity team. We wanted to introduce you to the people that make our books possible, and give you a little of their story with the press. Without further ado, meet 3RP:

Mary Rose Manspeaker, Lead Editor

I have worked for Three Rooms Press as long as I have lived in New York City. I first met Peter and Kat at my interview, when I took an hour-long train ride up from New Jersey. A few months later I was living in Brooklyn and 3RP was my second home—something that is invaluable here. On the days that we break from work to a staff meal, Peter’s home cooking—he has some truly unforgettable recipes—is a bolster against the coldest winds, and Kat’s coffee making skills have kept me going through the longest days.

Full disclosure: I was moving to NYC regardless to pursue an MFA in Creative Writing, but had no idea how I would find my place here. My first day of work was the Maintenant 13 Dada Launch Party, where I met a dizzying number of contributors and some of the people of NYC; what better way to start? Since then I have seen books I love pass my desk and enter the world fully realized, with what help I could offer. I’ve fine-tuned my voice as an editor, watched work a decade in the making come to fruition, and seen our press work tirelessly to turn our authors’ words to face the world. After all, that’s what we do as publishers: we make things public.

I could imagine no better way to work in the publishing world. We, all of us, are constantly improving on the work we do, constantly looking to better ourselves and hold ourselves to the highest standards. Things get busy, sure, but that just leaves me with all the more to learn.

Rebecca Dill, Publicity Associate

I’ll never forget how I got hired at Three Rooms Press. I met Peter and Kat over coffee, and not long after we sat down they asked if I wanted to come upstairs and help them with a book mailing. Setting aside invasive “stranger danger” thoughts and reminding myself how desperate I was for a job, I followed them up to their office. After helping with the mailing, Peter handed me twenty dollars and said, “See you on Monday.” And that was the beginning. 

Three Rooms has a spirit of camaraderie and determination unlike any work environment I’ve experienced before. Fresh to New York from Memphis, I immediately connected with the fierce, “grit and grind” mentality of the team—and we truly are a team, working tirelessly to publish books we believe in. Every day I am learning to be more resourceful and creative when it comes to social media and engaging with our audiences, both online and off, and that would not be possible without the support of my colleagues. I’m incredibly thankful I’ve had the opportunity to work with the press’s fabulous books and authors, and to learn about publishing from the ground up.