"Young Santa brought the saint of Santa to me in a way I could never have guessed at before reading this thin, quietly astonishing book."

— Dan Beachy-Quick
Author of Variations on Dawn and Dusk

"A saint of poetry."

— Anne Waldman
Author of The Iovis Trilogy

"Whimsical and poignant."

— Jennifer Huang
Author of Return Flight

"Worthy of Bashō or Dōgen."

— David Mutschlecner
Author of Poetic Faith

The Second-Smartest Dog That Ever Lived

"Pass masterfully blends humor, heart, and peril in this anthropomorphic tale, making it an unforgettable read."

— Southwest Books of the Year, 2025

"A madcap, entertaining escape from reality from the canine perspective."

— Kirkus

Joe Deany-Braun is a bookseller and poet. His work has appeared in The Denver Post, The Colorado Sun, LitHub, Poets & Writers, BMoCA, and the Biennial of the Americas. He holds a BA in ecosystem science and an MFA in writing & poetics. His first full-length collection, Young Santa, is forthcoming from Thiessen Press in 2025.

Will Pass's debut novel, The Second-Smartest Dog That Ever Lived, was published by Thiessen Press in 2024 and named one of the 2025 Southwest Books of the Year. His work blends humor, philosophy, and the uncanny, often examining human absurdity through unexpected perspectives. His second novel, The Whirlpool of Lebanon, is forthcoming in 2026. Will also runs The Book Jacket Bracket, the world's first book cover tournament.

Jason Hardung

Jason Hardung’s work has appeared in many journals, including Hobart, Grist, Juked, X-Ray, Cimarron Review, 3AM, Evergreen Review, The Common and Word Riot. He has published two books of poetry. In 2013 he was named Poet Laureate of Fort Collins. He teaches the therapeutic value of writing in juvenile detention facilities, jails and rehabs in Colorado and southern Wyoming. His memoir, Mammal, is forthcoming from Thiessen Press in 2026.

About Us

Thiessen is an independent publisher specializing in contemporary fiction, poetry, and memoir. We celebrate imaginative, daring, humorous writing that romps over expectations like a winedrunk falabella wearing neon rainboots.Izzy Martens, Managing Editor
Todd Simmons, Editor-at-Large
Sam Durrell, Project Manager

Contact

Sam Durrell, Project Manager
[email protected]