Our Inspiration
We are inspired by women and girls who, every day, listen to each other and, implicitly or explicitly, talk back to the patriarchy.
We are inspired by our respective cities of Green Bay, Wisconsin, and New York, New York, and the possibilities of conversation between coastal and middle America. As far as we know, no other publisher lives and works from both places.
Our name comes from a miniature zine Steph found in a Vancouver stationery store, called One Shrew Two Few, that wordlessly and perfectly illustrates what it’s like to be separated from your soulmate, operating alone in the world, missing a co-conspirator. Having been “one shrew too few” on too many important occasions, cofounders Liz and Steph are delighted to be reunited as Two Shrews.
Plus it never hurts, in publishing, when your name resonates with Shakespeare.
About Us
Stephanie Higgs and Elizabeth Paulson met at Random House over a decade ago and made each other’s work lives hilarious, joyful, and snack-filled while they were there. They have been friends ever since, despite a thousand miles between them when Liz moved back to Green Bay—all the while dreaming of working together again. In 2018 it happened and they found a way, and a name, for it to keep happening: Two Shrews.
Liz came up in traditional publishing as the domestic rights manager for the Random House publishing group. Early on, she discovered dissonance in the financials of publishing. She brings to Two Shrews a commitment to making smart acquisitions with strong rights potential. Liz is a staunch defender of the Midwest and is excited to bring diverse voices to readers everywhere.
Steph was an editor specializing in nonfiction at Random House for nearly a decade. In 2010 she came back to publishing to co-write Beyond Addiction: How Science and Kindness Help People Change. Having found her joy in publishing again, she has kept doing stuff like this all along the editorial spectrum, from writing and editing to concept development and author coaching. She brings her sharp-but-kind and patient editorial eye and diplomacy to Two Shrews.
And when she is froward, peevish, sullen, sour,
And no obedient to his honest will,
What is she but a foul contending rebel,
And graceless traitor to her loving lord?
—William Shakespeare