The Third Thing
Publication Details
- Title: The Third Thing
- Subtitle: A Novel
- Author: Sirkka Smith
- Publisher: Taricha Books
- ISBN: 978-1-954087-01-9 (trade paperback)
- ISBN: 978-1-954087-00-2 (ebook/epub)
Tagline
Love. Friendship. Weird Birds.
One-line Blurb
A socially-awkward artist and a shy photographer shadowed by a mysterious virus must face their fears to find love.
Short Blurb
On remotely beautiful Mt. Arin, a shy photographer meets a newly-arrived artist looking for peculiar mountain birds. She hasn't quite figured out humans, while he struggles to escape the aftermath of a mysterious sickness. "The Third Thing" vigorously blends sweet romance, adventure, and espresso into a creamy mixture with a unique flavor and one of those little designs on top in the foam.
Long Blurb
Love. Friendship. Weird Birds.
Xiomara (Xo for short) relaunches her artistic career with a bang—or rather, a crash—when she moves to the small mountain town of Lingen to paint birds. She’s determined to get her life back on course by pursuing what she loves, and she is sure that can be accomplished with a practical approach. But love is hard to reason with, and while Xo readily understands her avian acquaintances, humans have always been a bit of a conundrum.
Elliot is an unassuming photographer who is smitten when Xo disrupts his quiet existence. His penchant for attracting disaster has left him scarred by his past and tongue-tied when it comes to revealing his growing feelings for her. But this shy, unlikely hero can’t help trying to protect her from anything that could harm her—including his closest friend.
Can Xo and Elliot find love in spite of themselves? Or will Elliot’s past destroy their chances?
This is a story about old-fashioned love in the modern day, with quirky characters, a dash of suspense and adventure in the mountains, and a unique perspective on romance, friendship, and sacrifice.
Find out more about "The Third Thing," a novel by Sirkka Smith, at sirkkasmith.com
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Excerpt
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Sirkka Smith
Author Bio
Sirkka Smith lives in the Pacific Northwest, where
she’s spent a number of years in Lingen or stuck on Mt. Arin somewhere.
Besides writing, common activities include puzzling over the peculiarities of human interaction,
blurting out impromptu song lyrics, and getting robots to do her chores for her.
She enjoys most caffeinated beverages.
You can find out more about Sirkka and The Third Thing at
sirkkasmith.com
Contact Info
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Website: http://sirkkasmith.com
Questions & Answers - Author Interview
Q. Let's get this one out of the way! Was "mountainpox" in The Third Thing inspired by the COVID-19 pandemic?
A. Actually, it is not related. I'd already finished writing by then (the publishing process takes a while) so the
story of The Third Thing takes place in that rosy, pre-covid-pandemic world that seems so long ago. And while it started to feel like a case of "life imitating art"
for a little while at the start of 2020, mountainpox is a very different type of virus. It's one of those obscure viruses that isn't that widespread and hasn't been studied enough.
Q. What inspired you to write a story about love?
A. Love is a universal thing that we all want. This story doesn't just focus on romance, but on those deep love ties in multiple types of relationships, including friendships, that really hold us together and support us when the going gets tough. It's also about finding love, and realizing you deserve it, when maybe you aren't the type of person that always fits in or makes connections easily.
Q. On that note, your story has some neurodiversity and characters who aren't your typical hero and heroine. Why did you choose to diverge from the usual type of romantic leads?
A. Writing my characters this way happened naturally, as there is a part of me in every character I write. But I think having difficulty connecting with others is a relatable concept even if you are not neurodivergent. It's nice to up-end the "expected" romantic hero/heroine dynamic, looks, behaviors, etc. because those don't represent most people anyway. And in real life many people have a hard time seeing themselves as somebody's ideal match, especially when they are older or still trying to figure out adulting. Xo and Elliot are not typical. But that makes them who they are, and I think there are a lot of readers who can relate and who will fall in love with them anyway.
Q. Are the characters in The Third Thing based off people you know in real life?
A. Nope, they're all figments of my imagination. It's not autobiographical either. The whole thing manifested in my head and this book is your passport to visit. It's a little weird in there, so take care.
Q. I'll be sure to watch my step in Lingen. So this is your first novel, but you have been writing for a long time, haven't you?
A. Yes, I "published" my first book was when I was 6, a six-page story starring a horse (named after my brother). I made photocopies with my father's help, bound them with the all-important "professional clear plastic binder" and distributed them to family members. Unfortunately, I neglected to keep a copy for myself, but they might still be out there somewhere.
Q. Is that "professional clear plastic binder" thing a Calvin & Hobbes reference?
A. But of course!