Dedicated to those who served,
those who continue to serve,
and the families who carry the weight of
that service in their absence.
Edgar Allan Poe, famous for his works such as The Raven, The Tell Tale Heart, and The Pendulum, joined the Army in 1827. Joyce Kilmer, the author of the poem Trees (I don’t think I shall ever see, a poem lovely as a tree…), served in the Army during World War I and died in combat in 1918. There are many successful literary figures who had served, but many, many more are unknown mostly because they do not know how to bring their works to light. Santos Press invites you to submit your poem(s) to be considered for inclusion in the upcoming Veteran Voices: An anthology of poems by those who served.
(Santos Press, LLC is fully accredited to conduct business with the U.S. Federal Government (SAM.gov: UEI Number YYG8KDE2NVC5) and the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA: CAGE Code 19L25).)
Purpose: The Veteran Voices anthology’s purpose is to publish crafted, intentional poetry written by U.S. Military Veterans. Poems do not need to be about war, deployment, or military themes. Poems could be on any subject (childhood, identity, loss, love, memory, nature, faith, humor, or the quiet moments that shape a life). The anthology aims to be a collection of poetry written by Veterans, not simply a collection of Veteran‑themed poetry. The ultimate goal is to showcase and highlight the literary talents of the Veterans whose poems are chosen to be included in the anthology.
Why this anthology matters for You:
Many Veterans write quietly for years, sometimes decades, without a clear path to publication. Veteran Voices serves as a professional entry point for Veteran poets who want to:
- establish a first publication credit
- build legitimacy as a literary author
- gain visibility before publishing a full collection
- join a community of serious Veteran writers
The goal: help Veterans use this anthology as a vehicle to propel their own literary careers. (See Literary Fellowships and Grants.)
Cost to Submit: None.
- Participation in Veteran Voices is completely free.
- There are no submission fees, no reading fees, and no publication fees of any kind.
- The only “cost” of submitting is the willingness to share a piece of your inner world through your poem. Additionally, not all submitted poems will be chosen for inclusion.
Santos Press is a Veteran‑owned literary imprint, not a vanity press. Our mission is to amplify Veteran voices, not charge Veterans for the opportunity to be heard. If your work is selected:
- you will not be asked to pay for inclusion
- you will not be asked to purchase copies
- you will receive one complimentary hardcopy of the anthology
- you retain full ownership of your poem
This anthology exists to elevate Veterans, not to profit from them. (“Really? Free? What’s the catch?” Seriously, no cost and no catch. Here’s why.)
Submission Details:
1. Eligibility: Open to all U.S. Military Veterans (any branch, era, or component) or currently serving personnel. (A Note for Currently Serving Personnel (Active Duty, Reserve, and National Guard): Santos Press welcomes submissions from those currently in uniform. However, OPSEC will be observed along with privacy review to ensure your identity and career are protected.)
2. How submissions will be evaluated: entries will be reviewed based upon four literary qualities:
- Craft & Language: precision, clarity, and intentional word choice
- Emotional Honesty: authentic expression without cliché
- Imagery & Voice: vivid, concrete images and a distinct voice
- Literary Merit: depth, re‑read value, and resonance
3. Content:
- Poems must be original works and must not have been published in a formal print or online journal, magazine, or anthology (poems previously shared on personal blogs or social media are acceptable).
- What we’re looking for: poetry on any subject ( childhood, identity, loss, love, memory, nature, faith, humor, or the quiet moments that shape a life). While themes of experience while in uniform, during transition, and reflection thereafter are welcome, we also invite a generalized range of Veteran poetic expressions. Thus, your poem does not need to be about the military.
- We are seeking literary work, not therapeutic writing or unshaped personal venting.
- AI-generated content will not be accepted. All submissions must be the original, human-authored work of the Veteran.
- Length: Each poem should be limited to a maximum of two pages (approximately 500 words).
- Quantity: Authors may submit up to three (3) poems for consideration.
- Format: Please submit files in .doc, .docx, or .pdf format. Use a standard, legible font (e.g., Times New Roman or Arial, 12pt).
4. Timeline:
- Submission deadline: July 24, 2026.
- Curation Period: August – September 2026.
- Notification: September 15, 2026 (Contributor Agreement will be sent for signature. The Agreement will give Santos Press the rights to print accepted entries subject to limitations. Please see Contributor Agreement here.)
- Release Date: November 2026.
5. Compensation & Rights:
- Author Copies: Accepted authors will receive one (1) complimentary hardcopy of the anthology, regardless of the number of poems selected for inclusion.
- Rights: Santos Press, LLC acquires non-exclusive print and digital rights. The author retains full ownership of their work and may publish it elsewhere after the anthology’s release.
6. How to Submit: please visit the submission page at santospress.com/submissions to submit your name, email address, and brief note stating your branch, time in service (range, ex., 1991-2008), and any questions/comments you may have. To maintain the security of our publishing systems, we do not accept direct file uploads through this website. Upon receipt of your information, you will receive a follow-up email detailing how to transmit your manuscript for consideration.
Your voice matters.
Whether your poem is about childhood, faith, loss, memory, or the quiet truths you’ve carried since service, we invite you to share it.
We look forward to reading and including your work in Veteran Voices: An anthology of poems by those who served.
About Santos Press
Santos Press is an independent literary imprint dedicated to amplifying voices that prioritize intellectual curiosity and developmental milestones. Founded and operated by a Veteran educator and researcher, the Press bridges the gap between academic rigor and creative storytelling.
Federal Accreditation & Compliance
Santos Press, LLC is fully accredited to conduct business with the U.S. Federal Government (SAM.gov) and the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA).
- UEI Number: YYG8KDE2NVC5
- CAGE Code: 19L25
About the Publisher: Click here to view the Professional Bio of Franco E. Santos, MA, Ed.D
Download and share the flyer for the Veteran Voices: An anthology of poems by those who served.