Middle West Press

@middlewestpress

Middle West Press is an Iowa-based editor and publisher of non-fiction, fiction, journalism, and poetry books. Our projects are often inspired by the people, places, and history of the American Midwest. Also #veterans. Visit:

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Middle West Press@middlewestpress· Jul 21

ARRIVING SEPT 2026: "CRYPTIDS, KAIJU & CORN" VOL. 2 !!! More than 60 voices of Sci-Fi, Fantasy & Horror join to deliver fresh visions and explorations regarding the “forgotten” terrain and deep recesses of the American Midwest! More info: www.middlewestpress.com/2026/07/on-s...

Middle West Press@middlewestpress· Jul 15

NOW AVAILABLE ON E-BOOK! "CRACKERJACK BANDS and HOMETOWN BOOSTERS"! Minnesota journalist & essayist @joyriggs.bsky.social probes her own family history to reveal how 20th century Midwestern towns once competed for respect, recognition, & renown by mustering talented bands of youth and others!

Middle West Press@middlewestpress· May 1

Middle West Press LLC will be tabling at the 2026 DSM Book Festival! Sat., May 2, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. FREE ADMISSION!!! Franklin Event Center 4801 Franklin Ave, Des Moines, IA 50310 The festival is administered by Beaverdale Books: beaverdalebooks.com/dsm-book-fes... #dsmbookfestival2026

6-foot "Oddzilla" cardboard cutout is standing behind a sign that reads: "Middle West Press: Books about: SFF poetry and flash; PTSD and healing; LGBTQ+ narratives; military service; parenthood; veterans"

Middle West Press@middlewestpress· Mar 3

Submissions open for new volume of poetry and micro-prose on themes of "modern midwest monsters"! Deadline is Jun. 2, 2026! www.middlewestpress.com/2026/03/send...

Middle West Press@middlewestpress· Feb 25

“Words to Meet the Moment”, a 42-page chapbook poetry anthology centered on community trauma, resilience, and healing is now available via Content Bookstore in Northfield, Minn. Proceeds benefit Northfield Community Action Center. Book link here: www.contentbookstore.com/browse/filte...

Middle West Press@middlewestpress· Feb 24

BOTH VOLUMES NOW ON @bookshop.org & other "non-'Zon" booksellers !!! Prize-winning reads for those who serve, and those whose lives are touched by military service! “Our Best War Stories” - VOL. 1: bookshop.org/a/102773/978... - VOL. 2: bookshop.org/a/102773/978...

Middle West Press@middlewestpress· Feb 4

“This collection ultimately left me with a profound desire to explore my own Midwest experience.” —Kara Taghon, bookseller at The Atlas Collective 1801 5th Ave, Moline, Ill. atlascollectiveqc.com Full review in the JAN2026 issue of @littlevillage.bsky.social : littlevillagemag.com/book-review-...

Middle West Press@middlewestpress· Dec 31

RESOLVED: Get more published in 2026! Writing military-themed fiction or nonfic, essays, history, journalism, or even poetry? "Why We Write: Craft Essays on Writing War" puts an arsenal of ideas & expertise at your fingertips! Amazon & elsewhere: - Print: amzn.to/2OZktFN - Kindle: amzn.to/3Aggjh8

Cover of "Why We Write: Craft Essays on Writing War" anthology depicts marching U.S. soldiers excerpted from a WW2 propaganda poster. The cover is presented against a background of barn wood planks and fairy lights.

Middle West Press@middlewestpress· Dec 19

More than 50 emerging and established military writers unpack their stories of sacrifice, hardship, joy, and laughter in uniform! “Things We Carry Still: Poems & Micro-Stories About Military Gear” anthology - Print: amzn.to/47azYQE - Kindle: amzn.to/3JCYoJg

Middle West Press@middlewestpress· Dec 17

"Whether you're writing military-themed fiction or non-fiction; strategy or policy analysis; history or journalism; or even war poetry, 'Why We Write: Craft Essays on Writing War' puts an arsenal of innovation and expertise at your fingertips!" Get it on Amazon & elsewhere! amzn.to/2OZktFN

Book cover of "Why We Write: Craft Essays on Writing War" depicts marching U.S. soldiers from a WW2 propaganda poster. The graphic's background is a pine Christmas wreath with pine cones and red ribbons.

Middle West Press@middlewestpress· Dec 11

"Giant Robot Poems: On Mecha-Human Science, Culture & War" Get it on Amazon: - On Kindle: amzn.to/4bq7AN7 - In Print: amzn.to/3xKtrjx Also at Bookshop DOT org! (Or special-order via local bookstores!) bookshop.org/lists/anthol...

Graphic depicts giant blue robot holding "Giant Robot Poems" anthology in front of a techno-stylized cityscape. The text reads: "ALFA-BOT says: 'Humans: Read/write more poetry about your giant robot friends!!!"

Middle West Press@middlewestpress· Dec 4

Congratulations to "Cryptids, Kaiju & Corn" anthology contributor Juan Manuel Pérez and @spacecowboybooks.bsky.social, on the launch of Pérez's latest collection, "The Enigmatical Sphere of El Chupa-Ku"! Buy it via Bookshop.org and elsewhere: bookshop.org/p/books/the-...

Book cover of "The Enigmatical Sphere of El Chupa-Ku"
by Juan Manuel Pérez features a white line-art image of a chupacabra sucking on a human skull, rendering on a starry black background.

The graphic captions read: "Órale!"; #spooky, #snarky, #binlingual, #haiku; "New from Space Cowboy Books!"

Middle West Press@middlewestpress· Dec 2

Oddzilla says: “Forget Elf on Shelf. Put MOAR BOOKS on Shelf!” "Cryptids, Kaiju & Corn: Poems and Micro-Stories about Modern Midwest Monsters" - Print: amzn.to/47buzvn - Kindle: amzn.to/3ZSvQn0

Book cover of "Cryptids, Kaiju & Corn" anthology depicts shambling giant in flowering forest. A human-sized figure walks on a path in front of the giant.

The graphic includes a picture of a Godzilla-like action figure wearing a red and white Santa hat. The book is superimposed on a Christmas wreath. The graphic is captioned: "Read Moar Books!" and, underneath the Godzilla-like character, "He knows if you've been bad or good ..."

Middle West Press@middlewestpress· Nov 27

RESILIENCE = RESISTANCE !!! For readers and writers of modern military life & what comes after! Great reads & gifts! Available worldwide via Amazon, Barnes & Noble, @bookshop.org, and indie booksellers! Round-up link: amzn.to/3MbKf9X

Graphic depicts 4 book covers against photo of stormy beach:

“Hugging This Rock: Poems of Earth & Sky, Love & War” by Eric Chandler cover depicts F-16 bubble cockpit against sunrise

“Blood / Not Blood … Then the Gates” by Ron Riekki cover depicts abstract blood circulatory system juxtaposed with cracked fieldstone path

“Paying for Gas with Quarters: A Parent's Odyssey in Poems” by Aly Allen cover depicts gas station lights visible through a foggy night

“Always Ready: Poems from a Life in the U.S. Coast Guard” by Benjamin B. White cover depicts lifeguard station overlooking sunny ocean; the abstract "sun" is a series of orange lifesaver rings

Middle West Press@middlewestpress· Nov 26

"ON WARS ... & AFTER-WARS!" For readers and writers of modern military life! Great reads & gifts for those who serve, and those whose lives are touched by military service! Available worldwide via Amazon, Barnes & Noble, @bookshop.org, and indie booksellers! Round-up link: amzn.to/3MbKf9X

Middle West Press@middlewestpress· Nov 25

Meet “Charlie Sherpa” @fobhaiku.bsky.social, the GWOT mil-blogger who originated the “Sherpatudes”! Part lessons-learned guy & unit historian, part war poet, part “brigade staff jester”! You’ll laugh, you’ll cry—you just might learn something to boot! FIND ALL HIS BOOKS: amzn.to/3Kd6kUU

Book covers for the following books appear on a photo background depicting sparklers at night:
- "Welcome to FOB Haiku: War Poems from Inside the Wire" depicts pencil drawing of a modern armored truck
- "So Frag & So Bold: Short Poems, Aphorisms & Other Wartime Fun" depicts a red heart grenade
- "Twelve O'Clock Haiku: Leadership Lessons from Old War Movies & New Poems" depicts a bird's-eye-view of a B-17 bomber during a WW2 mission
- "Good Morning, First Sergeant: 10 war poems about coffee" depicts U.S. soldiers roping down from a Huey helicopter at sunrise

Middle West Press@middlewestpress· Nov 24

Military Families—we see you! @lisasticepoet.bsky.social is a poet, editor, literary activist, mother, military spouse, and the author of multiple full-length poetry collections! FIND ALL HER BOOKS HERE: amzn.to/48gYrpu

Middle West Press@middlewestpress· Nov 19

Congratulations to U.S. Navy & Air Force veteran Ron Riekki, for his first-place poem “I counseled survivors of torture” in "Proud to Be" Vol. 14! Where to buy: thelaurelreview.submittable.com/submit/29787... & here's Riekki’s 2022 collection “Blood / Not Blood … Then the Gates”: amzn.to/3fxE6oi

Graphic depicts 2 book covers, along with 2 blocks of text, each pointing to a book cover.

Block 1: "Congratulations to U.S. Navy & Air Force veteran Ron Riekki on his first-palce poem in "Proud to Be" Volume 14!

Book cover 1: "Proud to Be" Volume 14 cover depicts modern military pilot in woodland camoflauge checking cockpit gauges.

Block 2: "Check out more of the poet's work in his 2002 poetry collection from Middle West Press!"

Cover 2: Cover of "Blood / Not Blood ... Then the Gates" depicts abstract design; left vertical two-thirds of cover suggests interior of blood-red circulatory system; right one-third of cover suggests crusty gray-brown fieldstone wall or path.

Middle West Press@middlewestpress· Nov 19

Thanks to the @sfpoetry.bsky.social(SFPA) for notice of the “Cryptids, Kaiju & Corn” anthology launch, as part of its monthly member-activities round-up! Catch-up on speculative-poet members and market happenings here at this link: sfpoetry.org/wp/2025/11/0...

Middle West Press@middlewestpress· Nov 14

Check out these new books from Middle West Press LLC and other members of @clmporg.bsky.social—the Community of Literary Magazines & Presses (CLMP)! Full list here: www.clmp.org/news/books-l... Includes “Our Best War Stories, Vol. 2”! - Print: amzn.to/47kS45q - Kindle: amzn.to/4gh34n7

Collage of assorted covers of newly released books, including Middle West Press' "Our Best War Stories, Vol. 2". The text reads, "Featured on CLMP's list of new releases!" Text elsewhere reads, "Books launching in November."

Book cover of “Our Best War Stories, Vol. 2”: As a U.S. Marine Corps CH-46 “Sea Knight” helicopter departs, U.S. Army soldiers with Charlie Company, 3rd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 82nd Airborne Division set up a security perimeter after landing in the desert to perform counterinsurgency operations with Iraqi security forces during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Middle West Press@middlewestpress· Nov 12

Congratulations to U.S. Army veteran, war poet, and Twin Cities psychiatric nurse practitioner Jessi M. Atherton on her Veterans Day reading at Iowa’s University of Dubuque! “The Time War Takes: Poems” - Kindle: amzn.to/3E4pUfI - Print: amzn.to/40Mx69s #warpoet #veteransday #middlewestpress

Photo of poet and Iraq War veteran Jessi M. Attherton speaking at Veterans Day 2025 reading at University of Dubuque, Iowa.

Text reads: "Congratulations, Jessi!"

Image is overburned with cover of Atherton's 2023 collection, "The Time War Takes," which depicts a carved pink elephant against a background of digital foliage and desert sands.

Middle West Press@middlewestpress· Nov 11

From "Line of Advance" & the Col. Darron L. Wright Memorial Writing Awards: The best new and established voices from modern wars & eras! NOW IN TWO VOLUMES !! Series link here: amzn.to/4oZPwPZ Editor: Christopher Lyke Covers: @battlefieldgd.bsky.social Publisher: @middlewestpress.bsky.social

Text reads: "Hit 'em with ... both volumes !!!"

Book covers of "Our Best War Stories: Prize-winning Poetry & Prose from the Col. Darron L. Wright Memorial Awards" appear over a notional modern battlefield scene. The image includes jet fighters flying overhead, with ground troops and armored wheeled vehicles below on a desert landscape.

Middle West Press@middlewestpress· Nov 10

“It’s not the Deer XING that’ll get ya!” The book "Cryptids, Kaiju & Corn" collects more than 70 short poems and 300-word narratives of mythic beasts that illuminate, celebrate, or challenge stereotypes of Midwestern identity. Buy it here: - Print: amzn.to/47buzvn - Kindle: amzn.to/3ZSvQn0

Photo of humorous-but-real yellow-diamond "Bigfoot XING" sign is paired with a book cover shot of "Cyptids, Kaiju & Corn: Poems and Micro-Stories about Modern Midwest Monsters". Text reads "Midwest Traffic Safety Advisory."

Middle West Press@middlewestpress· Nov 5

Now No. 9 on Amazon's "Top 10 Hot New Releases" in the e-book poetry anthologies category! "More than 60 prize-winning works of 21st century war poetry, fiction & non-fiction! From the lit-journal 'Line of Advance' & the Col. Darron L. Wright Memorial Writing Awards!" More info: amzn.to/4gh34n7

Image: Screenshots of book cover of "Our Best War Stories, Vol. 2" listed at No. 9 on Amazon's "Top 10 Hot New Releases" in the e-book poetry anthologies category

Middle West Press@middlewestpress· Nov 4

The best new & established voices from modern war eras! More than 60 prize-winning works of 21st century war poetry, fiction, and non-fiction! PLUS: 60+ writing prompts & prize-winner perspectives - Print: amzn.to/47kS45q - Kindle: amzn.to/4gh34n7 Info: www.middlewestpress.com/2025/11/now-...

Book cover of “Our Best War Stories, Vol. 2”: As a U.S. Marine Corps CH-46 “Sea Knight” helicopter departs, U.S. Army soldiers with Charlie Company, 3rd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 82nd Airborne Division set up a security perimeter after landing in the desert to perform counterinsurgency operations with Iraqi security forces during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Middle West Press@middlewestpress· Nov 3

Happy Godzilla Day to all those who celebrate !!! #godzilladay2025 #kaiju #cryptids #middlewestpress "Crypids, Kaiju & Corn" anthology: - Print: amzn.to/47buzvn - Kindle: amzn.to/3ZSvQn0

Image: A toothy plastic knock-off "Oddzilla" giant-lizard toy "photobombs" into frame, looking at viewer. Behind Oddzilla is a book cover of Middle West Press' recently launched anthology "Cryptids, Kaiju & Corn."

Book cover of "Cryptids, Kaiju & Corn" anthology features a giant, shambling creature towering over a lone humanoid figure walking through a flowery forest.

Additional text on this post reads: "Happy Godzilla Day to all who celebrate !!!"

Middle West Press@middlewestpress· Oct 27

We had a great time this past Sat., Oct. 25, 2025 visiting with readers and artists at the Des Moines, Iowa metro's Mayhem Comics and Games’ "Mayhempalooza 2025" !!! We debuted our new trade paperback "Cryptids, Kaiju & Corn"! amzn.to/47buzvn Missed the Mayhem? Visit: linktr.ee/middlewestpress

"Oddzilla" pushes a toy shopping cart with stickers that read "Cryptids, Kaiju & Corn". The book cover of the anthology "Cryptids, Kaiju & Corn: Poems and Micro-Stories about Modern Midwest Monsters" features a giant, shambling creature towering over a lone humanoid figure walking through a flowery forest.

Editor-Publisher Randy "Sherpa" Brown wears an "Oddzilla" shirt that incorporates elements of Hokusai's famous print "The Great Wave Off Kanagawa," but also the boat "Orca" from the 1975 movie "Jaws"!

The Middle West Press LLC table displays stickers, books, T-shirts, and other merch.

Middle West Press@middlewestpress· Oct 23

VENDOR POP-UP this Sat., Oct. 25, 2025!!! Mayhempalooza 2025 at Mayhem Comics and Games, Des Moines! "Cryptids, Kaiju & Corn"! Plus ... new sticker designs featuring Big-hearted Bigfoots ("Bigfeet"?), Zombies of the Corn, and Hog-abducting Aliens!!! Check us out at: linktr.ee/middlewestpress

Middle West Press@middlewestpress· Oct 21

VENDOR POP-UP Sat., Oct. 25, 2025!!! Looking forward to seeing y'all in the Des Moines, Iowa metro at Mayhem Comics and Games' "Mayhempalooza 2025"! Plus stickers, postcards, and other Middle West Press swag! Check us out: linktr.ee/middlewestpress Event website: sites.google.com/view/mayhemp...

Slide text reads: Middle West Press is vending at Mayhempalooza
Sat. Oct. 25, 2025!
- Mayhem Collectibles, 7500 University Ave., Clive, Iowa
- FREE to public!!!
- 18+ Artists, Authors & Creators!
- 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Images: Book cover of "Cryptids, Kaiju & Corn" anthology features a giant, shambling creature towering over a lone humanoid figure walking through a flowery forest

Photo of Randy "Sherpa" Brown standing in front of Mayhem Game Room signage

Middle West Press@middlewestpress· Oct 15

Check out these new books from Middle West Press LLC and other members of Community of Literary Magazines & Presses (CLMP)! www.clmp.org/news/books-l... Includes “Cryptids, Kaiju & Corn: Poems and Micro-Stories about Modern Midwest Monsters”! - Print: amzn.to/47buzvn - Kindle: amzn.to/3ZSvQn0