Call for Submissions: “Voices From the Shadows: The Untold Stories of America’s Unseen Warriors”

Blackside Concepts, publishers of veteran non-fiction titles like “Violence of Action: The Untold Stories of the 75th Ranger Regiment in the War on Terror” and “On Assimilation: A Ranger Returns from War,” is seeking submissions for a new project, tentatively titled “Voices from the Shadows: The Untold Stories of America’s Unseen Warriors.”  This book is scheduled for a 2016 release.

What We’re Doing, and Why
The purpose of this project is to educate the American public, to aid in the healing and transition process, and to make a record of the sacrifices, successes, and struggles of the men and women of the Special Operations community for future generations.  It is time for their stories to be heard.

We seek first person accounts, photos, poetry, sketches, and similar submissions from a wide range of individuals with Special Operations experience, including those with operational career fields, support career fields, family members, fiancées, and close friends of those who served in Special Operations Forces (SOF).

As former members of the SOF community ourselves, keeping faith with our nation and our brothers and sisters in arms is paramount. With that in mind, and in the spirit of the “Quiet Professional,” the entire manuscript will be submitted for pre-publication clearance through the US Special Operations Command (SOCOM) and will not be published until official approval is granted. A portion of the profits from this book will be donated to SOF charities.

What We’re Looking For
We are looking to publish unclassified, first-person accounts related to some aspect of SOF. This can be any SOF unit, from any time period.  A good target is 2500 words, but longer or shorter stories will also be considered.  Every contributing author will receive a copy of the finished book, and each author retains the copyright to his or her own stories.

We will not publish, and do not wish to receive, any stories involving participation in egregious violations of US state or federal laws, the Law of Land Warfare, or the Uniform Code of Military Justice.  Similarly, we will not publish, and do not wish to receive, any submissions that violate OPSEC, compromise classified information, violate non-disclosure agreements, engage in overt character assassination, or reflect the US or allied militaries in an extremely unfavorable light.

In an effort to weed out posers, exaggerators, and fabricators, we will undertake vetting of everything submitted for publication and will not publish any stories that do not pass a due diligence screening, no matter how “good” they are.

While we guarantee anonymity for authors who are operational or who otherwise must protect their identity, we greatly prefer writers publish under their real names.

How to Submit Your Story
There is no specific word limit, but most stories should be from 1000 to 7,000 words, written in first person, past tense. To submit your story or to request additional information, send an email to Scott Faith at havokjournal@havokmedia.com.

Thank you for your time, and for helping America understands the triumphs and struggles of its most capable warriors.