About Fran Wiedenhoeft and Paper Poppy Press

Paper Poppy Press: A Home for Veteran Writing

Send us your short stories, poetry and personal essays! We want your voice to reach the world.

Scattered across the landscape of online literary journals and magazines veterans sporadically find a home for their work. There are a plethora of chapbook contests throughout the year but work by veterans is rarely features. Paper Poppy Press is created by a veteran for veterans. Work is rotated through the homepage and the press will soon run its first bianual chapbook contest.

I had always been a writer but until I was medically retired from the Army I had focused on anesthesia. At 52 I knew I had many productive years ahead. I refocused my energies on creative writing. As part of my writing practice I read literary journals and magazines. There was so much beauty and meaning it humbled me at my own efforts. Veteran voices, however, were underrepresented. In honor of the many stories and poems waiting to be told I founded Paper Poppy Press.

Take some time. Puruse the site. Stay tuned for the 1st Biannual Veterans Chapbook Contest!