SHOP BOOKS

masthead

creative services

Beyond The Veil Press

Poetry and Art for Mental Health Awareness

Hello! We’re an indie press based in San Diego, California. We publish ​anthologies and chapbooks with a focus on mental health awareness and ​donate 10% of anthology net sales to a mental health non-profit. Some ​anthologies donate all net proceeds to a specific non-profit. We are queer and ​trans owned.


Beyond The Veil refers to “that realm which lies beyond the realm of the living, ​whatever that might be.” Meaning, what can we learn about depression, ​anxiety, and trauma from those who have been to that dark place? What can ​we learn about survival, community, and healing from those who have been to ​that dark place and returned still breathing?


This is what we hope to find beyond the veil with you. Boldly telling our stories ​of mental illness and healing is how we stop the stigma and find strength in ​each other. Vulnerability is rewarded with vulnerability is rewarded with ​vulnerability. And our collective healing continues.


Welcome to the cult club of Mr Bitey! We’re happy you’re here.

July 2024

Ac​id Rain Epithalamium

Be​cca Downs


M​a​rked with gorgeous explorations in fo​rm, the poet uses the page as her ca​nvas to examine the before and the af​ter, and to stare deeply down the mi​ddle. Her deft, delicate hand and el​egant poems are powerful, wrestling wi​th compelling narratives around in​herited beliefs and choices while cr​eating a new path forward to a life and a ​world that is worthy of poignant and ex​acting poetry. - Suzi Q. Smith, Gospel of​ Bones

June 2024

TAKING BACK THE BODY

by Talicha J.

Taking Back the Body is a stunning ​reclamation manifesto for anyone who ​has experienced sexual violence. Talicha ​J. finds the clarity that is sometimes ​challenging for survivors. Her journey ​to chronicle the body illuminates a path ​of embodiment and empowerment.

- Sara Beth Brooks, activist and poe​t

An Anthology of Poetry & Art by Survivors of Sexual Assault

An Anthology of Poetry & Art by BIPOC Voices on Reclaiming Identity through Invention

Upcoming Events

See our Instagram to verify details.

San Diego Poets

Cafe Writing Session

When: 11am-1pm, second & fourth Wednesdays

Where: Good Omen Coffee, 4590 Park Blvd,

San Diego, CA 92116

What: Bring whatever you’re working on and let’s ​write together! Hosted by Sage Herrin.




VIRTUAL WRITING SESSION

When: 11am - 12:15pm, every Sunday

Where: register (log into your Zoom acct first)

What: Virtual body doubling as we work on our ​own projects. We’ll say a quick hello, read a poem ​for inspiration, and check in again at the end! ​Hosted by Sage Herrin.

Virtual Poets

Shop Anthologies

10% of net proceeds donated to a featured mental health nonprofit

Shop Chapbooks

Request in your local bookshop thru Ingram!

Shop Indie Bookstores


California

Verbatim Books (San Diego)

Skylight Books (Los Angeles)

Village Books & Paper Dreams (Los Angeles)


Colorado

Trident Cafe (Boulder)

Matter (Denver)

Petals & Pages - queer woman owned (Denver)

Town​ie Books - woman owned (Crested Butte)



A ​B​o​okstore Near You

The ​Umbrella Bookstore (Salt Lake City, UT)

F12 ​Infoshop - trans owned (Charlottesville, VA)

Cham​berlin Uptown (Jacksonville, FL)


In​t​ernational Shops

Octo​pus Books (Ontario, Ottawa, CAN)

Gays​ The Word Bookstore (London, UK)

Ask your local bookstore to order us through Ingram!

Submissions Open Sept 15 - Nov 15

Guest Editors Zoe Simmons and Caiti Quatmann

Disability Pride Anthology

Submission Guidelines

  • Submissions are read BLIND. Please do not include ​your name anywhere on the work or in the file name. If ​your name is included somewhere in the work, black it ​out for now and you can change it before publishing. ​This is to avoid as much bias as possible.
  • Remember to title your work. A title is a valuable tool ​that can help inform the poem’s intention. If it doesn’t ​have a title, write Untitled but make sure you have a ​good reason to leave it untitled.
  • Be sure that your work fits the theme of the ​anthology. We accept anything surrounding mental ​health awareness, but it can be about your lived ​experience as well. Each anthology has a different ​theme, such as: healing, queer joy, and BIPOC voices on ​transformation.
  • Please submit 3-5 pieces. We want a full scope of your ​work to choose from.
  • Previously published work and simultaneous ​submissions are okay, but we prefer the new stuff! (Let ​us know asap if your work is accepted elsewhere.)
  • Pay attention to the elements of craft.
  • Send your work in Word or Google Docs and JPG for ​artwork. No PDFs please.
  • Contributors receive a free PDF and/or eBook copy of ​the work, and a limited window to purchase author ​copies at a discount before the book is released.
  • Any submission that doesn’t follow these guidelines ​may not be processed.


Questions? Email beyondtheveilpress[at]gmail[dot]com or ​DM on Instagram: @beyondtheveilpress.

Disability Pride Anthology Theme

“We are seeking submissions for an anthology that will explore the intersection of disability with race, gender identity, and sexuality, etc. This collection aims to amplify the voices of disabled writers, providing a platform for your lived experiences to be seen, heard, and understood.


We believe that sharing your truth and making your experiences visible is a powerful political act, one that challenges societal norms and forces others to confront what is often rendered invisible or unknowable.


We are interested in pieces that delve into the specific, everyday realities of living with a disability. We want to hear about the seemingly mundane aspects of your daily life that reveal the unique ways your disability manifests.


Exceptional work will be specific and emotionally resonant, capturing the depth and nuance of your lived experience. We welcome a wide range of submissions, including but not limited to:


Personal Narratives: Share your day-to-day experiences and the nuances of living with a disability. How does your disability shape your routine, relationships, work, or self-perception? We are looking for stories that are honest, raw, and specific.


Poetry: Use the power of language to express the complexities, joys, frustrations, and revelations that come with living in a world that may not be designed for you. Poems that resonate emotionally and offer a fresh perspective are highly encouraged.


Essays: Offer a critical perspective on the cultural, social, or political structures that impact the disabled community. How do these structures shape your experience of your disability? We value essays that are thought-provoking and deeply personal.


Creative Nonfiction: Explore the intersection of your disability with other aspects of your identity, such as race, gender identity, or sexuality. How do these identities interact in your life? We’re seeking narratives that are poignant and resonate with the complexity of intersectional identity.


Hybrid Forms: Feel free to experiment with form, blending genres to best convey your unique experience. We’re open to innovative and boundary-pushing work that challenges traditional literary forms.


We especially encourage submissions from disabled writers who are also part of other marginalized communities. Your intersectional experiences are vital to this anthology, and we want to provide a space where your voice can be fully expressed.”


-Caiti Quatmann @caititalks

Masthead

SCAD grads Josiah & Sage founded the press ​in March 2021.


Josiah Callaway (he/him)

@josiahcallaway


Sage Herrin (th​e​y/them)

@theshatteredmuse

Mr Bitey (aka Hero)

we love!

Mental Health Resources

Please keep in mind that we are artists, not medical professionals. These are resources that we have used personally or were recommended to us. They may not be for everyone.


PLEASE DIAL 988 IF YOU ARE IN CRISIS.


WEBSITES


GENERAL MENTAL HEALTH


Wanna Talk About It - Sexual Violence & Relationship Abuse; Mental Health & Well-Being; Self-Harm & Suicide

Anxiety & Depression Society of America

Mental Health Is Health – Immediate articles and help.

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

Active Minds – Mental health awareness and education.

Mental Health Colorado - an advocacy organization.


LGBTQ SPECIALISTS


Queer*Asterisk – Queer-informed counseling services, educational trainings, and community programming.

Out Boulder - supporting LGBTQ+ communities in Boulder & beyond.

The Trevor Project – Crisis intervention and suicide prevention for youth.


SUBSTANCE ABUSE


AddictionResource.net (LGBT-Friendly)

Co-Occurring Disorders and Substance Abuse


SEXUAL VIOLENCE


Helping Survivors of Sexual Assault and Abuse

RAINN - The nation's largest anti-sexual violence org.

Rape Hurts Foundation - Excellent Help, I Can’t Do This page worth reading.

BOOKS


Permission to come home: reclaiming mental health as Asian Americans - Jenny Wang

The Pain We Carry: Healing from C-PTSD for People of Color - Natalie Gutierrez

Journey Through Trauma: Guide to Healing Repeated Trauma - Gretchen Schmelzer

The Deepest Well - Dr. Nadine Burke Harris

My Grandmother’s Hands - Resmaa Menakem *tw: police violence

What My Bones Know - Stephanie Foo (memoir)

The Journey From Abandonment To Healing – Susan Anderson

Waking The Tiger - Peter Levine

Polysecure: Attachment, Trauma, & Consensual Nonmonogamy – Jessica Fern

Self-Therapy: A Step-By-Step Guide to Healing Your Inner Child Using IFS - Jay Early

The Body Keeps The Score – Bessel van der Kolk


PODCASTS


Where Is My Mind? – Niall Breslin

The Hilarious World of Depression; Depreche Mode – John Moe

The Happiness Lab – Dr. Laurie Santos

Speaking of Psychology – Kim I. Mills

Being Well – Dr. Rick Hanson and Forrest Hanson

Sober Awkward - Hamish Adams-Cairns and Victoria Vanstone

(C) Beyond The Veil Press 2021-24