SEMO Press to release ‘Proud to Be: Writing by American Warriors’ Vol. 4 on Saturday

<p class="p1">The Southeast Missouri State University Press will release its fourth annual volume of “Proud to Be: Writing by American Warriors” Dec. 19, at the St. Louis Public Library.</p><p class="p1">The book launch and reception  for the anthology is scheduled for 1-4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 19, in the St. Louis Public Library’s Carnegie Room, 1301 Olive Street in downtown St. Louis.</p><p class="p1">The event will feature short readings by 12 local and national military personnel, veterans and veterans’ family members from Missouri, Colorado, Tennessee, Illinois, Wisconsin and Mississippi. </p><p class="p1">The Missouri Humanities Council and Southeast Missouri State University Press are hosting the event, which is free and open to the public. The book will be available for purchase at the reception.</p><p class="p1">The writing in the “Proud to Be” Series is based on veterans’ real-life experiences written in essays, poetry, photographs, interviews and short stories. </p><p class="p1">Volume 4 features 97 pieces of writing from World War II to the present, edited by Dr. Susan Swartwout.</p><p class="p1">In conjunction with the anthology, Missouri Humanities Council sponsors a contest for best work submitted in each of the genres of fiction, poetry, essays, photography and interviews. </p><p class="p1">Each of the contributors to a volume receive a copy of the anthology.</p><p class="p1">For more information, contac Dr. Susan Swartwout at 573-651-2044 or sswartwout@semo.edu.warriors/#sthash.0SMlfLLS.dpuf</p>