Welcome to Steel Toe Books

Founded in 2003, Steel Toe Books publishes one to three single-author poetry collections per year. Our authors have been featured on Garrison Keillor's radio program, "The Writer's Almanac," on Ted Kooser's newsletter, "American Life in Poetry," as well as on Poetry Daily and Verse Daily. Our books have been reviewed in fine publications such as The Briar Cliff Review, The Comstock Review, Cranky, Diner, The Green Hills Literary Lantern, The Midwest Book Review, New Orleans Review, Poet Lore, Rattle, Review Revue, Rhino, Small Press Review, and Verse.

Our books are professionally designed and printed. They are distributed through Ingram. We read unsolicited submissions during advertised open reading periods only.  Check the "Submit" page for updates.

Praise for our newest titles…

Bending Under the Yellow Police Tapes by James Doyle

“Doyle's characters persevere . . . because they are all right with the unfairness, the sometimes absurdity, of the world.”  more...
—Joe Benevento

Lightning and Ashes by John Guzlowski

“It brings us face to face with what we cannot allow ourselves to forget.”  more...
—Jared Carter

Prairie Fever by Mary Biddinger

“These poems bite and scare, ravish and delight. Prairie Fever showcases a beautiful mind, a beautiful debut.”  more...
—Aimee Nezhukumatathil

Becoming the Villainess by Jeannine Hall Gailey

“The wild and seductive energy in this collection never lets one put the book down.”  more...
—Ilya Kaminsky

Blue Positive by Martha Silano

“There is a bustle to her language as she tries to gather everything she loves.”  more...
—Bob Hicok