Code Blue Publishing is proud to announce the second anthology release of 2026: Shadows from the Frontline. A call to action was made inviting writers of all genres to respond to the following prompt:

More than 70 submissions poured in from writers, poets, and professionals across different backgrounds and walks of life.

From those entries, 35 works of poetry, prose, and screenplay were selected, edited, and woven into one powerful collection.

What began as a worldwide search for stories from military, law enforcement, fire and rescue, EMS, and beyond grew into something far greater. Within these pages are stories that are fictional, nonfiction, and real-event-inspired stories exploring courage, sacrifice, resilience, humanity, and what it means to live alongside service.

Together, these 35 pieces create a diverse collection of perspectives from across professions and around the world. Net profits will be donated to the Wounded Warrior Project.

Whether you have served, supported someone who has, worked alongside those who answer the call, or simply believe in the power of storytelling, you can help bring these stories to life.

Air missiles whistle overhead.

Bombs detonate below.

Fire consumes the space between.

Blood erupts from an artery.

A suspect fights another arrest.

Every day, public servants don their uniform and selflessly answer the call of duty, often without knowing what waits on the other side. They serve their communities, but the end of shift is never the end of their experience. 

For every encounter, every mission, every call, and every emergency... the memories remain.

They follow them home, settling into the shadows; an ever-growing weight shaped by humanity at its most vulnerable and the undeniable reality of mortality.

Somewhere memories remain vivid: the faces, the sounds, the smells, the exact moment everything changed. Others fade with time, becoming fragments of a life once lived on the frontlines. Eventually, yesterday’s crisis can become tomorrow’s history; reduced to a headline, a chapter in a textbook, or a documentary playing on a television no one is watching.

Across the pages of Shadows from the Frontline are the stories of those who serve, those who witness, those who survive, and those who carry the shadows long after the call has ended.

The uniform may come off, but the shadows remain.

The anthology is already complete! Your support will help bring this finished collection to readers as an ebook, paperback, and a BackerKit Exclusive hardcover edition. Once stretch goals are unlocked, supporters will also receive access to bonus add-ons created to complement the anthology and make this collection even more special.

Whether you have served, supported someone who has, worked alongside those who answer the call, or simply believe in the power of storytelling, you can help bring these stories to life.

Join us at the beginning!

Be part of bringing these powerful stories to the world and receive the BackerKit Exclusive hardcover edition before the regular version reaches retail.

Once the campaign ends, these unique editions will not be available in retail stores (only the no thrills simple black and white paperback and eBook will be).

We'll collect shipping at the end, when your backer surveys go out, so we can apply the most current rates available. Shipping costs can change, and we'd rather work with the latest numbers than throw out an estimate that might come back to haunt us. ✨ 

Standard Paperback Book Specs
Size: 6"x 9" (152mm x 229mm)
Pages: 236
Paper: Creme
No unlocked stretch goals will be applied to this standard option

Special Edition Paperback Book Specs
Size: 6"x 9" (152mm x 229mm)
Pages: 236
Paper: Uncoated 55lb Text (80gsm)
Printed Edge
2-Page Spread Chapter Art
100mm Printed French Flaps

Add-ons (if stretched goals unlocked):
Upgraded Paper Ecco-book Cream 45lb Text (70gsm) (reduces eye strain!)
Upgraded Printed Edge Art Design
Extended 100mm French Flaps on 95lb Cover with Gloss Finish
6 Throwback Color Images of Contributing Authors in Action!

Special Edition Hardcover Book Specs
Size: 6"x 9" (152mm x 229mm)
Pages: 216
Paper: Uncoated 55lb Text (80gsm)
Printed Edge
2-Page Spread Chapter Art
Headband: Backers Pick Color!
Cover Type: Linen-Textured Paper Cloth in Dark-Blue
Dust Jacket: Full Color on Matte Laminate with 3D Sport Varnish and 100mm Flaps

Hardcover Add-ons (if stretched goals unlocked):
Upgraded Paper Ecco-book Cream 45lb Text (70gsm) (reduces eye strain!)
Upgraded Printed Edge Art Design
Add Matching Ribbon Marker To Compliment Headband
Two-Sided Front & Back End Papers Printed on 100lb Text Paper
6 Throwback Color Images of Contributing Authors in Action!

All special edition paperback will have French flaps and all special edition hardcover will have a dust jacket like below!

Simple, no thrills paperback. Includes the bookmark, eBook, and all unlocked Stretch Rewards.

BackerKit Exclusive Special Edition hardcover with all the bells and whistles! Includes bookmark, eBook, and all unlocked Stretch Rewards.

The Survivor
Two paperbacks: Tales from the Bedside and Shadows from the Frontline. Includes bookmark, eBook, and all unlocked Stretch Rewards.

The Protector
Two books: Tales from the Bedside paperback and Shadows from the Frontline BackerKit Exclusive hardcover. Includes bookmark, eBook, and all unlocked Stretch Rewards.

Personalized & Numbered Limited Copies
The Warrior - Only 10 available!
Books 1-10 of the paperback, signed, personalized (to the name of your choice, plus a message from the editor). Numbered in order of backer pledge. Includes bookmark, eBook, certificate of authenticity, silicone bracelet, "Courage, Duty, Sacrifice" two-inch enamel coin, and all unlocked Stretch Rewards. 

The Comrade - Only 10 available!
Books 1-10 of the BackerKit Special Edition hardcover, signed, personalized (to the name of your choice, plus a message from the editor). Numbered in order of backer pledge. Includes bookmark, eBook, certificate of authenticity, silicone bracelet, "Courage, Duty, Sacrifice" two-inch enamel coin, and all unlocked Stretch Rewards.

The rule of three is a special one. 
The three-pillars of friendship represents trust (knowing someone has your back), 
support (showing up when it matters), 
and connection (sharing the moments in between) 

Your choice of three paperbacks or hardcovers to distribute as you please!

Shipping will be calculated at the survey stage, using the latest available rates. Because apparently, even shipping needs its own plot twist. 🫠 

We're handling everything for this campaign right here on BackerKit! You'll only need one account, the same one you use when you pledge.
If you ordered an eBook, a BookFunnel account email will be requested to send your digital goods. An address will be necessary for all physical goods. Please complete your survey within a month (but as quickly as possible!) so we can ship your goodies!

Shipping is charged after the campaign. Once the campaign wraps up (cue the confetti), we'll get to work putting together your backer surveys. Don't worry, they'll be pretty painless to fill out. 

If your reward includes physical goodies, you'll enter your shipping address and take care of any applicable shipping fees or taxes at that time. (Sadly, we haven't unlocked the magic spell to make VAT disappear. Trust me, we're just as disappointed.)
 
Shipping costs have ben on the rise, but we'll do everything we can to find the best rates, avoid peak shipping seasons when possible, and dodge as many unnecessary fees as we can. Every little bit helps!

Shipping costs will be calculated and collected when your backer surveys are sent out. We'll keep you posted along the way, because nobody likes a surprise they didn't plan for!

Estimated shipping costs (for 1 book):
US - $10
Canada & Mexico - $25
AUS & NZ - $50
Europe - $30
Other countries - $25-45 depending on location with USPS (please message directly if you’d like for us to review shipping cost to your country if it is not offered on the campaign!)

Replacements for damages: Should your book arrive damaged, take pictures immediately and contact me through BackerKit. 

Items will not be replaced if:
There is minor damage such as a wrinkle in a dust jacket corner, slightly marred foiling, or slight imperfections on edges that don't affect readability or display.

Delivery issues: Shipping is tracked. Unfortunately no replacements will be offered for lost books that show delivery was completed or the package was deemed undeliverable by the courier. If the delivery company shows a book is lost, please request a replacement.

We expect to ship physical rewards no later than early 2027. The biggest variables in the process are manufacturing and freight. Once we have received our backer credits for the campaign, we will be able to move forward to printing (and producing the unlocked stretch goals) relatively quickly. We will continue to monitor shipping and freight costs to help keep shipping costs more reasonable.

And… when I say “we”, it includes my husband, adult children, and any of their adult friends happy to help for a home cooked meal after a long day of BackerKit fulfillment assembly lines :)  And, of course, the furbabies will be on-site to supervise quality control inspections and ensure the inventory remains properly secured. They'll also be handling security, because apparently, no package gets past the fluff patrol. 🐾✨ 

The digital rewards will released shortly after campaign ending. You will be asked for your BookFunnel email account to receive your digital eBook. If you prefer a different format sent straight to your email, we can offer that alternative on a requested basis!

The good news? The anthology poetry & prose are written, edits are finalized, formatting is completed, and book design is created. All is ready to send off for printing. We are confident in our ability to meet the deadlines as noted above. Our goal is to under-promise and over-deliver. However, a dramatic change in global stability or natural disasters could affect our delivery plans (we are based out of Miami, after all!). Should that happen, we'll communicate clearly about our plans for mitigating the problem.

Jasmine B. Nguyễn-Sandoval is the one-woman show behind Code Blue Publishing and the editorial force behind Shadows from the Frontline. Publisher? Yep. Editor? That too. Submission wrangler, proofreader, cheerleader, professional comma interrogator? Absolutely.

As a nurse, Army veteran, award-winning author, and publisher, Jasmine brought both professional experience and a personal appreciation for stories rooted in service to this anthology.

From reviewing submissions to shaping the final collection, she worked to preserve each contributor’s unique voice while creating a cohesive anthology rooted in courage, sacrifice, resilience, and humanity.

Shadows from the Frontline is a collection built with intention, respect, and a deep appreciation for the people and their experiences represented within its pages.

Basically, if there was a manuscript, a deadline, or a comma that needed questioning, Jasmine was probably involved.

BackerKit has an awesome feature which allows backers to Pay Over Time, pledging $150 or more (total... so add those extras!) to split your total into four monthly payments after the campaign (instead of paying all at once!).

Please note that with this option, the Pledge Manager Surveys will not be delayed until their full pledge balance is paid. Once the 4 months are up or full pledge payment is paid, whichever comes first, backers will be automatically invited to the survey. Once survey details are received, your pledged reward will be shipped to you!

Failed Payments: Life happens. Scammers steal identities and cards get cancelled. We totally understand! Backers have 14 days to fix failed payments, which also applies to the final fourth installment. However, if consecutive payments fail, and you do not reach out to me to resolve it, the first payment will be treated like a donation due to the nature of stretch goals and funding bar.