Chicago stories, unvarnished and proven.

READING PERIODS: December 1, 2026 to February 15, 2027, and July 1 to August 31, 2027. During one of those time frames, send us the first THIRTY PAGES of your manuscript in a pdf format to info@sidestreetpressbooks.com. If we absolutely love your material, we will reach out to get the full manuscript.

We want . . .

We don't publish postcard views. So send us your rants, your tales of woe, your echoes to be heard, and more. We want to bring the next Nelson Algren and Sandra Cisneros to the forefront.

THE VERDICT

CTA-tested and neighborhood-approved.

Our books are suitable for tavern tables and university libraries. They are built by writers who know the city's real grit.