There’s a good chance that everyone who served in the military has their own personal story to tell. That’s just the nature of military service. Some of us may want to impart what we’ve learned in tough situations; others might have an extraordinary tale of overcoming adversity. And then, of course, there are those who just have an incredible story of missions completed or battlefield survival.

Kristin Bentley is an award-winning, bestselling author and military spouse whose husband joined Army Special Forces in the wake of the 9/11 attacks. A long career in publishing led her to found E.P. House, a boutique publishing firm, in 2020. Along the way, she met hundreds, potentially thousands, of veterans who shared a common desire to write their own stories. Now, Bentley is dedicating part of her time and her business to helping veterans tell those stories with the Military Memoir Project.

No matter what story a veteran might have to tell, writing a book (or even a chapter of a book) is no small feat, and Bentley is no stranger to those kinds of feats — or to the struggles that can come with military life.

“My husband traded his career in finance for an Army uniform and deployed with a special operations unit at the height of the war,” Bentley told Military.com. “It was a crash course in inner strength, one I wasn’t prepared for but couldn’t avoid. But those 16 years as a military spouse taught me what I was truly made of. The hard times shaped me, the victories strengthened me, and the sacrifices gave me a perspective I wouldn’t trade for anything. Military life transformed me.”

After launching E.P. House, Bentley began to seek out veterans, hearing about their service and their desire to share with others. She found their stories profound and significant. She noted that, almost without exception, those veterans were interested in sharing their lives and lessons learned with others.

“These are the stories that shape history, offering insights into courage and the human spirit,” Bentley said. “What stands out most is the universal desire among veterans to serve and live with purpose. Their impactful lives, rich with meaning and value, align deeply with the heart of our mission; to amplify voices that inspire, connect and leave a lasting legacy.”

Bentley has since worked with a number of veteran authors to help them write their books, publish them through E.P. House and help promote them to reach a broader audience, such as Army veteran Logan Phillips’ “Number Your Stories and Lead Like a Legend.”

Bentley’s work has resulted in many veteran voices reaching bestseller status, but she’s not content to rest on those laurels. Recently, she launched the nonprofit Military Memoir Project with the goal of training veterans to write chapters and books, then publishing them in a series of anthologies.

The Military Memoir Project is currently looking for veteran authors to join the project and contribute to the first book, titled “Legacy Makers: Untold Military Stories of Community and Change.”

“What’s missing from the literary world in terms of military voice is a broader diversity of perspectives — especially those of spouses and veterans, whose experiences go beyond the battlefield,” said Bentley. “Too often, military narratives focus solely on combat, leaving out the deeply personal, complex stories of community and healing that shape the lives of service members and those who support them. We need more space for these voices to share untold stories that reflect the full spectrum of the military experience, offering insight, connection and understanding to a wider audience.”

For a $50 operations fee that keeps the nonprofit project going, interested veterans will take three live writing coaching sessions, similar to the E.P. House Masterclass that has trained hundreds of veteran authors and led to publishing careers. Along with personalized feedback, authors will get E.P. House’s chapter planning book to help structure their writing and complete a manuscript. Once the training sessions are complete, each author will submit a chapter for review from the publisher, the same process every author goes through when finishing a written work.

The memoir project is open to all veterans of all eras, including current service members, with the goal of contributing to a richer, more comprehensive understanding of the military experience.

“Military stories matter because they capture the courage, loyalty and purpose that shape not only individuals but also history itself,” Bentley said. “These stories go beyond personal experiences — they reveal universal truths about service, sacrifice and human spirit, inspiring others and preserving legacies for generations to come. By sharing them, we honor those who’ve lived them and connect communities in meaningful ways.”

Applicants to the Military Memoir Project will receive training and coaching from publishing industry professionals (including Bentley herself) and will work alongside other veterans learning the same process. Everyone in the program will take the same author training and can submit their finished work for inclusion in the anthology book, but not every chapter will be included.

To apply, visit the Military Memoir Project page on the E.P. House website.

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