Category Archives: Crossline

Author Spotlight: Russ Colchamiro

Russ photo 2Hi folks. As part of our Author Spotlight, we’ll be spending some time this month with Russ Colchamiro. So far he’s been spending his Crazy 8 Press time squarely in the scifi world, and what a time it’s been. We have a new Q& A with Russ, where he unveils all sorts of goodies. Take a look …

Crazy 8: Let’s jump right in. Your new book is Crossline. Give us the quick rundown. What’s it about?

Russ: Crossline is a fun scifi adventure — think Firefly meets Back to the Future.

But to flesh out it a bit, Marcus Powell is a modern day space pilot, who through mysterious circumstances is forced through a wormhole and into a parallel Earth, where he ends up in the middle of a war he may have been destined for all along.

Meanwhile, back on our Earth, we learn the history of Buddy Rheams Jr, the poor, uneducated gas attendant from nowhere Texas, who stumbled into owning oil wells, became a tycoon, and used his wealth and influence to create the space program and develop the technology that ultimately displaced Marcus Powell in time and space.

Throughout the novel we learn how and why the lives of these two very different men intersect, and what that will mean for both of them.

Crazy 8: Thematically Crossline is about discovering just how far you would go to return to your family, when separated through incredible circumstances. How has that theme affected you personally? Why is that theme important to you?

Russ: As a father of two young children, my worldview has obviously changed. Each day I’m more embedded with my own family, and the notion of being ripped away from them is sobering. Writing Crossline actually helped me gain clarity. It’s one thing to say, “I’d do anything for my family.” But what does that really mean? It sounds big and important and noble to say the words out loud, but if put to the test, ‘anything’ becomes something specific, and that’s when we strip away the clutter. As a husband and father, I’ve come to realize just how unimportant most other endeavors can be. That’s not to say I think other people or activities don’t matter. They do! It’s just that there’s lots of noise out there, and when I’m calm, and let the distractions pass me by, it’s easier to understand and embrace what matters most.

Crossline coverCrazy 8: Did you base any of your characters on real people? If so, how much of the ‘real’ person made it onto the page? Do you have any guilt pangs about revealing their personality for others to read?

Russ: Chill, who is sort of the Obi Wan Kenobi-type character in Crossline, is based on a real person, someone who has had an incredible influence on me. I can say without exaggeration that without this person, my life would have taken a very different turn, and my guess is that I would have struggled for a much longer time to find my way.

In terms of how I wrote the character, Chill is obviously not the same as the real person; I made very distinct changes. But Chill was my way of honoring this man, who I respect immensely, and whose guidance and wisdom has helped shaped my views, both philosophically and how I approach my day to day. He’s a great man. My intention was to have those qualities influence the other characters in Crossline, predominantly Powell.

Crazy 8: What did you edit OUT of this book? Are you saving that material for sequels or another project? Or did the scene/character just not work in the context of this book, or perhaps just not work at all?

Russ: There were a handful of additional scenes with Chandra Powell, the wife of Marcus Powell. I liked the scenes — they built up the character and added more humor — but ultimately they slowed the pace of the novel. Chandra’s a great character. She’s strong and feisty and in a very real way is one of the novel’s true heroes. But I needed to keep the plot moving along. Besides, she gets plenty of ‘screen time’ when it counts most.

Crazy 8: Switching gears a bit … your first book was Finders Keepers Now that you’ve had time to reflect on it, and knowing what you know now about your craft and the audience’s reactions, what would you do differently if you had the chance to start over and write it again fresh?

Russ:  Even though Finders Keepers is a flat-out comedy, as with Crossline, there are multiple characters, and we see the story from their distinct points of view. As such, we jump from character to character. I really like this style of storytelling, but if I had to do again, I would have spent longer stretches with each character in Finders Keepers as we’re first introduced to them, so that the reader can really sink in and ‘get’ where they’re coming from. Looking back I can see that maybe I was zipping along a little faster than I intended. The readers can ultimately catch up, but I would have taken a deeper breath to start the novel. It’s still super fun, tho!

FKfrontcoverCrazy 8: Authors are often also rabid readers. What do you read? Which books/authors best inform your writing style?

Russ: The Stand, by Stephen King, is my fiction bible. Great storytelling, great characters. Vivid imagery. I refer to it often. Also, any number of novels by Christopher Moore, who for my money is the funniest author out there. Lamb, You Suck, and Fool are favorites. I also love the biographies of David McCullough, including Truman, the Great Bridge, and the Jamestown Flood. Though fact-based, they read like mysterious, and have helped me see how to structure my own stories.

Crazy 8: What book — which is relatively unknown to others — do you strongly recommend that others read? Why?

Russ: Body of a Girl, by Leah Stewart. It’s about a young, female crime reporter who gets too close to a story she’s investigating about the murder of another young woman, who she feels was a kindred spirit of sorts. The reporter loses herself in the investigation, and finds herself delving into some murky waters. It’s taught and compelling. One of my favorite books of the last ten years or so.

Crazy 8: Last question. Shameless plug time. Where can we find your new book, and how can we, as readers, most easily interact with you?

Russ: Finders Keepers and Crossline are both available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Kobo, as well as through Crazy 8 Press and my Web site.

I’m out there on social media, so for those who want to connect, here’s the best places to find me:

@authorduderuss (Twitter)

www.facebook.com/RussColchamiroAuthor (Facebook)

www.russcolchamiro.com

www.crazy8press.com

@crazy8press (Twitter)

And for extra fun:

Check out the Crossline book trailer.

Enjoy the Finders Keepers book trailer.

CRAZY 8 PRESS RELEASES RUSS COLCHAMIRO’S SCI-FI ROMP ‘CROSSLINE’

Crossline coverNEW YORK, N.Y, April 17, 2013 — American pilot Marcus Powell is testing the Crossline prototype craft in deep space when he is suddenly forced through a mysterious wormhole and into a parallel Universe — including a parallel Earth — where he finds himself at the heart of a civil war he may have been destined for all along.

So marks the return of author Russ Colchamiro in his latest pulpy science fiction romp. From Crazy 8 Press (336 pgs., $14.99 tpb), Crossline is the follow-up to Colchamiro’s debut novel Finders Keepers, the hilarious sci-fi backpacking comedy which Publishers Weekly called “a strong debut … with style and panache … from a very imaginative writer.”

Crossline is a classic sci-fi yarn reinvented through the wonderfully twisted mind of Russ Colchamiro,” said Crazy 8 Editorial Director and New York Times best-selling author Peter David. “We had been looking for the right author to join our team, and after reading Finders Keepers, we knew we had a creative madman in our midst. Keep an eye on Russ. He has a huge career ahead of him. We can’t wait to see what he comes up with next.”

Crossline teams Powell with a gorgeous, trigger-happy rebel leader, a pot-smoking Shaman, a crafty pie maker, and a weary soldier who hates his guts on a cross-country rescue mission that takes him farther and farther from his ultimate goal — returning safely to his family. Yet back home, Powell’s wife and young daughter are racing against the clock to outsmart the corporate executives who privately funded and launched the Crossline flight — and whose own agendas may prevent Powell from ever making it back alive.Russ photo 2

  • “Russ Colchamiro is the king of the comedic sci-fi Bildungsroman. Funny as hell.”

– David Mack, New York Times bestselling Star Trek author

  • “Blending sci-fi and comedy [is a] difficult feat. Russ Colchamiro makes it look easy.”

– Robert Venditti, New York Times bestselling author of The Surrogates

  • Crossline is clever, witty, and relentlessly trippy.”

 – Chris Millis, author/screenwriter of Small Apartments

Russ Colchamiro is the newest writer to publish with Crazy 8 Press, an author consortium led by Peter David, and includes award-winning and multi-genre authors Michael Jan Friedman, Robert Greenberger, Glenn Hauman, Aaron Rosenberg, and Howard Weinstein.

Crossline is available for purchase for Kindle, Nook, and paperback, through:

ISBN: 978-0615777313

To arrange a book signing or interview, contact Russ Colchamiro at authorduderuss@gmail.com.

About Crazy 8 Press

Crazy 8 Press is a consortium of writers who decided to bypass the traditional publishing process to bring their work directly to the reader. Founding members include Peter David, Michael Jan Friedman, Robert Greenberger, Glenn Hauman, Aaron Rosenberg, and Howard Weinstein. Crazy 8 Press publishes in multiple genres, particularly science fiction and fantasy. For more information visit www.crazy8press.com and follow them on Twitter @crazy8press.

About Russ Colchamiro

Russ Colchamiro is the author of the hilarious sci-fi backpacking comedy Finders Keepers. His latest novel, the rollicking space adventure Crossline, is his first collaboration with Crazy 8 Press. He lives in New York City with his wife and two children, and is now at work on the first of two Finders Keepers sequels. For more information, visit him on the web at www.russcolchamiro.com, follow him on Twitter @authorduderuss, or email authorduderuss@gmail.com

Crossline is now On Sale

Okay. So who’s ready for a trippy new space opera?

Us too!

Now available through Crazy 8 Press is Crossline, from author Russ Colchamiro. As announced a few weeks back, Russ has been welcomed as Crazy 8’s first outside author. We’ve been so excited about his first offering that we’re already reserving a spot on the 2014 schedule for the sequel, which is currently being written.

Crossline pilot Marcus Powell is just supposed to test the new warp thrusters, which, if successful, will revolutionize space travel as we know it.

But while out in the cosmos, Powell takes an unauthorized joyride among the stars … and you know that’s never good. Especially when the corporation backing the space program has about $500 billion invested in the project.

Yet before Powell can haul himself back to Earth, he is ultimately forced through a wormhole and into a parallel Universe, where he is dropped smack in the middle of a civil war, with his name written all over it. (You gotta hate when that happens)

Was it just his bad luck, or was the Universe up to something all along? The book is now available in the usual formats: Kindle, Nook, and POD.

 

Q&A With Russ Colchamiro

Crossline coverWith the debut of Crossline this week, we thought it a good chance for readers to further get to know Russ Colchamiro. Over the last week, Russ and I exchanged ideas and witticisms, the results of which follow.

C8: Why do you write?

Russ: Starting off with an easy one, I see. I write because I’m compelled to write. I’m energized, focused, and optimistic about the future when I’m writing, and if I go even a few days without clacking the keys, I get noticeably grumpier and unhappy. Some may call it an addiction — or even possibly a neurosis! — but I like to think of it as a calling. I simply have to do it. It’s not a hobby. It’s not just for funzies. It’s fundamental to who I am. Whether I’m the descendant of some Frankenstein experimentation, alien abduction, or other cosmic intervention, I seem to have the authordude chip permanently fused with my DNA.

C8: What is the appeal of science fiction?

Russ: Science fiction is fun because you can plausibly create almost any ‘universe’ you want, with any rules you want, just as long as you are consistent with them. Dogs talk? Right on. The Universe is overseen by a flamboyant talk show host from Eternity? Coolio. I also tend to write big. And by big, I don’t necessarily mean long, but expansive. I naturally trend toward multi-layered storytelling with a far reach. And science fiction gives me the opportunity to explore the big questions — science vs. gods, fate vs. randomness, multiple universes vs. self-delusion. I also like to juxtapose the big vs. the small. ‘My girlfriend might dump me. How do I win her back? But, wait. Hang on a second. The universe might explode if I don’t act now, so let me get back to you on the whole boo-hoo-hoo lovelife thing.’

C8: Which authors influence you?

Russ: For fiction, I’d start with Christopher Moore, Douglas Adams, Chuck Palahniuk, Tom Robbins, Kurt Vonnegut, Kurt Busiek, and Alan Moore. From them I’m extra motivated to find the big, the funny, and the scope. I also read a lot philosophy, mythology, and psychology, so there I’d say M Scott Peck, Carl Jung, Wayne Dyer, and Joseph Campbell, among others.

C8: Which authors are you currently reading?

Russ: I’m almost done with Finding Meaning in the Second Half of Life, by James Hollis, PhD. He’s basically recapturing ideas Jung wrote about, but because of my age — I’m almost 42 — the themes are striking a chord with me. I’m also hoping to get to Aaron Rosenberg’s wacky scifi sequel Too Small for Tall (okay, shameless Crazy 8 plug!), but that DuckBob cracks me up. I’ve also got volumes 4 and 5 of the Chew trade paperbacks in my queue.

C8: How does Crossline differ from your previous work?

A: Crossline is a pulp science fiction adventure, about an American space pilot who is forced through a wormhole and into a parallel universe – a parallel Earth – where he finds himself in the middle of a civil war he may or may not have been destined for all along. So there’s some actual spaceships and such — which I typically don’t do — although there’s my usual time bending-philosophical shenanigans going on, and a lot of humor as well. Whereas Finders Keepers was a scifi backing comedy. Think American Pie meets Hitchiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.

C8: What came first with Crossline, the character(s) or the concept?

Russ: Crossline is actually the melding of two completely disparate ideas I developed a dozen years apart. Back in the late ‘90s, I had an idea for a sci-fi comic book mini-series. It never made it to print, but the general idea was in place.

But to connect the dots … back in high school I wrote a trilogy of short stories — inspired by a girl, of course — and based on the ‘the troubles’ in Ireland, because who better to capture ‘the troubles’ then a 16-year-old Jewish kid from Long Island who knew absolutely nothing about Ireland?

I based one of the characters on a 10-year-old-girl who visited from Northern Island, and whose family had been severely impacted by that turmoil. As part of my story — which I wrote in 1988 — a plane flying from the UK to the U.S. exploded over the Atlantic Ocean. Within days of finishing my story, Pan Am Flight 103 from Lockerbie, Scotland actually exploded in real life. So I sorta freaked out. And to make it freakier, in my story, the 10-year-old girl character died in the bombing. The real life girl was supposed to have been on the Lockerbie flight (cue up Twilight Zone music here). Turns out she had a last minute change of plans, so she was okay, thank god. But it’s something I never forgot.

Then a few years ago I saw how my sci-fi adventure could raise the stakes to the earlier political, human drama, which I then rewrote to be far less ‘serious’ and a lot more popcorn fun.

C8: Did Crossline require a lot of research?

Russ: Yes. For instance, I wanted to capture what a pilot might experience when losing control of the instruments mid-flight, and facing a potential crash landing. I read many accounts, and consulted a friend of mine, who is an airline pilot. He read the text, offered a few comments, and then gave me his blessing. I also read multiple texts of American Indian mythology. In one Crossline sequence, we are taken through a sweat lodge meditation, and I wanted that experience to feel authentic.

C8: What was the biggest writing obstacle you had to overcome?

Russ: Life! I was about 80 percent done with the first draft of Crossline, and then my twins were born — a boy and a girl. So I went on hiatus for about a year — the only time in my life when I wasn’t writing but still felt truly fulfilled. And since then — my kids are 2 1/2 now — it’s been an ongoing challenge to squeeze it all in. I have a full-time job, the family, and my books. So … you basically know my entire existence.

C8: How do you write your books?

Russ: With words. I find the stories flow better that way.

Russ photo 2C8: Do you have a favorite writing spot or time? Are there writing rituals you observe?

Russ: I’m early to bed, early to rise, and ideally I’ll have at least two, if not three consecutive hours of uninterrupted writing time. I try to write quickly — I’m envious of those who can I do it well — but that’s just not who I am. I’m a ‘feel’ writer, in that I need to get into the headspace of the character or scene, and embody that energy, so it often takes me a little while to find my groove. I suppose I’m a ‘method writer,’ if there is such a thing. It’s not always easy to carve out the time, but as long as I’m willing to relinquish sleep and clarity, it’s usually not a problem.

C8: What about music? Some authors prefer silence, others create playlists to set the mood.

Russ: I rarely, if ever, listen to music when I write. I like silence, so I can concentrate. But when I’m editing, I like to have earbuds in, especially when I’m editing on the subway to or from work. Mostly rock n’ roll — a lot of Pearl Jam, Stone Temple Pilots, Live, Green Day, AC/DC, Neil Young, U2, Coldplay — but sometimes jazz, or singer songwriters, like Crowded House, Billy Joel, or even Natalie Merchant or Sarah McLachlan. She has a great voice. But in one Crossline sequence, the pilot is flying through a wormhole, and the experience is really trippy. For that, I listened to a LOT of Pink Floyd, particularly Dark Side of the Moon. Fifty times easy. Probably more. I also listened to Break the Spell album by Chris Daughtry, and the song Spaceship off that album always put me in right mood for the crazy adventure I was writing.

C8: What is your proudest moment in the book?

Russ: There are scenes I’m really happy with, but there’s one longer sequence in the middle of the narrative when it was important — for reasons that become obvious when you read it — to create an entire back story for one of the characters. This was truly a time when I had no plan. Nada. It was purely organic. Beyond some topline information, I had no idea who this character really was or how the past would shape the present. I just sat back and let the story come to life. It was very cool. That also happened once or twice with Finders Keepers.

C8: How long did it take you to write Crossline?

Russ: Crossline was 25 years in the making. But in terms of sitting down to clack the keys, about three years, although I had a gap in the middle of the writing process due to family obligations.

C8: For someone reading this as their first exposure to your work, what would you recommend they read of yours next?

Russ: Finders Keepers

C8: And exactly what are you working on next?

Russ: The first of two Finders Keepers sequels. I hope to have the second book in print by early 2014. I’m shooting for the Farpoint con, but we’ll see how it goes. I may write the two Finders Keepers sequels back-to-back, or in between I may write a stand-alone book I have planned; it’s unrelated to any of my active projects. I’ll check in with my creative mojo at the time and see how I’m feeling.

C8: Where can fans find out more about you?

Russ: They can visit my web site at www.russcolchamiro.com, follow me on Twitter @authorduderuss, and check out my Goodreads and Facebook author pages.

I’ll also be the guest author for the #scifichat Q&A on Twitter, scheduled for Friday, March 29, at 3 pm Eastern.

C8: Where can fans find you at a con?

A: I’ll be doing author signings and panels at Lunacon in Rye, NY the weekend of March 15-17, RocCon Hudson Valley in Poughkeepsie on Sunday, April 7, and August 2-4 I’ll be at Shore Leave in Huntsville, MD, my first con as an official part of the Crazy 8 team. I may schedule other cons throughout the year. Hopefully NY Comic-Con in October, but that really depends on Crazy 8 Press!

Crossline Explained

By Russ Colchamiro

As with all great stories, Crossline was inspired by — what else — a girl.

I’ll explain.

Crossline is actually the melding of two completely disparate ideas I developed a dozen years apart. Back in the late ‘90s, I had an idea for a sci-fi comic book mini-series. A buddy of mine helped me see how big Crossline could really be, so I upped the action and then we put the very beginning of Crossline into layout. But the comic book never took off, so to speak.

Yeah. Okay, great. But … what’s this about a girl?

Well … back in high school I had a crush on a redhead, who was a tried and true American Irish lass who also happened to be fiery and passionate about all things Ireland and the IRA. So of course I had to write about it, because who better to capture ‘the troubles’ then a 16-year-old Jewish kid from Long Island who knew absolutely nothing about Ireland?

And so a trilogy of short stories came to be. They were lumpy and unpolished, but there was a real cross-border love story set within political action and intrigue, and each story was an improvement over the last. The framework for something special was in place.

(For the record, I never published the stories, and to my chagrin at the time, I never got the girl.)

And yet … I held onto the story idea, and when at long last I saw how the sci-fi component could really raise the stakes to this human drama, I started writing the novel. It took almost 25 years, but Crossline has finally arrived.

The space adventure gets the action rolling, but there’s a saga that comes with it. And lest this all sounds a bit heavy … fear not. I replaced the original teenaged angst with some philosophical musings, cosmic shenanigans, and loads of humor, cuz like Plato himself liked to say, that’s just how I roll (or maybe it was Confucius, I forget).

In any case, if Crossline sounds like your kinda thing, it will be available both in print and e-book through my pals at Crazy8 Press. Coming soon.