Category Archives: News

New Releases, News

Blunt Force Trauma, 4th Angela Hardwick Novel, Launches Today

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NEW YORK, NY – September 13, 2023— Author collective Crazy 8 Press announced today that Blunt Force Rising, the fourth novel in the Angela Hardwicke sci-fi noir series from Russ Colchamiro, is now for sale. Set entirely on a galaxy cruise ship, Blunt Force Rising is the most intense, nail-biting novel in the series to date.

Featuring hardboiled private eye Angela Hardwicke, who Colchamiro describes as part Blade Runner, part Doctor Who, part Sarah Connor, the future-set series has received high acclaim from award-winning sci-fi, crime, and horror authors and film directors.

“Russ Colchamiro has staked out a territory of sci-fi mystery uniquely his own,” says Nicholas Meyer, writer/director of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. “With Angela Hardwicke, he mines a vein of pulp fiction gold.”

In this latest sci-fi mystery featuring the titular heroine, Hardwicke, and her protégé Eric Whistler are hired by Ther’eda Ranadyne, the realm’s sole creator of androids, to provide extra security during an industry conference aboard a galaxy cruise ship. Continue reading

Conventions, New Releases, News

PHENOMENONS CON! Hear us talk about our new pantheon of superheroes!

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On April 23rd, we’re going to launch a virtual convention–what we hope will become a perennial event–to promote our Phenomenons shared-world anthology series!

There will be two live, one-hour components–one at 4:00 p.m. EST and a second at 5:30 p.m. EST, each one featuring Crazy 8 members who are making big contributions to Phenomenons, as well as a special guest. In the first session, that guest will be Alex Segura, who’s taking the world by storm with his new novel, Secret Identity—and who’ll be contributing to the Phenomenons oeuvre starting with Volume 2! In the second session, our special guest will be Dan Hernandez, co-writer of the Pokémon Detective Pikachu and The Addams Family 2 movies–and a Phenomenons stalwart from the beginning!

Everyone will need to sign up for one session or the other in advance. Afterward, both sessions will be available on YouTube.

“Tickets,” which are free, are available first come first served.
In this first attempt at a virtual con, as there are a lot of moving parts, we fully expect some glitches and maybe even some missed opportunities. Rest assured that we’ll do our best to improve on them going forward.
As always, we’re grateful for your support–and Phenomenons Con is one way we intend to show it. Continue reading

Author's Spotlight, New Releases, News

HOWARD WEINSTEIN RETURNS TO Crazy 8 with western rerelease

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NEW YORK, NY – May 19, 2021— Author Howard Weinstein’s award-winning historical novel Galloway’s Gamble is shining up its spurs for a new romp through the Old West, with an assist from author collective Crazy 8 Press.

Inspired by high-spirited classics like Maverick, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, and The Sting, Galloway’s Gamble tells the coming-of-age story of bickering brothers Jamey and Jake Galloway. After growing up in frontier Texas, they ride trails, rails, and riverboats on a rollicking odyssey, seeking their fortune at poker tables from New Orleans to ‘Frisco.

Originally issued by Five Star Publishing, Weinstein regained publishing paperback and ebook rights and is reissuing Galloway’s Gamble under the Crazy 8 Press banner and with a new cover.

“Galloway’s Gamble might have been a Crazy 8 title in the first place,” Weinstein said. “But now that the rights have reverted to me, I’m happy to be rejoining the Crazy 8 gang for this reissue. I appreciate their warm welcome back into the asylum.” Continue reading

News

Debra Doyle: 1952-2020

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We are very sad to report that science fiction and fantasy author Dr. Debra Doyle passed away of a sudden cardiac event the evening of October 31, 2020 at the age of 67.

Debra was known for her numerous novels and stories co-authored with her husband James D. Macdonald (including their story “Gertrude of Wyoming” in our Altered States Of The Union anthology, her editorial work, her teaching work including her time with the Viable Paradise workshop, her doctoral thesis on Old English poetry, and her musical contributions to the Society for Creative Anachronism (under the name Malkingrey). She is survived by her husband, brother John Doyle, and children Katherine, Brendan, Peregrine, and Alexander.

The family has set up a GoFundMe campaign to cover funeral costs, the extent of which is not currently known. Any additional funds raised beyond what is needed for burial will be used to ease the transition for her husband, Jim.

A wake will take place after the pandemic eases, as is believed Debra would prefer. Continue reading

News

It was 10 Years Ago Today

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Ten years ago today, Mike Friedman had to pee.

One of the three charity roasts, organized by David Mack. A day later, the idea for Crazy 8 Press was launched and everyone depicted here (from left: Mike Friedman, Bob Greenberger, David Mack, Keith R.A. DeCandido, and Dayton Ward) has contributed to at least one release in the past decade,

While he was taking care of business, a gaggle of authors at Shore Leave, the premiere fan-run con in America, were lamenting the idiocy of publishers letting marketing people drive editorial purchases. As a result, ideas that got us excited were being met with, “we can’t pigeonhole that so can’t sell it”.

We were watching other authors begin to self-publish, with more than a few forming their own consortiums. By the time Mike came out of the men’s room, we buttonholed him, since he started this thread of thinking earlier. Before we knew it, a group was forming.

From left: Glenn Hauman, Howard Weinstein, Peter David, Mike Friedman, Aaron Rosenberg, and Bob Greenberger introduce the world to Crazy 8 Press during our debut panel.

A year later, Crazy 8 Press made its triumphant debut at Shore Leave, with the authors publicly writing a round-robin novella that was our first release. Demon Circle was published at the beginning of fall 2011 and we have been going at it ever since.

We started with Mike, Aaron Rosenberg, Peter David, Howard Weinstein, Glenn Hauman, and Robert Greenberger. Others, who were part of the initial planning, bowed out, but we still called ourselves Crazy 8, because, why not? Soon after, Paul Kupperberg joined the band and a few years later, we welcomed in Russ Colchamiro. Two years back, we invited Mary Fan to the asylum. Kathleen O’Shea David and Jenifer Purcell Rosenberg both took turns trying to help our social marketing and wrangling the eight author cats. Silly them. But, both were welcomed to the party and each has contributed to several of our anthologies. Continue reading

New Releases, News

Crazy 8 Press to Release ZLONK! ZOK! ZOWIE! The Subterranean Blue Grotto Guide to Batman ’66 – Season One

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March 16, 2020 – Crazy 8 Press announced today it has agreed to release ZLONK! ZOK! ZOWIE! The Subterranean Blue Grotto Guide to Batman ’66 – Season One, Jim Beard’s celebration of the 1966 classic Batman television series. This new collection of essays creatively examines each episode of the ABC series which aired during the first half of 1966.

Edited by respected comic book writer and essayist Jim Beard, the 208-page Bat-tastic collection will be released by Crazy 8 in April, both as a trade paperback and eBook.

“There’s still so much to say about this legendary TV series, and this book sets out to prove it,” said Beard, who also wrote the opening essay examining the two-part pilot episode.

The worldwide Batman TV series phenomenon starred Adam West and Burt Ward as the Dynamic Duo, adapting the DC Comics series to the small screen, riding the Pop Art and Camp craze that were trends during the turbulent 1960s. The show spawned a feature film and a bonanza of merchandising the likes of which had never been seen before. Thanks to syndication, the show has rarely been off the air and in the last decade has spawned a fresh wave of merchandising. Continue reading