What's new at 8th House...
"The Harvesting of Haystacks Kane" Honored as a 2025 NYC Big Book Award Distinguished Favorite in Literary Fiction
We’re thrilled to share that The Harvesting of Haystacks Kane has been named a 2025 NYC Big Book Award Distinguished Favorite in the category of Literary Fiction!
New York, NY – September 2025 — The Harvesting of Haystacks Kane has been named a Distinguished Favorite in the category of Literary Fiction by the 2025 NYC Big Book Awards. This recognition places the novel among an elite group of titles celebrated for their creativity, storytelling, and contribution to the literary landscape.
In The Harvesting of Haystacks Kane, readers are introduced to Haystacks Kane, a 607-pound professional wrestler. He has been preyed upon, handled, his innate kindness and gentle good nature harvested by unscrupulous promoters, his conniving manager, an ex-wife, fellow denizens of the seamy netherworld he inhabits and the ravenous crowds with a thirst for violent cheap thrills--and even for blood. With prose both lyrical and unflinching, this novel is as thought-provoking as it is emotionally resonant.
The NYC Big Book Awards annually recognize outstanding works from independent and mainstream publishers around the globe. Winners and Distinguished Favorites are selected across more than 100 categories, celebrating excellence in literature and publishing.
Join us and fellow honorees at the NYC Big Book Award Dinner as we celebrate this distinguished award in Newark on April 25, 2025. The event brings together authors, publishers, and literary professionals to celebrate the year’s most impactful works.
Award Listing: https://www.nycbigbookaward.com/2025-favorites/9781926716701
Awards Dinner Info: https://www.nycbigbookaward.com/awardsdinner
This recognition affirms The Harvesting of Haystacks Kane as a work that not only entertains but endures, resonating deeply with readers and critics alike.
About the NYC Big Book Awards
The NYC Big Book Awards celebrate books from around the world that exemplify excellence across a wide range of categories. The program highlights works from independent authors and publishers alongside those from large, established houses, fostering recognition for diverse voices and perspectives.
Steve Schlam Featured in Shepherd’s “The Best Books You’ve Never Read” Series
Steve Schlam, author of The Harvesting of Haystacks Kane, has been featured in Shepherd’s series, The Best Books You’ve Never Read. In his curated list, Schlam highlights underappreciated literary novels that push boundaries and challenge convention, celebrating works that deserve a wider audience.
Read his selections here: Shepherd Feature
Shepherd’s Best Books project is dedicated to helping readers discover extraordinary books recommended by authors who know and love them. By pairing readers with titles that resonate on a deeper level, Shepherd fosters meaningful connections between authors, their inspirations, and new audiences.
Schlam’s own novel, The Harvesting of Haystacks Kane, was recently named a 2025 NYC Big Book Award Distinguished Favorite in Literary Fiction, further establishing him as a powerful voice in contemporary literature.
Coming Soon: Estuaries
Estuaries, translated by Tiago Silva, brings to the English-speaking world one of the most powerful works of Portuguese neorealism: Esteiros by Soeiro Pereira Gomes.
“They were the sons of men who were never children…”
Discover a foundational novel of Portuguese neorealism — COMING SOON! In "Estuaries", Tiago Silva’s translation brings the haunting beauty and political urgency of Soeiro Pereira Gomes’s original to today’s readers.
First published in 1941, this short novel is a harrowing and poetic portrayal of child labor, poverty, and resistance in the industrial outskirts of Portugal. In giving voice to “the sons of men who were never children,” Pereira Gomes captured the brutal realities of working-class youth under a dictatorship — and etched a story that continues to resonate today.
With lyrical clarity and historical urgency, Estuaries reintroduces a forgotten Europe and a timeless call for justice. This new translation is both faithful and fearless, reviving a classic for a new generation of readers who are unafraid to confront the past.
"Perfect for fans of social realism, European history, and international literature."
"A lost gem of Portuguese resistance literature enters the English canon."
"Esteiros is one of the most important works of Portuguese neorealism. In Estuaries, Tiago Silva brings this forgotten European classic into English with boldness, clarity, and compassion."
"Essential reading for students of European history, literature of resistance, and post-colonial studies."
Understanding Authoritarianism through 'Perestroika', A Historical-fiction Masterpiece by João Cerqueira - Asha Seth
More literary triumphs for Joao Cerqueira’s "Perestroika"!
More literary triumphs! Joao Cerqueira’s Perestroika clinched the 2024 SM Book Awards in Politics, took home the Silver Medal in the 2024 North American Book Awards in Fiction, and landed on the Goethe Awards shortlist for Late Fiction. Details: https://northamericanbookawards.com/award-winners/ , https://www.storymonstersbookawards.com/royal-dragonfly-winners/royal-2024 , https://www.chantireviews.com/2024/12/03/the-2024-goethe-book-awards-short-list-for-late-historical-fiction/ .
Plus, his short story The Miracle of Saint Teresa D’Ávila earned a spot on the Creative Writing Ink Competition longlist: https://creativewritingink.co.uk/competitions/creative-writing-ink-short-story-competition-2024-winner-runners-up-and-shortlist/ .
A stellar year for Cerqueira!
#JoãoCerqueira #Perestroika #AwardWinningAuthor #Politics #Fiction #GoetheAwards #NorthAmericanBookAwards #SMBookAwards #CreativeWritingInk #LiterarySuccess #BookLovers
An insightful new review of "Perestroika: An Eye for an Eye, A Tooth for a Tooth" by João Cerqueira, featured on VoegelinView!
In this thoughtful review, the novel is celebrated for its complex narrative and deep exploration of political themes. Cerqueira’s ability to intertwine historical events with personal stories is noted as both engaging and profound, offering readers a captivating look into a pivotal moment in history.
The review also highlights how Perestroika challenges readers to reflect on justice, morality, and revenge, making it a powerful read for those who enjoy books that delve into the intricacies of the human condition.
"João Cerqueira’s Perestroika is a gripping tale of justice and revenge set against the collapse of a Communist regime. Reviewed by VoegelinView, this historical fiction standout (winner of the 2024 Independent Press Award) explores timeless questions of morality through the lens of a crumbling Slavia. Praised for its philosophical depth and vivid storytelling, it’s a must-read for fans of thought-provoking literature. Dive into the full review at voegelinview.com!
Don’t miss out on this incredible review – check it out here:
https://voegelinview.com/eye-for-an-eye-a-review-of-perestroika-by-joao-cerqueira/
#Perestroika #JoãoCerqueira #BookReview #HistoricalFiction #PoliticalThemes #LiteraryExcellence #VoegelinView #MustRead #BookRecommendations
Perestroika wins the Ninth International Literary Prize at the Maincrest Media Book Awards
"Big news! Joao Cerqueira’s Perestroika: An Eye for an Eye, a Tooth for a Tooth has won the Ninth International Literary Prize at the Maincrest Media Book Awards in Historical Fiction! Check out the winners: https://winners.maincrestmedia.com/2024-award-winners/
Plus, Perestroika is a finalist in the Four Season Book Awards (results pending).
Grab your copy here: https://www.amazon.com/Perestroika-Eye-Tooth/dp/1926716779
Congrats to Joao Cerqueira on this incredible achievement!"
#AwardWinning #HistoricalFiction #JoãoCerqueira #Perestroika #MaincrestMediaBookAwards #FourSeasonBookAwards #LiteraryAchievements #BookLovers
Come to Carmel Mountain, California, and get your copies signed!
Join us at Barnes & Noble in Carmel Mountain, CA, for a special book signing event with Steve Schlam, author of The Harvesting of Haystacks Kane! Don't miss your chance to meet the author, get your book signed, and dive into a great literary conversation.
Location: Barnes & Noble – Carmel Mountain Ranch
Address: 11744 Carmel Mountain Road, San Diego, CA 92128
Date: Saturday, February 8, 2025
Time: 1:00 PM PT
Event Details: Barnes & Noble Event Page
Tag a friend and spread the word—see you there!
Watch the Book Trailer: https://youtu.be/k-UBYgPwunI
The Harvesting of Haystacks Kane - Book Trailer II
Mark Foss Featured on Global News – Palma's Picks with Jennifer Palma
Jennifer Palma from Global News recently interviewed Mark Foss about his novel Borrowed Memories, calling it “a story that pulls at the heartstrings, filled with caring, sacrifice, and love, while navigating the difficulties and beauty of aging parents.”
Don’t miss this heartfelt conversation on balancing family, memory, and resilience. Watch the full interview here:
https://globalnews.ca/video/10768755/palmas-picks-balancing-elder-care-with-life-demands
#MarkFoss #BorrowedMemories #GlobalNews #PalmasPicks #HeartfeltStories #LiteraryFiction #ElderCare
New Book Trailer for Women in Jazz by Sammy Stein – Now Live!
Discover the compelling journeys of women shaping the jazz world with Sammy Stein’s Women in Jazz. This new book trailer captures the spirit, talent, and resilience of these remarkable artists.
Watch the trailer here:
https://youtu.be/bRNg69Ny894
A must-read (and must-see) for all jazz enthusiasts and those inspired by groundbreaking voices in music!
#WomenInJazz #SammyStein #BookTrailer #JazzHistory #FemaleVoices #MusicLovers #JazzCommunity
More Articles …
- Listen to Mark Foss on HOWL with Hollay Ghadery!
- New Book Trailer for Borrowed Memories by Mark Foss – Now Available!
- "A Subtle and Stirring Story" — Montreal Book Club Reviews Borrowed Memories by Mark Foss
- Perestroika - Promo Video
- Joao Cerqueira Talks Perestroika and Writing Process in The Table Read Interview
- Joao Cerqueira’s Perestroika Wins 2024 Literary Global Award in "Faction" Category
- Sara Hailstone Reviews Borrowed Memories by Mark Foss: A Reflection on Family and Memory
- Read an Exclusive Excerpt from Steve Schlam's The Harvesting of Haystacks Kane in Wordswell Journal
- Joao Cerqueira’s Perestroika Named Finalist in Two Categories at Global Book Awards 2024
- Mark Foss’s Borrowed Memories Reviewed by James M. Fisher in The Seaboard Review
8th House Publishing
Montreal | New York
Start a Conversation
1-888-936-3668
[email protected]