News

Our Fall 2023 and Winter 2023/2024 Release Schedule

We are super excited to announce our inaugural lineup of new book release for this fall and winter. We fell in love with each of these books from the very first page, and we know you will too. We would like to take this opportunity to thank our author’s for sharing our vision for a new kind of inclusive and author centered publishing house, and for joining us in making this dream a reality.

When You Lose Control By Melissa Dorval (Women’s Fiction)

 Fall 2023

In the bustling City of New York, dreams are the currency of the ambitious. Marla Cameron, a thirty-six-year-old self-made writer, refuses to let anyone define her limits. Today marks the beginning of a transformative journey for Marla as she dives headfirst into the exhilarating world of Off-Broadway theater. But destiny takes an unexpected turn when charismatic fifty-five-year-old Billy Sweeney strides into the audition room, igniting a passion that threatens to consume them both.

As their connection deepens, a new threat looms on the horizon—an invisible force has brought the world to its knees.

The Covid pandemic casts an eerie shadow over their evolving romance, challenging Marla to confront the very core of her existence. Locked within the confines of their home and restricted by the rapidly tightening grip of the outside world, Marla realizes she must do better. In her pursuit of self-discovery, she peels back the layers of her privileged existence, exposing the cracks in her foundation. What if everything she thought she knew was a mere illusion? Who will she become when the world, as she knows it, crumbles? Through intimate prose that captures the essence of resilience, privilege, and the indomitable human spirit, Marla’s story compels us to question our own lives. In this tale of love, self-exploration, and the fragility of our reality, join Marla as she strives to make a difference—a journey that will linger in your heart long after you turn the final page.

Ele-Mental Vol. 1 and 2 By Hayley Lazzari (Poetry)

 Fall 2023 (Vol. 1) Winter 2023 (Vol. 2)

 Enter the world of Ele-Mental, a powerful collection of 165 poems that will take you on an emotional journey through the depths of human experiences. Through raw and vulnerable verses, author Lazzari delves into the realms of Neurodivergence, courageously sharing their unique perspective as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community.

Heartbreak, trauma, pain, and healing intertwine with each carefully chosen word, inviting you to connect with your own emotions and join Lazzari on their transformative path. These mesmerizing poems were crafted during a period of great personal struggle for Lazzari. “Every word was written over the course of the several months I spent in hospitals and psych wards. Poetry became the method through which I came to express myself most authentically and most honestly.”

 Lazzari’s exploration of heartbreak, trauma, pain, love, and healing have the power to evoke feelings which transcend the ordinary and provide a map for you to explore the intricate tapestry of human existence.

As you turn the pages of the two volumes of Ele-Mental, Lazzari’s hope is for her words to “…make you feel something–positive, negative, or somewhere in between. I leave my heart in your hands,” a heartfelt offering that will leave an indelible mark upon your soul.

The Crystal Hunter By Adam Rowan (New Adult/Adult Thriller)

Winter 2023/2024

Enter the thrilling world of Maxwell Jacobs, a 21-year-old with a spirit as wild as his dreams. Unconventional and utterly obsessed with knights, Tetris, and the perfect cheese sandwich, Max harbors a burning desire—to establish himself as the unrivaled master of treasure hunting.

 As whispers of the extraordinary Crystal Contest reach his eager ears, promising unimaginable wealth and secrets hidden within the world, Max’s heart skips a beat. Winning this unparalleled competition becomes an all-consuming mission—a chance to unlock an extraordinary destiny.

Yet, fate seems intent on testing Max’s resolve when he finds himself behind bars, arrested for a daring museum break-in. Confronted by his crippling fear of leaving the safety of his hometown and forever shackled by his perpetual clumsiness, Max is reminded of the insurmountable odds stacked against him. With only one true friend in his life—his math teacher, Rosie Shaw, who disapproves of his treasure-hunting aspirations—Max’s journey becomes ever more treacherous.

However, destiny has a peculiar way of pairing unlikely allies. Enter Khalil Ahmed, Max’s new coworker, a former drug dealer desperate to evade the clutches of his shadowy past. At first glance, they appear opposites—life circumstances and aspirations pulling them apart. Yet, driven by the shared hunger for financial security, Max and Khalil embark on an unexpected partnership, setting their sights on the coveted Crystal Contest. Together, they embark on a cross-country odyssey, their once separate lives intertwining in a thrilling saga of cryptic puzzles, hidden clues, and heart-racing adventures.

Prepare to be captivated as Max and Khalil race against time to decipher riddles, navigate treacherous events, and unlock the secrets of the Crystal Contest. The stakes have never been higher, and the allure of immeasurable riches beckons—mere steps away. Will they triumph over countless obstacles and secure their place in the annals of history? The answer lies within the pages of this unforgettable tale—an epic treasure hunt where only the bold prevail.

News

Spinning Monkey Signs New Poet/Novelist

Spinning Monkey Press is proud to announce the signing of the new Poet and Novelist, Hayley Lazzari. Her first collection of poems, Ele-Mental took us completely by surprise when it reached our inbox, and within the first ten poems we knew we had to publish her. We think, if you are a lover of poetry, you will be as entranced by her first collection, Ele-mental, as we were.

About Hayley

Hayley Lazzari is an author and poet. The poems in the forthcoming Ele-Mental, her first published collection, were written over the course of the several months Lazzari spent in various psychiatric facilities receiving treatment for mental illness. Lazzari feels that writing is when she can reveal her most authentic self and hopes through reading her work, others can feel something real.

Lazzari received her bachelor’s degree in Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies, Russian and Eurasian Studies, and German form Colgate University. Since then, she has worked as a risk and fraud investigator for Binance.US. She is returning to school this fall to earn a PHD in Science and Technology Studies at Virginia Tech.

Lazzari has always had a voracious appetite for books and wrote for her high school literary journal. She hopes readers of her work are able to find some element of themselves in her work and feel less alone. She also wants to bring more awareness of mental health and let people know things do get better. She drafts most of her work outside of her apartment as she feels there is no creative flow there and must always have coffee while writing. She credits much of her success to her roommates, Collin and Alex, as well as her best friend Michelle, who have been her biggest supporters through the hardest years of her life.

Lazzari lives in Brooklyn, New York with her roommates, and her dog, Bex (who is her whole heart). When not writing, she likes to read, do crosswords (“I am a proud cruciverbalist”) and play puzzle games. She also enjoys going to the gym and walking her dog.

Our Authors

Hayley Lazzari

Hayley Lazzari is an author and poet. The poems in the forthcoming Ele-Mental, her first published collection, were written over the course of the several months Lazzari spent in various psychiatric facilities receiving treatment for mental illness. Lazzari feels that writing is when she can reveal her most authentic self and hopes through reading her work, others can feel something real.

Lazzari received her bachelor’s degree in Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies, Russian and Eurasian Studies, and German form Colgate University. Since then, she has worked as a risk and fraud investigator for Binance.US. She is returning to school this fall to earn a PHD in Science and Technology Studies at Virginia Tech.

Lazzari has always had a voracious appetite for books and wrote for her high school literary journal. She hopes readers of her work are able to find some element of themselves in her work and feel less alone. She also wants to bring more awareness of mental health and let people know things do get better. She drafts most of her work outside of her apartment as she feels there is no creative flow there and must always have coffee while writing. She credits much of her success to her roommates, Collin and Alex, as well as her best friend Michelle, who have been her biggest supporters through the hardest years of her life.

Lazzari lives in Brooklyn, New York with her roommates, and her dog, Bex (who is her whole heart). When not writing, she likes to read, do crosswords (“I am a proud cruciverbalist”) and play puzzle games. She also enjoys going to the gym and walking her dog.

News

Exciting New Author Signing.

We are thrilled to announce Melissa Dorval, an enthralling and rising new author, has joined the Spinning Monkey family. Her first full length novel When You Lose Control, an upmarket women’s fiction title set during the pandemic, will be published in late spring/early summer of 2023.

Melissa Dorval has published in The Offering, The Lowell Connector, The Shirley Volunteer, The Creative Zine, and the inaugural issue of The Sixpence Society Literary Journal. She is also one of the founding members of The New Dawn Writers Group.


Melissa graduated magna cum laude from the University of Massachusetts – Lowell, where best-selling author, Andre Dubus III, served as her mentor.

She lives in central Massachusetts with her husband, Chris, and five cats, two dogs and a rabbit. She is a New England Patriots fan and likes to collect vintage clothing from the sixties and seventies. When she’s not writing, Dorval enjoys sewing, drawing, painting and being a nanny for two children.