Crane Maiden Books began as an idea over coffee, as many good ideas often do. In 2014, Peg Simone (Debra Catanzaro) sat down in a cafe with her friend & custom book binder extraordinaire Vince Curtis (Vers Libris) to pick up several of his beautifully crafted hand-bound books to give as gifts. Whether it was the caffeine surge of some high-octane brew or a thirst to combine talents to make something cool, Crane Maiden Books came to be. ~~ A little background:  both veterans of the Pittsburgh, PA punk scene, Vince played in the seminal punk rock band Half Life; Peg was in Wormhole; and, while their paths did not cross for years later, the threads of steel, coal, punk rock music, The Electric Banana and Iron City Beer runs thick through their veins.

"Behind Uncle Bernie's Bar" (BUBB) was the first publication of Crane Maiden Books, written by Peg, printed & bound by Vince. Since that first publication, Crane Maiden has published a delightful illustrated fantasy book by storytelling wonder-kid Stiv Marcotte titled "The Dream Realm" and will soon be releasing the upcoming "Boys In The Woods" by Santa Cruz based poet Marc Zegans.~~ Each book includes its own custom soundtrack. Whether narration of the story blended with music as in "BUBB" or a musical soundtrack to accompany the story as in "The Dream Realm", each is unique to the specific work. The books are hand-bound and printed by Vince with careful attention to detail, numbered limited editions and uniform in size. Think of trading cards for story-hounds.

Find out more about each publication by clicking on the titles below. Pick one up, listen, read and wander into the fantastic worlds inside each of these little gems.

The name of the imprint was inspired by the children's book "The Crane Maiden" by Miyoko Matsutani. 

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Behind Uncle Bernie's Bar
​by Peg Simone

A little girl, her Uncle Bernie and the woman who lives in the alleyway behind his bar. This touching story about the relationship between these three is presented in four episodes, each narrated and listenable via the download code included. Original artwork & music by Peg Simone.

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The Dream Realm
​by Stiv Daniel Marcotte

This wonderful tale of witches and their familiars is the brainchild of Stiv Daniel Marcotte. Follow along with the Hero as he battles a Dream Witch called Gretel; attempts to fight off Aqualily the Toilet Witch and her mighty toilet brush; and outwits Minerva the Junk Witch. This "funtastical" tale is conceived by and illustrated by Stiv Daniel Marcotte, written along with Peg Simone and includes a downloadable mp3 soundtrack. The pages fold out in accordion format.

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Boys In The Woods
by Marc Zegans

Marc Zegans' collection of poems, Boys In the Woods, takes the reader through the darker, grittier spaces of boys growing up amidst the woods and waters of New England. Boys in the Woods is a visceral account of the cruelty and the soul-scraping initiations faced by young adolescents on the cusp of entering the adult realities of the human condition. 
Stellar photography by Daniel Barnhill and musical component written & performed by Peg Simone with original lyrics by Marc Zegans.

Thanks to everyone who came out on Tuesday, June 14th at Swift Hibernian Lounge to celebrate Marc's new release. It was a great night!

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