Special Guest Craig Boyack
Craig Boyack is one of the most creative writers I know, which is sayin’ something considering the vastness of the writing community. As you may or may not know, my reading tastes align with the genres I write in — crime thrillers, mysteries, and true crime. But a great writer has the ability to force us out of our norm and into exciting new worlds. That’s exactly what happened when I read The Hat, book 1 of Craig Boyack’s fun new series. By the end of the book my cheeks hurt from laughter. You can read my full review on Amazon.
Without further ado, please welcome Craig back to Murder Blog.
Thanks for inviting me back, it’s been a long time. Looks like we’ve both been busy, and I’m here to talk about my newest publication. Just in time for the Halloween season. It’s called The Ballad of Mrs. Molony. This is the third book in The Hat series. They’re about a kind of paranormal superhero. They’re filled with dark humor, snark, and are designed to be short reads. I’ll let the blurb tell you more.
Sue always likes to get into the research. I respect that, but it kind of threw me for a loop on this book. The setting is urban. It’s a paranormal story, so I get to make things up or go from memory. One example is vampires which take center stage in this story. I like my monsters more classic. Mine don’t sparkle in daylight, they aren’t caused by a virus, or any of the myriad things people have come up with lately. Classic.
What kind of research could possibly be involved?
First, I’m a visual kind of guy. I’ve taken to Pinterest like nothing that’s come before. I don’t use it for kitchen remodeling or Sunday recipes. I keep a board for each of my books. I also have larger boards that are more genre specific. I’m also in the habit of keeping files for books that might be years in the future.
This is the link to my Pinterest board for The Hat Series. If you check it out, you’ll find things that showed up in previous volumes, the current book, and books I have planned out. I rely pretty heavily on Pinterest these days for references.
The unique thing about this series is the main characters, Lizzie and the hat, have a small cover band. They play nightclubs and events as a way for Lizzie to pay her rent. It’s also a neat trick for me, because it gets them out at night when the monsters roam.
With a band, readers expect music. Any band is going to have its own style, and Lizzie and The Pythons are no different. I’ve spent many a happy hour combing through music to find what they might be playing at their next gig. This led to an extensive playlist on my iPhone, which I listen to during my work commutes. I recently added a page to my own blog that includes the songs that appear in each book. Here is a link to that playlist.
Midwest Setting
I’m also from Idaho, so the Midwest is kind of foreign to me. I have a hard time comprehending all that flat countryside. I’ve never come right out and said it, but these stories are centered in St. Louis. Within the stories I like to stay somewhat vague. This gives me the opportunity to name my own streets and create my own landmarks. I do use Google Earth to keep from messing up the bends in the rivers, and respect the genuine landmarks. It’s nice to mention the highway when they travel out of town. Minimal stuff, but research all the same.
Another quirk of this series is when the hat tells Lizzie about her ancestors. These are sometimes like mentoring, but occasionally part of the comedy of the series. I spent a lot of time making sure my global history didn’t overlap. It was possible for one of Lizzie’s ancestors to fight for Napoleon, and still get the hat to America to take on the form of a coonskin cap and settle in Tennessee. As the series goes on, I find myself having to watch that more closely. These stories build fences that I have to respect over time.
My research for this series might not measure up to some of the crazy things Sue has done over the years, like crawling in barrels, but it’s there. Other stories required much more extensive research, like when I had to learn about tall ships, but every story requires some.
I’ve worked pretty hard to keep people from having to read the series in order. There are some minor things that carry over, but if you pick any book up you aren’t going to be be lost. It’s one of those series where the characters are the same, the shtick remains, but each story can stand on its own. It’s also designed for short reading. You can read an entire book on a Saturday afternoon. This is a growing market and I want to be part of it. (More research showing.)
Lizzie is a regular girl. The hat has some magical powers. Alone, neither of them are anything special, but together they can do amazing things. Including rock your face off. It’s about time to drop the cover and blurb and greet our readers in the comments. Thanks for inviting me over today, and I hope your fans will enjoy a bit of Halloween reading.
Cover Blurb
Lizzie and the hat are back, and this time they’re chasing vampires across a subculture of America. A pair of rodeo cowboys are holding a woman captive to use like a milk cow since they joined the undead.
The person who put them onto the trail is also a vampire, but he has to be the worst vampire in history. Is he really that pitiful, or is he setting a trap for our heroes? Does the woman even exists? Can Lizzie and the hat find her before she also takes up blood sucking?
Follow Lizzie and the hat as they use their cover band to stalk vamps across the country music scene.
You can contact Craig Boyack at the following locations:
Blog | My Novels | Twitter | Goodreads | Facebook | Pinterest | BookBub
48 Comments
Gwen M Plano
Thank you, Sue, for hosting. I really enjoyed The Hat, so I’m certain I’ll like Mrs. Molony. Congrats, Craig!
Sue Coletta
My pleasure, Gwen. You will LOVE Mrs. Molony! Just finished it last night. 🙂
CS Boyack
Thanks for dropping in, Gwen.
Jess Bakkers
I’m hankering to get into this one, Sue. I have very high hopes after Viral Blues 🙂
Sue Coletta
It’s so good, Jess. Glad you mentioned Viral Blues. That’s the only one I haven’t read yet.
CS Boyack
So glad you enjoyed it.
CS Boyack
Hope it works for you.
Judi Lynn
Another fun post for Mrs. Molony, Craig and Sue. I was surprised when I read the book and found out how dangerous “Mrs. Molony” is. Loved all the music references, too. I can see how that would take some research, though.
Sue Coletta
Mrs. Molony is brilliant! Surprised me, too, Judi.
CS Boyack
Thank you, Judi.
Joan Hall
I’ve enjoyed all The Hat stories. Thanks for hosting today, Sue.
CS Boyack
Thank you, Joan.
Sue Coletta
They’re such fun books! I’m having a blast with this series. 🙂
Garry Rodgers
Great guest, Sue. And great stuff, Craig. This is not my normal reading, but you got me hooked. I just downloaded a Kindle copy!
CS Boyack
Thank you, Gary. Hope it gives you a laugh. We could all use one these days.
Sue Coletta
Garry, you will love “the hat” character. His sharp wit cracks me up, and the books are a nice detour from murder and serial killers. *gasp!* Can’t believe I just wrote that. 😉 Although, there are a few murders to satisfy our bloodlust, just not the types we’re used to reading about. 😀 Can’t say anymore without ruining it for you!
John Howell
Super post, Sue. Thanks for having Craig over today. I have read both “hat ” stories and enjoyed them. Mrs.Molony is on my Kindle.
John Howell recently posted…Wednesday Story Day – AKA – Hump Day
CS Boyack
Thank you, John. Lots of new books this Fall. I have yours in the wings, too.
Sue Coletta
Hey, John! Nice to see you. I love this series. Craig did a great job bringing these characters to life.
Marcia Meara
Okay, THIS post really strikes a chord with me, Craig, on several levels. First of course, is the concept of this book, which makes me laugh without ever having read it. (Yet!) Can’t wait! (I can hear an odd, lisping sound seeping from between the covers of my Kindle. I think Kevin is trying to lure me into bumping it all the way to the top of the TBR pile.)
Secondly, I’m intrigued by the concept of writing a series than can be read in any order. While I include backstory in each of mine, so the books will make sense if read out of order, my stories definitely work better if readers “go through” the events of the preceding ones so they understand the characters better. I’m planning to write more novellas in the future, and I’m going to see if I can make each a stand-alone experience, too. (Always looking for new things to try.)
And last, I have to say I’ve never known anyone to use Pinterest the way you do. I’ve sort of fallen away from it in the last couple of years. (Like totally.) And you are definitely making me see I should get back to it, and use it for more than I ever did before. Especially for my books.
GREAT post, Sue & Craig. And I can’t wait to meet Kevin! A “new” vampire type for me, for sure. (I’ve always said nothing is sexier than a man who makes me laugh. Time to put that to the test and see if it holds true for vampires! 😀 )
Marcia Meara recently posted…#BadMoonRising Hullaba Lulu: A Dieselpunk Adventure by Teagan Riordain Geneviene #steampunk #historicalfantasy
Sue Coletta
Marcia, I never thought in a million years that I could be crushing on a hat, but here we are. 😉 Pinterest is fantastic for inspiration!
I’m putting Craig’s standalone theory to the test by reading Book 3 out of order. So far, I’m not confused at all if that helps. Though I did read The Hat first, but I don’t think it would’ve mattered.
CS Boyack
That excites me. I’d like to know if you felt lost at all.
Marcia Meara
See my reply to Craig. 😀 I just can’t make myself do that. But then again, I can’t work the crossword puzzle unless every corner of the newspaper is matched up neatly and folded perfectly evenly. So you can’t go by me. 😀 I do think writing a series that doesn’t need to be read in order could be a good idea, though, and I’m giving it serious consideration.
Sue Coletta
Normally I’m the same way, but after reading The Hat, I was too excited to read the new installment. Remember to keep your paws off that hat, though. He’s still “mine” for the time being. I’ll let you know when I’ll loan him out for a trip to your place. Hahaha. Kidding!
CS Boyack
You’re a big Dresden fan. I think those could be read out of order without too much loss. I can see it getting tougher as the series extends, but there is still a small intro for Murph, etc. in each new edition.
Marcia Meara
No way I’d ever read Harry’s story out of order, though. Too many references to things gone by that I’d have to backtrack to catch. Plus, his character growth and his relationships expand so much over time, and half of the snark in The Dresden Files relies on you knowing the characters and their foibles. I know Dresden books aren’t numbered, but he starts as a pretty young man, and is now somewhere around 40-ish. And one of the principal characters goes from a very young girl to nearly 30. Almost 20 years. It would totally mess with my mind to not watch that progression, even if the books still made sense. Plus, the later books have an ongoing battle that I don’t think would work out of order. At least not for me. (NOW look what you’ve done!!! You’ve released the rabid Dresdenphile!!! Be afraid. Be very afraid!)
Seriously, there are definitely series out there that don’t need to be read in order. They are often set in roughly the same time period, and just involve new cases or the like. (Sue Grafton’s alphabet series comes to mind. Kinsey never ages, etc.) And that works fine, too.
And I’m glad the Hat books can be read in any order, too. Though of course, I won’t be doing that. Because I’m on OCD dweeb who’d go crazy even trying. 😀 😀 😀 But I definitely see the benefits of a series that works that way, and am going to give some thought to writing one. It’s a good idea.
Marcia Meara recently posted…#BadMoonRising Aceldama by John Hazen #horror #historicalthriller #TuesdayBookBlog
CS Boyack
I hope it works for you. I’m always trying new things. It gives some readers an option over something like my trilogy which must be read in order.
Teri Polen
The first two books in this series were so much fun, so I expect nothing less from this one. Thanks for hosting Craig, Sue!
Sue Coletta
I agree, Teri. They’re super fun books!
CS Boyack
Hope you have fun with it, Teri.
Mae Clair
I enjoyed The Ballad of Mrs. Molony and all of The Hat stories. They’re always creative, filled with adventure, fun, and plenty of snark.
Congrats to Craig on his latest.
Sue Coletta
I do, too, Mae! Love the fun banter between Lizzie and the hat. I read with a constant smile.
CS Boyack
Thank you, Mae. I’m still resting, but will take up the keyboard again this winter. There will be more Hat stories.
Harmony Kent
I’ve enjoyed the first two books in this series and look forward to reading book 3. Best of luck with everything, Craig.
Sue, it’s lovely to stop by your place today 🙂
Harmony Kent recently posted…#BookReview: Your Neighbour’s Wife by Tony Parsons
Sue Coletta
Lovely to “see” you, Harmony! Since Craig said you don’t need read the books in order, I skipped Book 2 and went straight for The Ballard of Mrs. Maloney. 🙂 I’ll read the second after.
CS Boyack
Thank you for saying that here. Hope Mrs. Molony holds up for you.
CS Boyack
Thank you so much for inviting me over, Sue. I faked a reblog on my site and hope to drive some traffic today. Keep me in mind if you ever want to do some promo of your own.
CS Boyack recently posted…Visiting with Sue Coletta
Sue Coletta
Always a pleasure to have you on Murder Blog, Craig! I’ll pop over and share to keep up momentum. I may take you up on that offer. 🙂
Margot Kinberg
What a creative way to tell a story! That’s really innovative, and it was interesting to learn a little more about what went on with the research and the other behind-the-scenes story creation. Thanks, both, for sharing.
CS Boyack
Thanks, Margot. Some of these tools help me work ahead. I can browse something like Pinterest before bed. Maybe I find something useful, maybe not, but I have a great folder when I need something specific in a story.
CS Boyack recently posted…Visiting with Sue Coletta
Sue Coletta
Margot, the way Craig’s mind works is fascinating. I love learning different writer’s process.
Staci Troilo
Really enjoyed this post (and the reference to Sue’s insane barrel story) and I REALLY enjoyed this latest installment of the hat’s adventures with Lizzie. Nothing like a crooked-toothed vampire with a speech impediment to honor a classic trope while still keeping it fresh. Nicely done, Craig.
Thanks for hosting, Sue
Staci Troilo recently posted…Introducing Marcia Meara’s THE EMISSARY 3: LOVE HURTS
CS Boyack
Thank you, Staci. So glad you enjoyed Kevin. He says, “Thanksh.”
CS Boyack recently posted…Visiting with Sue Coletta
Sue Coletta
Hahaha.
Sue Coletta
Haha. Kevin is a refreshing change from the average vamp!
Priscilla Bettis
I love the idea of a sentient hat with an attitude.:-)
Priscilla Bettis recently posted…Normal Dreams vs. A Horror Writer’s Nightmares
CS Boyack
Thank you, Priscilla. I’m having a lot of fun with these characters.
CS Boyack recently posted…Visiting with Sue Coletta
Sue Coletta
Priscilla, that hat is hilarious! Love his snarky ‘tude.