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Hillman’s Garry Boldrey publishes novel 17 years in the making

News Photo by Darby Hinkley Hillman author Garry Boldrey Jr. holds up his newly published mystery novel, “Scream Canyon.”

HILLMAN — This former firefighter has been planning to publish his mystery novel for 17 years, and, as of March 31, that dream is now a reality.

Garry Boldrey Jr., of Hillman, published “Scream Canyon: A Dalton James Investigation,” through Outskirts Press.

He wrote the mystery/detective novel 17 years ago, but he “had an injury and couldn’t really afford to get it published; changed careers, back and forth; always came up with an excuse not to spend the money to get it published,” he said.

He dedicated the book to his late parents, Garry L. Boldrey Sr., and Kay Boldrey.

“My father was always into education, and reading, and I always read a lot, too,” the author said. “It just happened that, a couple years ago, we were at a cabin in Canada talking, and he had no idea I wrote this book. And I told him, ‘Yeah, I wrote a book.’ He was so excited.”

Boldrey planned to publish the book “someday,” but that day couldn’t come soon enough.

“Well, then he passed away last fall, so he didn’t get to read it,” Boldrey said of his dad.

That motivated him to “get the darn thing published,” he said.

He didn’t write the book to make money, he noted, but to share his creative talents and experiences as a former firefighter.

“It had been sitting long enough, and whatever happens happens,” he said.

Boldrey served as a firefighter for 20 years, and has a background in many disciplines, including as a machinist, logger and now, tax assessor.

He draws from his firefighter experience, as well as logging experience, to develop the characters and storyline of this crime novel.

The main character, Dalton James, is a veteran investigator with the Detroit Fire Department. Using his expertise and intuition, James is on the trail of a serial arsenist who he believes to be responsible for several suspicious fires. But then, a serious injury at a devastating fire diminishes his drive, prompting him to retire and move to the north woods of the U.P. in Michigan. But mystery lives there in the woods, too. Befriending a “crusty old logger,” begins the new pursuit of very old legends and “a criminal underworld that’s been hidden from local view, far away from the big city.”

“I was on the fire department here for 20 years,” Boldrey said. “And I really got interested in the cause and effect of fire.”

He completed several classes to learn about fire investigation.

“I’ve always liked reading, and I’ve always liked that kind of genre,” he said of mystery/detective novels. “One day I just decided, ‘I think I could probably write one of these.'”

The main character purchases land in the U.P., only to find out the land which he bought encompasses the legendary “Scream Canyon.”

Boldrey set the story in the U.P. because he is an avid outdoorsman and he incorporates many of the pastimes he enjoys, such as hunting, fishing and hiking, into the book.

One thing he’d like to warn readers is that the curmudgeonly old logger uses some coarse language, as “crusty” old men tend to do.

The book was originally over 400 pages, but Boldrey edited it down to under 300, considering his own preferences as a reader, as well as the recommended book lengths he had researched.

“My own personal preference, when I’m reading something, I like it to move along,” Boldrey said. “I don’t like it to lull, and I don’t like a whole lot of characters. The book is mainly three characters … so it’s easy to follow it along. And everybody said it’s a quick read.”

He was “very happy” with Outskirts Press, which he said had reasonable rates and a lot of options to choose from. Outskirts Press is based in Denver, Colorado, but the whole editing and publishing process can be done online.

“Scream Canyon” is available in paperback and hardcover through Amazon and Barnes & Noble. It is also available as a Kindle ebook. Boldrey said he plans to reach out to local booksellers to see if they will carry it as well.

Finally publishing his book “feels pretty good,” he said. He’s considering writing a second book, if he can find the time.

Boldrey said anyone can write a book if they set out to do it and stay focused.

“I’m not a college-educated person, by any means,” Boldrey said. “I’m a Hillman High School graduate, and I learned by the seat of my pants.”

Boldrey, 57, has been married to his wife, Peggy, for nearly 38 years, and they have two grown children and one grandchild. And a dog named Tuck.

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