Well, I’ve gone and done it again. This has been a weird year for me. We had a small family emergency, and my workplace kind of went crazy, along with the need to dedicate some time to my daughter. There hasn’t been much time for writing in the mix. Fortunately, for me, I had three finished manuscripts to deal with.
One of these is book-one of an intended trilogy, so I’m holding it back for now. One is a new story about Lizzie and the hat, that might come out near Halloween. This brings me to one of my solo titles. This book is called “Once Upon a Time in the Swamp.”

It’s about a farm wife trying to live her best life. Mari is performing one of her regular chores when the book opens, and I tried to allow her to find some joy in it. Great place to develop setting and her normal world. When she returns to the farm, tragedy hits her hard. Someone has massacred her entire family.
She has to walk to town to get the authorities on the trail, but it seems they have more politically important things to deal with.
This leads Mari on a personal vendetta to get some kind of justice for her family. She has limited skills, and is a little out of her element.
I’m not ashamed to tell you it was inspired by the Spaghetti Westerns of old. However, I still want it to be somewhat unique, and to be one of “my” books. It needed a certain something that I provided in the form of a post apocalyptic setting. I also added a little bit of Voodoo that gives Mari a very small edge.
Sean Harrington did a wonderful job on the cover. The ox and pickup-bed wagon feature prominently in the story. I love the decayed satellite dishes in the background to help sell the setting.
Blurb: Mari and her husband opted for a simple life as farmers. It’s been decades since the world tore itself apart, pitting neighbor against neighbor and family against each other. They were happy in this re-emerging world, until disaster struck.
Mari sets out on a solo quest to avenge the deaths of her family and loss of everything she holds dear. She’s ill equipped for the task, but seems to have time on her hands. Time alone in the wilderness to deal with her personal demons along the way.
She is helped by a few sympathetic elders and a couple of animal companions with lessons Mari can use if she pays attention. Can Mari find justice for her family?
Set in a post apocalyptic, Gulf Coast world, this is a story for fans of the old Spaghetti Westerns.
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I’m also suffering from tour burnout. I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’ve published quite a bit over the last few years, and I’m sure my regular hosts are getting tired, too. I always try to keep my posts unique, and that won’t change. This time, I’m going to post them all here. I hope you’ll swing by to see what I have next, and tell your friends about it. Reblogs are wonderful, and any sharing you can do on social media are all appreciated. If anyone does a review post, I’ll try to share it here and drive you some traffic.
As far as the book goes, you can pick up a copy right here: https://mybook.to/OnceUponTimeSwamp
You can also click on the cover in my sidebar.
For the subsequent posts, I’ll clean them up by putting the cover, blurb, and purchase link at the bottom. This was the announcement post, so I made the cover a little bigger and more prominent.
Woo Hoo! How cool is this.
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Kind of nerve wracking at the same time, but always exciting. Thanks, Annette.
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Congrats, Craig! Picked up a copy. The cover reminds me of another of your books that I enjoyed. The story sounds like something I usually like. Have a nice weekend!
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Thank you, Traci. I think that makes you the first one.
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Actually, I have quite a few of your titles, my health just hasn’t let me get around to reading more than two yet. I read the one about the fireflies and the little girl and the one with the traveler and his ox. I’m sorry I can’t remember the titles offhand, my mind has been getting harder for me to remember things of late. I enjoyed both the above titles by the way and highly recommend them!
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Those were fun ones. Will O’ the Wisp and Yak Guy Project. Glad you enjoyed them.
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Probably the first direct buy, you’re right. I hadn’t thought of that.
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I’ve got my copy, Craig!
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Thank you so much Pr… Vera. Hope you have fun with it.
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Good luck, Craig, and congratulations!
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Thank you so much, Olga. I’ll always take luck.
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I really like the cover, Craig. It’s on my list.
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Thank you, Tim. Some of it fades at thumbnail size, but I really thought Sean did a good job.
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Best wishes, Craig. Looks like an enjoyable stroy.
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I hope so. I honestly never know what readers will think.
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There is a hard corps of fans that love your stuff.
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That’s true. Hope they enjoy the story.
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Reblogged this on Judi Lynn and commented:
Happy Book Birthday to Craig Boyack!
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Congratulations, Craig. I’ve picked up my copy, but it will be a bit before I read it. I’ve got a must-read list of about 7 books. 🎉🎊🎉
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Me, too, but I’m working on them. Thanks for picking it up, Gwen.
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😊
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Just bought my copy. I have two books ahead of it right now, but can’t wait to see what you came up with this time!
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Means a lot to me. Thanks for the reblog, too. I’ll hope over and share from your site.
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Very cool. Love the cover.
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Thank you, Charles.
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You’re welcome
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Good for you, Craig! I’m going to have to make a decision like that soon, too.
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I’m excited and a little apprehensive. Hope it does well now that I’ve set it free.
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Fantastic, Craig! I am off to grab a copy! Best wishes to you.
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Wow! Thank you, Beem. Have fun getting vengeance in the swamp.
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Reblogged this on The Indie Spot! and commented:
C. S. Boyack surprises readers with a new release!
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Congratulations on the new release!
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Thank you so much. It’s been a long haul to get here, but it’s free to fly now.
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Reblogged this on Chris The Story Reading Ape's Blog and commented:
HEAR YE, HEAR YE, HEAR YE. CRAIG HAS GORN AND DUN IT AGAIN 👍😂
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Thank you so much, Chris.
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My pleasure, Craig 👍😃
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and long may you continue to do it, Craig!
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Thank you.
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🥰
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Congratulations, Craig, on your new book. Sharing.
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Thank you, Robbie. All the sharing really helps.
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Well done! I love the cover. Your output is amazing, Craig.
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Thanks, Darlene. Sean always makes me great covers. I’m kind of partial to what’s inside, too. This year, I’m fortunate to have a couple of stories finished already. I haven’t been very productive with all these distractions.
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Congratulations, Craig. You have my deepest admiration for the way you are able to create and publish so many cool stories. I’m way behind on ALL of my reading right now, but hoping to catch up soon, and feel sure I’ll enjoy this one!
I will definitely do a post later today to announce this on TWS. I don’t click on Reblog any more, as it caused me problems in the past, but I WILL announce your news and link straight to this post. Here’s wishing you huge success with Once Upon a Time in the Swamp! Yay, you!! 😁
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Thanks, Marcia. I thought of you as I wrote this one. Global warming was one way to spread invasive species a bit farther than they actually exist, and I made a bigger point of some invasive creatures, too.
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Congrats on the new book, Craig. I just got my copy and look forward to the read. Huge congrats!
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Thank you so much. Hope you enjoy the story.
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I’m already deep in. I love Mari’s voice, Craig.
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That makes my day. Have fun on the quest.
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Wow! Look at you, dropping a release just like that. Way to go!
A huge congrats, and I’m off to grab my copy now!
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Thank you, Mae. I’ve had it ready for a month, just waiting for everything to come together. This will be the first one I’ve had land at the end of the school year. Might help with summer readers. Hope you enjoy the story.
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Reblogged this on Where Genres Collide Traci Kenworth YA Author and commented:
C. S. Boyack has had quite a few interesting titles out there. Check this latest one out there. I have been a big fan of his for a while ever since Will O’Wisp and The Yak Guy.
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Thanks you for sharing this, Traci. Means a lot to me.
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Anytime, Craig! You have done a lot for me so returning the favor is not a problem! Hugs and take care. Enjoy your weekend!
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Reblogged this on https:/BOOKS.ESLARN-NET.DE.
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Congratulations, Craig! This sounds a very entertaining read. Best wishes, Michael
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Thanks so much for sharing, Michael. I hope everyone enjoys it.
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Whoot!!! 😀 … congratulations. 🙂
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Thank you.
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So very exciting, Craig. Congratulations once again, very impressive. I look forward to reading it soon.
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Thank you, and thanks for having faith in my stories.
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Congrats, Craig 🙂 I can’t wait to start reading in a couple hours.
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Hope you have fun with it.
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Thanks, already kept me up late reading 🙂
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That bodes well for the story. Thank you.
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Congratulations Craig and I have emailed you with date for promotion to check okay. x
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I’ll check. Thank you.
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Congrats, Craig – love the cover! Off to get my copy now.
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Thanks, Teri. Have fun in the swamp.
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Congratulations, Craig!!! Woohoo! The story sounds right up my alley. Adding it to the TBR.
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Thank you, Sue. Hope it meets what you’re thinking.
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Fantastic, Craig! I have my copy and look forward to being entertained!
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Thank you, Jan.
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