Monday, September 05, 2011

Meet Billy Paul Craig!

I just met Billy Paul Craig on Facebook, but we seemed to click. I asked him for an interview of himself and one of his favorite characters. Welcome, Billy Paul Craig!



When did you start writing?
I started writing my own stories at age six, having learned to read at four I felt I could tell better stories...

What gave you the idea for your first book?
I wanted to write an adventure novel where the protagonist went up against an EVIL oil company. Who knew right?

What genre do you write?
I write pulp adventure and mystery mainly, but have made forays into sword and sorcery and horror and recently westerns as well.

What do you do to keep yourself focused?
Focus? What is focus? My ex-wife swore I was ADHD because I am ALWAYS working on multiple projects.

What inspires you?
My son Jack is my greatest Inspiration.

Do you stay with one project or do you work on multiple projects?
I am always working on at least a half a dozen projects at once.

What is your writing process?
I write a one or two paragraph synopsis which generally ends up as the back cover copy and that is the plot I work from. The characters drive it from that point.

Do you consciously use symbolism in your book?
Sometimes, but not often.

What is your latest release?
My latest release is a mystery novel titled Decker P.I. Smugglers' Blues.

What other books do you have published?
This is my 19th I believe. I have six Jack Riley books out, 7 Hardluck Hannigan books, 4 Sam Decker books and a collection of short fiction titled Bullets and Blades. I am currently working on a four book mini-series with continuing characters in four different pulp genres titles Two Fisted Adventure as well as the next Hardluck Hannigan novel and the next Decker P.I. novel and a series of childrens stories about a character called Little Mouse who lives in the great big Barn with Daddy Mouse and Papaw Mouse.


Where are your books available?
All my books are available on Amazon.com

Now meet Hardluck Hannigan. He's a fighter, not a lover. No, well, maybe both?

Are you the hero of your own story?
I ain't sure I'd call myself a hero, mainly I'm just a guy who does what needs to be done.
What is your problem in the story?
My problem? Other than having the worst luck of any man alive because one of my ancestors pissed off a leprechaun? If you want problems just look at the women in my life, they caused most of them.

Can you tell us something else about yourself?
I'm just a pretty normal guy with a whole lot of bad luck, that's why they call me Hardluck Hannigan after all. I have the hardest luck of anybody you'd care to meet.

Do you embrace or run from conflict?
Run from conflict? Kid I ain't no coward. Running would mean I had common sense and there was certainly a shortage of that in MY DNA!

How do you see yourself?
I'm just a guy who does what has to be done. No more, no less.

How do your friends see you?
My friends, for reasons unknown to me look to me as a leader. Gregor of all people should know better than that since he's known me the longest. Hell I shipped out of New York with him in 1939 aboard the African Queen!

How do your enemies see you?
My enemies view me as a force of nature. They are scared shitless when they find out I'm coming after them!

How does the author see you?
Bill Craig? Hell he just writes down what I tell him to. I don't much give a damn what he thinks as long as he writes it down and I get paid royalties!

What do you think of yourself?
I do what I gotta do, no more no less. I don't like bullies and the Nazis are the worst kind!
My goal is to survive. You don't live like I do and not want to do that!

Do you keep your achievements to yourself?
I ain't never been one to brag. I do what I do, that's what I do.

Do you have any special strengths?
Special strengths? Hell, I just don't give up.

What do you believe?
My beliefs are my own. Spirituality is an individual thing.

What do you regret?
Regrets? I've had a few but then again too few to mention:)
What, if anything, haunts you?
Haunts? We all have ghosts. I've got my own.

Has anyone ever betrayed you?
Hell yeah, but then who hasn't have had someone betray them?

Have you ever failed anyone?
Failed anyone? I don't think that's a question I want to answer. Her view on that and mine would likely differ a lot. For the sake of argument, let's just let that question die!

Did anything newsworthy happen on the day you were born?
Nope nothing newsworthy.

What is your most closely guarded secret?
I love my Egyptian Mau Abigail.

Do you have any hobbies?
Hobbies, tracking down lost artifacts and getting into lots of trouble doing so. That's a hobby ain't it?

What is your favorite item of clothing? Why?
I love my Colt pistol, Betsy. She's a Colt model 1911-A and was given to my Dad during WWI for special services as one of the Fighting Falcons. Betsy has served me well and the folks at Colt have been kind about replacement parts to keep her functioning!

Name five items in your pockets.
Five items in my pockets? A pack of Lucky Strikes, a battered Ronson lighter, a spare mag for Betsy, some cash and keys and a quick-opening knife.

If you were stranded on a desert island, would you rather be stranded with, a man or a woman?
Give me a horny beautiful woman any day. Makes life a whole lot easier:)

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