PAID PREORDERS ARE NOW OPEN

THE ADVENTURES OF MOSS BOSS & DIXIE

BOOK ONE: THE MYSTERY OF THE GIANT OAK

A GIANT OAK. A HIDDEN HATCH. A WARNING BURIED BENEATH PLACERVILLE.

A full-color illustrated mystery for readers ages 8–12, set right here in Placerville.

SIGNED PAPERBACK PREORDER — $19.99

PREORDER MY SIGNED COPY — $19.99
Signed by William • Local pickup available • Shipping available for an additional charge • Target local release August 15, 2026
ONLY 50 FOUNDERS EDITIONS WILL EVER BE MADE
10 CLAIMED — 40 REMAIN
SEE THE FOUNDERS EDITION — $79
The Adventures of Moss Boss & Dixie: The Mystery of the Giant Oak - front cover featuring Moss Boss, Dixie, the Giant Oak, and Placerville landmarks
READERS AGES 8–12
SET IN PLACERVILLE
FULL-COLOR ILLUSTRATED ADVENTURE
SIGNED LOCAL PREORDERS
EXACTLY 50 FOUNDERS HARDCOVERS

A GIANT OAK. A HIDDEN HATCH. A WARNING FROM THE PAST.

Dixie at the fallen Giant Oak with the El Dorado County Courthouse visible in Placerville

Dixie notices something wrong near the Giant Oak. Moss Boss knows better than to ignore her. What first appears to be a crack in the ground leads to a buried hatch, an old tunnel, a forgotten journal, and a warning left behind by a boy named Samuel Bishop more than a century ago.

With Tyler, Sofia, and Eli drawn into the mystery, the group must decide whom to trust, what the clues really mean, and whether they are brave enough to follow the truth beneath the town they thought they knew.

The Mystery of the Giant Oak is a fictional adventure inspired by real Placerville landmarks, Gold Country atmosphere, community pride, courage, honesty, and the idea that heroes do not have to be perfect to do the right thing.

Built for young mystery readers, local families, grandparents, dog lovers, classrooms, and anyone who enjoys seeing familiar places become part of an adventure.

STEP INTO THE ADVENTURE

Explore a spoiler-safe preview of the characters, setting, and illustrated world of The Mystery of the Giant Oak.

Driving through Placerville becomes part of the mystery
Placerville becomes part of the mystery.
Dixie at the fallen Giant Oak
Dixie notices what everyone else misses.
Crack beneath the oak reveals the first clue
The first clue is beneath their feet.
Mystery at night on the courthouse lawn in Placerville
Some mysteries refuse to wait until morning.
Hidden door entrance beneath the oak
A hidden entrance changes everything.
Samuel Bishop's journal with warning from the past
An old journal carries a warning from the past.

CHOOSE HOW YOU WANT TO JOIN THE FIRST ADVENTURE

Every option below is a paid preorder. Choose edition or community package, submit order form, complete payment via Cash App or Venmo. Payment—not form alone—secures your copy or package.

BEST FOR FAMILIES & YOUNG READERS

SIGNED PAPERBACK PREORDER

$19.99
Direct from William
  • Full-color 136-page
  • Signed
  • Local pickup available
  • Shipping available (additional)
  • Fulfillment timing confirmed after inventory arrives

Planned Amazon and Ingram paperback price: $29.99 when available

PREORDER THE SIGNED PAPERBACK — $19.99
ONLY 50 WILL EVER BE MADE

FOUNDERS SPECIAL EDITION HARDCOVER

$79
Limited preorder that helps fund launch printing
  • One of exactly 50 numbered 138-page
  • Founders page marked COPY ___ / 50
  • Signed
  • Dixie's live pawtograph
  • Dixie Velcro patch
  • Replica page from Samuel Bishop's journal
  • Sealed Book Two clue
  • Book Three setting vote
  • Funds first major printing

10 of 50 currently claimed. Copy numbers assigned in order of completed payments. Form submission without payment does not reserve number.

CLAIM A FOUNDERS COPY — $79
HELP PLACE FOUR BOOKS INTO THE COMMUNITY

COMMUNITY SPONSOR

$249
One hardcover plus four donated paperbacks
  • One hardcover copy for the sponsor
  • While Founders copies remain, the sponsor hardcover is one of the 50 numbered Founders Special Editions
  • After all 50 Founders copies are claimed, the sponsor receives a standard hardcover
  • Four donated paperback copies
  • Donated copies may be placed with approved local schools, libraries, youth organizations, or young readers
  • William coordinates final recipient placement
  • Sponsor may be recognized by personal name
  • Sponsor may be recognized by organization or business name
  • Sponsor may choose no public recognition
  • Community Sponsors may be acknowledged on the website after confirmation and permission
  • This is a sponsorship purchase and is not a tax-deductible charitable donation
BECOME A COMMUNITY SPONSOR — $249

All three options are paid preorders. Prices do not include shipping. Local pickup and shipping arrangements will be confirmed separately.

COMPLETE YOUR PAID PREORDER

Choose your edition, submit your details, and complete payment through Cash App or Venmo. Your preorder is secured when payment is received—not when the form is submitted.

Community Sponsor includes one sponsor hardcover plus four donated paperbacks. Founders hardcover fulfillment is available only while the original 50 remain.

COMPLETE PAYMENT

CASH APP

$Billybouldry

VENMO

@WilliamBouldry

PAYMENT NOTE FORMAT

Your Name – Preorder Type

Example: Sarah Johnson – Founders Special Edition

Payment note instruction: Include your full name and selected package in the payment note.

Important:

Payment received secures your preorder or Founders copy number. The form alone does not hold inventory.

Shipping note: Shipping is additional. William will confirm shipping cost and fulfillment details before shipment.

Follow the first adventure from Placerville into print—with book previews, release updates, Dixie's official inspections, behind-the-scenes material, and the illustration mistakes that were too ridiculous to hide.

MORE THAN A MYSTERY

A HOMETOWN ADVENTURE

Placerville landmarks shape the mystery.

A STORY WITH HEART

Values matter; courage, honesty, friendship emphasized.

A REAL DOG AT THE CENTER

Dixie based on William's real companion and Safety & Quality Control Officer.

MADE TO BE SHARED

Local keepsake for families, teachers, dog lovers.

THE START OF A SERIES

Book Two in development; Founders vote on Book Three setting.

FROM FIRST DRAFT TO FIRST PRINT RUN

Follow along as we navigate this journey for the first time together

✓
STORY AND MANUSCRIPT
COMPLETE
Full story and chapter structure complete.
✓
EDITING AND FINAL STORY REVISIONS
COMPLETE
Pacing, continuity, character details, front/back matter revised and checked.
✓
ILLUSTRATIONS AND IMAGE CORRECTIONS
COMPLETE
Approved illustrations selected, corrected, preflighted, locked.
✓
INTERIOR BUILD
COMPLETE
136-page retail and 138-page Founders hardcover built for production.
●
FINAL EDITORIAL AND PRODUCTION REVIEW
CURRENT STEP
Final story strengthening, interior review, proofing, cover setup, and physical-production checks are underway.
◯
FIRST PRINT ORDER AND INVENTORY
NEXT
After proof approved, print order placed; pickup/shipping timing confirmed.
◯
LOCAL RELEASE
TARGET AUGUST 15, 2026
Target release date, subject to inventory secured and final fulfillment timing confirmed.

WHAT COMES WITH THE FOUNDERS SPECIAL EDITION

The Founders edition is more than a different cover. It is the first collector run for people who helped bring the first Moss Boss & Dixie adventure into print.

FOUNDERS PACKAGE ITEMS

  • ✓ Numbered 138-page hardcover
  • ✓ William's signature
  • ✓ Dixie's live pawtograph
  • ✓ Dixie Velcro patch
  • ✓ Replica page from Samuel Bishop's journal
  • ✓ Sealed Book Two clue
  • ✓ Vote on the Book Three setting

ONE OF FIFTY. PART OF THE BEGINNING.

10 OF 50 CLAIMED
40 REMAIN
20% CLAIMED
CLAIM A FOUNDERS COPY — $79
Moss Boss, Dixie, and the young crew gather beneath the Giant Oak in Placerville

HELP A LOCAL YOUNG READER OPEN THE FIRST PAGE

The $249 Community Sponsor package gives local businesses, families, and private supporters a clear way to place four paperback copies into the community.

CHOOSE HOW YOU ARE RECOGNIZED

Confirmed sponsors listed on page with permission only.

Community Sponsor payments support a personal book project and sponsored-copy placement. They are not tax-deductible charitable donations.

SPONSOR FOUR LOCAL COPIES — $249

MEET THE CREW

They did not set out to become part of a mystery. The mystery found them.

Moss Boss character

MOSS BOSS

A Placerville exterior-cleaning professional and practical problem-solver pulled into something much bigger than an ordinary workday.

Dixie character

DIXIE

The very serious Safety & Quality Control Officer who notices what everyone else misses—and is rarely impressed by excuses.

Tyler character

TYLER

Curious, brave, and ready to follow a clue farther than he probably should.

Sofia character

SOFIA

Sharp, observant, and willing to ask the question everyone else avoids.

Eli character

ELI

Cautious, thoughtful, and usually the first one to notice when an idea is about to go wrong.

A FIRST BOOK BUILT CLOSE TO HOME

William Bouldry and Dixie with their exterior cleaning truck in Placerville

William Bouldry is a Placerville business owner and the creator of The Adventures of Moss Boss & Dixie. The series grew from his connection to El Dorado County, his interest in local places and history, and the real partnership between William and Dixie.

Dixie is not a fictional mascot added after the fact. She is William's real-life companion and Safety Officer—and the inspiration for the alert, determined dog at the center of the story.

Together, Moss Boss and Dixie bring a little local humor, a lot of heart, and a distinctly Placerville point of view to the adventure.

Questions about the book? Call or text William at 530-208-7346.

THE PART NOBODY SEES

This is my first book. I started with a story about Placerville, Dixie, and the adventure I would have wanted to read as a kid. I did not start with publishing staff or perfect process. I learned the hard parts while building it.

WRITING THE STORY

First draft was beginning; rewrites, pacing fixes, character checks, continuity reviews followed; typical first-author question: "Is this actually finished?"

GETTING THE ILLUSTRATIONS CONSISTENT

Faces, outfits changed; landmarks moved; Dixie acquired new anatomy. Every usable image compared, corrected, locked.

TURNING A STORY INTO A PRINT-READY BOOK

Story file ≠ finished book; page size, bleed, margins, color, covers, proofing, KDP, IngramSpark, separate editions all built and checked.

The result is a hometown project built through persistence, corrections, and a refusal to settle for "close enough."

THE ILLUSTRATION BLOOPER REEL

Not every version made the cut. Some were close. Some were completely unhinged.

Blooper: Landmark pileup - Bell Tower, courthouse, and lumber yard on same block
AI put the Bell Tower, courthouse, and a lumber yard on the same block. Historically inaccurate. Emotionally confident.
Blooper: Unexpected parade - entire town watching Moss Boss drive by
Apparently the entire town stopped what it was doing to watch Moss Boss drive by.
Blooper: Beautiful wrong book - fantasy version
Beautiful image. Wrong book. This version wandered into fantasy and never came back.
Blooper: Missing crew - body parts issue
Somewhere between "Meet the Crew" and "Find the missing body parts." Eli deserved better.
Blooper: Accidental album cover
Dixie understood the assignment. Moss Boss got an accidental album cover.
Blooper: Unscheduled meet and greet
A normal drive through town somehow became an unscheduled Dixie meet-and-greet.

The finished illustrations look consistent because a lot of wonderfully weird versions did not.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is this William's first book? ▼
Yes. The Mystery of the Giant Oak is William's first children's book and first planned Moss Boss & Dixie adventure.
Is this a preorder? ▼
Yes. All three options are paid preorders. Payment secures selected copy or package.
When is the book expected? ▼
Target local release August 15, 2026. Final pickup and shipping timing confirmed when printed inventory secured.
Why is the paperback 136 pages and the Founders hardcover 138 pages? ▼
Retail paperback interior 136 pages. Founders hardcover 138 pages because it includes two exclusive Founders pages near front.
How much is the signed paperback? ▼
Direct signed preorder $19.99. Planned Amazon and Ingram paperback price $29.99 when available. Shipping additional.
What is included with the Founders Special Edition? ▼
$79 Founders Special Edition is one of exactly 50 numbered 138-page hardcovers. Includes William's signature, Dixie's live pawtograph, Dixie Velcro patch, replica page from Samuel Bishop's journal, sealed Book Two clue, Book Three setting vote. Preorder helps fund launch printing.
How many Founders copies are left? ▼
Ten of fifty currently claimed, leaving forty. Count updated manually; may change as payments confirmed.
How is a Founders copy secured? ▼
Founders copy numbers assigned in order of completed payments. Form submission without payment does not reserve number.
What does the Community Sponsor package do? ▼
The $249 Community Sponsor package includes one hardcover for the sponsor and four donated paperback copies for approved local schools, libraries, youth organizations, or young readers. While the original 50 Founders copies remain, the sponsor receives a numbered Founders Special Edition hardcover. After those 50 are claimed, the sponsor receives a standard hardcover. Sponsors may be recognized by personal name, organization, or not at all.
Is the Community Sponsor payment tax-deductible? ▼
No. Supports personal book project and sponsored-copy placement; not tax-deductible charitable donation.
How do I pay? ▼
Use Cash App $Billybouldry or Venmo @WilliamBouldry. Include full name and selected package in payment note.
Is shipping included? ▼
No. Local pickup available; shipping can be arranged for additional charge. William confirms amount and timing before shipment.
What age group is the book for? ▼
Written primarily for ages 8–12; also suitable for families, parents, grandparents, classrooms, dog lovers, and readers who enjoy local mystery adventures.
Are the Placerville history and locations real? ▼
Story is fictional, inspired by real Placerville places and Gold Country atmosphere. Characters, journal, tunnel events, incidents, dialogue are fictional or adapted.
Will there be more books? ▼
Plan exists. Book Two in development. Founders will vote on historical El Dorado County location featured in Book Three.

HELP GET THE FIRST PRINT RUN ACROSS THE FINISH LINE

The story, illustrations, and print files are built. The next major step is securing the physical first print run.

Some people may want to support the project without ordering a book or choosing a sponsorship package. This option gives them a simple way to help with printing in an amount they choose.

WHAT PRINTING SUPPORT HELPS COVER

Final physical proof copies

The first inventory order

Founders-edition inserts and packaging

Shipping and pickup supplies

Choose any amount that feels right. This is optional project support and does not include a book, reserve a copy, assign a Founders number, or create a tax-deductible charitable donation. Anyone who wants a book should use one of the preorder options above.

HELP WITH THE FIRST PRINT RUN

THE FIRST ADVENTURE STARTS HERE

Choose a signed paperback, claim one of the 50 Founders hardcovers, or help place four copies into the community.

PREORDER MY SIGNED COPY — $19.99 FOLLOW ON FACEBOOK

Cash App $Billybouldry • Venmo @WilliamBouldry

Payment secures the preorder. Shipping and final fulfillment details are confirmed separately.

The Adventures of Moss Boss & Dixie: The Mystery of the Giant Oak is a fictional story inspired by Placerville and Gold Country settings. References to historical places and atmosphere do not imply endorsement by any government agency, school, library, business, or historical organization. Community Sponsor payments are sponsorship purchases supporting the book project and sponsored-copy placement and are not tax-deductible charitable donations.

PREORDER — $19.99