His pen name is Hellboy Dom, and he has just released his first crime novel. The central theme of this novel, written in Belgian French, is baseball. In the countryside near Boston, a retired police officer will face a series of murders of baseball players. The baseball enthusiast will rediscover an entire universe he knows and appreciates. Like a sweet candy, the pleasure of following everything surrounding our baseball world unfolds, on the American side but also in Europe, to a lesser extent. Written in the first person, that of the retired police officer, the ending drives home the idea that humans are one of the most complex beings on this earth. What a treat! It’s a real stroke of luck to have a novelist like this in Europe for our favorite sport.
Baseball TV France met up with the author.
BTVF: Who are you, Dominique Gyselinck, aka Hellboy Dom?
Hello, I’m Belgian, with Breton roots of which I’m very proud, and I’m 54 years old. I’ve spent around thirty years in the baseball world, as a player, umpire, coach, administrator for the Belgian League, and founder of a club. You could say I’ve seen it all.
I’m passionate about baseball, but also American football, music, comic books, and an avid reader. I love the fantastic, a well-twisted thriller, but also good adventure stories.
BTVF: How did your passion for baseball begin?
I was invited to play when I was in the United States. At first, I didn’t understand much, but little by little, the sport tickled my tactical-strategic sense, and quickly took over from good old European football.
I wanted more, I wanted to be on the field all the time, hit the ball, but also learn the specifics of each position, and quickly, the role of catcher became an obvious choice for me. Since 1992, I’ve been going there two to three times a year to watch games, during Spring Training in March, and to visit MLB stadiums.
BTVF: What role do literature and comic books play in your life?
A very important one. I grew up with reading. TV did get some attention at times, but comic books have been with me since I was very young, even allowing me to share great moments with a character who became my third grandfather; Albert Weinberg.
As a teenager, I preferred to read Henri Vernes’ Bob Morane and Jules Verne’s classics, dreaming of diving into the oceans aboard Captain Nemo’s Nautilus. My attraction to the crime genre comes from Sherlock Holmes and Harry Dickson’s investigations.
BTVF: You’ve just released your first novel. Before diving into its content, what triggered you to start writing?
A strong desire to combine my passions and create a thriller in the baseball world. There are very few of them, and for me, it was obvious—the subject can be explored, and why not by a Francophone for a change?
I must also thank the Covid period. Being stuck at home for so long also helped things move forward. I’d been thinking about it for a while, and as is often the case, the excuse for not starting was lack of time, and suddenly, I had plenty.
BTVF: The main genre of the novel ‘Hit By Pitch’ is crime, set in the USA in a small town near Boston in the amateur baseball world. Why the crime genre and why baseball?
When you think baseball, what usually follows is the USA. The story naturally had to take place there. I love the ‘College’ universe and the rivalries between certain institutions. I contacted the two teams, Bridgewater and Salem, and they were first surprised by my approach, why them? but they immediately showed great enthusiasm. The French version was sent to their language classes, and the US version, which will soon be printed, should quickly find its place on their campus, and who knows, in all the good bookstores of Uncle Sam. Sherlock Holmes and Harry Dickson have given me a lot, and I hope to modestly contribute to this lineage with Mickey Cochrane.
BTVF: The main character of the book is a Red Sox fan, a beer lover, a music enthusiast, deeply attached to lasting friendships. Is this your portrait?
Almost, I’m not a beer lover, a shame for a Belgian, and if I love baseball as a whole, I’m a fan of the Detroit Tigers. Hence the main character, Mickey Cochrane, born in… Bridgewater, and… catcher for the Tigers between 1934 and 1937. My hero is Ty Cobb, a colorful character, but dedicated to the game 110%.
Music plays a big role in my life, and the book is full of nods and references to singers, singers, or groups for whom I have a deep affection. Lasting friendship is indeed something I value greatly. Having too many friends is not having any in fact. I have few, but they are good, true ones.
BTVF: If you start a second novel, will you stay in baseball or the crime genre?
The second one is written, and I stay in crime, with a subtle touch of the fantastic. Nothing too marked, no zombies, no vampires, etc., just enough to close the book and slowly turn around to look around, hoping everything will be fine.
The idea of returning to baseball also tempts me, but in a slightly less ‘mature audience’ style, rather ‘youth/teen’ stories, to interest the young in this sport.
BTVF: What can we wish you?
Selfishly, I would say good health to be able to read and write for as long as possible.
Now that the first ‘baby’ is out, I wish it a long and beautiful life. I hope the goal of presenting an intriguing and surprising plot is achieved, without forgetting that the challenge was also to allow a double reading: accessible for baseball newcomers and precise for those who hit the ball every weekend.
Seeing it soon available in the US version is also a dream come true for me, and I thank you for your interest in ‘Hit by Pitch’.
Hit By Pitch Hellboy Dom – Editions Livr-Editions – Collection Thriller D/2023/13.591/9
