From left: Russell, Michael & Aaron Bly, sons of author Janet Chester Bly
First Draft Synopsis of Stuart Brannon’s Final Shot, Book 7 of Western Book Series by coauthor Janet Chester Bly
My three sons and I began July 1st, 2011. We had four months to complete the novel, Stuart Brannon’s Final Shot, the last in the Stuart Brannon western book series. Though we had offers of help from some bestselling authors, we realized it was our challenge and also our privilege. We needed to do this for my husband and their father, western author Stephen Bly.
What We Knew
Stephen left us 7,000 words, a one-page synopsis and a long list of character names. The basics of the story for this end of the Stuart Brannon western book series . . . Stuart Brannon leaves the comfort and security of his Arizona ranch to find his friend, U.S. Marshal Tom Wiseman, last seen near Gearhart, Oregon. He’s called to this duty by another friend, Teddy Roosevelt. Who can deny a request of the U.S. President?
Brannon will either rescue or vindicate Tom Wiseman. President Roosevelt suggests that Brannon explain that he’s headed to the Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition in Portland for a vacation break.
Old West train
At the same time, his other dear friend, Lady Harriet Reed-Fletcher, invites him to participate in a Gearhart celebrity golf tournament on behalf of the Willamette Orphan Farm. This is in conjunction with the Exposition. The problem is, he doesn’t know how to play the game. So, he takes lessons in between searches for Marshal Wiseman.
On his way to Oregon, he stops a robbery on the train. Brannon steps up to stop evil, but this gets him into trouble.
It’s 1905, the 20th Century, several decades after the other stories in this western book series.
Tres Vientos, Stuart Brannon’s horse running wild on Oregon coast beach
In these modern times, cowboy justice is no longer wanted or needed. And Brannon’s not exactly back in the saddle again. Even his black horse, Tres Vientos, rebels against the foreign atmosphere in which he’s been plunged. Brannon fights with the skittish animal who does fine on Arizona soil, but not the textures and terrors of the big city and coastal beach.
Then Brannon runs into his old nemesis, Hawthorne H. Miller, the author of his own western book series, the outrageous Stuart Brannon Wild West dime novels. They scuffle and a conflict rages.
Gearhart, Oregon Scene
At Gearhart, a man approaches Brannon who insists that the President wants him to be Brannon’s partner in the search for Wiseman. Is he who he says he is? Then Brannon discovers a former outlaw decked out as an upstanding citizen on the board of directors of the orphan farm. He’s also in the good graces of Lord and Lady Fletcher and their social circle. Has he repented? Does he deserve a second chance at trust?
At the end of the long committee of four process, we finally crafted a last novel for this western book series. Stuart Brannon’s Final Shot features humor and heart, adventure and a twist of romance. It’s the story of a Code-of-the-West man who is mystified by modern inventions and philosophies, yet can’t help try to right wrongs. It’s also the journey along the frontier of one man’s soul.
At 10:37 a.m., my son, Mike, sent an email: “Well? Ready to push ‘send?’” I still had the crunch of a few last items. At 11:46 a.m., I attached the manuscript of 77,000 words to the editor.
We completed the task. We finished Stephen Bly’s finale novel for his most well-known western book series.
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YouTube video book trailer for western book series, Book #7 Stuart Brannon’s Final Shot:
[youtube]http://youtu.be/ZZqu6iaObhY [/youtube]
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