From left, Russell Bly, Michael Bly & Aaron Bly
Stuart Brannon Series Completed
Award-winning western author Stephen Bly passed away June 9, 2011, after a 5-year battle with prostate cancer. His wife, Janet Chester Bly, and 3 sons determined to finish the western book series with Book #7 he began, Stuart Brannon’s Final Shot. Here’s the second and final part of a western author interview with the Bly family writing team.
4) What was the most enjoyable or satisfying part of the process of writing together the finale of this western book series project?
Russell: The most enjoyable part was hearing Mom talk about how Dad would think, process and write the stories. The most satisfying was seeing her take over and continue it as a Stephen Bly novel.
Michael: It was a family project, so it was great to spend time with family. . .especially as we were mourning the loss of Dad. Stuart Brannon was Dad writ large in a cowboy western landscape; at least, Brannon was who Dad would have wanted to be if he had lived in those times. As we witnessed Dad’s final chapter on earth, it was fitting to then write Stuart Brannon’s final chapter.
Aaron: Finishing it and knowing that our dad would have been proud (even if he would have done it differently).
Janet: Working with my sons. Knowing I was laboring on behalf of someone I dearly loved and missed. Doing the actual prime writing of a fiction project after so many years of coming alongside my husband as partner, editor, co-author and marketer. Knowing we’d complete an unfinished task, his 106th book, and the last novel for this western book series. Also, some welcome healing took place in the midst of all the creating, the laughter and the occasional stab of tears.
What Would You Do Different?
5) If you had to do the whole procedure over again, what would you do different?
Russell: Finishing the book so soon after losing Dad made it a little hard for me to offer as much input as I would have liked. I think if there were a next time, I would like to get more involved in the actual writing.
Michael: I can second-guess a hundred things, but ultimately we wrote the novel we set out to write. If Brannon fans enjoy the book and feel like it closes out the western book series well, then it was done the right way.
Aaron: Given the same amount of time, I wouldn’t have changed anything. But if we had unlimited time, we could have ‘tweaked’ some story elements and characters a little further and tightened things up a bit.
Janet: Though we didn’t do it perfectly, I believe we did the best that we could. I don’t regret any part of how the book evolved.
What Did You Gain?
6) What did you gain the most from being part of crafting this last novel for Stephen Bly’s western book series?
Janet Chester Bly with sons, from left: Aaron, Michael & Russell Bly
Russell: An insight into the life of a writer. In this case, the life of a very special writer. I am continually amazed at the hard work and dedication to this project that Mom has shown throughout this project. The tough circumstances and potential roadblocks have shown me and my brothers not only how important she was to Dad’s books, but that she will have no problem with her career going forward.
Michael: I gained confidence as a writer, but also had the great learning experience of being closely involved in the complete novel writing process, especially continuing an ongoing western book series. On a deeper level, it helped as we mourned Dad’s death. Coming together as a family, remaining dedicated, and getting the job done. That’s what Stuart Brannon would have done and that’s what Steve Bly would have done. It was gratifying to be given a chance to play a part in a family tradition. In addition, I wish I was more like Stuart Brannon. Not surprisingly, my wife wishes the same thing. But I hope to someday be the kind of man who ‘will do to ride the river with.’ Don’t we all?
Aaron: For me, it was very therapeutic in dealing with the loss of my father, who was also my best friend. I was able to come together with my mom and my brothers and discuss something that was intrinsically my dad’s and take it as our own, both in a figurative and literal sense. I think we all benefited from this experience.
Janet Chester Bly’s Conclusion:
Janet: I enjoyed the privilege and satisfaction of taking on an incredible challenge and completing it on time. We’re so grateful to the publisher for extending Steve’s original deadline so we had some months to work on the finale of this western book series. It was a bitter-sweet experience to do the research trip to Gearhart, Oregon, to retrace the steps Steve and I had taken together. This time I had to pay attention to details, rather than take a vacation. Sunsets over the ocean. Fish dinners. Visiting the old golf course Steve had played. Driving along the beach. These weren’t moments to relax and refresh. In the crush to create, to write in a flurry, I had to play catch-up to my prolific husband who knew the western genre and the geography and history of this region so well.
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YouTube video book trailer for historical western book series Book #7, Stuart Brannon’s Final Shot
[youtube]http://youtu.be/Pd6mvfeX8Fo[/youtube]
Stuart Brannon’s Final Shot of the Stuart Brannon western book series was a finalist for SELAH award in Historical Fiction, at the Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference.
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Bios for western author interview:
Christy Award finalist and winner western author Stephen Bly (1944-2011) published 106 fiction and nonfiction books, 19 of them co-authored with wife Janet, including this last novel in the Stuart Brannon western book series.
Janet Chester Bly has authored and co-authored with Stephen Bly thirty nonfiction and fiction books, including Awakening Your Sense of Wonder, Hope Lives Here, The Heart of a Runaway, The Hidden West Series and The Carson City Chronicles.
Russell Bly is married to Lois, father of Zachary and Miranda (married to Chris Ross), and grandfather of Alayah, Jason, and Elric. He does sales at Deranleau’s department store in Lewiston, Idaho.
Michael Bly is married to Michelle and is Director of Business Operations for Inland Cellular in Lewiston, Idaho.
Aaron Bly is married to Rina, father of Keaton and Deckard. He’s Manufacturing Supervisor for Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories in Lewiston, Idaho.
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Other Bly family interview FINISHING DAD’S NOVEL
Stuart Brannon’s Final Shot, Book #7 of the Stuart Brannon western book series available HERE STUART BRANNON SERIES
Character Interview with Western Hero, Stuart Brannon HERE STUART BRANNON INTERVIEW
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