Western Antique Collecting with A Purpose by Janet Chester Bly A friend claims my house looks like a museum. My late husband and I did gather a few western antique treasures over the years. For instance, until recently we had a genuine Wells Fargo western antique stagecoach strongbox. Very heavy weight of 50 pounds, size […]
Archive | All Things Western
An Old West Ladino: Western Slang Devo
An Old West Western Slang Devotional by Stephen Bly An Old West type ladino character, J.W. lives back in the woods along the Salmon River Breaks somewhere. You take the gravel road 18 miles. Turn left at the big buckskin tamarack. Then 15 miles down a dirt and mud rutted trail. Park your rig and hike […]
16 Cowboy Songs: A Music Quiz by Western Author Stephen Bly
Match the line from the cowboy songs lyrics to the title. Keep in mind, since most of these cowboy songs existed as oral tradition before they were written down, several versions of each have survived. The words you remember might be a tad different. Cowboy Songs Titles: A. THE OLD CHISOLM TRAIL B. BUFFALO GIRLS […]
Ketch My Saddle: Western Slang Devotional
Ketch My Saddle, Boys No one likes to get bucked off a horse, old cowboys especially. But if his broomtail decided to ‘hop for mama,’ ‘take ya to church,’ ‘chin the moon,’ or ‘wrinkle his spine,’ he plowed the ground with his face. Then he must catch the rude horse and holler, “Ketch my saddle!” […]
My Dad & Louis L’Amour: Finishing His First Novel by Guest Blogger Rebecca DeMarino
First Novel Family Project by Rebecca DeMarino June 2010, my dad, age eighty-seven, lay on a hospital bed, prepped for an angiogram. His aortic valve about closed, his cardiologist ordered the test as a first step to open-heart surgery. The heart surgeon would not want any surprises when he went in to replace the valve. […]
Six Plot Kickers for Authentic Western Fiction
Authentic Western Fiction Plot Kickers by Stephen Bly It’s knowing the little facts that can produce the most authentic western short stories and novels, the truth in fiction. Some of the details of the Old West like those below can provide an extra shot of realism and emotion for the western genre and kickstart a […]
Western Research: 12 Incredible Montana Factoids
12 Incredible Montana Factoids, western research by Stephen Bly I’ve set lots of books in Montana, including the recent historical western romance, Creede of Old Montana. In fact, we came close to moving to the Treasure State over thirty years ago. Somehow, Idaho snagged us instead. Even though there were a dozen towns in western […]
3 Reasons To Read Historical Western Romance by Gilbert Morris
Reason #1: Santa Fe Woman historical western romance by popular Christian author Gilbert Morris With more than seven million books in print, Gilbert Morris is best known for his historical fiction. Santa Fe Woman portrays historical western romance along the Santa Fe Trail. Ever since her mother’s death, twenty-two year old Jori Hayden has lived safely […]
What Is a Karimption? Western Slang Devotional
Ever Heard of a Karimption? Western Slang Devotional by western author Stephen Bly Old Jack Ferguson had a special role in our church. He counted the folks who attended the worship service. But he didn’t bother with exact numbers. He had 3 western slang rankings: Funeral size. Sunday rodeo comfort. Or karimption. A funeral size […]
Code of the Western: Why SHE Likes Readin’ A Good Ole Western
The Classic Western Style Perhaps more than any other genre, there’s a code of the western. “Westerns require adherence to some fairly strict guidelines. Writing in this genre requires knowledge of its expectations,” says R. L. Coffield in her article, “Sexuality and Cursing in the Western.” The code of the western applies especially to the […]
Comments on the Blog