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 […]
Tag Archives | Stephen Bly
The West Will Truly Be Won: From Cowboy Poetry Western Book
The West Will Truly Be Won, from cowboy poetry western book by western author Stephen Bly The West Will Truly Be Won (from When The Cowboys Come To Town, a cowboy poetry western book) When the world came West in ’49, it was called the promised land. Big and wild and open and free, room for all […]
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 […]
Character Name Calling: Fun For Writers
In my book Cowboy For A Rainy Afternoon, the narrator is never identified by a particular character name. He is just called “Little Brother” by the six old cowboys. However, had he a real bona fide character name, what should he be called? I was pondering that as I read this week the 10 MOST […]
The Rodeo Dance Two-Foot Landing
Steve at Maranatha in Michigan Rodeo Dance At The Bucking Horse Sale by Stephen Bly A rodeo dance with sales and plenty of other fun events. Quite a doin’s. That’s part of the Miles City, Montana, bucking horse sale every year. A stock contractor friend of mine often heads there to check out good horses […]
Western Slang: Get Your Hog Back by Stephen Bly
Stephen Bly Never know in my area when you’ll hear some western slang … An insurance salesman and I chatted at a nearby coffee shop when Prairie Bob entered, covered from hat to boot in oil and grease. We’ve got several fellas named Bob around our western town … so one gets called Prairie Bob, […]
Novel Research: Finding the Romance
Finding the Romance in Novel Research by western author Stephen Bly When a cowboy writer does novel research, the sight of a landmark can spark an idea for a full-fledged novel … or just a poem. Southeast of Four Corners, New Mexico is Shiprock, an impressive example of a volcanic neck or a […]
Brand Names Power: That Stetson-Justin-Kelley Quality
There’s Something About Brand Names … by western author Stephen Bly Long before radio and TV, even among the cowboys and ranchers of the Old West, brand names meant something to them. John B. Stetson made beaver hats with high crowns and wide brims like no one else. A man only had to buy one […]
Character Interview Questions for Western Hero, Stuart Brannon
Stuart Brannon Character Interview I thought Stuart Brannon fans would enjoy some character interview questions. Devised these while my three sons and I finished Stephen Bly’s last novel, Stuart Brannon’s Final Shot. Stuart Brannon is the main protagonist and western hero of the The Stuart Brannon Western Series. In addition, he also appears in or has […]
Gift Certificates at Bly Books Online Store
Now you can purchase Gift Certificates for Bly Books … for the men, the women, or kids on your list. For birthdays, holidays, and other special events. Three different amounts offered. Gift Certificates will be attached to an email for a one-time printout to send to the recipient of your choice. They can be redeemed […]
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