Featured Genre Day: Westerns with Stephen Bly

Good morning everyone, Annette here. This Manuscript Monday we'd like to honor Stephen Bly as he's been appearing here all month with great articles on craft. It's hard to imagine him writing any other genre than what we've all come to know him for: Westerns. Today he shares about writing in that genre. Enjoy this Featured Genre Day!

How I Got Into Westerns
By Stephen Bly
Copyright©2008

Folks often ask me if I always wanted to grow up and write books about cowboys. Nope. Not me. I never wanted to be a writer. But I did grow up on a farm and wanting to be a cowboy. I had Roy Rogers PJs and curtains and a plastic statue of trigger on my dresser.

However, as a lad, I only read a few western novels. My aunt and uncle had a box of dusty dime novels in a room next to their garage. I’d go to sleep reading them when I got a chance.

Not much different than kids in the Old West. They had dime novels then too. Most were written by men who had never gone west. They invented many of the clichés and stereotypes that linger today. Think of them as old time supermarket tabloids and you get the picture.

But what really caught my fancy was history. I liked the nonfiction accounts of life in the Old West. I learned to grab all the University of Oklahoma and University of Nebraska titles that I could find.

After I married and started raising kids of my own, I read lots of western fiction. One birthday my mother gave me some Zane Grey stories. Then, I picked up novels by B. M. Bower, Owen Wister, Will James, Luke Short, Ernest Haycock, Elmer Kelton, Vardis Fisher and, of course, Louis L’Amour. Somewhere in the middle of the 63rd L’Amour book, the idea struck me . . . I can write one of these.

By then, I had a dozen nonfiction books to my published credit, so I knew I could fill the pages. But I didn’t know if I could spin a tale people would want to read.

One summer, my wife Janet and I and our youngest son camped in the Beartooth mountains, south of Red Lodge, Montana. I took along an old typewriter and wrote my first western novel, called The Land Tamers. Since I had no idea if I’d ever have the chance to write another, I tried to pack every scene I ever wanted to write in that one book. An editor commented that it moved about as fast as the movie, Raiders Of The Lost Ark. She meant it as a critique. I took it as a compliment.

As it turned out, that was just one of many tales I was allowed to write. I haven’t run out of ideas yet.

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Cowboy For A Rainy Afternoon (hardback, Center Point) released this month (June 2010). Available through Amazon or www.BlyBooks.com

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More about Stephen Bly:

Married to writer, Janet Chester Bly, 46 years; they’ve co-authored 18 books. Resides in northern Idaho at 4,000 ft. elev., on the Nez Perce Indian Reservation. Father of 3 sons: Russell, Michael, & Aaron. The family includes daughters-in-law, Lois, Michelle & Rina Joye, plus grandkids: Zachary, Miranda (& husband Chris), and Keaton. Third-generation westerner, Steve spent 30 years working family ranches and farms in central California. His hobbies include collecting and restoring Winchesters; studying histories of Old West; doing construction on Broken Arrow Crossing, a false front western village next to his home. He also plays a par game of golf.

* authored and co-authored 102 fiction and nonfiction books,
including historical and contemporary westerns
* Christy Award winner, Westerns, 2002, The Long Trail Home
* Christy Award finalist, Westerns, 2003
* mayor of Winchester, Idaho, pop. 308 (1999-2007)
* pastor of Winchester Community Church
* speaker for men’s and writers’ groups, USA and Canada
* roving editor, Big Show Journal
* mentor, Jerry B. Jenkins Christian Writers Guild
* represented by agent Chip MacGregor, MacGregor Literary
* Interviews and Media Kit available, http://www.blybooks.com/
* Fresno State University, CA, Philosophy, summa cum laude
* M. Div., Fuller Theological Seminary, CA, 1974

Featured Genre Day - YA Fiction by Melody Carlson

Annette's teen daughter loves Melody Carlson's books. Recently we asked the author why she writes young-adult fiction. Here is her response this Featured Genre Day.

Why I Write YA Fiction
Melody Carlson

Ironically, some of my earliest writing was targeted to teens. This was probably due to my own kids’ ages at the time—just entering their teens. But then I moved on…writing novels for women as well as some children’s books. At that point, I assumed I’d never write a teen book again. Then in 1999 I wrote Diary of a Teenage Girl. I think it was an “experiment” because the assumption was that teens weren’t really reading books. Consequently, the YA novel was written as a stand-alone story with very low expectations. Ten years later, the Diary series has 16 titles with sales totaling over 700,000 books—and I’m as surprised as anyone.

What I find even more surprising is how much I enjoy writing for teens. A teen girl once said to me, “Mrs. Carlson, I think you have a teenaged girl trapped inside the body of a—” she stammered, “a—a middle-aged woman.” Well, once I recovered from being reminded that I was middle-aged, which was absolutely true, I realized that she’d given me quite a compliment. And I think that’s why my books work in the teen market—because I keep the teen girl inside of me alive and well (okay, well is an overstatement since my inner teen girl embraces insecurities, neuroses, confusion, angst, adolescent challenges, delusions of grandeur, and self-identity issues…). And when I write for teens, that’s the voice my readers hear and relate to.

Some novice writers assume it’s easier to write for teens, but I beg to disagree. Sure, the word count is less, but teens require more in the sense of reality, authenticity, and relativity. Plus, they can quickly sniff out a fake, and they reject pat answers or adult characters who “solve teen problems.” Also, they do not want to be written down to. In fact, the way I write for teens is not much different than how I write for adults, except that the content is usually edgier…rawer…more uncomfortable…for the teens.

After writing more than 60 books for teens, I am still surprised, touched and humbled by the letters girls write. And every time I finish the latest series, thinking I’m ready to hang it up, it’s usually those letters that push me to write more. So maybe someday a teen girl will say to me, “Mrs. Carlson, I think you have a teenaged girl trapped inside the body of a really elderly lady.” Hopefully I’ll laugh and say, “Thank you!”

Melody Carlson has written more than 200 books for teens, women and children. Before publishing, Melody traveled around the world; volunteered in teen ministry; taught preschool; raised two sons; worked briefly in interior design, international adoption, and as a senior editor. Her teen series include Diary of a Teenage Girl, TrueColors, The Carter House Girls and several others. For more information visit her Web site.

Featured Genre Day - Why I Write Romance by Gail Gaymer Martin

We had a great response Monday with our Featured Genre Day, so we're doing it again. Today's author is well recognized in her chosen genre--Christian romance. Whether you write inspirational romance or not, we're hoping you're encouraged by today's Featured Genre Day post featuring Gail Gaymer Martin.

Why I Write Romance

When asked why I write romance, I answer it was the Lord’s doing. Romance was not a genre I read. I enjoyed romantic suspense with authors such as Phyllis Whitney and Mary Stewart, but romance is the genre that I’ve written since my first novel was published in 1998. How did that happen? When I attended my first writers’ conference in 1997, I met Gayle Roper who told me about an AOL writers' board. I visited the site and learned some helpful information about writing and the world of publishing, but the most significant thing that happened was an announcement from an author asking if people writing Christian romance might like to form a loop. I didn’t even know what that meant, but I contacted her. Little did I realize from author Annie Jones’ invitation I was joining a group with some of the top writers in Christian fiction—Francine Rivers, Liz Curtis Higgs, Karen Ball, Lisa Tawn Bergern, Linda Windsor, and so many others. This group of writers became mentors for me. I asked dumb questions, and they graciously gave me answers. I believe that the Lord guided my walk to this genre, and though I prefer women’s fiction and romantic suspense, I found my start in pure romance.

I chose to write Christian fiction because my faith is woven through every fiber of my being. I live with a Christian worldview that affects how I look at life and what I value. When I am struggling with problems, I turn to the Lord. When good things happen, I praise Him. I chose not to write explicit sexual content or use curses or God’s name in vain in my fiction. I want my stories to reflect who I am—a Christian—and this has connected with readers and has opened doors to a speaking ministry for women’s groups where I speak on human struggles that touch us all.

Why I believe the romance genre was God’s doing is that Christian fiction has a huge following and is the perfect genre for me. As a licensed counselor, I am able to use my expertise to present emotion-filled stories that allow me to entertain as well as to touch lives with stories that deal with life issues and struggles and with God’s truths. These stories provide readers with hope and leave them with God’s promises of love, forgiveness, grace and salvation through Jesus.

No matter what genre I write—women’s fiction or suspense—romance will always be woven into the novel because I see it as the glue that makes a story adhere to readers. Everyone enjoys a fast paced story to which they can relate because it presents real life situations, but most of all everyone loves to be loved, and that’s what romance is about.

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Hey readers, Annette here. I've appreciated Gail's heart to mentor other writers and have personally emailed questions to her, which she has graciously answered time and again. Check out her Web site for writers (see below) and her book from Writer's Digest (also mentioned below).

Gail's latest romance--Dad in Training -- released September 1st from Steeple Hill Love Inspired! Here's the cover and blurb:

How is Brent Runyan supposed to reach his troubled nephew? The workaholic businessman knows nothing about providing a real home to the orphaned boy who needs him so much. Special education teacher Molly Manning thinks the answer is threefold: love, time—and a dog. But Brent can barely let his nephew into his heart, let alone a golden retriever. With his tragic past, Brent knows what can happen when you love anything: you can lose it. Until Molly asks this dad-in-training to start with the basics by letting her stay…forever.

Gail also has a post up at Love Inspired Author's blog. Check it out here.

Multi-award-winning author, Gail Gaymer Martin writes fiction for Steeple Hill and Barbour Publishing, where she was recently honored by Heartsong readers as their 2008 Favorite Author. Gail has written forty-two contracted novels with three million books in print. She is the author of Writing the Christian Romance, a Writers Digest Books release. Gail is a co-founder of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW). She is a keynote speaker at churches, libraries and civic organizations and also presents workshops at conferences across the US and abroad. Gail has a Masters degree and post-master’s classes from Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan and is a licensed counselor. She lives in Michigan with her husband. Visit her Web site and her Writing Fiction Right blog.

Why I Write Allegories by Denise Hunter

Happy Monday everyone! Annette here. Welcome to our first Featured Genre Day. Every now and then we're going to host writers who will share about why they write the genre they write. Gives us an inside look at the many facets of Christian books.

Denise Hunter has been publishing fiction for years. But I didn't read her work until the well-received novel Surrender Bay. I kept hearing great feedback on this book and finally had to see for myself. So glad I did. You can read my review of Surrender Bay here.

Surrender Bay was followed by another allegory in the Nantucket Love Story series, The Convenient Groom. Her new book, Seaside Letters, will release in October.

I've had an interest in the symbolism of allegories for years and have wondered about writing them myself. So, I was curious about why Denise chose to write allegories.

Here's what she said:

I love the way Jesus told stories. His parables made his listeners think for themselves and draw their own conclusions. In his story of the Prodigal Son, Jesus never said, “Listen folks, the father in the story is God, and the Prodigal Son is you.” The son never had a “come to Jesus” moment, he simply returned to his father and was welcomed home with open arms. Jesus required the listeners to draw the connection for a reason. An allegory allows us to see the familiar in a fresh and powerful way, and that’s what I hoped to do with Surrender Bay.

Just for fun, readers, here's the blurb about her upcoming book:

Their letters could lead to lasting love . . . or expose Sabrina's mortifying secret.

Sabrina Kincaid didn't intend to fall for Nantucket native Tucker McCabe, the man she serves coffee to every morning-a man tied deeply to a past she deeply regrets. But she has. And she's fallen hard.

But she's kept this a secret from her handsome customer. And now Tucker wants to hire Sabrina to help locate his friend "Sweetpea"-the mysterious woman he's falling in love with online. Sabrina is not inclined to help, but if Tucker hires someone else, it could spell disaster. Because if someone else sifted through the emails and figured out the truth-then Tucker would discover that the person he's trying to find is . . . her.

Thanks for dropping by, Denise. We wish you the best!

Denise Hunter lives in Indiana with her husband Kevin and their three sons. In 1996, Denise began her first book, a Christian romance novel, writing while her children napped. Two years later it was published, and she's been writing ever since. Her books often contain a strong romantic element, and her husband Kevin says he provides all her romantic material, but Denise insists a good imagination helps too!