Monday, March 21, 2011

Stephen Bly's "Throw the Devil Off the Train" or "Cowboy for a Rainy Afternoon"


We're happy to have Stephen Bly with us today talking about his book Throw the Devil Off the Train. To learn more about Stephen and his book, read on!

Note from Stephen: The release date of Throw The Devil Off The Train has been pushed to May 1st, 2011. We could offer a copy of Cowboy For A Rainy Afternoon now, with the option of waiting for the future release later, if you’d like.

Title: Throw the Devil Off the Train
Cover Blurb: Catherine heads west to escape her past. She will do anything to get to California and her fiancé Philip. Race heads west to avenge his brother’s death. On the long, cramped train ride he longs for nothing but hours of sleep. However, the devil’s on board and someone’s got to throw him off.

1) How did this story come to you?
I don’t have a clue on this one. Sometimes plot ideas seem to fall out of the sky for me. When I recognize one that I like, I pick it up and run with it, to see where it leads. That’s what happened with Throw The Devil Off The Train.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
Center Point Publishers had released a number of my paperback books as hardback large prints. Over a year ago the editor approached me about doing books for their growing base of westerns fans. . .mostly through public library outlets. . .as first edition novels. So, I wrote Creede of Old Montana for them, then Cowboy For A Rainy Afternoon. While writing that last story set in the 1950s, I perceived setting a whole book on a train from Omaha to Sacramento in the 1880s. That became Throw The Devil Off The Train.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
I love to golf and years ago played on the college golf team. I’ve never been to Branson, Missouri. I’m living with prostate cancer.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I just signed a contract for a story about one of my favorite characters, rancher Stuart Brannon of The Stuart Brannon Series, as an older man in 1905. He’s invited by his good friends, Lord & Lady Fletcher, to be one of the celebrities in their golf tournament on the Oregon coast. The working title: Stuart Brannon’s Final Shot.

5) Parting comments?
My life verse is Matthew 6:33: “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things will be added to you.” I consider writing to be one of the ‘added things’ in my life, for which I am very grateful.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
At our website: http://blybooks.com/  Or our “On A Western Trail” blog: http://blybooks.blogspot.com/

21 comments:

  1. This one looks like a good read too!!!

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  2. Met Stephen Bly at a BBQ one year, so am interested in reading his books. Thanks Dawn for the chance to win one of these. i subscribe by email and follow on Facebook. mitzi_wanham[at]yahoo[dot]com marianne from Arizona

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  3. I've read all but a handful of Stephen's adult fiction novels and have never been disappointed. I'd love to win a copy of his May release.

    I am surprised he's never been to Branson...it's only a half hour away for me, and judging by the terrible traffic, I thought everyone and their brother had been there! ;)

    Thanks for the chance to win. :)
    eviesmommo at yahoo dot com

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  4. I love Stephen Bly books! Can't wait to try this one!

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  5. I love books by Stephen. If I win I'll just wait for Throw the Devil Off the Train. I already have Cowboy for a Rainy Afternoon.
    Great interview and giveaway.
    Many blessings,
    Trinity Rose
    wandaelaine at gmail dot com

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  6. Sometimes I would like to head west to get away from things too. lol Thanks. gahome2mom/at/gmail/dot/com

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  7. I love Stephen Bly's books! My son loved his Lewis & Clark books as a young teen. Please put me in the drawing, I'd love to win!

    twinwillowsfarm at gmail dot com

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  8. I've just finished The Belles of Lordsburg and loved it. This new book looks like another winner.

    adamsfammys at yahoo dot com

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  9. I'd like to enter the contest. I haven't read either book.

    ryssmiles[at]yahoo[dot ]com

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  10. All of Steve's books are wonderful. It would be a thrill to win this new one. Linda dlarock at wolfenet dot com

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  11. Your new release date, May 1st, is my 48th birthday! Thanks for the wonderful interview. I'd love to win a copy of your book!

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  12. Sounds great! Please include me!

    nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

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  13. Love to win this book thanks



    ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

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  14. Stephen Bly is new to me. His book, Throw The Devil Off The Train sounds intriguing. it fits my appetite for good reading. His book Cowboy for a Rainy Afternoon I've heard of, but I can't remember what I heard. LOL Sorry, that wasn't an insult - I'm prone to senior moments. Thank you for the giveaway and for the chance to win. I hope I win!

    Sharing God's Love,
    Barb Shelton
    barbjan10 at tx dot rr dot com

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  15. Thanks to all of you for your comments. Wish you all could win.

    On the trail,
    Steve

    http://BlyBooks.blogspot.com

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  16. I have really enjoyed all of your books that I have read. I'd love to win a copy of this one!

    Judy, Seize the Book Blog
    http://www.seizethebookblog.blogspot.com

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  17. Sorry, forgot to add my email address:
    seizethebookblog(at)gmail(dot)com

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  18. Steve's books are always great and I'm sure this is no exception. I'm excited about the plot, and I can't wait to meet Catherine and Race and find out what happens to them.

    Julie--jlarsen24 at gmail dot com

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  19. Wow...sounds like a great read!

    Marie writergirl426@oh.rr.com

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  20. Will be choosing a winner soon. Thanks so much for all you stopping by.

    On the trail,
    Steve

    http://BlyBooks.com

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  21. Greetings to all: Thanks much to each of you for your posts. Your names were tossed into my black Resistol tonight...and the winner is...Nancye! We will e-mail Nancye this news right now. For the rest of you, watch for other opportunities this next month to get a copy of Throw The Devil Off The Train. And you can read an excerpt over at our blog right now.

    On the trail,
    Steve

    http://BlyBooks.blogspot.com

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