Janet Bly

Janet Chester Bly

“I’m a city girl with a country heart. I don’t corral horses or mow my own lawn. I’m no womba woman but I like to write about women who are. I followed my husband Stephen Bly to the country to write books and minister to a small village church. When I lost him, I stayed. Here in this little western town of Winchester, Idaho, I manage Bly Books. And rake lots of pine cones. And survive the long winter snows.” – Janet B

Janet Chester Bly received a B.S. degree in Literature & Languages and Fine & Performing Arts from Lewis-Clark State College. She has spoken at retreats and luncheons on devotional, women’s issues and family life themes. Also the craft of writing at writers’ conferences, classes and seminars.

She has mentored and done manuscript critique for Jerry B. Jenkins’ Christian Writer’s Guild. She has judged many writing contests for Advanced Writers & Speakers Association, including for Writer’s Digest, American Christian Fiction Writers, and My Book Therapy. She also does a manuscript critique service of her own:https://www.blybooks.com/manuscript-critique/embed/#?secret=jmYpuegoh8

“Janet Chester Bly’s editing is honest and direct. She tightens, suggests, encourages, and teaches. The manuscript she edited for me is now pitch perfect.” –Young Adult Fiction Author Carmen Peone: http://carmenpeone.com/.

She is a member of Winchester Community Church in Idaho where she serves as Music Director. She authored 16 inspirational nonfiction and fiction for Bly Books and co-authored 20 others with western author Stephen Bly. These included historical and contemporary cozy mysteries. Fiction and devotionals for kids, young adults, and homeschoolers. Family life themes for moms, couples and grandparents.

Janet Chester Bly books include: The Trails of Reba Cahill (3-book series-Wind in the Wires, Down Squash Blossom Road, Beneath a Camperdown Elm), Words To Live By For Women. Hope Lives Here. The Heart of a Runaway. Friends Forever. The Carson City Chronicles Series. The Hidden West Series. She and her three adult sons finished her late husband’s last novel for him, Stuart Brannon’s Final Shot, Book 7, Stuart Brannon Series. This book was a Selah Award Finalist.

She is contributing author to five other books. Such as, short story for What The Wind Picked Up. Short story for The Storyteller’s Collection, Tales From Home collections by Christian novelists.