Elmer Kelton's The Blessing Book Tour

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Book Details

Western Adventure, Historical Mystery

Date Published: 12-03-2025

Publisher: Devil’s Claw Press

Hewey Calloway, Elmer Kelton’s favorite footloose cowboy, has always been known to have a generous nature, readily giving to those in need. Time has finally mellowed Hewey and given him some wisdom that was lacking in his youth, but deep down, he’s still the same old Hewey. In this sequel to The Smiling Country, a beneficiary to one of Hewey’s past generosities pays him back, and with interest. Knowing Hewey would decline a monetary repayment, he is gifted land back in Upton County.

Trouble is, it was bought from his old adversary, Fat Gervin, who is still as crooked as ever. Gervin finds a seeming loophole in the contract and tries to pull another fast one on Hewey, who is fed up with Gervin’s endless treachery. Tensions rise, and when Gervin is shot, it’s Hewey who’s on the hook for the crime. But things are never as they seem, and it’s up to an eclectic cast of characters to sort it out, and for Hewey to learn what’s really important in life.

Written by longtime journalist turned novelist John Bradshaw, who was selected by The Elmer Kelton Estate to continue the Hewey Calloway tradition.

Virtual Book Tour – January 26 – February 13

January 26 – RABT Book Tours – Kick Off

January 26 – Liliyana Shadowlyn – Spotlight

January 27 – Book Junkiez – Excerpt

January 28 – Books 1987 – Spotlight

January 29 – Novel News Network – Review

January 30 – Sarandipity’s – Spotlight

February 2 – The Avid Reader – Interview

February 3 – Tea Time and Books – Spotlight

February 4 – The Indie Express – Review

February 5 – Our Town Book Reviews – Review

February 6 – Nana’s Book Reviews – Spotlight

February 9 – Crossroad Reviews – Spotlight

February 10 – Texas Book Nook – Review

February 11 – Book Corner News and Reviews – Spotlight

February 12 – The Faerie Review – Spotlight

February 13 – RABT Reviews – Wrap Up

Author Details

John Bradshaw is a native of the small town of Abernathy, Texas. He is an award-winning journalist with well over a thousand published stories. Elmer Kelton’s The Familiar Stranger, co-authored with Steve Kelton, is his first book.

Bradshaw attended South Plains College followed by Texas Tech University. He spent several years shoeing horses for a living as his writing career progressed.

While the desire to write books was always there, Bradshaw first pursued a career in journalism. He wrote numerous stories for ranching, horse and horseshoeing magazines.

Growing up, Livestock Weekly came in the mail once a week, as it does for most in the livestock industry. Writing for Livestock Weekly was always a goal, and in 2005 Bradshaw’s first story was published. It was a profile of Brownie Metzgar, a humorous cowboy still working in a feedlot while in his late 80s.

In 2007 Bradshaw accepted a fulltime position with Livestock Weekly. While with the paper he had over a thousand stories published, as well as enough market reports to give him permanent nightmares.

Horses have always played an important role in his life. The son of a horseshoer, he has spent a significant amount of time either on or under a horse. He still shows in both ranch horse and reined cow horse competitions.

He and his wife, Sara, live outside Abernathy. Sara owns an architecture firm, SK Architecture Group, and they raise Spanish goats, hair sheep and cattle.

In 2013 the couple had a stillborn son, Fox Joaquin Bradshaw. After several years of heartbreak they adopted an infant boy, whom they named Julian Boone Bradshaw. Boone died in his dad’s arms following an accident at the barn five days before his sixth birthday.