Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Bonnie Bley. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Bonnie thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

My work in my award winning non-fiction, short story, true crime book Stolen Voices: Missing and Murdered in Big Horn County is the most meaningful project I have worked on. This book is set in the county that I grew up in and still have strong ties to today. Many people ask me why I chose this specific topic and stories, when in actuality this book chose me. I knew I had to do the best job I’ve ever done with my writing skills to help tell the stories in the most respectable way possible. I poured my heart, soul, sweat, and tears into this book. I self published this book and have put a lot of work into getting it into the hands of readers.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I was born in Wyoming and grew up in Big Horn County, MT, seated in the south eastern corner of MT. In elementary school I loved staying up past my bedtime to listen to the late night Radio Mystery Theater with E.G. Marshall. In 2nd grade we were assigned some poetry lessons and I signed all of my work “by E.G. Marshall”. I always loved story telling and writing. It was my 9th grade English and Literature teacher who introduced me to the works of Chaucer, Shakespeare, Poe, and Hemingway. I loved being assigned research composition papers.
After graduating from High School, I moved to South Dakota, and then Minnesota earning my degree in Medical Laboratory Science. I worked my way through college by being a live in nanny. I met my husband during this time, pursued a regular 9-5 career, and raised our family. After raising children and balancing work and life, I decided to get back to the hobbies that I loved the most. I started writing again and tapping into my creative side.
When I’m not writing, I spend my time vacationing with my family and friends, hiking, chasing the Northern Lights, teaching myself to play the piano, and volunteering for Big Brothers & Big Sisters, The Wildcat Sanctuary, and Feed My Starving Children.
Stolen Voices: Missing and Murdered in Big Horn County is my multi-award winning book that was published in February 2024. It is a compilation of short stories of women, girls, and men who have gone missing or been murdered in Big Horn County where I spent my formative years. My book tells the tragic stories in a raw and gritty way from the perspective of the victim. My book also has chapters that discuss the problems within the county and those trying to make a difference.
My book is available in Hard Cover, Paperback, E-Book, and Audio Book narrated by Katie Dwyer on Amazon and other online retailers. You can also check with your local library for a copy.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

I started working on my book Stolen Voices: Missing and Murdered in Big Horn County in January 2020. The bulk of the work I did was during COVID shut downs. I conducted interviews by phone. After we were OK to be back in the office, I would spend my 30 minute bus commute to work each day messaging with people about the book, checking emails, and reading newspaper articles. I used my paid vacation days, lunch hours, weekends, and any free time I could find to work on this book. There were many sleepless nights during this project. I spent many hours on the phone with my best friends to help keep me grounded during the project. When I had a completed manuscript, I had it reviewed by other people in the writing industry who provided valuable feedback which I incorporated to make it the best version of itself. I spent a few years editing and perfecting it. I decided to self publish in order to get this book and it’s message out into the world. I stayed resilient, persistent, and focused on this project from the moment I started it. Giving up on it was never an option for me.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding part of the journey with Stolen Voices: Missing and Murdered in Big Horn County has been the reception it has received. Earning the endorsement of two advocates, receiving positive reviews of the book from my hometown community, being seen as an ally to the Native American Indigenous community, and earning nine literary accolades has made the journey worth everything I put into my work.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.bonniebley.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bonniebley4/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BonnieBleyOfficial
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bonnie-bley-b8135027/
• Twitter: https://x.com/BonnieBley
• Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bonnie.bley
  Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/bonniebley.bsky.social

Image Credits

Photos by Bonnie Bley