Please give a warm welcome to western romance and mystery author, Paty Jager! Paty is joining us on tour with the third book in her historical paranormal romance trilogy about the Nez Perce band who summered at Wallowa Lake in NE Oregon, Spirit of the Sky.
A friend sent me an e-mail for “Great Karma”. The very first thing on the list was: Take into account that great love and great achievement involve great risk.This statement had me staring at it and not pushing the button to go on. This is so true in life and in how a writer should go about thinking about a story.
Risk and love-
In life, you give your love to someone but that doesn’t mean it will be taken and you can end up shattered when it’s thrown back in your face.
In a story, you want one or both of your characters to be fearful of committing to the other or loving them- it makes great conflict, but it also makes them vulnerable a trait everyone can relate to and root for.
Risk and Achievement-
In life, everyone struggles to achieve something whether it’s getting out of a wheelchair and they risk falling or they’ve put money into something, or you’ve put all your emotions into a book and you’re looking for an agent/editor/ good review. Risk is something that is always knocking on the door and you can either hide from it and never try to achieve anything or do your best and hope the risk pays off.
In a story, risk is what keeps the story moving forward- it’s the momentum that keeps the character charging to the end and if all goes well they achieve their goal. It may not be the one they first started out wanting, but they end up finding out the risk was worth the reward or sacrifice.
That is the process for writing a great romance.
In my spirit trilogy the spirits risk all they've believed in for centuries when they fall in love with a mortal.
In Spirit of the Sky my recent release, not only does Sa-qan, the bald eagle spirit, risk her heart and her very essence when she falls in love with a cavalry officer but she also risks the very people she is duty bound to protect. And the hero, Lieutenant Wade Watts risks his career with the Cavalry when he falls for the Nez Perce spirit and works with her to keep her people alive.
To save her from oppression, he must save her whole tribe. To give her his heart, he must desert his career…
When the US Army forces the Nimiipuu from their land, Sa-qan, the eagle spirit entrusted with watching over her tribe, steps in to save her mortal niece. Challenging the restrictions of the spirit world, Sa-qan assumes human form and finds an unexpected ally in a handsome cavalry officer.
Certain she is a captive, Lt. Wade Watts, a Civil War veteran, tries to help the blonde woman he finds sheltering a Nez Perce child. While her intelligent eyes reveal she understands his language, she refuses his help. But when Wade is wounded, it is the beautiful Sa-qan who tends him. Wade wishes to stop the killing—Sa-qan will do anything to save her people.
Can their differences save her tribe? Or will their love spell the end of the Nimiipuu?
She smiled and his heart leapt into his throat. He thought her beautiful from the first moment he saw her standing in the river fiercely protecting the child, but watching her tense face relax and smile, he was smitten. A light and pleasing calm washed over him for the first time in a very long time. He could only bask in the moment briefly. They were enemies.
“I am from the sky, and I watch over the Nimiipuu.” She nodded her head and flashed him with yet another smile. “You may call me Angel.”
“Only if you call me Wade.”
She nodded. “Let me check your wounds. You have moved around.”
“Why are you taking such good care of me when your warriors left me for dead?”
Her sunshine gaze peered straight into his eyes. “You saved my niece at the village and the wounded from the Bannock scout. You do not have the thirst to kill like the other soldiers.” She bowed her head and removed the blood encrusted bandage from his shoulder. “The Nimiipuu need you.”
Her touch warmed his body, tingling the areas around his wounds. He glanced at her small, delicate hands hovering over his injuries. He shut his eyes, and then opened them. Her hands shimmered as if in a fog. His pain subsided, in fact, his body felt well rested.
A soft lyrical chant rose from her lips as she continued to hover her hands over his wounds. Her eyes remained closed, her light lashes resting on her sun-kissed cheeks. He’d never seen a woman as beautiful as this. He had to learn her true origins and return her to her family.
Author Bio:
Wife, mother, grandmother, and the one who cleans pens and delivers the hay; award winning author Paty Jager and her husband currently ranch 350 acres when not dashing around visiting their children and grandchildren. She not only writes the western lifestyle, she lives it.
She is a member of RWA, EPIC , and COWG. She’s had eleven books and a short story published so far and is venturing into the new world of self-publishing ebooks.
Her contemporary Western, Perfectly Good Nanny won the 2008 Eppie for Best Contemporary Romance and Spirit of the Mountain, a historical paranormal set among the Nez Perce, garnered 1st place in the paranormal category of the Lories Best Published Book Contest. Spirit of the Lake was a finalist in the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence.
You can learn more about her at her blog, her website, or on Facebook, and twitter; @patyjag.
Blog Tour Contest!
Each blog stop has a picture of an eagle in the post. Follow the tour and send me the number of different pictures you saw while following the tour. To learn where I'll be go to my blog. If there is more than one correct entry I’ll draw a winner on May 21st to receive a $25 gift certificate to either Barnes and Nobles or Amazon, a handmade custom ereader cover, and chocolate. Send your entry number to: patyjag@gmail.com by May 21st.
~*GIVEAWAY*~
Paty is giving away a $5 Amazon gift certificate to one lucky commenter, just leave a comment on this post and then fill out the RaffleCopter below. Additional entries are available but not required. Good luck!
Thank you for having me at Reading between the Wines today! The site is awesome and the post looks wonderful! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteI will happily follow you on your blog tour...the world must know that Paty Jager is a FAKE!! Like I said before, you got my language and culture WRONG, so please stop presenting to the American public as a work of art...because to me it is trash!! In the Nez Perce Language, "Saaqan" does not mean "Bald Eagle Spirit" as you call her. In MY language that means "crown of the head"...so I will tell you again, you got it WRONG. I wonder how much money you have made off of Nez Perce Language and Culture, and yet give nothing back to the people you put in FICTION stories...now how selfish is that Paty?!?!
ReplyDeletePaty, interesting post. What goes around comes around, as the cliche goes.
ReplyDeleteTisqe' 'ilp'ilp -
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome to your own opinion but please be respectful. If you have an issue with the author contact her directly, please don't use my blog to bash her. That's not what we're here for.
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ReplyDeleteIn the acknowledgement of the books I thank the Nez Perce people who have helped me with my research. I also used many books, some written by Nez Perce, to do my research.
ReplyDeleteThese books were written because I felt the Nez Perce have been a tribe that was pushed to the side and should be acknowledged.
You can find parts of these books on my website if you wish to read and make your own decision about the books.
As said in the beginning of my books the spirit element in these are a figment of my imagination and do not depict a Nez Perce belief.
Great post! I am so excited for Spirit of the Sky's release. I LOVED the first two of the series--Spirit of the Mountain made it onto my top 10 books of 2011 list. I love the way you combine setting & character, Paty--where setting really becomes its own character in each book. I've read dozens of books featuring Native American characters over the years, and I'm so excited to see authors like Pamela Clare and Paty bringing respectful, multi-dimensional, well-researched characters to the romance genre--far from "bashing," these books bring a much needed diversity to our genre.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the new release! I love the variety of new releases on Reading Between the Wines--my TBR pile just doubled :)
(Had to edit my comment for a silly typo, hence the deleted comment!)
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteWow, Paty! You came through again with a well written book and an awesome story. Your attention to details of setting amazes me. I feel the land, the sky and the sun sun on my face. The characters are beautifully shaped and written. I am e-mailing my friends to download this book for a great read!!
ReplyDeleteI love your FICTIONAL books and know as a reader they are fictional accounts based on historical events. I always read the disclaimers in historical books because I want to know how much is accurate.
ReplyDeleteWriters do not claim to be their characters. When you wrote from a blind man's point of view, you didn't claim to be blind yourself. You diligently researched and represented what life might have been like for him to the best of your ability. Same thing with the ec-con boot maker and lots of other characters.
Many other writers have created fantasy spiritual worlds in historical fiction. Jean Auel and the husband and wife archeologists whose last name is Gear come to mind.
Your respect and love for the Nez Perce shine through your books.
Hi Paty, congrats on another wonderful release. As you know, I too have a great admiration for the Nez Perce, and that makes your books even more meaningful. I highly admire the quality of your research and your powerful imagination! Keep up the good work.
ReplyDeletePaty, when I left my first comment, I hadn't read the comment before mine or I would certainly have worded mine differently. Please accept my apology. You've researched extensively even though there are always a few critics. I think the caustic remark should be removed from the commetns!
ReplyDeleteHi Paty,
ReplyDeleteHow fitting that you are visiting Reading Between the Wines today. I'm sure chocolate would be appreciated also.
While I still have this Trilogy in my To Be Read Books and therefore will not comment directly about them, I have read some of your other books and have enjoyed the quality of your writing. As Diana said, your description/setting is so strong I feel I'm in the place.
In love and light,
Judith
Oh, sounds lovely Patty.
ReplyDeleteSpent a lot of time growing up in the area and it will be fun to revisit it in your book.
I also love using First Nations lore as a jumping off point - very tired of European Mythology - so nice to see something different.
Cheers! ~ Tess
Congratulations on your latest release Paty! I loved Spirit of the Mountain and look forward to reading the other two in the series.
ReplyDeleteThis book was my first introduction to the Nez Perce people and it was a wonderful encounter with a history and culture in this area of the country I now call home. Thanks for these books and introducing me and other readers to a beautiful world.
Paty I love your books—and although it is quite obvious to intellegent people everywhere that they are a work of fiction—they have increased my interest in a positive way to Native American culture in general. I think its wonderful when an author can shine a positive light on an area of society that is often stigmatized. Thank you for rising above the politics to present such a wonderful series. A must read!
ReplyDeletePaty- I now how important this particularly series is to you and I love how respectfully you've highlighted the Nez Perce people. As a grad student, I did a great deal of research on Pacific NW Native Americans/First Peoples and I can sense from your books that you did too. Best of all, I love your fictional love story with the noble Nez Perce culture as a backdrop. As fiction writers, isn't weaving stories the best part? And it's even better when history provides a nugget of inspiration. I hope this book soars as is appropriate for The Spirit of the Sky! :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Annabeth!
ReplyDeleteDiana, I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Sarah, Thank you. That you can believe my blind character means a lot to me!
Thanks Tanya!
Caroline, knowing the research you do, I appreciate your kind words.
Judith, Thank you. I could use chocolate today...
Thanks Tess!
Terri, I'm glad you enjoyed Spirit of the Mountain.
T.E., Thank you for your kind words. That's all I've tried to do with theses books is bring to light a group of people I feel have been passed over.
Christy, These books are very special to me and I worked with Nez Perce people to weave a story that was respectful to them and to showcase the richness of their heritage. Thank you.
I've not read the 1st two books but from this post here; I'm heading over to check them out post haste! Sounds really good & different from the usual fare. I love historical romance & also fantasy romance. A historical PNR seems like a nice meld of both.
ReplyDeletetx for the opportunity to win
I always enjoy reading Paty Jager's books. I have added SPIRIT OF THE SKY to my wish list.
ReplyDeleteAnother lovely interview about absolutely wonderful books by a fabulous author! I really enjoyed this book! Best wishes for many sales.
ReplyDeleteHi, Paty!
ReplyDeleteI totally enjoy your books, and this series is definitely in my TBR pile!
Happy writing,
Melia
Linda, Thank you! I was trying for something different.
ReplyDeleteMarybelle, Good to see you! Thanks for adding Spirit of the Sky to your list.
Lauri, Thank you! I appreciate your wishes.
ReplyDeleteHi Melia! Thanks!
Great post! I've added Spirit of the Sky to my list to get.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the post, Paty. I enjoy Native American historicals. And bringing in immortals who love humans - brilliant. I look forward to reading this.
ReplyDeleteSpirit of the Sky looks interesting, and I especially love the people kissing in the top corner of the cover. It looks really sensual in contrast with the rest of the cover.
ReplyDeleteI haven't read any of your books yet but they sound good!
I love the idea of Karma - and that if you are good to others and have good intentions, that good things will come back to you. Risk, love - it all goes together, doesn't it.
ReplyDeleteHi Becky, Thank you! I hope you enjoy the story.
ReplyDeleteTam, Thanks for stopping in. I hope you enjoy the books.
JessS, Thank you the cover artists did a great job with this trilogy.
Hi Lacey! Yes, it does!
Tess Anderson is the winner of my blog prize.
ReplyDeleteHi, Paty! As usual, I'm behind on blog posts and e-mails. I loved the first two books of this series and am looking forward to reading SPIRIT OF THE SKY. I know how thoroughly you research for your books. I also understand there is much disagreement and acrimony among different factions of the Nez Perce tribe about their history. It's like looking for the "truth" by getting stories from feuding family members. Everyone has their own "truth" and their own perspective. I admire your respect and balance in weaving the history of this tribe through your stories.
ReplyDeleteI believe in karma. Paty, maybe it's your good karma -- along with your good writing, of course ;) -- that won you awards for the other Spirit books. Write on!
ReplyDeleteHi Genene, It's so true about the Nez Perce. Most of the treaty Nez Perce wound up in the reservation in Idaho while the nontreaty who were incarcerated in Oklahoma ended up in the Washington reservation still unable to live in what they considered their homeland. This made for bitterness.
ReplyDeleteHi Jessa, Thanks!
Since I've read some of your other books, I'm very eager to get to Spirit of the Skies. I'm expecting it to be a wonderful story. I know you do a lot of research, and I'd be willing to bet you are more accurate with your presentations than I am with my medieval stories. In the end, I believe no story is completely accurate, even accounting for the fact that stories are fiction. There's simply no way we can capture everything using only words and compressed time. Nor should we. That's not the point of fiction. Good luck, Paty. You certainly deserve it.
ReplyDeleteDelle, Thank you for your encouraging words. You have become the beacon I want to emulate.
ReplyDelete