Shiny New Series! by Paty Jager

When the topic First in Series came up and the call went out for posts, I had to write about this topic.

I kind of killed my momentum as a historical western author when I followed all the shiny new ideas in my head. But it has given me the experience to dive into a new series without flinching.  I just have to keep my series ideas focused on the genres that I have the largest following and my heart dictates.

The first series I wrote was the historical western romance Halsey Brothers series. It started out as one book, and I "fell" into the series when readers wanted the brothers' stories. That gave me, Marshal in Petticoats, Outlaw in Petticoats, Miner in Petticoats, Doctor in Petticoats, and Logger in Petticoats. Readers still hadn't had enough of the Halseys, and I wrote three more novels (Laying Claim, Staking Claim, Claiming a Heart, and A Husband for Christmas) with younger men who came into the family through marriages and a Christmas novella with the daughter of one of the heroine's.  While I enjoyed the Halseys and writing their stories I was ready to move on after the 8th book and the novella.

But before I moved on to a new historical western series, I played with the idea of a series with Pinkerton agents. I wrote the first book, Improper Pinkerton, with the dream of a series, but it didn't receive the love of the readers as much as I loved writing it. I could still resurrect it as a series but I moved on.

I had the idea for a historical paranormal series and ended up with the Spirit Trilogy. A three book series about Nez Perce Spirits who watch over the Wallowa Valley Nez Perce. The first book, Spirit of the Mountain, is set before the whiteman came to the area, the second book, Spirit of the Lake, when they arrived and the third book, Spirit of the Sky, takes place when the Army chases Chief Joseph and two other bands of Nez Perce toward Canada. These books show the life and history of the Chief Joseph band and were written with just the three books in mind. I've been asked for more Native American books but we'll see. There isn't as big a following for this type of book and they require tons of research to get the facts and lives correct.

While complaining about a book that wasn't what it was toted, I ended up coming up with an action adventure series. This contemporary series was a LOT of fun to write. The female protagonist is an Indiana Jones/ MacGyver character who specializes in Native American cultures and works for the World Intelligence Agency. Isabella Mumphrey's Latin DEA agent helps heat up the pages. These three books may some day be a larger series but for now they are a trilogy. Secrets of a Mayan Moon, Secrets of an Aztec Temple, and Secrets of a Hopi Blue Star.

After dabbling in romance books, I finally bit the bullet and started a mystery series. Mystery has always been my first love for reading and the first type of book I wrote decades ago. Shandra Higheagle Mystery series, Double Duplicity.  I'm currently writing the fifth book in this series, Killer Descent, and loving visiting Huckleberry and the characters I've established in the town and area.

Using my love of Native American culture, specifically the Nez Perce, I came up with an amateur sleuth who is a potter. I gave her a big slobbery, cowardly dog, an eccentric older woman who works for her, a handsome county detective, and quirky characters in a small ski resort town. Coming up with all the elements for this series was as much fun as writing the first book in the

I just released my first book of a new historical western romance series. The series title is Letters of Fate, the book is titled, Davis. Seeing so many people clamoring for Mail Order Bride books, I decided to write a book kind of like that only with the hero as the person searching for a new life, not necessarily a wife but as the letter he receives changes his life it also brings him to the woman who fulfills him. What I like

best about this new series is how many stories I can write with a letter as the catalyst and that the stories while being a series won't have to be read in order to enjoy them.

I have written stand alone books, but I have to say, I enjoy coming up with the premise and ideas that make a series. It helps me find continuity with my thoughts and the way to put the books together.

Do you enjoy series books? If so, what is your favorite part about series? The same characters, the same premise, or just the feeling of coming home as you read?

Award-winning author Paty Jager and her husband raise alfalfa hay in rural eastern Oregon. She not only writes the western lifestyle, she lives it. All Paty’s work has Western or Native American elements in them along with hints of humor and engaging characters. Her penchant for research takes her on side trips that eventually turn into yet another story.

You can learn more about Paty at

her blog; Writing into the Sunset 

her website; http://www.patyjager.net  

Facebook; https://www.facebook.com/pages/Paty-Jager/132536633482029

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