I'm beginning to think that time is flashing by at a rate much faster than even five years before. Is the world spinning faster and while the clocks read the same the time is, in fact, moving much faster?
I can't believe it's June already! Halfway through this year. I'm sort of on track with my goals for the year. I do have 2 books that have been published so far. Now I have to get busy and get two more written and published before the end of the year. My goal is 4 books. Even with a month of no writing while I go on a vacation I've been dreaming about for some timem that will happen in September and October, I plan to keep to my goal.
This month the theme is starting Anew. I'm not really starting anew, though I did ten years ago when I decided to write mysteries instead of western romance. I'm so glad I did! I feel it is more my voice and I have gained a much larger and broader readership by switching to writing murder mysteries, or crime fiction as some people call it.
I spent 2014 writing the first three books in the Shandra Higheagle Mystery series. The premise of the series and the character came about because of something my brother told me about a bronze statue he was putting the patina on. I used what he told me as part of the murder in Double Duplicity, book 1. Because the plot dealt with the art community, I made my main character a potter or ceramicist as it can also be called. But I wanted her to be a bit more unique. She lives on a mountain where she gathers the clay she cleans and uses in her vases that are sold in art galleries.
Making her a child of a Native American (Nez Perce) father, who died when she was young, and a Caucasian mother gave me the ability to write her with wanting to learn more about her father's side of the family since her mother had kept her from it and have her learn about her heritage as I discovered things as well. Luckily, I'd met an author before I started this series, who is married to an Arrow Lakes tribal member. They live on the Colville Reservation in Washington state where I have Shandra's paternal relatives living. My friend gave me a tour of the reservation and gave me great insight into the thoughts and feelings of the people who live there.
The Shandra Higheagle Series ended with 16 books and a novella. I enjoyed writing about Shandra, Ryan, her love interest, and all of her friends and animals. But I decided to end the series before readers said it was going flat.
Before I ended the series, I started a new series. The Gabriel Hawke Novels are about a Native American (Umatilla and Nez Perce) Fish and Wildlife Oregon State Trooper in Wallowa County, Ore. This means most of the stories are set in NE Oregon with a few set in other states in the Pacific Northwest. Though Hawke did go to Iceland for a Search and Rescue World Conference and was caught up in finding a killer there. ;) I'm still writing this series and the current book, Cougar's Cache, was released on June 1st. Check the bottom of this post to learn more about it.
I am also writing the Spotted Pony Casino Mystery series with Dela Alvaro a disabled veteran who is head of security for my fictional Spotted Pony Casino on the Umatilla Reservation outside of Pendleton. From May 30th to June 12th you can get the audiobook of book 1, Poker Face through Independent Audiobook Deals. Some of your favorite bestselling authors have come together to bring you amazing audiobook deals! Check it out!🎧 The Pinch, book 5 came out in February. It's set in a casino on the Oregon Coast. Dela heads over there to audit the security staff and gets caught up in a kidnapping and murder.
Starting anew writing mysteries in 2014 was the best thing I could do for myself and my writing career. Like I said before, I have truly found my voice writing mysteries.
Cougar's Cache
This double cold case and current homicide have Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife Trooper Gabriel Hawke calling in favors… and exploring a childhood he shoved into the deep recesses of his mind.
While patrolling on the Snake River in Hells Canyon, Gabriel Hawke’s dog digs up a human bone. Hawke is confronted by an aunt he doesn’t remember, and he finds a canister of film when the rest of the remains are excavated. The film shows someone being killed and a rifle pointed at the photographer.
Going through missing person files, Hawke discovers the victims of the decades-old double homicide. A person connected to the original crime is murdered, giving Hawke more leads and multiple suspects.
Attending a local Powwow with his family, Hawke discovers more about his childhood and realizes his suspects have been misleading him.
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And your readers are grateful you 'started anew' writing mysteries! I love that you have actually stayed true to a foundation of your western romances in that your setting is authentic. Using the Nes Perce's appaloosa horse in naming the casino is just one of the ways you honor the history of your characters.
ReplyDeleteJudith, Thank you for your kind words! I enjoy enlightening readers about the Indigenous people in the area where I grew up. It has become something that I feel the need to do. I love that mysteries are what have given me the voice to do this.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting, Paty! And your attention to detail and getting the history of the people right has truly brought your stories to life.
ReplyDeleteHi Barbara, Thank you! I want the reader to believe in my characters as much as I do, so I try to make them as authentic as I can, not being Indigenous myself.
ReplyDeleteI love hearing about how you research for your books and develop your characters. Such wonderful attention to detail.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Deb. I tried all the different ways writing workshops gave to outline or discover your story, but I ended up just coming up with my own way of doing things.
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