April Fool's by Paty Jager

Because my post is posting on April 1st, I had thought about putting "Book to Movie" in the title and then going on to say one of my books had been picked up for a movie, and then APRIL FOOL'S! But I didn't want to get anyone all excited for me only to make them mad at me.

Yes, that's how I think of April Fool's. I don't like it because someone tells you something that is so great for them or you and then BOOM! they take it all away with those two words. And that is why I despise today.

On a happy note! I'm excited to be talking to a book club at the end of the month about my book

Spirit of the Mountain. A reader picked up book 3, Spirit of the Sky from me at my annual booth in Sumpter, Oregon on Memorial and Labor Day weekends. She started it and decided this series would be something her book club might like. I met her and sold her 7 copies of Spirit of the Mountain and am anxious to see what they thought of the book and see how they interpreted the writing and developments in the story.

In May, I'll be speaking with 3 other women who write western themed books at a Cowboy Poetry and Country Music event. It should be fun, but I'm still trying to figure out what to talk about.

And JUNE- I'm about to burst my buttons! In June, I'll be touring Iceland with a group of writers. I've already started a list of things I need to find out in order to use it for a setting for a Gabriel Hawke Novel.  It's a week long trip. Just right for my first voyage by myself to another country. Who knows, I might also come up with some information that can be used in one of my romance series. We will be visiting museums and attending a cocktail reception with local authors. I will be exhausted when I return home but so enlightened about another country and culture.

This month I am powering through to finish a historical romance and then write a contemporary romance novella so I can get back to writing another Shandra Higheagle mystery. While I know this blog is about romance, I find my heart is in my mystery books these days and the romance are only written to finish out series and keep my romance readers happy.  Probably not a good thing to say, but while my heart is in my mysteries, I still care about my romance characters and want to make sure I give my readers the type of book they appreciate. One where they might learn a tiny bit about something in history, a culture, an occupation, or place they didn't know about and a fulfilling love story.

Enjoy your day and don't get too disappointed by an April Fool's joke. I know I won't believe anything my husband or grandchildren tell me today. They LOVE today!

Paty Jager is an award-winning author of 38 novels, 8 novellas, and numerous anthologies of murder mystery and western romance. All her work has Western or Native American elements in them along with hints of humor and engaging characters. 

You can catch up to her at the following places:

blog / website /  Facebook / Paty's Posse / Goodreads / Twitter / Pinterest   / Bookbub

Tracking in 2018 by Paty Jager

The favorite book I read in 2018 is Tom Brown, Jr's The Science and Art of Tracking. It entertained me even when I wasn't reading it! 

I purchased the book to help me understanding tracking because the main character in my new mystery series is a Master Tracker. I enjoyed reading about how the author of the book was fascinated by tracking as a child and was lucky enough to grow up next to a boy whose grandfather was an Apache elder. He augmented the author's knowledge in the forest. 

The book tells how as a small child he was interested in the marks made by animals, and continued to learn with books borrowed from the library until he met "Grandfather". The author and his friend spent hours in the forest with Grandfather learning what to look for and what wasn't there that told you how to find a trail. 

The lessons he learned from Grandfather and his own one track focus gave me insight into how a person needed to be tuned into their surroundings more than the average person. This helped me conjure up my character Gabriel Hawke, a Nez Perce/ Cayuse descendant whose grandfather taught him tracking. 

The book explains how to tell if an animal or person is looking one way or the other just by their tracks. Living in a rural area, my walks started taking longer as I tried my hand at tracking. One thing I learned, while I had good intentions, I don't have the attention to detail that a good tracker needs. 

There is a section in the book that shows how to read tracks by using sand. Well, I just so happened to have

making footprints

been to the beach on a retreat right after reading the book. I would stand and look one way and then the other and study the imprints. And I could see there was a difference in depth and marks. I also walked in circles, noting the change or shift of weight that deepened the tracks in different places. 

I didn't however get down on my hands and knees to figure out which direction an ant went. It was a lesson Grandfather taught the author. He finally figured it out by the small particles of sand on a rock. Whew! That is an eye for detail!

Reading this book and experiencing my own little efforts of tracking helped me to develop Gabriel Hawke, a Fish and Wildlife State Trooper. 

His first book is on pre-order and releasing Jan. 20th. 

MURDER OF RAVENS

Book 1

The ancient Indian art of tracking is his greatest strength...

And also his biggest weakness. 

Fish and Wildlife State Trooper Gabriel Hawke believes he’s chasing poachers.

However, he comes upon a wildlife biologist standing over a body that is wearing a wolf tracking collar.

He uses master tracker skills taught to him by his Nez Perce grandfather to follow clues on the mountain. Paper trails and the whisper of rumors in the rural community where he works, draws Hawke to a conclusion that he finds bitter.

Arresting his brother-in-law ended his marriage, could solving this murder ruin a friendship? 

Universal Buy Link: https://www.books2read.com/u/bxZwMP

  

December Madness by Paty Jager

It's December. The month when I'm rushing around getting out Christmas cards to family, friends, and fans. Making sure I have gifts for family members and best friends. Decorating the house, the tree, and me. Making cookies and candies to give to neighbors and friends. And this year trying to write a book and get promotion rolling in January for a new series.

Now I'm tired! LOL I love this time of year. The carols, the people coming together, the snow.  I've been playing Christmas music in my car and at home since channels appeared. I've been working on Christmas sewing projects since September. I've already made a batch of fudge, caramel corn, and mints for Thanksgiving.

I seem to have more energy and get more accomplished knowing the family will gather here for Christmas and knowing I have a word count to accomplish before 2019 rings in at midnight on the 31st!

So I better get busy and tell you about Yuletide Slaying is now in audio! I'm excited and the reviews that have been coming in have been favorable! You can purchase it at these audio book outlets:

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/audiobook/yuletide-slaying-shandra-higheagle-mystery-book-7-unabridged/id1441592155?mt=11&ign-mpt=uo%3D4 

Nook: https://www.nookaudiobooks.com/audiobook/251575/yuletide-slaying

Audiobooks.com: https://www.audiobooks.com/audiobook/yuletide-slaying/356808 

Scribd: https://www.scribd.com/audiobook/389993251/Yuletide-Slaying 

Playster: https://play.playster.com/audiobooks/1001800000000251575/yuletide-slaying-paty-jager

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Yuletide-Slaying-Shandra-Higheagle-Mystery/dp/B07JP1L8QD 

Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/Yuletide-Slaying-Audiobook/B07JNKQNPC

If you belong to more than one audio vendor check around, different ones have been having sales on it at different times. I think because it is a holiday audio book.

Here is the blurb:

Yuletide Slaying

Book 7 of the Shandra Higheagle mystery series

Family, Revenge, Murder

When Shandra Higheagle’s dog brings her a dead body in a sleigh full of presents, her world is turned upside down. The man is a John Doe and within twenty-four hours another body is found.

Detective Ryan Greer receives a call that has them both looking over their shoulders. A vengeful brother of a gang member who died in a gang war is out for Ryan’s blood. Shandra’s dreams and Ryan’s fellow officers may not be enough to keep them alive to share Christmas. 

Another fun thing happening today- I'm doing a podcast with Patricia McLinn. I hope to have a copy of it to post here next month. 

Next month I'll also have a new Shandra Higheagle book coming out, Homicide Hideaway, as well as the first book in my Gabriel Hawke series, Murder of Ravens. 

Oh! I'll also be doing a blog tour in January to promote the new series and I will have a new website and blog to show off. Whew! 2019 will start with a bang for me! 

How is your end of the year going? Did you have a good Thanksgiving? Are you looking forward to Christmas or whatever holiday you observe in December?

Goals and Milestones, Oh My! by Paty Jager

As I start the new year, I have already set my writing goals. My hubby believes I'll be a mental case by the end of 2018, but I believe, because I am excited about all of the series I'm writing and will start, that I will be having a blast, rather than fretting. But time will tell!

Barring any huge family crisis, I believe I have factored in a doable daily word count to make my goals achievable. If I write 3,000-5,000 words 6 days a week and I've factored in a week a month not writing, I should be able to easily write 3 Shandra Higheagle Mysteries, 1 Silver Dollar Saloon, 3 Tumbling Creek Ranch novellas, AND get 2 books written for the new mystery series I'll roll out in 2019.

Remember I said the excitement factor? I LOVE writing the Shandra books and "spoiler alert" the books this year are leading up to Ryan and Shandra wedding -which may or may not happen. ;) I know I've been torturing my readers, but it keeps them coming back for more mysteries.

I am having a lot of fun writing the Tumbling Creek Ranch contemporary western series that has been premiering in box sets. These 45,000 word stories are fun because I don't have to do as much research as I have lived a similar lifestyle (horses, dogs, cattle) so it is fun to put myself in my character's shoes on a dude ranch. 

The Silver Dollar Saloon books require some historical research, but I LOVE the setting and the ongoing characters I set up in this series. Lottie Mae, the next book coming out in May, will be a fun read. 

And last.... I am sooooo excited to start another mystery series with Game Warden Gabriel Hawke. I have been slowly discovering the character and the realm of his work and his heritage. He had a Nez Perce father and a Walla Walla mother. He grew up in Lapwai and finsihed school in Pendleton, Oregon. He later went on to become a State Police Trooper and finally the Game Warden in his family's homeland of the Wallowas.

Those are my goals for the coming year.

Milestones!
I now have over 30 books published!! 31 to be exact.
I have 4 audio books out. Starting on #5 in January.
I have 6 novellas and I a dozen short stories published.

I am beyond humbled that people who read my books like them enough to go out and purchase another one. Thank you all and have a healthy and happy New Year!

Paty Jager is an award-winning author of 32 novels, 6 novellas, and numerous anthologies of murder mystery, western romance, and action adventure. All her work has Western or Native American elements in them along with hints of humor and engaging characters. This is what Mysteries Etc says about her Shandra Higheagle mystery series: “Mystery, romance, small town, and Native American heritage combine to make a compelling read.”



blog / website /  Facebook / Paty's Posse / Goodreads / Twitter / Pinterest