MK:
Spirit of the Sky is the third in a paranormal series with a focus on the Nimiipuu, a Nez Perce
tribe. What inspired you to combine these magical elements with the history of
these people?
PJ:
Growing up in Wallowa Valley, where the Lake band of the Nez Perce summered and
wintered, I’ve always been fascinated by them. And I’ve always been fascinated
by the legends and myths I’d heard. When the idea to write about this band came
to me, I started learning all I could and reading books with their myths and
legends. Learning about the weyakin
spirit who comes to them during their vision quests which they take when they
are of age, I decided to come up with spirits who looked out for this one band
of NezPerce or Nimiipuu as they call themselves.
MK:
What kind of research was involved for the series? Did you find it became
easier with each book?
PJ:
I read many books by and about the Nez Perce, both non-fiction and fiction. I
researched online at Nez Perce sites, and I connected with two tribe members
who were willing to help me make sure my facts were correct and steer me in the
right direction if I wanted to write a scene that they felt didn’t depict the
Nez Perce correctly. I had to learn a lot about the way they lived before the
Whiteman entered their lives for the first book and tried to not research ahead
of the time frame I was writing to not put in things that they wouldn’t know.
The second book was easier because I had learned a good bit about the day to
day living for the first book, but then I had to research birth and the myths
and protocol for that. The third book took me much longer to write because of
the historical accuracy I had to keep. The third book followed their flight to
freedom. I’d read about a campaign from both the military and Indian sides and
then I’d write the scene in the book from my characters’ points of view. It was
a long struggle and I hope I did the whole book justice.
MK: Do you have a favorite character in Spirit of the Sky? Who and why?
PJ:
I like all my characters. ;) I like the hero, Lt.Watts because of his
compassion and determination to do right. The heroine, Sa-qan, for her
conviction to her people and ultimately to her happiness.
MK:
Without giving it all away, please tell us a little something about how Lt. Wade Watts
and Sa-qan
are going to get through their biggest challenge.
PJ:
Wade has to realize the army isn’t a good substitute for family and to believe
in the woman he’s fallen in love with. Sa-qan has to discover even though she
watched over the Lake Nimiipuu for hundreds of years she was not what kept them
strong, it was their own strength, resilience, and love of one another.
Something she finds she has to use to keep her family together.
MK:
What has been your greatest challenge in writing Sprit of the Sky?
PJ:
Keeping the history accurate from both sides- military and Nez Perce. And not
trying to show a bias. Which was hard given the way things turned out.
MK:
What has been your greatest pleasure in writing this book?
PJ:
After Sa-qan having been a secondary character in the first two books, I
enjoyed giving her her story and pitting her against herself when she realizes
the feelings she has for not only a cavalry officer but a mortal. If you read
the previous books you know the grief she gave her brothers for falling in love
with mortals.
MK:
I would read these books simply because of the covers – all in the series are
beautiful! Did you have a part in their design?
PJ:
Yes and no. ;) The first one I had a lot of input. I asked for a white wolf and
a mountain similar to the mountain at the foot of Wallowa Lake(where the
Nimiipuu wintered). The first cover I was sent looked like a nature book on
wolves. I asked for a way to make it more romance looking and it came back with
the super-imposed couple in the corner. I loved it! The second book, I said it
needs an elk, he’s the spirit of Wallowa Lake and can it look like the first
one. When it was sent to me, I cried.
Not only was it gorgeous but that is a photo of Wallowa Lake in the background! The third book, I said, similar to the first
two with an eagle and a cavalry officer.
And you see the results. I’m very pleased with the cover artists at The
Wild Rose Press. These covers have
received many kudos.
MK:
As a multi-genre author, how do you juggle going back and forth between
historical, paranormal and contemporary?
PJ:
It’s actually easier than one would think. And I don’t consider the spirit
trilogy paranormal it feels historical to me. While the Spirit element
classifies the books as paranormal it’s an entity of the Native American
culture that feels a part of that culture. Slipping from contemporary to
historical is a matter of word usage and settings. Not to mention I listen to
different music depending on what I’m writing. Bluegrass and Celtic for
historical writing and contemporary western music for the contemporary books
and Native American music for the Native American books.
MK: What is your favorite non-writing pastime?
PJ:
Reading and riding my horse.
MK:
What do you have in store next for your readers?
PJ:
I have the first book of a trilogy going through final edits with the plan to
have it available as an ebook end of June/ first of July. Secrets of a Mayan Moon is a contemporary action/adventure with romantic
elements set in Guatemala. Isabella Mumphrey, PhD in Anthropology, specializing
in Native American cultures, is lured to a Mayan dig and finds she’s to be a
virgin sacrifice. Unbeknownst to the villains, Augustino Konstantine, an
undercover DEA agent, has captured the doctor’s heart and deflowered her,
making the sacrifice not only deadly to Isabella but sabotaging their chance at
riches from the ceremony.
Thank
you for having me here today, MK. I’ve enjoyed being interviewed by you.
Contest time from Paty!
I’m
giving away a $5 egift certificate to Amazon to one lucky commenter on this
post. And if you check out the places I’ve been on my tour, counting the
different eagle photos, you can send me
the number of different eagle pictures you counted. 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.
You can learn more about Paty at her blog; www.patyjager.blogspot.com her website; http://www.patyjager.net or on Facebook; https://www.facebook.com/#!/paty.jager
and twitter; @patyjag.
Discover the Series
Excerpt from Spirit of the Sky
NĂ¡-qc
(1)
Big Hole Montana, 1877
Sa-qan’s heart raced with anxiety. Her wings faltered as she circled
above the devastating scene. The large number of soldiers moved with
stealth through the growing light of day toward the Nimiipuu camped many
moons from their beloved Wallowa country. The same soldiers who would
soon invade the camp of her sleeping people had given Joseph and the
other chiefs no choice. It was either move to a reservation under a
treaty they did not sign or dash for freedom. They chose freedom and now
must fight to survive.
She screeched out a warning, but no one would heed the call of a bald
eagle. Short of showing herself to the Nimiipuu in mortal form, she
could do nothing but hover over the carnage as the white soldiers first
shot an unarmed old man checking his horses, and then charged into the
sleeping camp spraying bullets into everything—women, children, the
old—it did not matter to the soldiers if they were warriors or not. They
called the Nimiipuu savages, but the Wallowa band had only killed those
who tried to harm them on their flight from the soldiers forcefully
taking their home.
The violence sickened Sa-qan. She was a spirit of the Nimiipuu, but
she was useless against this many. Her wings weakened with each slain
Nimiipuu. What can I do? she beseeched the Creator.
Warriors stumbled from their tepees, scrambling for cover and
weapons. The celebration the night before now scoffed their good luck in
finding a peaceful place to rest. With each spark and crack of a rifle
and swipe of a sword their safety vanished.
Sa-qan landed on a rock on the hillside. Her chest ached. Screams,
war cries, and rifle blasts echoed up the ravine. The acrid smoke of
burned gun powder, stench of fear, and tang of blood filled the crisp
morning air. She couldn’t call upon Wewukiye and Dove. Her brother and
his wife kept watch over the forked-tongued leader of the soldiers, Cut
Arm. His large group of soldiers were in pursuit, crossing the mountain
pass, Lolo, the Nimiipuu traversed seven suns earlier.
Her keen eyesight sought Dove’s daughter, Girl of Many Hearts. The
child had come to this earth nine summers earlier after a Whiteman raped
her mother. Wewukiye had helped Dove, a mortal at the time, and fallen
in love. But their working together to prove the Whiteman’s deceit had
ended Dove’s mortal life and the Creator gave her the gift of being a
spirit. Sa-qan caught a glimpse of Silent Doe, the child’s adoptive
mortal mother, pushing Girl of Many Hearts into the willows along the
river bank moments before the woman collapsed.
Dove’s daughter needs me! Sa-qan swooped down the hillside,
spread her wings, and hovered at the top of the willows. Her body
dissolved, changing to smoke, then restructuring into a mortal form. She
dropped into the knee-deep, cold water beside Girl of Many Hearts.
“Shh…” she whispered into the child’s ear, hugging the small body
close. She would not allow the soldiers to harm the child. Going against
the Creator’s rule to not show herself in mortal form ticked at Sa-qan
like an irritating woodpecker, but she saw no other way to save Dove’s
daughter. She’d sworn nine summers ago after Dove became a spirit that
she, Sa-qan, would always be there for Girl of Many Hearts when Dove was
not around to care for her daughter. The mortal girl had become the
child she would never have.
Splashing at the river’s edge heightened Sa-qan’s need to protect the
child. With slow movements, she eased the child deeper into the cold
water careful not to make ripples that might cause the tall, stiff weeds
to reveal their hiding spot. She used her spirit txiyak, power,
to fill the child with warmth. Her sharp sight watched for movement in
the reeds. The rustle of the reeds behind her drew her attention. Would
the soldiers try to surround a woman and child? A slight breeze
fluttered across her tense face. The wind.
A deep voice cursed and splashing grew nearer.
Girl of Many Hearts stiffened in her arms as water rippled past their still bodies.
Read More
Thank you for interviewing today Paty! It was fun and it's such a beautiful series. Congratulations!
ReplyDeleteMK, Thank you for having me and asking great questions. Enjoy getting to know the rest of the spirit siblings.
ReplyDeleteMK and Paty, Great interview! Paty, All three in the series are waiting in my TBR pile and I can't wait to get started. The covers are just gorgeous!
ReplyDelete--Kirsten
Kirsten, Thank you for purchasing all three. If you've like what you've read in the blog tour, I'm pretty sure you won't be disappointed with the books. The people who haven't liked the books are ones who can't wrap their heads around the spirit element.(a best friend and one daughter) The my friend quoted some scenes she loved but said the spirit thing just didn't work for her. And I understand not everyone can grasp that. I can't grasp vampires and werewolves. ;)
ReplyDeleteI thought the spirit element would throw me off at first, but I was surprised when it didn't. I can't usually grasp vampires and werewolves either, but it's been interesting to see what direction authors are going in their creativity.
ReplyDeleteLovely interview, Paty, and great excerpt. Simply loved it. I mention the Nez Perce in one of my books, too--my hero's father was from that tribe. Reserching them was enlightening. Wishing you great luck with the series! Looks like my Kindle just got a little fatter. ;-)
ReplyDeleteFun interview, Paty! Sounds like you really spent a lot of time and effort to research this trilogy and do the Nez Perce people proud. I loved the first book. Can't wait to read the other two. And I agree - gorgeous covers. They remind me of the Clan of the Cave Bear covers. Beautiful!
ReplyDeleteI love your covers too! You can certainly tell from the detail in your books, the intense amount of research you do. Great post!
ReplyDeleteMK, I agree, writers have vivid imaginations and can make some of the most interesting things come alive.
ReplyDeleteVonnie, They are an unique tribe that are interesting to learn about.
Hey Danita, Thanks! I did spend lots of time researching and the covers are my faves.
Hi Diana, Thank you!
Very nice interview and excerpt. The research sounds fascinating.
ReplyDeletebn100candg(at)hotmail(dot)com
Lysette, MK asked great questions. The research was fascinating.
ReplyDeleteVonnie is my contest winner for this blog.
ReplyDelete