What's coming up?

This year's BlogFest promises to be better than ever! Have you signed up yet? 

I have! And I'll have some tempting goodies for you. More about that later. (Yes, I'm going to keep you hanging, lol) 

First, you should visit here to sign up your blog. It's free, and there are no minimum requirements. 

Thanks so much to Cinnamon Brown for organizing this fun event!

Also - just a reminder today that Paty Jager's in the hot seat at Author Chat - click on the badge to the right to access it for the next few weeks. I'm sure she'd love to hear from you! She has an exciting new release, a very cool Native American paranormal, so check it out!

I know I'd said earlier that this year, I was going to slow down on blogging. But while my computer time's been very limited due to circumstances, there's still so much going on! I have more news about a new release next week I'm very excited about. More re-releases from previously pubbed stories that I'm putting out myself. Next month will be very busy, especially with Rock Bottom coming out (yay!) from Lyrical Press. In July, more re-releases, plus *another* new release, which I'm also excited (and a little nervous) about. I'll be visiting some blogs of wonderful author friends, and hope you'll visit.

I'm hoping soon to get back to my Writing Tips blog series too. Craft is something at which I work very hard, and now that I'm releasing some stories on my own, it's imperative. Many times, I'll share links about great writing tips on my Facebook page, so if you haven't already clicked "Like," I'd love it if you would now. :) It's very simple - click the Like button at right! Thanks so much.

And by the way, I've made it easy for you to see all my Blog Series  - just click the tab above! I'll add links as I post them. Hope you enjoy it!

Author Chat with Paty Jager

Hi Paty! So glad to have you at Author Chat, where we can learn a little bit about you, and your book.

Grab a cappuccino and let’s chat. Unless you have another favorite drink (alcoholic or otherwise)?
Hot chocolate, please. No whip cream, but if you have a shot of peppermint schnapps… 

Yum. :) Fur or feathers, petwise?
Fur, of the doggie kind. Tink, my Chihuahua/min pin cross, travels with me when I go on research trips and everywhere else. We also have two cow dogs, 30 head of cattle, one horse, one mini horse, and one burro. 

That's a lot of fur! lol 
Any pet peeves? One thing that really burns your biscuits?
Pet peeves - When perfectly healthy people park in the handicap parking, shopping carts are left in parking spots rather than put in the cart corrals, and a real pet peeve, when the dogs poop on my trail to the barn. ;) 

Oh yuck! :) Favorite quote? 
Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness. Mark Twain 

Love Mark Twain. 
What’s your ideal day like?
3,000 words written, a horse ride with grandkids, a barbeque with family, and watching the stars pop out in a warm summer sky. Or are you talking about a typical ideal day…  2,000 words written, two hours spent on the internet networking and promoting, a walk, watch The Talk, and make dinner for hubby. With a horse ride in the evening. 

Ahh, lovely. If you could live out any fantasy, what would you do?
When I was in high school we had to write a story about what our life would be like in thirty years. I had a barn renovated into a house with tigers for pets and I was reclusive writer and artist. 

Beethoven, Beatles, Foo Fighters or Keith Urban? 

I don't know who Foo Fighters are, but I like the rest. ;) I listen to mostly country music but I like it all but hard rock and rap. 

Do you have a music playlist for your book?
I don’t have a playlist but while writing the spirit trilogies I listened to cd's of Native American music.  When I write historical westerns I listen to blue grass, contemporary westerns I listen to country music, my book set in Guatemala, I listened to Mayan music. 

Sounds cool, and that must have really set the mood. Which of your characters would you most/least to invite to dinner, and why?
I'd love to invite all my heroes and heroines and many of the secondary characters to dinner. I tend to write people I would like to hang out with. They all have family values once they realize it, and a sense of humor. 

Love it, sounds like a great dinner party. While creating your books, what was one of the most surprising things you learned?
One? I do a lot of research for my books and I come across so many interesting things. But for the book that released this month, Spirit of the Lake, it was learning how pregnant women were viewed in the Nez Perce culture.  And the symbolism of the birth and how it pertains to the child's health. They keep a piece of the umbilical cord in a pouch on the cradle board and later with the child's pouch where they keep all things precious to them. It's believed if anything happens to the dried up cord the child will become ill and could die. And if the child does become sick, the cord can be used to heal them.

Fascinating. I love research too. :)

Where can readers find out more about you?

At my website: http://www.patyjager.net, my blog: Http://www.patyjager.blogspot.com or follow my blog tour and win.

This post is part of my blog tour. Leave a comment on as many of my guest blogs as you can and the person who travels with me the most will receive an autographed copy of Spirit of the Lake, a sweatshirt, and cowboy chocolate. To find all the places I’m visiting go to my blog: www.patyjager.blogspot.com  The contest runs from May 18^th – May 29^th covering thirteen blogs. I'll notify the winner on May 30^th. In the event of a tie I will draw a name.

Spirit of the Lake blurb:
Two generations after his brother became mortal, Wewukiye, the lake spirit, prevents a Nimiipuu maiden from drowning and becomes caught up in her sorrow and her heart
Her tribe ignores Dove's shameful accusations—a White man took her body, leaving her pregnant, and he plans to take their land.Wewukiye vows to care for her until she gives birth, to help her prove the White man is deceitful and restore her place in her tribe.
As they travel on their quest for justice, Dove reveals spiritual abilities yet unknown in her people, ensnaring Wewukiye’s respect and awe. But can love between a mortal and a spirit grow without consequences?

Excerpt

 Wewukiye tugged her hand, drawing her closer. His warm breath puffed against her ear.

"You need only think of me and you will have strength."

His soft silky voice floated through her body like a hot drink.

Dove swallowed the lump in her throat and asked, "When will I see you again?" The thought of sleeping on the hard ground next to the fire in Crazy One's dwelling didn't sound near as inviting as using his lap to rest her head.

The days and nights grew colder; to be wrapped in his arms would warm her through and through.

"You will find me at the meadow every day when the sun is directly overhead." He brushed his lips against her ear.

She closed her eyes, relishing the silky feel of his lips and the heat of his touch.

"Think of me," whispered through her head.

Dove opened her eyes. She stood alone. Her palm still warm from their clasped hands, her ear ringing with his whisper.

Buy Link: http://thewildrosepress.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=195&products_id=4503

Thanks for chatting Paty!
Thank you for having me, Cate! It's been fun!

Do you know the history of the wreckers?

Today I'm over at Paty Jager’s blog talking about the inspiration for my upcoming historical novel, Angels Sinners and Madmen, set in 1856 Key West, Florida. I hope you'll join me at Paty's to learn more about these fascinating people.

I'm also over at Rachel Brimble's blog, discussing the importance of researching stories of any genre.

Welcome special guest author Paty Jager!

Cate: Today, I'm pleased to have award-winning author Paty Jager as a guest. Welcome, Paty! Will you please share a short bio with us?
Paty: Wife, mother, grandmother, and the one who cleans pens and delivers the hay; award winning author, Paty Jager, not only writes about the western lifestyle, she lives it. Jager and her husband of thirty years have raised four children, built a house, and now ranch 350 acres.
Jager began her writing career as a freelance reporter for local newspapers. Found RWA (Romance Writers of America) and after eight years of attending many conferences, workshops, and being a finalist in eight contests, she broke into the publishing industry with a new e-book and POD publisher, The Wild Rose Press. She credits the RWA organization for helping her work on her craft to become a published author and giving her the contacts necessary to build her career.
Two western romance historical books were published in 2006. Marshal in Petticoats and Gambling on an Angel. Her third romance novel, Perfectly Good Nanny, a contemporary western romance, won the 2008 Best Contemporary Romance EPPIE. The second book of the Halsey brother series, Outlaw in Petticoats, was released November 2008. Her fourth historical western and third book of the Halsey brother series, Miner in Petticoats was released in June.
To learn more about Paty, her books, and to enter her website contest, go to www.patyjager.com.

Cate: Readers, Paty will be giving away a copy of Miner in Petticoats. Paty, please tell us about Miner in Petticoats and where it's available.
Paty: Miner in Petticoats is the third book in the Halsey brother series. The oldest brother Ethan is hell bent on securing the futures of his brothers and their families by starting up a stamp mill. The problem- the best place to put the stamp mill is on the Widow Miller's place, and she isn't about to give up an inch of land or let another man abuse her. The clash of two strong wills, bigotry, and familial devotion all play into the conflicts and ultimate passion between the hero and heroine. This book can be purchased in e-book at www.thewildrosepress.com and in print at www.amazon.com or you can order through any book store.

Cate: At what age did you discover writing and when were you first published? Tell us your call story.
Paty: As a child I rewrote poems into plays for my brother and I to act out with stuffed animals. Then I wrote "racy" stories with my friends in junior high. I had an aha momrnt in high school when an English project was read to the class and they all were silent after it was read and I realized my words could have an impact on someone. I took a writing class from the local college and using the confidence it gave me became a freelance reporter for the local paper. I didn't start seriously pursuing a writing career until my children were teenagers. I joined RWA and worked at honing my craft and networking. I finaled in a contest with nearly every ms I wrote, but never won. I had an agent tell me readers would love my stories, but I was a hard sell to editors because my stories are edgy or different. She suggested I try e-books and build a readership. So when a friend told me about the newly forming Wild Rose Press, I submitted and they contracted Marshal in Petticoats. I have since contracted four western historicals and one contemporary western with them.

Cate: Are there any other writers, published or not, in your family?
Paty: Nope, I am the only writer in my family. Not sure where it came from.

Cate: Describe your writing in three words.
Paty: Engaging, Character driven

Cate: Do you have a writing routine?
Paty: Yes, I get up make my dh's breakfast send him off to work, then I hit the computer and answer e-mails, write my blog and read blogs while drinking hot chocolate. Two hours later, I get breakfast, feed the animals and some days go for a walk or ride my horse. Then I write until noon. Watch news while I eat lunch, then work on my freelance job in the afternoon. If my dh doesn't have anything for me to do in the evening, I'll do research and catch up on blogs.

Cate: How many hours a day do you write?
Paty: Two to five. Depends on the day and what other things I have to do.

Cate: How do you pick the character’s names?
Paty: Sometimes a name will come to me before the character fully develops and sometimes the character is revealed and I look into their background to come up with a name.

Cate: What’s the most challenging aspect of writing? Easiest?
Paty: The most challenging aspect of writing a book for me is keeping the conflict strong. The easiest is coming up with a premise and characters.

Cate: What’s the most rewarding aspect?
Paty: The most rewarding aspect is having someone say they enjoyed reading one of my books. It made them laugh or they loved a character and didn't want the book to end.

Cate: Do you feel as if the characters live with you as you write? Do they haunt your dreams?
Paty: Yes, my characters are always in my head as I write a book and while I do my stew and brew process. This is when I get a character or an idea for a book. They swirl around in my head for a month or two before I start writing down things about the characters and their story.

Cate: What’s the most interesting comment you have received about your books?
Paty: Well, a 70+ male I've known for a long time told my husband he was a lucky man! LOL This was after the man called me and told me my book kept him up until 4 in the morning reading.

Cate: That's a great tribute! So which authors or books keep you reading? Who are your favorites, and what are you reading now?
Paty: Some of my favorite authors are LaVyrle Spencer, Linda Lael Miller, Lauri Robinson, Kathy Otten, Karyna DaRosa, Alice Sharpe, and Agatha Christie. I like any book that is western, mystery/suspense, or humorous. At the moment I'm in between books. I'm trying to get a project done and am writing, writing , writing. I usually read books when I'm beginning a project or am in between projects. I don't like to read when I am on the downhill side of a project.

Cate: What's next for you?
Paty: I am currently working on a co-project with another author, Christmas Anthology, and I hope to have a historical paranormal contracted soon.

Cate: Ooh, that sounds intriguing! Can’t wait to hear more about it.
Where can readers find you on the web?
Paty: www.patyjager.com

Cate: Is there anything you’d like to ask our readers?
Paty: What makes or breaks a romance book for you?

Cate: Thanks for being my guest today, Paty!
Readers, Paty’s giving away a book to a random commenter... so start commenting! She'll pick a winner on Sunday, June 14 around 8 pm EST and announce it here.