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Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Wednesday on Writing: Speical Guest Paty Jager

It's my pleasure to have my long-time friend and critique partner Paty Jager here visiting with us today.  Paty is a multi published author of historical western romance--and how do you like that! We're each other's blog guests today!  So after reading this, mosey on over to Paty's Blog and  settle in for a visit!


Tell us a bit about yourself and why you write the genre you do.


I'm an Oregonian and proud of it. My husband and I farm/ranch 350
acres in central and eastern Oregon. We're empty nesters with children
and grand children coming and going faster than the change of weather.

I enjoy writing historical westerns because it is a time when the
women thought legally not treat equal, they were equals in the day to
day living with the men. They had to be for the families to survive.
It was a time when everything was wild and raw. Which makes for great
scenes and fun dialogue.



 How long have you been writing?

To be published? Probably twenty years. I started out writing mysteries and floundered unable to find a support group. Then I read LaVyrle Spencer's Hummingbird and tried my hand at historical western romance. I also found RWA(Romance Writers of America) and learned I had a lot to learn about writing a romance. But I did well in contests and found a wonderful critique partner and I learned to write. I became published four years ago with Wild Rose Press.

 Where do you get your ideas?



My ideas can come from song lyrics, a newspaper article, or something I read while I'm researching for a book. I even had an idea come from something I heard on the radio. My ideas are open to anything!


Describe your typical writing day.

Lately, my typical day is getting my dh out the door to work but 6:30 am. Then I'm queuing the music for the current WIP and writing. I've made a pact with myself that I can't get on the internet until I've written 2000 words. Once I've hit that mark I can check e-mails, visit blogs,and work on promotion. Then after that if I don't have outside or inside chores that need done, I'll write some more on the WIP until I have to make dinner.

Now if I'm at our place that's three hours away. I wake up at 6 am and
change pipes.  Have breakfast, then I write until I can't stand to sit
any longer and go outside for a walk. Then I come in and write more
until I need to move and then I eat dinner and go out to change pipes
again. Then I watch a movie and go to bed.




What was your “Aha!” moment—when you knew you had to be a writer?


I was a senior in high school. We were given the assignment to write about a figure in history. We researched the character and then wrote the story. I wrote about Joan of Arc burning at the stake in her POV.  I still remember the teacher reading my story aloud in class and the quiet that followed when she finished. Even the class clown didn't have a joke.  That was when I truly realized the power of the written word even though I'd been an avid reader and traveled many continents and emotions through my reading.





If you weren’t a writer, what would you be?


I think I would have like to work in advertising if I'd had the opportunity to fully explore all occupations when I was in school.



Tell me your best cure for writer’s block?


Knock on wood. That rarely happens to me, but when it does it is
usually because I've written myself into a hole or trying to make a
character do something out of character. Or I've had some negative
feedback on my writing and that throws me for a loop. Then I just look
at the books I have published and read the good reviews and get myself
back in the game. So far, I'm never at a loss for things to write
about or characters to take on a journey.






 Tell us a little bit about Doctor in Petticoats (coming June 25 from The Wild Rose Press)

Doctor in Petticoats is the fourth book in the Halsey brother series.
Clay finds himself blind after an accident and his older brothers
decide the best thing for him is to learn how to deal with his
blindness and send him to a blind school across the state. While there
he learns a lot about himself and falls for an independent female
doctor in charge of the students at the blind school.

At writer workshops you're always hearing your book will only work if
there is no one else in the world who will compliment your characters
but each other. I think I did that with this book.



After a life-altering accident and a failed relationship, Dr. Rachel
Tarkiel gave up on love and settled for a life healing others as the
physician at a School for the Blind.  She's happy in her
vocation--until handsome Clay Halsey shows up and inspires her to want
more.

Blinded by a person he considered a friend, Clay curses his
circumstances and his limitations.  Intriguing Dr. Tarkiel shows him
no pity, though.  To her, he's as much a man as he ever was.

Can these two wounded souls conquer outside obstacles, as well as
their own internal fears, and find love?



“I’m going to look in your other eye now.” She, again, placed a hand
on his face and opened the eyelids, stilling her fluttering heart as
she pressed close. His clean-shaven face had a couple small nicks on
the edges of his angular cheeks. The spice of his shave soap lingered
on his skin.

She resisted the urge to run her cheek against his. The heat of his
face under her palm and his breath moving wisps of wayward hair caused
her to close her eyes and pretend for a few seconds he could be her
husband. A man who loved her and wouldn’t be threatened by her
occupation or sickened by her hideous scar.

His breathing quickened. A hand settled on her waist, slid around to
her back, and drew her forward. Her hand, holding the lens, dropped to
his shoulder, and she opened her eyes. This behavior on both their
parts was unconscionable, but her constricted throat wouldn’t allow
her to utter the rebuke.

Clay sensed the moment the doctor slid from professional to aroused
woman. The hand on his cheek caressed rather than held, her breathing
quickened, and her scent invaded his senses like a warm summer rain.


Wow!! That's a great excerpt!   Anything else in the works you can share with us? 



My first attempt at historical paranormal will be released in August. It's a book set among the Nez Perce Indians in the 1700's. The hero is an Indian spirit. And I have contracted a contemporary western that is waiting for a release date. It's the story of an ER nurse and a bareback bronc rider. For a glimpse at these you can go to my website. http://www.patyjager.net

This week I'm starting a ten day blog tour and giving away an
autographed copy of Doctor in Petticoats, a $25 B&N gift card, and a
summer tote full of goodies. to enter the contest just follow my blog
tour and leave a comment. The person who comments on the most blogs
will win. To find out where I'll be go to my blog:
http://www.patyjager.blogspot.com

Thanks for visiting with us today, Paty!  We'll see you back in late summer to tell us more about Spirit of the Mountain!

29 comments:

Susan Macatee said...

Great excerpt, Paty! I already have a copy of this book, but it's on my huge TBR pile right now. Sounds like a great read! Best of luck with this new release!!

Paty Jager said...

Thanks Susan! I know what you mean about a TBR pile.

Nic, Thanks for having me here today!!

Kathy Otten said...

Hi Paty,

Congratulations! I'm always amazed by how much you accomplish in a day. Your new book looks good. I just got a Nook, so I'm eager to start downloading books. Good luck with your sales.

Jeanmarie Hamilton said...

Sounds like you're having a great time writing. Intriguing characters. I'm assuming that changing the pipes has something to do with irrigating fields. Do you change them by yourself or with someone helping you? How large are the pipes? Is it hard to do?

Stacy McKitrick said...

I like your goals. Since I work full-time though, my goal is usually "finish the chores, then write". Of course, the only chores I assign myself are the important ones - like laundry and dishes! I'd be happy if I could write 1000 words a day (but I do always find the time to write SOMETHING).

Enjoyed the excerpt. Got me interested!

Paty Jager said...

Hi Kathy,
LOL I amaze myself each night when I fall into bed. Let me know how that Nook works out.

Paty Jager said...

JeanMarie,

Yes, it is irrigation pipes, and I wish I had someone to help me. My husband and I purchased property three hours from where we live itn eh opes of cultivating it and putting a house on it one day. In t he mean time because he has a 7-5 agricultural job he has to remain here and I get the honor of doing the irrigating on the new property. I have two hand lines- 40 foot, 4inch pipe I move by packing it through the alfalfa field. they are short. One is 15 pipes long and one is 20. And I have three wheel lines, these are much easier to move. I start the motor and they move along to the next valve. Anyway, I do that morning and night for three to four days depending on what all needs to be watered. The hand lines are hard to move when the wind is blowing hard. Which it does a lot in Princeton. It moves the ends around and sometimes I end up twirling in a circle. Not fun! But we have hopes of putting in a pivot this fall. Which means the pipes will move on their own. All I'll have to do is drive over, turn the pump on, write for how ever many days it takes to water and then turn the pump off and drive home. I'm looking forward to that!

Paty Jager said...

Stacy, Everyone's goals are different and work for their own life. And writing something every day is better than thinking about writing every day. Keep at it!

Unknown said...

Great interview and excerpt, Paty! The book sounds really good.

LORETTA CANTON said...

I love reading about the reading Halsey brothers. Good interview.

lorettaC

lbcanton@verizon.net

Paty Jager said...

Thanks for stopping by, Jena!

Hi Loretta, I'm glad you like the boys. I'm kind of partial to them as well. ;)

Paisley Kirkpatrick said...

Waving, Paty. It was fun to hear about where you live and how dedicated you are to writing. Your place sounds great for getting ideas if you need them. Sounds like you have that well under control as well. Good luck with your new book.

Genene Valleau, writing as Genie Gabriel said...

Hi, Paty! Congratulations on your latest release! I'm looking forward to reading it, as well as the long-awaited Spirit of the Mountain book in August. :)

This is going to be another busy year for you!

Paty Jager said...

Thanks Paisley!

Hi Genene! I know, you have been wanting the spirit book since I first talked about it. LOL

JeanMP said...

Congrats on the release. The book sounds really good, enjoyed the excerpt. You are one busy woman with your writing and the irrigation of the fields, not to mention all the other day to day things.

Paty Jager said...

Jean P. Thanks! I do tend to try and stay out of trouble. LOL

Caroline Clemmons said...

Paty, great ecerpt. Sounds like another great read.

Paty Jager said...

Thanks, Caroline!

Tanya Hanson said...

Congratulations, Paty. Sounds like a terrific read and a terrific edition for my new Kindle. Best of luck with sales.

Now I need to take your advice about writing before the internet.

Paty Jager said...

Tanya, Up until this week (blog tour) the not going internet until I had a decent word count was working. But alas, it is going bad with promoting and answering the blogs I'm on. LOL Tomorrow when I head to Princeton and it's an effort to get internet, I'll get my word count up again.

Fedora said...

Thanks for the interview and excerpt, Paty! Congrats on living out your dream--how exciting to have so many titles under your belt now! I imagine the thrill of each new release doesn't get old though! And I can't imagine how you balance all the demands on your time as a writer and person! Best wishes as you kick off your tour! :)

Paty Jager said...

flchen1- It is a thrill every time I have a book published. And an even bigger thrill when someone says they liked it!

Thanks for stopping by!n

Heidiwriter said...

Have fun on your tour, Paty. I love the titles of your series. Excellent!

Paty Jager said...

Hi Heidi, Thanks for stopping by! I had fun coming up with the titles.

Me :) said...

The first e-book I ever read was one of Paty's. Sealed the deal for me :)

Paty Jager said...

Ann, I'm glad I made you a convert. LOL

Alice Trego said...

Great interview, Paty. Feel like I know you better :)

I know I'm working backward on your Blog Tour, but once I read your third 'stop,' had to check out your other blog stops.

Alice
Pres, Women Writing the West

Paty Jager said...

Hi Alice!

It doesn't matter which direction you go as long as you learn something along the way.

Thanks!

Paty

Arletta Dawdy said...

HI Paty,
I'm peddling backwards here to catch your posts.
You share of your writing and life generously and I appreciate it.

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