Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Interview with Patty Jager



Today I'd like to welcome Paty Jager for an awesome interview.


Q ~ Can you tell us a bit about yourself?My husband, of thirty-four years, and I raise cattle and hay on 350 acres. We also raised four kids and have seven grandchildren. I was a 4-H leader and went on to work for the extension service as a 4-H program assistant. I now travel around the state judging Open Class and 4-H foods and textiles entries at county fairs.

My first book was published in 2006 by a new ebook and POD(print on demand) publisher. They went on to publish nine of my books and one novella. In 2011 I jumped on the Indie or self-pub wave and I now have fifteen published books and two novellas. I like the freedom of self publishing because I can get the cover I like, and publish the book when I want and not on someone else’s schedule.

Q ~ What is your favorite pastime (other than reading and writing of course)?I enjoy helping my husband with the ranching. Driving a tractor and riding my horse. I also do a lot of walking and admiring nature.

Q ~ When you were younger, what did you want to be when you grew up? At one point I thought about being a teacher. But I never really had a deep yen to be anything. I loved reading, writing and the arts- painting, drawing, and music. I wanted to go to college for art and my father insisted I had to go into a medical field. That lasted one year and I rebelled, striking out to live with a friend and work menial jobs until I met my husband. He then gave me the freedom to take art and writing classes and hone my writing skills.

Q ~ What is one thing about yourself that few people know, but that you’d like everyone to know?Boy, that’s a hard one. I’m pretty much an open book. I guess that I’m an introvert. I can get up in front of a bunch of people and give a workshop, because I have a passion about writing and teaching others how to do it, but if I’m in a room full of people and not speaking, I have a hard time making eye contact or even speaking to them. I’m like a hermit crab. So if you do see me in a crowd off by myself in the back or corner of the room. I’m not a snob, I just have a hard time making contact in that kind of a situation.

Q ~ If you were stuck on a deserted island, what would you want to have with you and why? Who would you want to have with you? A lot of paper and pencils to write stories. It would be the perfect place to crazy if I didn’t have a way to get out the stories that would be dancing in my head. I’d want my husband. He’s strong, self-reliant, and could not only protect me but also figure out ways to keep us alive and hopefully off the island, when we were ready to leave. ;)

Q ~ What is your opinion on the recent books to movies trend?If they do the story justice I see it as another way a writer can connect with a broader audience. I have a couple of books many readers feel should be made into movies and I’d be tickled if they were.

Q ~ Who, or what, are the biggest influences in your life? In your writing?A huge influence in my life was my mom. She always told me I could do anything if I wanted it bad enough. And I’ve proven it with becoming an author. I know she would have been proud if she were still alive. In my writing… It would be the books I read that made me want to write and Nicole McCaffrey who saw the potential in my writing years ago and helped me hone my craft, showing me what I needed to fix and instilling the desire to keep at it.

Q ~ How did you get started writing?I’ve been writing my whole life, stories here and there for my own pleasure and my friends, but it was a community ed class on writing that made me believe I could be published. The instructor said to believe in your writing and yourself. I took that to heart and wrote a story about a story teller who was at my children’s school. I called up the local paper and said I had a story for them. The editor laughed and said he already had someone who was going to interview and photograph the story teller the next day. I told him he didn’t have to send a reporter because I already had the story written. He asked me if it was good. I didn’t hesitate. “Yes!” He told me to bring the story in that afternoon. I headed to town and handed the story to the editor. He read it, looked at me, and said, “You’re right, this is good.” He ran that story and called me a week later to be a freelance human interest reporter for the paper. I had that job for two years than moved on to a larger paper for two more years and during that time I started writing novels.

Q ~ You write a variety of different genres, do you have a favorite? Is it the same one that you prefer to read?I do write different genres, but I try to keep the same general themes of either western or Native American to them. I don’t have a favorite other than the one I’m writing at the time. ;) I have to be passionate about the story and characters I’m writing to give it my full attention when I’m writing. So the book I’m writing at the moment I’m asked is my favorite. Mainly because it is new and exciting. The spirit trilogy that is written about the Nez Perce tribe that summered and wintered in the county where I grew up is the books of my heart. They are special to me in so many ways. They show the plight of the band, how they loved the valley, and how they were torn from it. But at the same time I have romance and made up Indian spirits to give it a unique feel.

I read all genres, except I don’t care for horror, vampires, werewolves, or psychological thrillers.

Q ~ Do you have a favorite book or character that you’ve written?See the comment above about the spirit trilogy(Spirit of the Mountain, Spirit of the Lake, Spirit of the Sky) while they required tons of research are my the books of my heart. My favorite heroine to write is Isabella Mumphrey of Secrets of a Mayan Moon and Secrets of an Aztec Temple. Her genius IQ and life naïveté make her a fun character to write about. My favorite Hero is Zeke Halsey in Outlaw in Petticoats though all five of the Halsey brothers hold a special place in my writer heart.

Q ~ Do you have a writing routine? Are there things that you always need to have with you, or places you always need to be? Do you need to have something laid out before you put words on paper (or the computer screen)? A usual day (when I’m not running around) is I get on the computer about 6:30 am and do through emails, check some blogs, and do any promotion for the day. At 8:00 am I get breakfast go do outside chores and come in and do a cursory clean up and get back on the computer by 9-9:30. Then I write until about noon. I get lunch, go for a walk, feed the horses, and then get back on the computer and write until about 4pm. This time of year I then go feed calves in the corral and meet my husband with the hay trailer to feed the cows. After dinner I sometimes get back on the computer for an hour or two of promotion and social media.

During the summer I have things like changing irrigation, riding my horse, and haying that can break up the day. When I’m on a blog tour, I stop several times during the day to reply to comments on the blogs.

I do like to listen to music when I’m writing. I have specific kinds depending on the story I’m writing. Native American music for the spirit trilogy, Mayan, Aztec, Mexican for the Isabella books, Country for the contemporary westerns, and bluegrass for the historical westerns.

Q ~ If you could give all new authors one piece of advice, what would it be?Learn the craft, learn the business, and when you get critiqued and don’t like what they say, step back let it steep a bit and go back with a fresh eye. You may see that they are right or they may be way off but don’t go with your first gut reaction to the comment. Another set of eyes is always a good thing if they believe in you and care about your career.

Thank you for having me at your blog and for asking great questions!
  Paty

Author Bio:

Award winning author Paty Jager is a member of national and local writing organizations. She not only writes the western lifestyle, she lives it. With sixteen novels and several short stories published, she continues to have characters cavorting in her head.

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 , Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1005334.Paty_Jager and twitter; @patyjag.


And now, lets find out a bit more about Paty's latest release, which I can't wait to get my hands on, Secrets of an Aztec Temple.

Blurb
Revenge is not always sweet…

Isabella Mumphrey can’t leave a puzzle alone. This time she attempts to use her anthropology knowledge to uncover who is stealing priceless artifacts from an Aztec Temple in Mexico City. She believes the discovery will prove her worth to the World Intelligence Agency.

Tino Constantine is also in Mexico City. He has infiltrated a drug lord’s organization to find enough evidence to not only prove the man’s illegal activities, but to bring him down for numerous deaths. Namely those of Tino’s family.

But when the love of his life, Isabella, strolls into his enemy’s home, Tino is challenged with the choice of saving her or fulfilling his revenge.

Excerpt


They turned the corner onto Correro Mayor, the street that ran alongside the Templo Mayor plaza. Tino continued his quick pace, not sparing a breath to talk. His right hand rested on the handle of the Glock in his shoulder strap. His left clutched Isabella’s fingers.

A car revved its engine and raced down the street. His senses snapped to take in the shadows, the sound, the smell of burning rubber and high-octane fuel. Steadying his heart, he slowed his pace and dropped his hand from his weapon. As the car drew closer, he pulled Isabella into his arms and kissed her with as much passion as he could while eyeing the car moving by them slowly. He grasped her leg, drawing it up to hook her knee around his hip. Give the gawkers in the car an eyeful and they would eventually move on along.

Her damn vest ruined the image of a chula out for a good time, but he knew asking her to go anywhere without it would be the same as asking her to walk naked down the street. Not a bad image. He deepened the kiss and was rewarded with her hands clutching his overly long hair and returning the kiss, stroke for stroke with his tongue.

The gawkers finally rolled on down the street, and he slowly lowered her leg as she moaned and clung to him.

“Querida, you play the part of a vixen well.” He kissed the tip of her nose and slid her glasses back in place.

Windtree Press http://windtreepress.com/product.asp?itemid=17
Nook http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/secrets-of-an-aztec-temple-paty-jager/1114316236
Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Secrets-Isabella-Mumphrey-Adventure-ebook/dp/B00BB5J2VQ
Kobo http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Secrets-of-an-Aztec-Temple/book-KHf1FzTz60a-Xa7-PBMCRg/page1.html?s=JrJ_mAllFEGuiT9syKbcWQ&r=1


21 comments:

  1. Wow.. I learned a lot about you. I think I'd enjoy ranching too. There is something about being a writer though. You do get to tell your own stories. Maybe it's the people in our heads!

    Best of luck with your books!
    Melissa

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    1. Hi Melissa! Yes, Jonel asked some great questions to draw out a lot of information about me. Thank you! Have fun with the people in your head too. ;)

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  2. Thank you for having me here today, Jonel, and asking great questions.

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  3. Hi Paty,

    Wonderful interview, and I was surprised to learn you are a rancher. I'm with you on the desert island question. Lots of paper and pencils and my darling husband along with me. Wishing you the best of luck with your sales!

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    1. Hi Gemma. Yep, grew up on a farm/ranch and now help my husband. In fact I'm headed out to harrow. Thanks for stopping in!

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  4. Another great interview, Paty! All you get done continues to amaze me!

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    1. Hey Genene! Thanks for stopping in. I don't feel like I get enough done....

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  5. My dad was like that too. He didn't want me going to college because I'd take art classes. After I got married, I managed to take a few art classes on my own.

    Good luck with your books. They sounds really good.

    Janice~

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    1. Hi Janice, Yes, some people don't understand the need to be creative! Thank you!

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  6. Nice interview, Paty, and love the phot with the horse. hugs

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    1. HI Vicki! Thank you! That's Bud. He's a pretty boy and knows it! LOL

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  7. Funny thing, my dad wanted me to go into nursing. Not my first choice, and I rebelled too. I've really enjoyed your books. Here's to many, many more sales for you!!!

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    1. Hi Diana, We have a lot in common! Thank you! I'm glad you are finding enjoyment in my writing. I have fun writing them so I hope people find them entertaining.

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  8. Great interview! Mrs. Paty sounds like she stays pretty busy with the ranch. I would LOVE to own a ranch and be able to devote myself to such. Thanks for posting today.

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    1. Thank you, Stephanie. Sometimes the ranching can be too much work, but most of the time we love it. It's been a fun visit!

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  9. A huge thanks to everyone for stopping by, and especially to Paty for this phenomenal interview. I also have to agree wih you guys, I don't know how Paty does it all. Ranching would be awesome but so time consuming. I have a hard enough time reviewing and having a single horse at someone else's farm. She ranches and writes stellar books. Cudos!

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    1. Thanks for having me, Jonel! Most of the time I feel blessed to do two things I enjoy, ranching and writing. There are times when the stress of both can be a bit overwhelming. But I love it!

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  10. Paty, always fun to learn more about you. We have more in common than I realized. Wishing you continued success.

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    1. Hi Caroline! Who knew a Texas girl and an Oregon girl could have a lot in common. ;) Thanks!

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  11. I'm sorry I'm so late getting here.
    I deep down, truly related to your answer to the question about what you wanted to be when you grew up. I knew from the time i was 9 years old that i wanted to be a writer. My second love was music and my violin. My father, a Great Depression survivor, was extremely practical so I presented the case for practicality while still hoping to fulfill my dream job by asking him to send me to college to be a teacher. I knew both his parents were teachers and thought this was a perfect ptich. It didn't work. For whatever reason, my father said he didn't want me to be a teacher. In fact, he would only send me to college if I chose something in the medical field (just like your dad). I ended up becoming an RN and working in critical care my entire career until 2009 when I retired early. Though nursing allowed me a good living at a noble profession, I wish I could have spent my college years preparing for a career in writing or music. I spent many years struggling to become published and I finally got there, but I think it would have been easier if I had been able to convince Pop that writing was a career and not a hobby.

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  12. Sarah, It seems to be a theme for those of use with parents who were part for the Depression era. I understand they wanted to make sure we had a job that would always be there, but they are also a job that requires compassion. Kudos to you for sticking it out. My mom was a nurse until she retired even though it wasn't the profession she wanted either. But all the women in her family were nurses. And after marrying my dad she had to help bring in a steady income.

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