Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Guest Author, Paty Jager




Today's Guest Author is Paty Jager, fellow Rose and EPPIE winner. Paty and I tied for the contemporary romance EPPIE in 2008--I have the envelope that says so!!--and Paty was the one to let me know. (I never did hear from the EPPIE people, until the award arrived in the mail many weeks later.) But Paty was there, and was kind enough to share the news :)

Paty has a wonderful historical series about different professions in petticoats and I have to confess that it never occurred to me that she was writing about a woman, as in Marshal in Petticoats. Her latest release is Miner in Petticoats, and is available now at The Wild Rose Press (for 10% off!). She also has a free read available, Standoff for Love, so for a good deal from an award-winning author, check it out.

Who are you?

I’m a dreamer. Have been most of my life. I spent my summers riding my horse and making up stories in my head or sitting beside the river under a cottonwood either reading about far-a-way places or writing. All those years ago I never dreamed of being a writer, yet, looking back I should have know. The love of words and stories always fulfilled me. I read under the covers at night, when I was vacuuming- scenes and scenarios reeled though my head like ordinary thoughts at all times of the day. And now, I get to live my greatest dream, to bring my stories to others.

What type of stories do you like to write and why?

I write westerns, historical and contemporary. Why? Because I grew up in the west, loved learning about the history of my area, and I believe I’m more in tune with the western lifestyle than any other. I know lots of people who can write about exotic places without setting foot there, but I like to “walk in the shoes” of my characters and that’s hard to do if I can’t either read historical facts, have experienced it, or interviewed people.

What type of stories do you like to read and why?

I’ll read just about anything except sci-fi, werewolves, and vampires. As much as I dream, I just don’t get futuristic books or shows and I’ve always been scared to death of things that go bump in the night. To read a book about werewolves of vampires would have me not sleeping for days!
When do you write?

I’m an empty nester. All the kids are grown and gone. The hubby is off to work by 7 am, so I sit down at the computer catch up on e-mails and read blogs. Then I get breakfast and get dressed and spend the rest of the morning writing. After lunch if I don’t have chores to do (harrowing, raking, baling) I’ll write some more. A good day is 10 -12 pages.

When do you read? Where?
I read for pleasure mostly in the winter time. Early evenings, a hot bath, a good book. But I am always reading research books. When I’m cooking dinner, waiting for the hubby to come home, or when he’s watching a show on TV I don’t like.
Where did you get the inspiration for Miner in Petticoats?.

Miner in Petticoats is the third book of the Halsey brother series. Since I started the series with a woman in a predominately male occupation I had to keep the theme going. So Aileen, the heroine in this book, is a widow working her husband’s gold claim. I had to make conflict between her and Ethan, the oldest Halsey brother, so, he needs a piece of her land and she has a very good reason not to sell and refuses. He’s already promised other miners and his brothers he’ll get a stamp mill up and running. And he has never broken a promise. His determination to get a stamp mill running is just as adamant as Aileen’s to not sell an inch of her land.

How did you come up with your title and main characters’ names?

See above. LOL Again the title had to match the series titles. And the hero had to be the oldest brother because the heroine is a widow with a twelve-year-old boy so I had to use the oldest of the brothers. Ethan’s name just came to me when I wrote the first Halsey brother books. As I was writing it and determined there would be four brothers for that hero (Gil) I just kind of rattled off names and Ethan ended up being the oldest. For Aileen, I looked up Scots names because she is a displaced Scots woman.

How long did you write seriously before your first book was published?

I wrote seriously for about eight years before my first book was published.

Why do you write?

I write because there are stories and characters in my head that want to get out for others to see. And my husband says I get cranky if I don’t write. In a way, I write for sanity.

Award winning author, Paty Jager began her writing career as a freelance reporter for local newspapers, found RWA (Romance Writers of America), and after eight years broke into the publishing industry with The Wild Rose Press. Her western historical books are Gambling on an Angel, Marshal in Petticoats, Outlaw in Petticoats, and recent release, Miner in Petticoats. Her contemporary western, Perfectly Good Nanny, won the 2008 EPPIE for Best Contemporary Romance.

To learn more about Paty, her books, and to enter her website contest go to http://www.patyjager.com/

19 comments:

Paty Jager said...

Liana, Thank you for having me here today!

Paty Jager said...

Checking the box so I can see when someone comments.

Hywela Lyn said...

Hi Paty and Liana.

Just catching up on your recent posts, Liana, how I wish we had things like The Penwriters conference over here in the UK!

Paty - loved your interview. I can so relate to making up stories while horseback riding in the hills - me too! Most often I'd be 'way out west'. I absolutely love Westerns and am tentatively working on one at the moment. I know you said you're not keen on futuristics, but even though that's mainly what I write, it's still a very similar scenario, exploration of a new world, never quite knowing what dangers or wonders might await.

Your books are on my ever growing wish list!

Paty Jager said...

Hi Hywela,

You never know if a book attracts my attention I can be converted! Thanks for stopping in and chatting.

Unknown said...

A Petticoat series is such a cool idea. Wonderful interview, Liana and Paty. :)

Maggie Toussaint said...

Hi Paty and Liana!
Paty, your writing life sounds a lot like mine. empty nesters getting to enjoy putting dreams on paper. I enjoyed reading more about you and I clicked over to your website too. Very nice. Best of luck with Miner in Petticoats.

Paty Jager said...

JOdi, Thank you for stopping by. Yes, when I came up with the title for the first book, I wasn't thinking series, but after Marshal in Petticoats came out everyone wanted a book with another brother, so I just kept going. Right now I'm finishing up Doctor in Petticoats.

Paty Jager said...

Maggie, Thanks for stopping by the website and checking out more about me. Yes, I didn't get serious with my writing until the last two kids were in high school.

I wrote before then, for the newspaper and magazines, but didn't think of getting a novel published until they were grown and self suffcient.

Unknown said...

Lovely post, and now I know more about Paty--I already know everything about Liana (not really but she is a good friend. Like you, Paty, I don't get werewolves and vampires falling in love--but I do know authors who believe it could happen. Congraulaitons to both of you on the Eppie--I remember that announcement some time ago. Celia

Mary Ricksen said...

You write because you have a talent Paty. Good luck with the new book!

Kathy Otten said...

Hi Paty,
I meant to stop by yesterday, but I didn't get a chance. I don't know how you get so much writing done on top of all the farm chores and e-mails. Good luck with your new book. The others are great.

Paty Jager said...

Celia, Thanks for stopping by. I hope learning more about me is a good thing. ;)

Mary, Thank you! That means a lot.

Thanks, KAthy!

Helen Hardt said...

Hi Paty -- if I wrote a cowboy werewolf, would you read it? LOL. Great interview, ladies!

Helen

Heidiwriter said...

Wonderful to read about another author who writes about women in predominantly male occupations. That fascinates me too. Your books sound great!
Heidi
http://www.heidimthomas.com

Loretta C. Rogers said...

Funny how the lives of country girl's parallel. I think I read every Walter Farley book and daydreamed about riding the stallions--even when I was shelling beans or helping my daddy plow. All those stories accumulated inside my head and they're still yelling to get out. Great post, Paty.

Lawmen and Outlaws--now available at www.thewildrosepress.

Paty Jager said...

Helen, Maybe???

Thanks Heidi.

Loretta, I read all the Walter Farley books too! And Marguerite Henry. Misty of (Chincoteague)sp was my favorite!

Tanya Hanson said...

Hi Paty, I so envy you raking and baling LOL. I am such a country girl at heart. Well, at least my little suburban cul-de-sac is surrounded by strawberr fields.

I can't wait to read Miners. Congratulations!!!

Paty Jager said...

Tanya, Come on over and I'll share my chores. ;)

Nicole McCaffrey said...

Great interview, Paty and Liana!