I attended a powwow about 6 years ago. It was a kaleidoscope
of color, interesting music, and unique vendors. The atmosphere is one of
rejoicing and roots. This book is set at a different powwow which meant I needed
help from my friend Carmen Peone, who lives on the reservation where I set my
story. She helped me with maps of the powwow setup and information that only
someone who has been there can give. I hope the reader gets a good sense of
what the event is all about when reading Vanishing Dream.
While doing my research, from both my attending a
powwow and gathering information about the one where my story is set, I was
intrigued by the various vendors who set up booths and sell either products
they themselves make or products to help make regalia (the clothing worn during
the powwow dancing), jewelry, leather, feathers, sage, beads, and other items.
There are also t-shirt booths and kitsch items.
From the moment this story came to me I wanted the
victim to be a woman who did beadwork. I wanted her strangled with one of her
own necklaces. Not because the woman deserved it, but because it was a symbol
for the person who did the killing.
I’ve done very little crafting with beads and found it
interesting to watch beading videos, look up beading terms, and even the types
of beads used by Native Americans. Jingle dress
Before glass and metal beads were introduced from
Europe, beads were hand carved from bone, shell, copper, and stone. These days
the tiny glass seed beads are what are used in the beadwork that can at times
tell a story.
Jingle cones are metal cones that are sewn on dresses in a pattern so they will knock together as the Jingle Dancer moves. This is a distinctive noise made by the Jingle Dancer. The sound is like sleigh bells.
When I started writing books with Native American
characters over ten years ago, I began listening to Native American flute and
drum music. I love the flutes. Their ethereal tone and the journey they take me
on while listening to the music is something I enjoy. Because of my love of the
music, I made another booth in my story that of a flute maker. The character
makes authentic flutes from elderberry wood
The first legend of the flute as told by deceased
Lakota Elder, Phillip Brown Bear (Phil Lane) can be found on Wind Dancer Flutes
website. This is a website where you can purchase handmade
flutes or CDs by Roger McGee. Roger’s CDs are part of the music I listen to
when I write. This is a photo of one of Roger’s flutes.
One of Roger McGee's creations
Vanishing Dream
Book 16 in the Shandra Higheagle Mystery Series
Deceit, Gluttony, Murder
Shandra Higheagle Greer’s deceased Nez Perce
grandmother appears in her dream, dancing at a powwow. Since Grandmother only
appears when there is trouble, Shandra believes, she, Ryan, and the twins
should attend the yearly Powwow at the Colville Reservation.
While out for a walk the first night, Shandra sees
someone lurking in the dark between the vendor tents. The following morning a
vendor is discovered strangled with her own beads.
When members of Shandra’s family are attacked, she
finds it hard to stay out of the investigation. Following a suspect, she’s
captured. No one knows her whereabouts. Trying to call upon her grandmother to
come to her aid, Shandra realizes the dreams are vanishing and fears so could
her life.
Universal Buy Link: https://books2read.com/u/4XLkvg
Paty Jager is the award-winning author of over 50 murder mystery and western romance books. All her work has Western or Native American elements in them along with hints of humor and engaging characters. Paty and her husband raise alfalfa hay in rural eastern Oregon. Riding horses and battling rattlesnakes, she not only writes the western lifestyle, she lives it. You can contact her through her website: https://www.patyjager.net
3 comments:
Hi Paty: The Native style of dress is sooo pretty. I love the colors and beadwork and the jingle bells and could not imagine doing the 'beading' myself. I'm all thumbs, but I love to admire. Thank you so much for sharing.
This is a beautiful cover!
Hi Julie, I love the beadwork. The intricacy is mind blowing to me. I can't even do counted cross stitch I know I wouldn't be able to do beading. But I have a friend who does it beautifully.
Thanks Linda! I love the cover too!
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