And the Parties Begin! by Paty Jager

I haven't been writing straight western romance these days. I have finally returned to the genre I love to write and read--mystery. 

However, my mysteries do have elements of western life and in some more than others a bit of romance. The series are all set in areas where there is ranching and rural life.  

You are probably wondering what parties has to do with my mystery writing. I will be participating in the Cowboy Kisses Annual Round Up, on Wednesday. 

I have some cute, old fashioned Christmas ornaments I'll be giving as a prize along with a print book with three of my contemporary western novellas from the Tumbling Creek Ranch series, and the first book in my Shandra Higheagle Mystery series. 

The Shandra Higheagle Mysteries have the most romance in them, so far, of my mystery books. I'm starting to heat up things a bit in the Spotted Pony Casino mystery series by adding another male character who is interested in my female main character. Who isn't looking for a guy in her life. And now she has two! 

All of the Cowboy Kisses authors who blog here will be spending time at the Cowboy Kisses Facebook Page to visit with you and share how you can win prizes from 9:30 am - 1:30 pm (Mountain Time) at the Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/groups/993015697431197

October is the month that starts the holiday season. We live too far from anyone to get Trick or Treaters other than our grandchildren. But I still like to decorate for each holiday- Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. It just makes things feel more festive. 

Do you like to attend holiday parties? Do you have a favorite holiday? 

Paty Jager is an award-winning author of 51 novels, 8 novellas, and short stories of murder mystery, western romance, and action adventure. All her work has Western or Native American elements in them along with hints of humor and engaging characters. This is what Mysteries Etc says about her Shandra Higheagle mystery series: “Mystery, romance, small town, and Native American heritage combine to make a compelling read.”

blog / website /  Facebook / Paty's Posse / Goodreads / Twitter / Pinterest   / Bookbub

Beads and Flutes by Paty Jager

 

My favorite part of writing a book is getting to research topics that I’m interested in and sometimes I learn new things that I find interesting. The newest release in my Shandra Higheagle Mystery series is set at a powwow.

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.  

Jingle dress

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.

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

Horse, Mule, Donkey, Burro by Paty Jager

George

Sprinkle me with glitter and call me a fairy! Ever since reading Brighty of the Grand Canyon by Marguerite Henry  in grade school, I thought burros were different than a donkey. That only burros had the line across their shoulders and down their back.

Fifty years later, I learned the truth. Donkeys and burros are the same thing! While some people call a wild donkey a burro and a domesticated burro, donkey. The word burro came from the Spanish word borrico meaning donkey. It was shortened to burro and used instead of the word donkey by some people. These days burro refers to the wild burros/donkeys. Or sometimes if a donkey is smaller in stature.

The agile, strong little equine helped to populate and expand the western United States. The miners found them to be low maintenance and could carry 20% of their body weight or around 100 pounds. Because the donkey came from Africa originally, they require little water and can live on forage that isn't high in protein. In fact, they do better with less protein and having to travel to get their food.

Why did I bring all of this up? Because we have a donkey, who I have always called a burro. His name is George. He is also affectionately called Houdini. If he is in a corral, pasture, field, or any place he doesn't want to be, you will find him outside of it and not be able to figure out how he got there.  He loves kids and being messed with.

Here are some terms for donkeys and mules you might find interesting:

Mule: Cross between a male donkey and female horse
Horse mule: Male mule
Hinny: Cross between a female donkey and a male horse
Jack: Male donkey
Jennet: Female donkey
Mare mule: Female mule
Horse hinny: Male hinny
Mare hinny: Female hinny
John: Male mule or hinny
Molly: Female mule or hinny
Jackass: Donkey
Burro: Same as a donkey but often referred to as a small donkey
Miniature donkey: a smaller breed of donkey

And I have a mule, named Horse, as a secondary character or sorts in my Gabriel Hawke novels. Hawke named the mule Horse hoping the animal would behaved like what he was called. You know, how they say if keep calling someone a liar or a thief or a bad egg they become that. Well, he wants the mule to act more like a horse and that is why Hawke calls him Horse.

I had thought about giving Shandra Higheagle a burro/donkey and didn't do it, but as I am thinking of a new twist in that series, I may just give them a donkey or two. If you could have a donkey-male or female- what would you name he or she? I'll need a name when I add a donkey to the horses, dog, and cat already at Shandra's place on Huckleberry Mountain.

Abstract Casualty the newest release in the Shandra Higheage Mystery series is out. This one is set in Kaua'i so it's not really a western in any sense, but if you have been following the series, you might be interested in it.

Next month I'll have the first 3 Tumbling Creek Novellas in an ebook boxset. I'll give you all the info on that at the Cowboy Kisses Facebook page when they are ready.

Abstract Casualty

Book 14 in the Shandra Higheagle Mystery series

Hawaiian adventure, Deceit, Murder

Shandra Higheagle is asked to juror an art exhibition on the island of Kauai, Hawaii.

After an altercation at the exhibition, the chairwoman of the event, Shandra’s friend, arrives home with torn clothes, scratches, and stating she tried to save an angry artist who fell over a cliff. Shandra and Ryan begin piecing together information to figure out if the friend did try to save the artist or helped him over the edge.

During the investigation, Shandra comes across a person who reminds her of an unhealthy time in her past. Knowing this man and the one from her past, she is determined to find his connection to the dead artist.  When her grandmother doesn’t come to her in dreams, Shandra wonders if her past is blinding her from the truth.

https://books2read.com/u/4XXLke

Paty Jager is an award-winning author of 44 novels, 8 novellas, and numerous anthologies of murder mystery and western romance. 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.

blog / website /  Facebook / Paty's Posse / Goodreads / Twitter / Pinterest   / Bookbub