Re-launching Spirit Trilogy

I first published my Spirit Trilogy with Wild Rose Press starting in 2009. Since I've started this new journey of self-publishing, I asked for the rights back to all three books and they are being re-released this month with new covers designed by one of my talented daughters.

These books started out as books of my heart and continue to be as I re-release them. I grew up in Wallowa County where the books are set and the area the Lake Nimipuu (Wallowa Nez Perce) called home.

Here are a few reviews the books have received:

SPIRIT OF THE MOUNTAIN(1^st place Paranormal Lories Award): “This trip into the paranormal certainly takes readers away from the usual and lures them into a world that pulsates with passion and possibilities of “what-if”. Spirit of the Mountain is captivating.”

~Long and Short Reviews

SPIRIT OF THE LAKE(Finalist in the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence):  “This was an awesome book. I loved the history that was woven expertly into the story...The many facets in this tale take the reader on an unforgettable journey. ” 

~Night Owl Reviews

SPIRIT OF THE SKY: “Captivating reading from the opening sentence, with characters that will nestle inside your heart and remain for eternity, Jager paints a spiritually nourishing tale with her striking prose. An intense depiction of American history, a brilliant illustration of contrasting cultures and a believable dollop of paranormal events propel the story effortlessly. Spirit of the Sky affirms Jager is an ingenious wordsmith and a skillful researcher.” 

~RT Book Reviews

 Spirit of the Mountain

Evil spirits, star-crossed lovers, and duty…which will prevail?

Wren, the daughter of a Nimiipuu chief, loves the mountain and her people—the Lake Nimmipuu.  When a warrior from the enemy Blackleg tribe asks for her hand in marriage to bring peace between the tribes, she knows it is how she must fulfill her vision quest. But she is torn between duty and her breaking heart.

Himiin, as spirit of the mountain, watches over all the creatures on his mountain, including the Nimiipuu. When Wren shows no fear of him as a white wolf, he listens to her secret fears and loses his heart to the mortal maiden. Respecting her people’s beliefs, he must watch her leave the mountain with the Blackleg warrior.

When an evil spirit threatens Wren’s life, Himiin rushes to save her. But to leave the mountain means he’ll turn to smoke…

Buy links:

 Windtree Press / Amazon / Nook / Apple / Kobo

Spirit of the Lake

Can a spirit set upon this earth to see to the good of the Nimiipuu stay true to justice when revenge burns in his heart?

Wewukiye, the lake spirit, saves a Nimiipuu maiden from drowning and bringing shame to herself and her family. Learning her people ignored her accusations against a White man who took her body, leaving her pregnant,Wewukiye vows to help her through the birth and to prove the White man’s deceit.

Dove slowly heals her heart and her distrust as Wewukiye, the warrior with hair the color of the sun, believes in her and helps her restore her faith in her people and herself.  

On their quest for justice, Dove reveals spiritual abilities, ensnaring Wewukiye’s respect and awe. But will these abilities seal their future or tear them apart?

Buy links: 
Windtree Press / Amazon / Nook / Apple 

Spirit of the Sky

Can enemies not only work for peace but find love?

Sa-qan, a Nimiipuu eagle spirit, must take a human form to save her mortal niece when the Nimiipuu are forced from their land by the U.S. Army. Sa-qan strives to remain true to her spirit world and her people, but finding an ally in a Cavalry Officer has unraveled her beliefs.

During battle with the Nimiipuu, Lt. Wade Watts finds a blonde woman hiding a Nez Perce child.  He believes she is a captive when her intelligent eyes reveal she understands his language. Yet she refuses his help. Their paths cross several times during the skirmishes, and she becomes his savior when renegade warriors wound him. 

Buy Links:  
Amazon  / Nook /  Apple

If you want to read excerpts from the books, you can find them on my website: http://www.patyjager.net

Friday Fact

The fact today is I received my release date for Spirit of the Sky! Mark your calendars the third and final book of the Nimiipuu Spirit trilogy will be available May 4, 2012.

This third book follows the Nimiipuu (Nez Perce) when they are fleeing to freedom. As nontreaty Indians(having not signed the treaty to put them on a reservation) they believe they should be allowed to be free. When the army is sent to physically place them on the reservation several bands of Nez Perce and other tribes band together and make a desperate run for freedom.  This book is told from Sa-qan the Nimiipuu spirit's point of view and a Lieutenant in the army who is following orders.

I used multiple books written from both sides to make this book ring as true to their feelings and the battles that ensued during the Nimiipuu's dash for freedom.

Blurb:

To save her from oppression, he must save her whole tribe. To give her his heart, he must desert his career…

When the US Army forces the Nimiipuu from their land, Sa-qan, the eagle spirit entrusted with watching over her tribe, steps in to save her mortal niece. Challenging the restrictions of the spirit world, Sa-qan assumes human form and finds an unexpected ally in a handsome cavalry officer.

Certain she is a captive, Lt. Wade Watts, a Civil War veteran, tries to help the blonde woman he finds sheltering a Nez Perce child. While her intelligent eyes reveal she understands his language, she refuses his help. But when Wade is wounded, it is the beautiful Sa-qan who tends him. Wade wishes to stop the killing—Sa-qan will do anything to save her people.

Can their differences save her tribe? Or will their love spell the end of the Nimiipuu?

What's on the Page?

To dig deeper and into my characters and go beyond their physical appearance and general history I fill out a GMC chart from Debra Dixon's book GMC-Goals, Motivation, and Conflict.

By using the chart I have to really think about the character and what their goal in life and for the story are. What do they consider a success a failure? Delving into why they want the goal helps me to learn more about their backstory and how they came to be the character starting this story. This knowledge gives me their motivation for their goal. And it helps me to build flaws that would keep them from attaining what they want and gives me the workings for their character arc or growth through the story.

Then I have to toss in conflict. Both internal, their own flaw or perceived flaw, and external conflicts from people or circumstances beyond their control.

Even though I've started Spirit of the Sky the chart is still a work in progress just like the book. And it will be until I get about a third of the way into the book and get to really know my characters.

What I have so far for Sa-qan the heroine:
Goal- to keep the Nimiipuu safe and together preferably on their land.
Motivation- It is who she is. Her focus as a spirit is to look after the Nimiipuu and see that they prosper.
Conflict - She finds to save the Nimiipuu she has to drop some or her rules and become one of them. The army is chasing the Nimiipuu from their land and killing them in the process.

Lieutenant Wade Watts:
Goal - To fulfill his duty and bring the Nimiipuu to the reservation.
Motivation - He wants to be promoted so he can stop moving from place to place. He's finally ready to settle down and let all the pain of the past catch up to him and hopefully heal.
Conflict- He finds himself sympathizing with the Nimiipuu and falls in love with a Nimiipuu maiden unlike the others. This makes it harder and harder to follow orders from his superior and could get him court martialed.

And that is one more step in how I create a book.

Hope this helps other writers and sheds light for readers about the process of writing.

What's on the Page?

Yes, Monday Mulligan stew has disappeared.A new year a little bit of a new look, and I'm planning to make Mondays a writing discussion day.

Since the new year also started a new writing project I decided to spend each Monday talking about the process as the story unfolds.

Spirit of the Sky is the third book in the spirit trilogy about three sibling spirits who watch over the Lake Nimiipuu(Wallowa county Nez Perce)I had the heroine for the story, the last sibling of the trio who had yet to have her story written. Sa-qan, Bald Eagle, soars above the Nimiipuu country watching the encroachment of the White man. Her story takes place while the Nimiipuu are fleeing from being captured and put on a reservation. Up to this point she has been a stickler for rules and following them. She finds impulsive actions must be taken when soldiers are killing her people.

The hero has been more elusive. I knew he had to be a hard core soldier. His commitment to duty and country will be tested. He also has a flaw- he blames himself for his families deaths during the civil war. The cavalry is his family now.

And those two characters and the plot of the fleeing Nez Perce is the start of my book.

I've read six books on the Nez Perce flight. Some from the Nez Perce Point of view and some from the Army's point of view and some fiction. All are helping me with setting description and the actions of both sides during the flight.

That's the beginning step in my latest book.

What steps do you take? Or if you're a reader how did you think a writer starts a book?