Saturday, March 27, 2010
Meet Paty Jager: Award Winning Author
Meet Paty: Paty has been a friend of Rogue's Angels for a long time. I have watched her grow as an author. She is an award winning author and I highly recommend her books. They are page turners from the get-go.
Why did you choose to write historicals/westerns? What was it about paranormals that inspired you to try your hand at this genre?
I write historical westerns because I feel a kinship to the era, and I love the justice, honor, and respect cowboys are noted for. Writing about men in that time period it's easy to give them attributes that make them heroic. It was the way they lived every day of their life. Unless of course they were outlaws or lazy. But for the most part men in the1800's still treated women with respect and were coming to see that women could hold their own in a man's world. As for the paranormal... I've always been fascinated by the Native American people and their culture. When NY was asking for historical paranormals, I turned to the the culture and times I feel I'm interested in. So my first paranormal will be released in August and it's set among the Nez Perce in the 1700's.
Writers face many challenges. What are some of yours?
My challenges are the same as most. Not enough time in the day to do everything and write.Trying to keep up with what the publishers and editors are doing, and marketing. Not allowing Marketing to take away from the writing and researching time.
Are you a Pantser or Plotter?
A Planster-- I usually do a character chart and know where the story will start and end with a couple turning points in the middle, then I start writing.
Are you plot-driven or character-driven?
My stories are pretty much character driven, though the plot usually comes out of the research I do .
Go with the flow or follow a schedule?
I set goals to finish projects but I don't keep a schedule.
Research in advance or as you write?
I usually do my research before I write, only because I may come across something that will help my plot. But I always end up having to so some research whole writing because of directions the storymay take that I didn't know about when I started.;)
Noise or Quiet?
When I'm writing my first draft I have music specific to that story that I listen to. Using specific music for each project draws me into that story quicker when I sit down to write. When I'm doing edits and revisions, I listen to anything.
Our characters claim much of our time as we spend hours in front of our computers capturing their stories. However, each of us has a cast of real life characters who inspire, encourage, and support us. Who are some of the many members of Team Paty?
The people who support and encourage me are my family. My husband generously lets me spend hours in front of the computer puttering away, and he doesn't complain when I go out of town to conferences and book signings. My daughters read my books and brag about them to anyone who'll listen. My sister-in-laws are all rooting for me, too. Then I have my RWA chapter, and the local writing groups who all rally around me. And my critique partners, Lori, Danita, and Nicole. And my best friend Karen who has been my biggest fan since I first showed her an essay I wrote about making a ham sandwich.
What are you working on now?
Right now I'm working on the second paranormal historical of my Spirit trilogy, It's titled Spirit of the Lake, the hero is the brother to the spirit in the first book Spirit of the Mountain, being released in August. The hero has spent hundreds of years as the spirit of the lake watching over the Lake Nimiipuu. He spends his days in Elk form while in the lake and while covering the Nimiipuu country. The book starts with him pulling a young Nimiipuu woman out of the lake and discovering she intended to end her life. He vows to help her back into grace with her people and finds himself falling in love with the mortal.
Five Things Paty Has Around Her When She Writes?
My research books and papers, computer, chocolate, green tea, and music.
Is there anything about you, you would like to add?If you would like to learn more about me or my books or enter my website contest please visit me at http://www.patyjager.net/ or http://www.patyjager.blogspot.com/
Allana Angel
Why did you choose to write historicals/westerns? What was it about paranormals that inspired you to try your hand at this genre?
I write historical westerns because I feel a kinship to the era, and I love the justice, honor, and respect cowboys are noted for. Writing about men in that time period it's easy to give them attributes that make them heroic. It was the way they lived every day of their life. Unless of course they were outlaws or lazy. But for the most part men in the1800's still treated women with respect and were coming to see that women could hold their own in a man's world. As for the paranormal... I've always been fascinated by the Native American people and their culture. When NY was asking for historical paranormals, I turned to the the culture and times I feel I'm interested in. So my first paranormal will be released in August and it's set among the Nez Perce in the 1700's.
Writers face many challenges. What are some of yours?
My challenges are the same as most. Not enough time in the day to do everything and write.Trying to keep up with what the publishers and editors are doing, and marketing. Not allowing Marketing to take away from the writing and researching time.
Are you a Pantser or Plotter?
A Planster-- I usually do a character chart and know where the story will start and end with a couple turning points in the middle, then I start writing.
Are you plot-driven or character-driven?
My stories are pretty much character driven, though the plot usually comes out of the research I do .
Go with the flow or follow a schedule?
I set goals to finish projects but I don't keep a schedule.
Research in advance or as you write?
I usually do my research before I write, only because I may come across something that will help my plot. But I always end up having to so some research whole writing because of directions the storymay take that I didn't know about when I started.;)
Noise or Quiet?
When I'm writing my first draft I have music specific to that story that I listen to. Using specific music for each project draws me into that story quicker when I sit down to write. When I'm doing edits and revisions, I listen to anything.
Our characters claim much of our time as we spend hours in front of our computers capturing their stories. However, each of us has a cast of real life characters who inspire, encourage, and support us. Who are some of the many members of Team Paty?
The people who support and encourage me are my family. My husband generously lets me spend hours in front of the computer puttering away, and he doesn't complain when I go out of town to conferences and book signings. My daughters read my books and brag about them to anyone who'll listen. My sister-in-laws are all rooting for me, too. Then I have my RWA chapter, and the local writing groups who all rally around me. And my critique partners, Lori, Danita, and Nicole. And my best friend Karen who has been my biggest fan since I first showed her an essay I wrote about making a ham sandwich.
What are you working on now?
Right now I'm working on the second paranormal historical of my Spirit trilogy, It's titled Spirit of the Lake, the hero is the brother to the spirit in the first book Spirit of the Mountain, being released in August. The hero has spent hundreds of years as the spirit of the lake watching over the Lake Nimiipuu. He spends his days in Elk form while in the lake and while covering the Nimiipuu country. The book starts with him pulling a young Nimiipuu woman out of the lake and discovering she intended to end her life. He vows to help her back into grace with her people and finds himself falling in love with the mortal.
Five Things Paty Has Around Her When She Writes?
My research books and papers, computer, chocolate, green tea, and music.
Is there anything about you, you would like to add?If you would like to learn more about me or my books or enter my website contest please visit me at http://www.patyjager.net/ or http://www.patyjager.blogspot.com/
Allana Angel
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Alice Sharpe: Author of many Harlequin books
Please welcome Alice Sharpe to the Rogues Angels Blog. Alice is a wonderful writer and I can personally recomend her books. I recently read Multiples Mystery and I was hooked from the first sentence. I am looking forward to reading more of Alice's books.
Allana Angel
First of all, thanks Rogues Angels for having me visit your blog today!
Visit Alice's website: http://www.alicesharpe.com/
A Baby Between Them
Release Feb. 1, 2010
From the moment Ella Baxter vanishes, Seattle cop Simon Task knows it's up to him to bring her home. Especially once he learns she's pregnant with his child. Now, charging through the danger that shadows her and reminding her of their intensely passionate shared past is all that matters. As they follow cryptic clues to learn why she is being targeted, Simon senses there are things Ella would rather not remember. Still, getting her to trust him when she can't even remember him is a challenge he's up for. Breaking the news to her that she's pregnant may not be quite as easy….
I used to be a panster. After fifteen or so books, I went to talk to a group of writers about how to write a synopsis. There was never a more ill-fitting match of author and subject. I remember telling them that I liked to have a general idea when I started my car (read:book) about my destination, but I did not want to know every little by-way or detour. Where was the fun in that?
Along the way, I started selling books on proposal -- three chapters and a synopsis -- and thus my methods began to change. I began to understand I could name major cities I planned to hit on the story journey without making decisions about every sight-seeing trip or restaurant along the way. In other words, I could outline. For awhile, finishing the synopsis became the emotional equivalent of what finishing a book used to be, but now it's morphed again -- the synopsis is a guideline, a place from which to spring, it's not a trap, it's not flypaper. And there is a world of difference between writing in a synopsis: "They sneak into the castle and kidnap the baby," and the two and a half days it takes to come up with how exactly they accomplish such a thing and the two and half chapters it takes to SHOW it happening. So, is there such a thing as a Plottser?
Would you say your stories are plot-driven or character-driven? And why?
Right now, I am writing Harlequin Intrigues which are about 70% mystery and 30% romance (or 60/40). The trick is to create a plot where the mystery would not exist without the characters and their arcs and a romance that is never secondary to that plot. In other words, balance. One must feed and nurture the other and in the end, were you to paraphrase the story, the hope is you couldn't do it without mentioning both elements.
Do you go with the flow or follow a schedule?
I go with the flow when I plot and with a flexible schedule when I write. When there's a deadline involved, the flow seems to disappear entirely!
Do you do your research in advance or as you write?
Allana Angel
First of all, thanks Rogues Angels for having me visit your blog today!
Visit Alice's website: http://www.alicesharpe.com/
A Baby Between Them
Release Feb. 1, 2010
From the moment Ella Baxter vanishes, Seattle cop Simon Task knows it's up to him to bring her home. Especially once he learns she's pregnant with his child. Now, charging through the danger that shadows her and reminding her of their intensely passionate shared past is all that matters. As they follow cryptic clues to learn why she is being targeted, Simon senses there are things Ella would rather not remember. Still, getting her to trust him when she can't even remember him is a challenge he's up for. Breaking the news to her that she's pregnant may not be quite as easy….
How and when did you discover romantic fiction?
I think my destiny was sealed when I was twelve years old and read a book called,"The Pink Dress" by Anne Alexander. I can't tell you what it was about specifically, only that it was a coming of age story, involved some sort of romance and included, ta-dum, a pink dress. I can tell you that I was obsessed with getting to the end of the book and was so excited by it that I was flushed bright pink and running a slight fever by the time I read, "The End."
Up until then, it had been all about the Bobbsey Twins, and afterwards, my taste veered to mysteries. Big Agatha Christie fan until I discovered Mary Stewart, Elizabeth Peters (and her alter ego, Barbara Michaels), Victoria Holt (loved those haunting gothics), Anne Stevenson, and Mary Higgins Clark. These authors were pioneers in romantic suspense and they were excellent writers. If you've never read any of them, do yourself a favor and go to the library, give them a try. You may be pleasantly surprised. With them I rediscovered romance and how important it was to me to be included with a mystery.
By the way, I recently looked up The Pink Dress on Amazon and found it interesting to see how many women now my age loved that book when they were twelve or thirteen. It's out of print now although you can pick one up on Ebay for -- hold your breath -- a mere $300.00. Wow!
I think my destiny was sealed when I was twelve years old and read a book called,"The Pink Dress" by Anne Alexander. I can't tell you what it was about specifically, only that it was a coming of age story, involved some sort of romance and included, ta-dum, a pink dress. I can tell you that I was obsessed with getting to the end of the book and was so excited by it that I was flushed bright pink and running a slight fever by the time I read, "The End."
Up until then, it had been all about the Bobbsey Twins, and afterwards, my taste veered to mysteries. Big Agatha Christie fan until I discovered Mary Stewart, Elizabeth Peters (and her alter ego, Barbara Michaels), Victoria Holt (loved those haunting gothics), Anne Stevenson, and Mary Higgins Clark. These authors were pioneers in romantic suspense and they were excellent writers. If you've never read any of them, do yourself a favor and go to the library, give them a try. You may be pleasantly surprised. With them I rediscovered romance and how important it was to me to be included with a mystery.
By the way, I recently looked up The Pink Dress on Amazon and found it interesting to see how many women now my age loved that book when they were twelve or thirteen. It's out of print now although you can pick one up on Ebay for -- hold your breath -- a mere $300.00. Wow!
Are you a pantser or Plotter?
I used to be a panster. After fifteen or so books, I went to talk to a group of writers about how to write a synopsis. There was never a more ill-fitting match of author and subject. I remember telling them that I liked to have a general idea when I started my car (read:book) about my destination, but I did not want to know every little by-way or detour. Where was the fun in that?
Along the way, I started selling books on proposal -- three chapters and a synopsis -- and thus my methods began to change. I began to understand I could name major cities I planned to hit on the story journey without making decisions about every sight-seeing trip or restaurant along the way. In other words, I could outline. For awhile, finishing the synopsis became the emotional equivalent of what finishing a book used to be, but now it's morphed again -- the synopsis is a guideline, a place from which to spring, it's not a trap, it's not flypaper. And there is a world of difference between writing in a synopsis: "They sneak into the castle and kidnap the baby," and the two and a half days it takes to come up with how exactly they accomplish such a thing and the two and half chapters it takes to SHOW it happening. So, is there such a thing as a Plottser?
Would you say your stories are plot-driven or character-driven? And why?
Right now, I am writing Harlequin Intrigues which are about 70% mystery and 30% romance (or 60/40). The trick is to create a plot where the mystery would not exist without the characters and their arcs and a romance that is never secondary to that plot. In other words, balance. One must feed and nurture the other and in the end, were you to paraphrase the story, the hope is you couldn't do it without mentioning both elements.
Do you go with the flow or follow a schedule?
I go with the flow when I plot and with a flexible schedule when I write. When there's a deadline involved, the flow seems to disappear entirely!
Do you do your research in advance or as you write?
Both
Do you like noise or quiet?
Do you like noise or quiet?
I like it quiet. Some writers have a whole soundtrack for each book they write, music that transports them into their story. Music just distracts from the conversations rattling around inside my head!
To wrap this up, one of your questions was about "Team Alice" as in who supports me in this journey. In every way possible, from loving me to being there, my main support comes from my main squeeze, my husband. He helps me plot, answers technical questions, shows enthusiasm, puts up with my moods when things aren't going right, and keeps me sane. He even reads my books when they come out, turning pages quickly, laughing, even crying once in a blue moon. Nice. I owe him a debt I could never repay except by treasuring him which I do.
To wrap this up, one of your questions was about "Team Alice" as in who supports me in this journey. In every way possible, from loving me to being there, my main support comes from my main squeeze, my husband. He helps me plot, answers technical questions, shows enthusiasm, puts up with my moods when things aren't going right, and keeps me sane. He even reads my books when they come out, turning pages quickly, laughing, even crying once in a blue moon. Nice. I owe him a debt I could never repay except by treasuring him which I do.
The Baby's Bodyguard
Release Jun 2110
HE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE DEAD...
But Jack Starling was very much alive and looking for answers. His investigation into his crew's ambush leads him to the fling he had a year ago with Hannah Marks. Although Jack is reluctant to believe Hannah had a role in the attack, it is clear she's hiding something, and Jack's suspicions only mount when he meets her daughter.
Determined to unveil her secrets, he vows to stay close. Then Hannah is nearly killed, and Jack must step in-as her baby's bodyguard-while battling his growing desire for the woman who might have betrayed him.
Release Jun 2110
HE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE DEAD...
But Jack Starling was very much alive and looking for answers. His investigation into his crew's ambush leads him to the fling he had a year ago with Hannah Marks. Although Jack is reluctant to believe Hannah had a role in the attack, it is clear she's hiding something, and Jack's suspicions only mount when he meets her daughter.
Determined to unveil her secrets, he vows to stay close. Then Hannah is nearly killed, and Jack must step in-as her baby's bodyguard-while battling his growing desire for the woman who might have betrayed him.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Earth's yearly offer to start over
Spring is the time we all look at the forlorn, desolate trees we've seen all winter and realize--there is a green tinge of velvet on the limbs. The grass, while green most of the year, seems, well, springier. Dogs are romping in the park, chasing balls and running their owners ragged. Kids are exploding outside from months of confinement in the house and everyone's step is lighter, faster, more upbeat.
We all love living in Oregon, but the winter's toll on many of us is a lethargy that seems to bring ten pounds of unwanted fluffy. Try flying with that! We writers burrow in, plot murders, create kingdoms and solve the world's problems in the warmth of our homes away from the rain and snow.
Spring promises new life, a fresh start... and with that promise, Sable Angel decided to make a change. The last few months of winter this year has brought Sable some unwanted medical challenges in her life. She can lay down and whine [not a pretty picture] or change her circumstances by changing her outlook.
In that spirit with an eye to getting healthy, Sable Angel resigned all her extraneous editing positions and is concentrating on being a writer--just a writer. It may not seem like much to those who thrive on activity [Allana and Amber Angel are truly Wonder Women with the activities they juggle], but lowering her stress to finding the perfect word to describe the almost-perfect scene will help bolster Sable's flagging faith in her writing.
Be it known the only person who doubts Sable's writing is Sable. ::sigh:: Never did have much confidence. But she's learned sometimes love does conquer all. Sable's love of the art of storytelling overrides her confidence issues. She'll write until the pen falls from her lifeless fingers.
So...Spring. This year it is a honest change for Sable Angel. She has the opportunity to become her dream--a writer with purpose.
How about you? What will you do with your yearly chance to start over?
Sable Angel
We all love living in Oregon, but the winter's toll on many of us is a lethargy that seems to bring ten pounds of unwanted fluffy. Try flying with that! We writers burrow in, plot murders, create kingdoms and solve the world's problems in the warmth of our homes away from the rain and snow.
Spring promises new life, a fresh start... and with that promise, Sable Angel decided to make a change. The last few months of winter this year has brought Sable some unwanted medical challenges in her life. She can lay down and whine [not a pretty picture] or change her circumstances by changing her outlook.
In that spirit with an eye to getting healthy, Sable Angel resigned all her extraneous editing positions and is concentrating on being a writer--just a writer. It may not seem like much to those who thrive on activity [Allana and Amber Angel are truly Wonder Women with the activities they juggle], but lowering her stress to finding the perfect word to describe the almost-perfect scene will help bolster Sable's flagging faith in her writing.
Be it known the only person who doubts Sable's writing is Sable. ::sigh:: Never did have much confidence. But she's learned sometimes love does conquer all. Sable's love of the art of storytelling overrides her confidence issues. She'll write until the pen falls from her lifeless fingers.
So...Spring. This year it is a honest change for Sable Angel. She has the opportunity to become her dream--a writer with purpose.
How about you? What will you do with your yearly chance to start over?
Sable Angel
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Spring
Is this spring as in jump high? Or spring as in the sun is shining and earth is warming up? This morning I thought the latter, but now as the clouds roll in I'm not so sure. I was planning on attending a baseball game at Willamette a few hours ago, at this moment I'm not so sure. Ah, but the crocuses have finished blooming and the daffodils are in ful regalia. I am writing a St.Patty's Day Anthology for next year and looking forward to spring break in two weeks. So it must be spring as in the wonderful season before the new year.
Baseball and softball, no more swimming--yes it must be spring. What is spring to you? Does it make you smile just thinking about the wonderful warmth radiating from the heavens? Does it mean gardening and watching all the flowers bloom? Or maybe just pulling weeds--hmmm. I love the flower part but hate the weeds.
So much for that thing called sunshine and warm spring afternoons. I just finished watching a Willamette baseball game. I'm still freezing and I'm home. My angel wings feel like ice. At least they won. I think snow is coming.
Allana
Baseball and softball, no more swimming--yes it must be spring. What is spring to you? Does it make you smile just thinking about the wonderful warmth radiating from the heavens? Does it mean gardening and watching all the flowers bloom? Or maybe just pulling weeds--hmmm. I love the flower part but hate the weeds.
So much for that thing called sunshine and warm spring afternoons. I just finished watching a Willamette baseball game. I'm still freezing and I'm home. My angel wings feel like ice. At least they won. I think snow is coming.
Allana
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