Paty Jager Day 3

Books of my Heart by Paty Jager
I grew up in Wallowa County, a large rural county in the NE corner of Oregon. The snow-
capped mountains and lush grassy valleys were the summer and winter homes to the band of Nez
Perce Indians led by old and young Chiefs Joseph. The Nez Perce band had their hearts broken
when they were forced from this area. That is why I had to tell their story in a trilogy I titled
Spirit Trilogy. 
The Spirit Trilogy is about a trio of siblings the Creator made spirits to oversee the Lake
Nimiipuu, the name the Chief Joseph band called themselves.
To write the books I did a lot of research. I devoted many hours to reading books about the Nez
Perce customs and social living aspects and connected with Nez Perce tribe members to learn all
I could about family life, pregnancy, and child birth. My books deal with the lives the Nez Perce
lived and the events that changed their lives forever.
The Nez Perce women had specific jobs. They gathered roots, berries and herbs as well as the
firewood. It was their job to keep the fire going all night during the winter months. They were
the cooks; the ones who dried and stored the meat, fish, berries, and roots. From a young age
they learned to tan hides, make clothing, weave baskets, and construct the dwellings. They did
everything needed to sustain a family other than hunt, prepare weapons, and fight. If need be,
they could hunt for small animals, fight, and take care of weapons though it was not one of their
jobs.
During battles women provided fresh horses, food, and water for the warriors, tended the
wounded, warned others of danger, directed children and the old people where to hide, and how
to leave when their encampments were attacked. If a husband was shot, they could pick up his
gun and fight.
Pregnant women still did most of the chores right up until the moment they started labor. Some
would have miscarriages from long periods of riding horses in the last months of
pregnancy—usually during campaigns of fighting.
When a woman started labor she was isolated in a small dwelling with either an older family
member or a mid-wife. If there were complications the Ti-wet (medicine man) was called in. The
dwelling had a hole dug in the middle of the structure. The blood and after birth were put in this
hole and buried. The umbilical cord was kept in a small leather pouch attached to the
cradleboard. It is believed to be bad luck to destroy such an intimate part of the baby.
I used this and other information in the three books. It was essential to show the culture and lives
of this interesting group of people. The spirit element of the books, is completely made up from
my vivid imagination. And while some call it paranormal, I believe my shapeshifting spirits fit in
with the mystical element of the Indian’s beliefs.
Leave a comment and your name will be in the drawing for an ebook of your choice from this
trilogy.


Blurb for Spirit of the Mountain
A Lorie Award Winner
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…
Windtree Press http://windtreepress.com/portfolio/spirit-mountain/
Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Spirit-Mountain-Trilogy-Book-ebook/dp/B00MQCAYIS
Nook http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/spirit-of-the-mountain-paty-jager/1100249639
Apple https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id909696594
Kobo http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/spirit-of-the-mountain-3


Blurb for 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 http://windtreepress.com/portfolio/spirit-lake/
 Amazon http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MYOSCPU
Apple https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id912073592
Nook http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/spirit-of-the-lake-paty-jager/1100443073


Blurb 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:
Windtree Press  http://windtreepress.com/portfolio/spirit-sky/
Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Spirit-Sky-Trilogy-Book-ebook/dp/B00N47L8XY
Nook http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/spirit-of-the-sky-paty-jager/1110762147
Apple https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id913632233
Kobo http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/spirit-of-the-sky-2

Bio
Award-winning author Paty Jager and her husband raise alfalfa hay in rural eastern Oregon.  On
her road to publication she wrote freelance articles for two local newspapers and enjoyed her job
with the County Extension service as a 4-H Program Assistant. Raising hay and cattle, riding
horses, and battling rattlesnakes, she not only writes the western lifestyle, she lives it.
She has published twenty novels, three anthologies, and seven novellas. All her work has
Western or Native American elements in them along with hints of humor and engaging
characters. Her penchant for research takes her on side trips that eventually turn into yet another
story.

You can learn more about Paty at her blog; Writing into the Sunset  her website;
http://www.patyjager.net or on Facebook; https://www.facebook.com/#!/paty.jager , Goodreads
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1005334.Paty_Jager  and twitter;  @patyjag.