Paty Jager – Spirit Of The Lake

Thank you for having me here today.  I enjoy my visits here at Petticoats and Pistols.

My May release is the second book of the spirit trilogy, Spirit of the Lake. It’s set among the Nez Perce Indians as the Whiteman is encroaching on their beloved Wallowa Valley. The hero Wewukiye (Way-woo-key-ya), the spirit of the lake, saves a Nez Perce maiden, Dove, from drowning. She’s pregnant from rape by a Whiteman.

The course of the story takes place over the nine months of her carrying the child. Wewukiye has determined that the birth of the child will prove her story and the Whiteman’s deceit to the Nez Perce leaders who believe the man is their friend. 

While researching what the seasons would be called in the Nez Perce Language I came across this sampling of how they call their seasons:

Wilupup = January Time of cold weather, blizzards.

Alat’amal = February Freezing weather, difficult to maintain fires

Latit’al = March Season of first bloom of plants. New life begins.

Q’oyxt’sal = April Season of high rivers from melting snow.

Q’eq’iit’al = May Season of first root, Q’eqiit harvest.

Hiilal Tustimasat’al = June Season of moving to higher elevation to harvest roots. Season of bluebark return.

 Taya’al = July Season of Tayam (hot) days of summer.

Wawam’mayq’al = August Season of Chinook Salmon return. Salmon reach the upper tributary streams to spawn

Piq’unmayq’al = September Nat’soxiwal Season of fish return to rivers for cold weather.

Hoplal = October Season of cold weather. Tamarack turn yellow.

Sexliwal = November The buck deer ‘running’.Large animals mate. Season of leaves/plants discolor.

Haoq’oy = December Season of doe carrying fetus. No hunting of female game.

Spirit of the Lake starts in the Season of fish return to rivers for cold weather and ends Season of first root.

Other words I used were:

El-weht – Spring

Ta-yum – Summer

Sekh-nihm – Fall

Anihm – Winter

One thing I discovered because the different bands of the Nez Perce tribes were separated and had different neighboring tribes there may be more than one Nez Perce word for the same English word.  And depending on where the Nez Perce word was translated, more than one English spelling.

Here is the blurb and excerpt for Spirit of the Lake:

Two generations after his brother became mortal, Wewukiye(Way-woo-key-ya), the lake spirit, prevents a Nimiipuu maiden from drowning and becomes caught up in her sorrow and her heart. Her tribe ignores Dove’s shameful accusations—a White man took her body, leaving her pregnant, and he plans to take their land.Wewukiye vows to care for her until she gives birth, to help her prove the White man is deceitful and restore her place in her tribe.

As they travel on their quest for justice, Dove reveals spiritual abilities yet unknown in her people, ensnaring Wewukiye’s respect and awe. But can love between a mortal and a spirit grow without consequences?

EXCERPT:

Wewukiye tugged her hand, drawing her closer. His warm breath puffed against her ear.

“You need only think of me and you will have strength.”

His soft silky voice floated through her body like a hot drink.

Dove swallowed the lump in her throat and asked, “When will I see you again?” The thought of sleeping on the hard ground next to the fire in Crazy One’s dwelling didn’t sound near as inviting as using his lap to rest her head.

The days and nights grew colder; to be wrapped in his arms would warm her through and through.

“You will find me at the meadow every day when the sun is directly overhead.” He brushed his lips against her ear.

She closed her eyes, relishing the silky feel of his lips and the heat of his touch.

“Think of me,” whispered through her head.

Dove opened her eyes. She stood alone. Her palm still warm from their clasped hands, her ear ringing with his whisper. 

##

This post is part of my blog tour. Leave a comment on as many of my guest blogs as you can and the person who travels with me the most will receive an autographed copy of Spirit of the Lake, a sweatshirt, and cowboy chocolate. To find all the places I’m visiting go to my blog: www.patyjager.blogspot.com  The contest runs from May 18th – May 29th covering thirteen blogs. I’ll notify the winner on May 30th. In the event of a tie I will draw a name.

To read more about the spirit trilogy or my other books, visit my website: www.patyjager.net

Thank you for having me here today!

Paty

Resources: http://www.native-languages.org/nez.htm
Photos: http://www.firstpeople.us/FP-Html-Pictures/American-Indians-00.html
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27 thoughts on “Paty Jager – Spirit Of The Lake”

  1. I thoroughly enjoyed reading your research sampling of the seasons. When read like that they make so much sense. The line “His soft silky voice floated through her body like a hot drink.” is just so beautiful.

  2. Welcome, Paty. It’s always so wonderful to have you here in Wildflower Junction. You know how much I loved Spirit of the Mountain, and I think everybody here knows my interest in the Nez Perce. I’ll be coming back to this blog post often, I know. I can’t wait to read the new book in the trilogy. It’ll be a keeper like the first one. By the way, I sure enjoyed you being featured in the latest Farm and Ranch magazine!

  3. Paty,

    I enjoyed the tidbit of history and the word translations. Don’t you find the the research for your book just as fascinating as writing the tale?

    Great pictures by the way, too. 🙂
    I wish you much success and have fun on your blog tour.

  4. I totally enjoy reading about our country’s true ancestors. What a lovely cover and I very much enjoyed the excerpt. I also love that I learn something every time I come here – their words describe so much!

  5. Paty, I love the cover of this book. I have been seeing it around and am going to have to start looking for it. It sounds like a great read. Do you need to start the series with the first book or does it stand alone?

  6. The cover of this book grabs me as no other has. I am going to enjoy reading it if my enjoyment of the excerpt is any indication.

  7. The names of the Nez Perce months illustrate how closely attuned to the land of the Pacific Northwest they were/are. How sad that they were driven away to a strange land! Talk about fish out of water…

  8. Tanya, Thank you for the kind words.

    Karen, Yes, I enjoy the researching more than the writing. I love learning new info when I’m writing a book.

    Catslady, I agree their wording is so descriptive and lovely.

    Quilt Lady, You don’t have to read the books in order as each is stand alone, but the stories do cover history in chronological order. Before the Whiteman, after the Whiteman,, and when they are forced from their land.

    Thank you, Jennie.

    Connie, I’m glad you enjoyed the excerpt.

    Sarah, Howdy lady! I agree. The Nez Perce and other NA tribes have a wonderful way of seeing everything in terms of nature.

  9. Paty,

    I love the cover of your book. I cannot wait to read it. I am sure the books will be great. I write Native American too.

    The excerpt is wonderful

    Walk in harmony,
    Melinda

  10. Love the cover for this book, this sounds like such a wonderful story. I found it fascinating the names that were used for all the seasons, it would be really nice to be able to hear the words spoken.

  11. Melinda, Thank you.

    Jean P. If you google Nez Perce language there are sites where you can hear the language spoken.

    Hi Tracy, Thank you for having me here, again. spirit heroes are actually fun to write. I was worried in the beginning but after I started I had a lot of fun with it.

  12. Paty, welcome back to P&P. We always love it when you come to visit. And I have to say what a beautiful haunting cover to your new book. Wow! Very stunning. I wish you much success.

    I think any American Indian language is very difficult. Looks like you did an excellent job of incorporating a lot of that into your story.

  13. Hi Paty, I have been trying to follow you blog post. I love the concept of this story and would love to read it. Thanks for sharing your books with us. They sound really good.

  14. Thank you for the list of season names. James Bruchac has a book out of poems for the moon seasons taken from different tribes. The link to nature that guided the native american way of life is reflected in the names used for the seasons whether months, moons, or other time frames.

    Thanks for the excerpt. The tie-in to the mystical should make this interesting reading. Good luck with the blog tour.

  15. I wonder if Nez Perce Language has a word for all the colors of autumn. We Finns do have one, “ruska”. It’s one of those words you can’t find in every language. I know at least the Japanese have a word for it, too.

  16. Thought I would stop by and check out your interview. Good luck with this book. I loved the first one.

  17. Linda, Thanks for having me. Yes, Rae Monet did an awesome job on this cover. The lake on the cover is actually Wallowa lake where the story starts. I was beyond ecstatic when I saw that.

    Hi Virginia, Thank you for following my blog tour.

    Patricia, the Native Americans had such a wonderful rapport with nature before we came along.

    Minna, That’s interesting. I didn’t see anything that was a specific word for the colors, but I’ve only skimmed the tip of the Nez Perce words.

    Hey Chris! Thanks for stopping in.

  18. I loved the excerpt. I found it interesting how they use one word to explain the seasons. I enjoyed learning how they saw the months and seasons.

  19. Becky, Thanks. It might be one word but it could be a combination of the the words into one word. The Nez Perce Dictionary is super thick and VERY confusing. Some sounds words mean different things it’s all in the tone you use. But dont’t ask me to pronounce anything. I just go by the way they say to sound it out.

  20. I love the post leanring anew language and the history just awesome cant wait to read ur newbook !

  21. I am late to join but think this week end was not my idea of all fun and I was in the hospital more then at home. Hubby decided to cause some excitement and nearly cut his right thumb off on the table saw. The doctor is trying to save it. I was not able to say hi that day or yesterday as I slept most of Sunday as I was up most of the night with hubby. I am here now catching up and hoping I will still be considered in the contest entries. I liked this blog here..learning new words can be fun and I am always ready to learn new things. Have a good day Paty. Susan Leech garysue@dejazzd.com

  22. I just realized I post as Patricia B here, but am posting under librarypat on the rest of your blog tour. Figured that would confuse things.

    librarypat AT comcast DOT net

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