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Book Details
Marin Sinclair, Book 2
Suspense Thriller
Date Published: 09/15/2025
Publisher: RabbitHole LLC
When Marin Sinclair discovers teenager Garret Washburn in danger from a deadly conspiracy involving bootlegged alcohol, wolf-witches, an election campaign, murder, and an unknown bomber, she looks to Navajo Nation Police Sergeant Justin Blue Eyes and Federal Agent Cullen MacPherson to help protect Vangie Tso’s son from the dark forces at play.
Excerpt
Excerpt from Changing Woman’s Hair by Jan D Payne —“It’s likely the same guys,” Franklin whispered. “You need to go for help. Get word to Sergeant Blue Eyes.” “I can’t go without you,” she said, and Franklin took her hand and pressed it against his side. When she pulled her hand away, it was wet and sticky. “You’re bleeding!” she said, and Franklin’s nod was dimly visible in the darkness lit only by the fires. “I’ll find something to help,” Marin said, and crawled through the hogan’s entrance, searching by feel until she found several pieces of soft clothing or bedding. “Hold this over the wound and press,” she said, making a thick pad. She tied the pad around Franklin using a length of bale twine, and he gasped, then sat taking deep breaths. “Sorry, we need to get the bleeding stopped,” she whispered. Franklin took another breath and gave a low whistle. A horse broke away from the bunched group and came close to the rails, snorting softly. “Here is your friend, Otekah,” Franklin said and ducked into the corral. “You must take her and go.” “Go where?” Franklin didn’t answer. He took a rope from a corral post and ran the rope behind Otekah’s ears, made a quick turn around the mare’s muzzle, and looped a knot into the side of the make-shift halter. He pushed the end of the rope into Marin’s hands. “No,” she said. “I can’t leave you. You’re hurt.” “They’ll soon come looking,” Franklin said. “Trust Otekah to find the way. She’ll be going home.” “I can’t find my way in the dark!” Marin said. “She knows the way. There is only one gate to open; our home is near the canyon’s end. You will be able to climb out.” “No … ” Marin said. “Climb up to the rim road. Bring back help.” “Franklin, I can’t climb the canyon wall!” “There are handholds to guide you,” he said, and he pushed something cold, round, and metallic into her hands … a flashlight. “I shot one of those Indian kids,” said a man’s deep voice and she and Franklin froze, sinking deeper into the hogan’s shadows. “He ran over here.” “Lay off. I’m not about to get trampled trying to find him,” a second man answered. “He’s in here, I know it.” “He’s not going anywhere. He’s got nowhere to run with this hut built up against the canyon wall.” “You can either come out or you can bleed to death!” the first man shouted, and there was a sudden blast of gunfire. Marin yelped, and Otekah reared, yanking the rope from her hands and whirling away. Yuma, his gray coat barely visible, whistled shrilly and kicked against the corral poles until the saplings shuddered. “I said lay off, you idiot! A pole fence won’t hold half-ton horses! You’ll get us trampled! You don’t even know if the kid’s in there.” The first man raised his voice. “You hear that, Injun boy? We’re gonna start shooting your horses if you don’t come out!” “Stow it, Jack! You start shooting and these horses will go crazy. That kid’s not going anywhere. We need to get back to the prisoners.” “Prisoners,” Marin breathed when the men walked away. “We have to stay and help them.” “No. You must go, shadi,” Franklin said, making a soft clucking noise until Otekah once more came close, tossing her head as the other horses restlessly circled the corral, stamping and blowing. “My beauty,” Franklin murmured, picking up the trailing rope and looping it around Otekah’s neck. “This is a bad idea,” Marin said, but she climbed between the corral poles to lean against Otekah’s warmth. The horses were bunched together, pressing hard against the gate poles, anxious to escape, eager to run. Still … “I’d never forgive myself if you and the others … ” “You must bring help, tell the Sergeant what has happened.” There was no one else to go. When Franklin again pushed the flashlight into her hands, she took it and shoved it into her waistband, then caught Otekah’s mane and rolled onto the mare’s back, catching up the rope in one hand. Franklin murmured something that sounded like a prayer and slid a pole from the top of the gate. Carefully he lowered one end to the ground, then reached for the next pole and did the same. Even with only two poles down, the horses began to push into the gap, Otekah with them, and Marin clutched the halter rope breathing in the familiar scent of horse—dust, dried grass, musky sweat. “I’m not sure I can guide her.” “Just stay on,” Franklin returned. Marin wrapped the rope tight around her hand and twisted both hands into Otekah’s mane, aware of a familiar rush of excitement, that stomach-clenching tension when Dandy’s muscles had bunched beneath her the second before the rodeo arena gate flew open and they shot forward. She’d done this a hundred times or more, and she bent low to Otekah’s neck, gathering focus. “Ready … ” Franklin whispered, and he eased the last pole to the ground. “Franklin, I … ” Marin began, but Franklin stepped back, gave a shrill, yipping yell, and slapped Otekah across the rump, waving his hat as the horses surged forward.—
Author Details
Drawing from her own life story in the Four Corners area of the Navajo Nation, author Jan D. Payne offers readers a journey into the heart of the American Southwest in a modern-day romantic suspense series. Writing characters who navigate diverse cultural influences to explore the lines between the seen and the unseen, the modern and the traditional, the present and the past—she creates a world where the impossible becomes possible, and mythical legends come to life.
Jan is a member of Western Writers of America and Women Writing the West. She and her husband live in northern Minnesota with their three big dogs—Kaibab, Rudi, and Orrin. Visit her website at: jandpayne.com
Contact Links
Website: www.jandpayne.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JanDPayneAuthor
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jandpayne.author/
Purchase Links
Coming Soon…
Guest Post
Ten Things to Know About Jan D Payne’s Latest Book: Changing Woman’s Hair
- The book title refers to the Dineh Holy Person, Changing Woman. In Dineh
mythology, Changing Woman is a central creation spirit. She represents the cyclical
nature of life and the balance between opposites, as in seasons or the times of life.
The mother of the Hero Twins, Monster Slayer and Child of Water, she is associated
with regeneration, renewal and transformation, things the main character, Marin
Sinclair, is very concerned with in her own life. As for the word ‘Hair’ in the title,
the black varnish seen streaking the sides of mesas, rock formations, and sandstone
canyon walls in Dinetah (Navajoland) is often referred to as ‘Changing Woman’s
hair’. - The Marin Sinclair book series (Rabbit Moon, Changing Woman’s Hair) is a suspense fiction series with themes concerning ‘found’ family and how bonds formed through shared experiences (even terrifying ones!) can be as meaningful as those of blood. Marin’s continuing story involves looking beyond the traditional definitions of family to include the people who support, challenge, love, and shape one’s life.
- Changing Woman’s Hair is described as a ‘nail-biting adventure’—as well as ‘otherworldly, character-driven, and redemptive’.
- The Dineh (Navajo) language used in the book is authentic and in current usage. If interested in learning more about the language, check out online programs with Native speakers to listen to and learn from, including legends and songs (!). There are also some very good Dineh instructors on YouTube… (DayBreak Warrior is a particular favorite).
- The continuing characters in both books are not based on real people but are a combination of traits from actual people in the author’s past…with the exception of Lewis George, who, as the embodiment of the mythological figure Raven, cannot strictly be called a ‘real’ person.
- Books 1 and 2, Rabbit Moon and Changing Woman’s Hair, and any books to come (Book 3 is in the works!) may each be read as a ‘stand-alone’ story, but the Marin Sinclair books are meant as a series, so there are connections between each book.
- The ‘Skinwalkers’ depicted in the book are a description of ‘Navajo witches’. Witchcraft is real and practiced on the reservation, but as Sgt. Justin Blue Eyes says, ‘it’s not something you want to talk about’.
- The places and events in ‘Changing Woman’s Hair’ such as the annual Navajo Fair in Window Rock, Arizona, and the Northern Navajo Fair in Shiprock, New Mexico are authentic, as is the All Indian Rodeo Cowboys Association (AIRCA) and their sponsored rodeos. The horses are real, too, but their names were changed to protect their privacy.
- The Navajo Nation is the largest American Indian reservation in the United States…it encompasses almost sixteen million acres, or about 25,000 square miles in the Four Corners area of Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, and (in small part) southern Colorado—near one of the four Navajo sacred mountains, Blanca Peak. The Hopi reservation is located within the Navajo Nation, and though surrounded by the Navajo Nation, is a separate tribe with its own culture and language.
- The photographer for the book covers of both ‘Rabbit Moon’ and Changing Woman’s Hair is Charles Ruscher. His studio is in Sedona, Arizona, and his amazing artwork may be seen on his website: http://absoluteinspiration.com… Look him up!
Giveaway
$5 Amazon Gift Card + eBook Copy
Tour Schedule
September 29 – RABT Book Tours – Kick Off
September 30 – Books 1987 – Spotlight
October 1 – Liliyana Shadowlyn – Spotlight
October 2 – Book Junkiez – Excerpt
October 3 – Nana’s Book Reviews – Spotlight
October 6 – The Avid Reader – Interview
October 7 – Book Reviews by Virginia Lee – Spotlight
October 8 – Always Reading – Excerpt
October 9 – The Faerie Review – Spotlight
October 10 – On a Reading Bender – Review
October 13 – My Reading Addiction – Interview
October 14 – Sarandipity’s – Guest Post
October 15 – The Indie Express – Review
October 16 – Iron Canuck Reviews – Excerpt
October 16 – Novel News Network – Review
October 17 – RABT Reviews – Wrap Up
