Welcome, Jodi Thomas, to A Book Bloggers Diary.
Jodi: Thanks. I’m glad to step out of my story long enough to visit.
What’s coming out?
Jodi: A new book set in today’s time will be hitting the stands April 7, 2009. I think everyone will love this story set in Bailee, Texas, a small town in West Texas. (about 30 miles from Twisted Creek on the imaginary map in my mind) Check out my website for a look at all my covers. www.jodithomas.com.
Can you tell us a little about the new book?
Jodi: It’s about a big city reporter who settles in a small down after losing her job in Chicago. Pepper is fast moving, fast talking and frustrated with her life as a workaholic who never makes commitment beyond the first date. When she sees a job opening at the paper, she storms in and takes it unaware of how different a small paper operates. Through her work, she begins to see the people of the town very differently.
Did you come from a small town?
Jodi: I’m from Amarillo and to most people who live outside of the Texas Panhandle, they think of it as a small town, but to folks around here it’s the biggest town around.
How long have you been in the writing game?
Jodi: My first book came out in 1988. It was a Historical Romance and I figured my mother bought most of the copies until the National Asso. Of Press Women named it best Book by a New Author that year. After that, the books just kept coming. One a year at first and then two.
I understand TWISTED CREEK and REWRITING MONDAY both are written using 1st and 3rd person. Did you have any trouble selling that idea to your editor?
Jodi: For both books I wrote fifty pages into the book before showing it to anyone. When my editor read the story, she loved it. I’ve got a great editor who really encourages me to grow as a writer and I feel these books show that.
Do you use an outline or just write?
Jodi: I do a great deal of work on my characters, but for the most part do not outline. In thirty books I’ve found that if the outline is too detailed at the opening, its starts to choke me somewhere in the middle of the book. But, near the end of a book, I always stop to make sure I’m wrapping up all the ends of the story.
Have you ever had writer’s block?
Jodi: No. I get lazy sometimes and take a few days off. When I get to a point where I’m no sure where to go in a book I usually take a walk or change my environment. Sometimes I take trips to a town I’ve never been to or rent a lake house for a few days, or go to Wal-mart and walk around. Last week I went to a car show. I don’t remember much about the cars, but the people where great fun to watch.
What is coming up next for you?
Jodi: I’m really looking forward to the 4th in the Whispering Mountain series, THE LONE TEXAN. I’ve written Drum and Sage’s story in the background for three books and now they will have their own love story. They were fun characters to write because she’s three years older than him and thinks she’s far wiser. To her he’ll always be wild.
Do you find it difficult to write both mainstream and historicals?
Jodi: No, it’s fun. Kind of like watching two movies, flipping between channels.
How do you keep in touch with your fans?
Jodi: I hope in this way. Maybe people who have never read a Jodi Thomas book will give me a try.
I also have a great fan club. No matter where I travel these wonderful readers turn out to welcome me. They usually set with me at the autographings and go out to lunch with me. It is grand to know I have friends wherever I go. They also write to me and encourage me. For information about the club e-mail www.fanclub@jodithomas.com.
What do you see in the future?
Jodi: More books. I’m talking with my editor now about doing a three book story about three families in a small farming town. I also have an idea for a new series in the historical line, but I’ll same that for a while and let it simmer in my mind until I finish Whispering Mountain.
Thanks for inviting me and I wish you all many great hours of reading.
Happy Trails to you all,
Love, Jodi Thomas
Jodi: Thanks. I’m glad to step out of my story long enough to visit.
What’s coming out?
Jodi: A new book set in today’s time will be hitting the stands April 7, 2009. I think everyone will love this story set in Bailee, Texas, a small town in West Texas. (about 30 miles from Twisted Creek on the imaginary map in my mind) Check out my website for a look at all my covers. www.jodithomas.com.
Can you tell us a little about the new book?
Jodi: It’s about a big city reporter who settles in a small down after losing her job in Chicago. Pepper is fast moving, fast talking and frustrated with her life as a workaholic who never makes commitment beyond the first date. When she sees a job opening at the paper, she storms in and takes it unaware of how different a small paper operates. Through her work, she begins to see the people of the town very differently.
Did you come from a small town?
Jodi: I’m from Amarillo and to most people who live outside of the Texas Panhandle, they think of it as a small town, but to folks around here it’s the biggest town around.
How long have you been in the writing game?
Jodi: My first book came out in 1988. It was a Historical Romance and I figured my mother bought most of the copies until the National Asso. Of Press Women named it best Book by a New Author that year. After that, the books just kept coming. One a year at first and then two.
I understand TWISTED CREEK and REWRITING MONDAY both are written using 1st and 3rd person. Did you have any trouble selling that idea to your editor?
Jodi: For both books I wrote fifty pages into the book before showing it to anyone. When my editor read the story, she loved it. I’ve got a great editor who really encourages me to grow as a writer and I feel these books show that.
Do you use an outline or just write?
Jodi: I do a great deal of work on my characters, but for the most part do not outline. In thirty books I’ve found that if the outline is too detailed at the opening, its starts to choke me somewhere in the middle of the book. But, near the end of a book, I always stop to make sure I’m wrapping up all the ends of the story.
Have you ever had writer’s block?
Jodi: No. I get lazy sometimes and take a few days off. When I get to a point where I’m no sure where to go in a book I usually take a walk or change my environment. Sometimes I take trips to a town I’ve never been to or rent a lake house for a few days, or go to Wal-mart and walk around. Last week I went to a car show. I don’t remember much about the cars, but the people where great fun to watch.
What is coming up next for you?
Jodi: I’m really looking forward to the 4th in the Whispering Mountain series, THE LONE TEXAN. I’ve written Drum and Sage’s story in the background for three books and now they will have their own love story. They were fun characters to write because she’s three years older than him and thinks she’s far wiser. To her he’ll always be wild.
Do you find it difficult to write both mainstream and historicals?
Jodi: No, it’s fun. Kind of like watching two movies, flipping between channels.
How do you keep in touch with your fans?
Jodi: I hope in this way. Maybe people who have never read a Jodi Thomas book will give me a try.
I also have a great fan club. No matter where I travel these wonderful readers turn out to welcome me. They usually set with me at the autographings and go out to lunch with me. It is grand to know I have friends wherever I go. They also write to me and encourage me. For information about the club e-mail www.fanclub@jodithomas.com.
What do you see in the future?
Jodi: More books. I’m talking with my editor now about doing a three book story about three families in a small farming town. I also have an idea for a new series in the historical line, but I’ll same that for a while and let it simmer in my mind until I finish Whispering Mountain.
Thanks for inviting me and I wish you all many great hours of reading.
Happy Trails to you all,
Love, Jodi Thomas
Thank you for that interesting interview, dear Author! Readers, your thoughts / comments are most welcome.
______________________________________________________________________
If you like this post, then please consider subscribing to my Full Feed RSS.
You can also Subscribe by Email and have new posts sent directly to your inbox.
I have loved her books for years. Glad to see she has a new one coming out!
ReplyDelete