Jodi Thomas - RITA award winner talks to the RNA

One of the highlights of the RNA conference was the talk by Jodi Thomas. Jodi’s a bestselling novelist from Texas and a RITA award winner, so we were very lucky to have her as a speaker. Her lively session encompassed her history as a marriage and family counsellor - no wonder she writes about family dynamics with such perception and skill! - and her present career as Writer In Residence at Texas A & M University.

“When I was a child, being a writer wasn’t an option,’ she told us. “All the people I knew had regular jobs. I’m hoping that students will see that being a writer is a possibility. This is particularly important in these days when programs in the arts are being cut in the public schools."

I'm sure that sentiment will be shared by a lot of our blog readers.

Talking of her feelings about being a writer she said, "When I was teaching classes full time, I thought I was making the world a better place. Now I think of a teacher, or nurse, or mother settling back and relaxing with one of my books. I want to take her away on an adventure that will entertain her. Maybe, in a small way, I’m still making the world a better place."

She certainly is! Jodi writes a variety of books, both historical and contemporary, but they share a Texas setting. Some of her books are:


Two Texas Hearts
Kora Adams did not believe in curses, but she had known nothing but bad luck all her life. Then, one night, there was a knock on her door. It was a handsome but solemn stranger with a story to tell.

Winter McQuillen had inherited a sprawling Texas ranch not far from the one room cabin Kora called home. But the only way he could claim it was if he found a wife that night. Winter had but one question for Kora: Would she marry him?

The thought of wedding a man she did not know scared Kora to death. But the security of marriage - - and even the faintest hope of love - - was like a dream come true. Kora knew she needed every bit of comfort marriage would provide. What she didn't know was that Winter needed her even more. . . .

Jodi won the Holt Medallion Award (awarded by Virginia Romance Writers) with TWO TEXAS HEARTS and Romantic Times Magazine gave Jodi Thomas a Career Achievement Award for Western Historical Romance.

It's available from Amazon by clicking here

The Texan and The Lady
Jennie Munday left her sleepy Iowa home to become a Harvey Girl. On a train bound for Kansas and her exciting new life, she met Austin McCormick, a gruff, abrasive Texas marshal who seemed to be everything she disliked in a man. But when their train is held up by gun slinging outlaws, Jennie is thrown together with the stubborn Texan - - and learns that the law can be deadly and dangerously filled with desire . . .

It's available from Amazon by clicking here



Jodi's 2007 release is Texas Princess. If you've ever dreamt of being swept off your feet by a cowboy, this is the book for you!


To learn more about Jodi's books, visit her website at www.jodithomas.com by clicking
here

Our thanks to Jodi for such an inspiring and interesting talk.