Celebrating Christmas Books with Jodi Thomas

I'm happy to announce the start of my Christmas Books Celebration with one of my favorite authors from my previous home state of Texas. Jodi Thomas is a prolific author with millions of books in print. She's been on both the New York Times and USA Today bestselling lists. She's published over 50 novels and and is still going strong. Now let's find out about her new Christmas book.

How did you come up with the idea for your Christmas book?
When I started Father Goose (which is my Christmas story in THE COWBOY WHO SAVED CHRISTMAS) I wanted to write a story about a broken soldier coming home from the war with no home, no one waiting, and no future. He’d gone to war a boy and returned broken.

He takes a hauling job and finds out that his cargo is five little girls. With the help of a women on the run, he sets out across outlaw country.

The little girls move into his heart with laughter and tears as he tried to keep them safe and get them home by Christmas.

Sounds like a heart-warming story. What is one of your favorite Christmas memories?

I love baking cookies with my four grandkids and remembering forty years back when my son was in his roll-around walker. He somehow reached the corner of the tea towel where my decorated cookies were cooling. He grabbed the corner and the cookies rained down on his head. He grabbed a bite of every one that fell.

What are some of your favorite Christmas traditions?

I love putting up the tree. All my kids, including grands line up down the hall, around the corner and down the basement steps. They pass twelve red boxes up, around the corner and down to the living room. Then everyone opens the red boxes and Christmas explodes in my living room. A few hours later I put the last ornament on the tree. The only one left of dozens I made the first Christmas we were married. I was teaching my first year of school in Amarillo and Tom was in the army.

What’s next? 
I’m starting a new series. Four brothers. The story is dancing in my head and as always I can’t wait to start.

What’s the best writing tip you’ve learned or been given you’d like to share?
The advice is simple. ‘A WRITER WRITES.’ I run into many talented people who talk writing but they don’t write.

What do you know now about writing and publishing you wish you had learned sooner?
I wish I’d kept up with all my character names. After over fifty books and eighteen short stories I’m running out of names.

Any last words or tips?
Over my thirty years of writing I’ve met some wonderful people---and some of them are real.

Are there any other books that you’d like to tell my readers about?
My new series, THE HONEY CREEK SERIES, is rolling out fast. Don’t miss it.

That's all for today's interview. I've promised you free ebooks with each day of Celebrating Christmas Books, and here are today's offerings. The first  for 100 Literary Classics which you can find on Amazon: 

https://amzn.to/3pHEkMy For those of you who like reading biographies, here's one about Florence Nightingale: https://amzn.to/3CbO7hn

If you like to know more about Jodi's writing, here are some links to get you started. If you're part of Kindle Unlimited, you can get a few of her ebooks for free right now. 

Website: jodithomas.com
Facebook: Jodi Thomas Author
Instagram: @jodithomasauthor
Email: jodithomasfanclub@gmail.com
Newsletter: http://www.jodithomas.com

A Writer's Journey: Author Interview with Jodi Thomas

Jodi Thomas is a bestselling author of over 50 novels and countless short story collections. Her stories travel through the past and present days of Texas and draw readers from around the world.

Her awards include five RITA’s, National Readers’ Choice Awards, Booksellers’ Best Awards, and she’s been inducted into the Romance Writers of America Hall of Fame. In addition, she has been named a Distinguished Alumni by Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas, Thomas also served as Writer in Residence at West Texas A&M University in Canyon, Texas.

So, tell me how it all began.
When I began my journey as a writer, I was surprised by the fact that it’s not just sitting in front of a computer to try and think up stories. Much of it is walking or driving across the land. Or exploring. I’m like the Indiana Jones of research.

My boys tease me about my fascination with what happened at any place in the past. When they were little, they would yell from the back of the van, “Why does this car have to stop at every historical marker in the world?”

When I moved into women’s fiction I thought I’d do less research. But I’m still wandering around looking for the spark.

For me, it’s like I’m an archeologist digging for my story. Over and over the location makes my story come alive. Sometimes it’s the weather or the people or the time in history.

Once I opened a book with an oil drill bit being tossed through a window. When I mentioned it at lunch one of my friends said she didn’t think it was possible to toss it from the street.

Next morning there were several rusty old drill bits thrown from the street and not one made it to my porch. So, research. My whole family went outside and started tossing drill bits across the yard.

There have been times in my life I’ve wondered why my neighbors didn’t vote me out of the neighborhood.

I just love how stories and plots get written. You never know what you'll discover when doing research. Now let's get an update on your latest book, PICNIC IN SOMEDAY VALLEY

I'm very happy PICNIC IN SOMEDAY VALLEY is finally coming out. I wrote it while it seemed like I was locked in my house, alone for months in 2020 and the only company was my imaginary friends. 😀

I found, as the story unfolded, that I put more of a mystery and lots more action. There were times the characters wouldn't let me sleep and I wrote all night long until my people were in a safe place.

Now, the world is starting to open up a little and my friends from the book will be stepping out April 27. I may still have to wear a mask, but they'll be going wild, with bar fights, running for their lives, and of course falling in love.

If you'd like to learn more about this book or her many others, here are a couple of links.

Website: https://www.jodithomas.com/shop

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Jodi-Thomas/e/B001HCU40G/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_ebooks_1

Don't Talk about Writing - Write! Author Interview with Jodi Thomas

My interview today is with an author who has won four RITA awards and two Reader's Choice awards. Jodi writes historical and contemporary romance with plots set in her home state of Texas. Since that's my home state, and I've been an RWA member, it gives me a special pleasure to share her thoughts with you!

You’ve now written seven series. What made you decide to write that first novel?
I started writing to make money so I could send my sons to college. I worked two jobs throughout and I wanted to make it a little easier for them.

When my son was little he used to say, “When I grow up and have an office I’ll have your books on my bookcase. When people ask me why, I’ll say, “Freshman year, sophomore year, junior year, senior year.”

When he made it to college one of his advisers had a row of my books on her shelf. My son asked her ‘Why’ and she said that I was her favorite author. My son answered, “Mine too.

I love that story! How did you go about finding an agent / publisher?
I entered contests and sent out about 100 queries. I found my first agent through a friend but she would not send anything because she said it was not good enough.

I met an editor in a 10 minute interview at RWA. I had left the first agent so I sold it alone. When I found another agent she sold four more books for me in 15 months. I was ready. Among her pile of not good enough was a RITA winner, my first best seller, and one book I should have left under the bed.

What is the hardest part of writing for you?

Learning my people. I spend sometimes months on the first three or four chapters. Once I find my people and know them it is a race to the end. I want to see what happens to the people I love.

What does your editor remind you to do most often?
Do not hurry the end.

What I remind myself : Write deeper!

What’s the best encouragement you’ve had in your writing?
When I wrote my first romance book and had no idea if it was any good. My mother and her friend traded romances every Sunday at church. So I gave my manuscript to Mom. She loved it. Said it had too much sex so I could leave that out in the next few books.

Then she gave it to Pearl after Sunday School. That night, Pearl did not show up for Training Union. Mom went by her house thinking something was wrong. Pearl was reading.

She said, “Tell that daughter of yours that I got more excited in her waterfall scene than I ever got with either one of my husbands.”

First review. Still my favorite.

That's a hoot. I can see why it's so memorable to you. Now to another subject all writers have to deal with -- rejection by agents and publishers. How have you
learned to write past it?
On book 5 my editor told me I had peaked and I probably would not sell any more. That was 46 books and four RITAs ago.

That's one way to do it - prove them wrong. What has surprised you the most in writing/publishing? 

I think it is how close I feel to my readers. When I meet them I always want to hug them because I know they are the reason I am writing.

What is the best writing advice you’ve received or could give?

Do not talk your story, write it.

What's the next book coming out? Can you give me a brief synopsis?

I've got two books coming out that are both three stories in one book with two other authors. The first is called A Texas Kind of Christmas and my story is called "One Night at the St. Nicholas."

The story takes place in the historic St.Nicholas hotel in Dallas, Texas. It's about Texas heiress Jacqueline Hartman who spends Christmas Eve sharing a hideout with an accused bank robber. After a night in Nathaniel Ward’s arms, Jacqueline is certain she has met her match after all. But will his heartfelt promise of love lead to his demise at the hands of the law?

The publish date for that book is September 29

The next trio of stories is titled, The Cowboy Who Saved Christmas and is set to release October 27. My story is called "Father Goose" which is about Trapper Morgan who accepts a job hauling five little rich girls to Dallas, and all he cares about is the money. He doesn’t expect they’ll awaken his spirit—or that their intriguing nursemaid, Carolina, will awaken his heart. And when danger strikes as Christmas Eve nears, he definitely doesn’t expect Carolina and the girls to risk their lives—for him.

Sounds like great reads in front of a fireplace snuggled up in a blanket. If you'd like to learn more about Jodi's books, here are the links to get you started. 

Amazon page: https://amzn.to/2PiuY6G

Her Website: http://www.jodithomas.com/

Goodreads page: https://bit.ly/2BWyH6T