Jodi's Morning Musings

A Change of Address…

Jodi — Thu, 28 May 2009 18:38:38 +0000

Not to worry… I am still posting blogs on a somewhat regular basis (when I take a break from writing!)… I’m just posting them on a different site.

My new blog address is
http://jodithomas.blogspot.com

I so hope you will follow me over there!!

Looking forward to hearing from you!!

Jodi

4 1/2 Stars, High School Rodeo, & My Intern…

Jodi — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 21:28:43 +0000

Exciting news today, Romantic Times gave REWRITING MONDAY 4 ½ STARS. The book will be out April 7th but the reviews always come out about a month early. I also have an article in this month’s issue. I’m interviewing Robyn Carr. I wouldn’t have known about all this except my friend called me. I swear, some days the world could end and I’d miss it.

Right now I’m in the world of my new book and having great fun writing it. I’m doing research on high school rodeo for one character. When I was in my teens I rode in the rodeo every year when I stayed with my Uncle Leroy and my Aunt Dixie (anyone who doesn’t know me will think I made up those names) I thought I was something, riding in the parade and every night in the Grand Entry. The last day of the rodeo I was riding out to the pasture and, after living in the saddle for four day, got tossed off. To this day when my leg hurts I tell everyone it’s the old rodeo injury.

Want to have some fun check out the the Cowgirl Hall of Fame website!

Happy Trails, Jodi

P.S. This is my new intern here at West Texas A&M University, Carmen Hamilton, holding copies of the international versions of THE SECRETS OF ROSA LEE…

Quartz Mountain Inspiration

Jodi — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 21:03:26 +0000

I went on a virtual little vacation this week. My son and his bride of two years slipped over the border into Oklahoma for a few days stay at Quartz Mountain Lodge. They sent pictures of their days thanks to her iPhone. What fun. I’ve made that trip several times and felt like I was along for the ride with them as they climbed and listened to the sounds of the water.

Quartz Mountain is really only a hill in southwest Oklahoma but it was the seed planted, thanks to Kirkland family reunions in my childhood, of a mountain that would later be the spark for Whispering Mountain—a five book series I will be finished writing this year.

When people ask me where my ideas come from, I’m usually clueless, but sometimes I know where the spark started. I remember climbing that hill and setting on top with Tom and thinking I could see forever from that spot.

Maybe it’s because I write historicals. Maybe it’s because I love history, but sometimes I feel like the past walks beside me.

The kids also visited Quanah Parker’s and Geronimo’s graves at Fort Sill.
A touch of my history: I had an Uncle named Dolan Parker who’s ancestors came from Parker’s Fort, the place where Cynthia Ann Parker (mother to Quanah) was captured.

In the Panhandle Plains Historical Museum, a walk across campus from my office, Quanah Parker’s headdress is on display. I’ve heard people who visit it say they can still feel the power of the last great Comanche chief coming from his war bonnet.

Rainy Days and Thursdays

Jodi — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 19:30:55 +0000

I’d lik to thank everyone who came out to my autographings this weekend. Autographings always frighten me a little. Before i ever sold a book I used to dream about them and think I’d love them. I always thought I would wear a strange hat and look very intelligent behind the table, but little of that picture came true. No hat. The look is usually tired, not intelligent and myhand hurts from signing. The only great part of the autographing is meeting friends and fans. I love knowing they are out there reading and encouraging me.

It is almost raining in the Panhandle today. I love rainy days, but I live in the wrong part of the country for them.

I’m into the new book and having a great time. Problem is, I don’t want to stop writing long enough to write a proposal. That always happens to me. I love meeting the characters. They’ve been dancing in my head for months now.

Cowboys, A Cover Sneek Peek and New Beginnings…

Jodi — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 17:39:49 +0000

This will be a busy weekend for me with three autographings of GIVE ME A COWBOY. The three other authors, DeWanna Pace, Phyliss Miranda, and Linda Broday will be joining me for each event. We think by having three in Amarillo, we’ll have time to visit with everyone, and of course each other. Because of my writing and speaking schedule, I’m not able to travel to autograph this one, but it will be with me on every table when I’m autographing REWRITING MONDAY in April.

Thought you might like to see the cover of REWRITING MONDAY…

Watch for a video preview in a few weeks.

The beginning of a new book is always so hard for me so this week has been lots of pacing and not much writing. I’ve put together characters and the opening to their stories, but knowing who to start with his hard. So far I’ve written about twenty pages this week and tossed 15 of them in the trash. If only the first fifty pages were as easy to write at the last 50.

Icy Roads – Warm Hearts

Jodi — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 16:31:31 +0000

Its been a wild week. Ice hit the area and I stayed home one day reading. I also put together an author on author interview with Robyn Carr. What a great lady and so much fun.

The wonderful thing about finishing a book, I have time to catch up on my reading. Sage and Drummond’s story is finished and I cried saying good-bye, but I’ll see them again in the next Whispering Mountain story. I’m calling it Duck and the girls. It will take place ten years after Sage’s story and Teagen’s girls are all grown up. I think it will be a very tender story.

Monday I’ll begin a new story set in today’s time, that I hope will be a series about a small town near Twisted Creek. I’ve been putting together characters for months. The pots been on the back burner and it’s finally time to bring it to center stage. Someone asked me today if I was looking forward to the weekend and I laughed. Writers don’t have weekends. The story follows us wherever we go.

Stay warm and think of spring, Jodi

A New Year… A New Story!

Jodi — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 20:48:14 +0000

Welcome to 2009. I’m back at work in my office at West Texas A&M where the sun is shining on the leafless tree outside my window.

I spent most of the month during the Christmas break working on Sage and Drummond’s story. After having them as secondary characters in the last three Whispering Mountain books, I really looked forward to telling their story. A character I hadn’t expected showed up as the story progressed and I think my fans will enjoy him. I love that when it happens. Its almost like writing and reading a story at the same time because I’m not sure where this character is going. When I wrote the last chapter this week, I felt sad saying good-bye to them. The hard part is, I have to keep the story all to myself for 9 months before the book hits the stands.

Whenever I get close to the end of a story, another plot always starts playing in my head, demanding I move on to it. So, I’ll take a weekend off and start all over again with a new group of imaginary friends who live in a place in my head.

I wish everyone the best for 09. Jodi

Happy Thanksgiving!

Jodi — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 21:56:10 +0000

I’m on the road again, in Arlington and Tyler this next week. I feel like I’m hotel hopping across Texas. This time, while I’m not autographing or speaking, I’ll have my imaginary friends traveling with me. Sage’s story is going great. All I need is a few hundred hours to spend with the story.

Of course, I’ll take off on Thursday to have Thanksgiving. This is the first year all my family will not be together but that doesn’t mean I won’t be thinking of them.

Happy Thanksgiving, Jodi

On a side note…
Go Tech!!

This is my nephew Brian, his lovely wife Amy and their two precious daughters Kourtney and Macy showing their colors!

Travel and “The Boy King”

Jodi — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 16:26:27 +0000

I’ve had a busy week. I was in Dallas last weekend doing stock signings. Meet some great book people. Had a grand tea with readers who really know romance books. I had time to spare Sat. night, so I went to see King Tut. Here’s me with my Mummy.

This weekend I’m going to Lubbock to talk at Texas Tech on Friday and then on Saturday, I plan to have lunch with some beautiful Red Hat Ladies and then we’ll be off to a signing at Barnes and Noble from 5-7.

The next week I’m heading down to Dallas for a signing at in Arlington. Sometimes I think I should have a page on my blog that says, “Where in the world is Jodi?”

In all the free time when I’m not driving, signing, or sleeping, I’m working on Sage’s story and having a grand time.

Have a great Thanksgiving, Jodi

TALL, DARK, AND TEXAN is here!!

Jodi — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 15:22:07 +0000

Tuesday my new book hit the stands. TALL, DARK, AND TEXAN. I’ve been waiting a year for everyone to see it. Kathy Baker at the Legacy Bookstore in Plano called to tell me she loved it and thought it was my best. That meant a great deal to me. Writers, no matter how many books always worry about each book.
Now, the frightening part, stepping out of my office and into the world to autograph. I love it when friends come by to visit with me during an autographing. I also love it when readers stop by to talk about my work.
What frightens me are people who just happen to come by, usually drinking a cup of coffee while their children or spouse shop, and look at my books. They ask questions like, ‘What’s going on here?’ or ‘What’s this book about?’ or ‘How’d you get this published.’ They are not buying, they are just passing time. After I tell them about the book, they put it down and say, ‘Let me tell you a real story…” This is about the time I feel trapped. But, I can’t run. It’s my party.

I had a great weekend at a Writers Retreat in Red River, New Mexico. This is what I saw as I drove home.