1. What does being in the Romance Writers Hall of Fame mean?

Jodi Thomas:

As a writer it is one of the highest honors I can receive. RWA has almost 10,000 members and in 27 years they have only inducted 11 members into the Hall of Fame. To be eligible a writer must win three RITAs in the same category. That means, according to the judges, a writer has written the best novel in her category, nationwide three times.

Personally, the honor has been a lifetime goal of mine since I attended my first RWA in 1987. I was just getting started and when I saw the statue I dreamed that someday I'd have one. Someday I'd be named the best in the nation.

When I won my first RITA, I thought it was luck. On the second one I couldn't have been more surprised. But, once I had two I begin to hope for the third. I made the finals four times before I finally won. I was getting used to being listed in the ‘also ran' column. At the award ceremony I sat beside my editor at Putnam/Berkley. I was calm. My husband Tom was in the back pacing. When they called my name, I didn't react until my editor started hugging me. I went on stage and accepted my third RITA, but when I turned to leave Christina Dodd whispered, “Stay on stage.” I saw the board members of RWA moving around and the president stepped to the mic and said, “On the rare occasion we have an author win a third RITA she is immediately inducted into the Romance Writers Hall of Fame. Over three thousand writers stood and applauded as she handed me the award. My calm disappeared. To see three thousand writers, editors and agents honoring me took my breath away.

2. What will it mean in your writing life?

Jodi Thomas:

I'm not sure about the long term. In the short term it means that I have to work harder. I have two books already under contract to write and another very different book I'm working on the proposal.

I see my writing as still evolving. I'm not as good as I'd like to be. So, personally it does not mean that I can relax and stop learning or trying to improve. I'm not the best writer I want to be yet. I'm still a work in progress.

3. What do you see as your next goal or goals in writing?

Jodi Thomas:

I'm also working on a different kind of story. Not that I don't still love writing historicals about Texas, but sometimes another kind of story comes to me. I've been selling novels for 18 years and I find myself constantly changing and growing.

4. What advice would you give to someone just starting out?

Jodi Thomas:

Don't be afraid to dream, but back that dream up with work. When I was teaching full time, raising two boys and taking care of a mother with Alzheimer, I used to say that everyday I'd do one thing, one step to get closer to my goal.

Also, no one can tell you how to write or get a book published for you. It's something you have to do for yourself. Take writing classes. Read every book you can find on writing. Then, write, and write, and write.