Outtakes 45

Jodi Thomas

I met author Jodi Thomas in 2001 when I enrolled in an Amarillo College continuing education creative writing course.  I had no idea what to expect from a multi-published, award winning novelist. As far as I knew, she would lecture on how great she was and how little chance we had of making it as writers. What I found was a warm, encouraging, and informative teacher.

Jodi has thirty-five novels to her credit; four Romance Writers of America RITA awards, is a New York Times and USA Today Best Selling author; and member of the Romance Writers Hall of Fame. Her early publications were historic western romances set in her home state of Texas. In 2003 she published her first main stream novel THE WIDOWS of WICHITA COUNTY.  She became an advocate for the homeless while researching FINDING MARY BLAINE (2004).  As Writer in Residence at West Texas A&M University, Jodi spends much of her time visiting with and encouraging young writers.

Jodi is a popular speaker at writers’ events. In order to promote writers’ education, she sponsored

a week-long writer’s academy on the campus of West Texas A&M University in Canyon, Texas every June. She continues to meet her avid fans at book signings and luncheons. One year, a group of ladies on a bus tour of Texas, dropped by the Frontiers in Writing bookstore in the Ambassador Hotel. The ladies politely asked if they could come in and look around. We were happy to have them come in to shop. One lady purchased a couple of Jodi’s books. I asked her if she would like to have Jodi autograph them. She sweetly thanked me but suggested the author had more important people to meet. “Nonsense,” I said. “Jodi would be happy to visit with you.” I walked her over to the signing and introduced her to Jodi. A few minutes later, the lady returned to the bookstore. “Thank you,” she gushed. “Ms. Thomas is so nice. She’s a real person!” I cannot imagine a better description of Jodi Thomas.

Jodi is the keynote speaker for the Frontiers in Writing banquet on Friday, June 29^th. FiW attendees have a wonderful opportunity to benefit from her writing experiences and her road to success. We invite you to register for Frontiers in Writing Let’s Write Weekend June 28-30, 2012 on the Amarillo College Washington Street campus. We look forward to seeing you.

Cait Collins