Jodi Thomas Week: The Interview

When we first invited Jodi Thomas to the blog, we decided it might also be fun to shake things up a bit and instead of doing an interview with her ourselves, we asked Nath and Dev if they’d like to do the interview. Being big fans of Ms. Thomas’, they agreed. I think they did a wonderful job.

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Questions about the writing…

Q: Can you tell us a bit about your first sale? How did you celebrate it?

My first book was BENEATH THE TEXAS SKY. I was getting ready to teach my first class at high school one morning when a Kensington editor called and said simply, “I want to buy your book.” I ran up and down the hall yelling, telling everyone. Then it dawned on my I hadn’t said goodbye to the editor. I ran back and she told me I was too excited to talk to, but they still wanted the book.

We celebrated that night with family and friends. In fact, we celebrated every night for a week.

Q: Was BENEATH THE TEXAS SKY your first manuscript/attempt to write a book? If not, were you able to sell the previous manuscripts?

BENEATH THE TEXAS SKY was not my first manuscript. When I started writing I had no idea what I wanted to write. I tried children’s, young adult, romance and mystery. I’d worked on probably half a dozen books, but only finished three. BENEATH THE TEXAS SKY sold, then a few months after it came out I sold a proposal for THE TENDER TEXAN, then a month later I sold the first historical romance I worked on called NORTHERN STAR. My first book came out second but was sold third. I wrote for over four years without much luck then sold 5 books in fifteen months.

Q: Why and how did you start writing? Did you always dream to become an author?

I think I always wanted to write, but English didn’t come easy for me. I started writing, dreaming of being able to sell books and put my sons through college.

I wrote my first book on legal pads, then typed it. I took a few courses on writing, went to local writing conferences, read everything on writing, then closed the books and started.

Q: When you started, did you ever dream to be inducted into the RWA Hall of Fame?

At my first RWA conference I saw a RITA and dreamed of winning one. After I had one, we always joked that I had to win two so I could have bookends. The third one came as a surprise. I just wrote a book I loved.

The Hall of Fame is one of the great honors of my life. I’ll never forget it.

Q: Over the years, who and/or what have been some of your influences?

I love to read. I think the hundreds of books I’ve loved have made me try harder so that maybe one of my stories will someday be on some readers keeper shelf.

Q: What is a typical day like for Jodi Thomas? Example, Nora Roberts considers writing her “job” so she writes from 8am-5pm. What about you?

I start my day as Writer-in-Residence. My office door is open from 9:30-11:30 every morning. I love having people come in to talk writing. When no one drops by I answer e-mail. On Thursdays I work with my assistants trying to keep my schedule in order.

Then, I usually go to lunch and by 1 am in my office with the door closed writing. I write until about 5 or 6. Then drive home. After dinner with my family I climb the stairs to my study at home and work a few more hours at night about four nights a week. From 8-11 is usually my most creative time.

Q: Do you use an outline or do you free write?

Both. I like to start out free writing but at some point I outline. I find it hard to outline before I meet my characters. That may be why I have some much trouble with synopsis.

Q: You do an excellent job at world-building within your books. How much time do you spend researching?

Each book is different. I usually build a place on paper with facts that never make it into the book. For some books like WIDOWS OF WICHITA COUNTY I probably spent 100 or more hours. For TWISTED CREEK I stepped into the world with Allie and saw it as she did. For the Whispering Mountain Series I walked the land in south Texas and visited probably a dozen museums.

Q: What do you do when you are faced with writer’s block? How do you work through it?

I don’t get writer’s block. I get lazy now and then. If the writing isn’t moving, I am. I go for walks, drive in the country, take a trip to someplace I haven’t been from another state to a museum.

Q: You started off as an historical romance writer. How did you branch out to mainstream fiction and was the adaptation difficult?

I love historical romance but even from the first I’ve had stories that didn’t fit in the past. It is hard moving because the rules change. But the good news is people are people in 1850 or 2008. I just write the people. A fact that surprised me is that I usually do more research for a mainstream then for a historical.

Q: What are your difficulties in juggling to write both genres?

None really. I don’t like to watch the same kind of movies all the time or eat the same food. It’s exciting for me to go back and forth.

Q: Twisted Creek is written in alternating 1st and 3rd POVs. Did you have trouble selling it to your editor? Were you worried it wouldn’t be well received?

I worried a little, but from the first it felt right. I wrote the first six chapters and sent it to my editor. She was with me from the first. Then, I closed the door and wrote. I think it’s the only book I’ve ever done that I didn’t let writing friends read along the way.

Q: What is your favorite thing about writing?

Control of my time. I was never good at living by a clock. I love working the story is coming and not working when it’s not. I also love the people you meet along this journey.

Q: What has been the highlight of your career so far?

There is nothing like the first sale. I was high on that for a year. The first time I hit the NYTimes, the RITA wins, the awards, all were grand, but the highlight was one night in a bookstore. I walked in and saw a woman standing in front of where I was going to autograph in about an hour. I decided to go over because I didn’t want her to have to wait if she wanted a book. I said, “Would you like a Jodi Thomas book?”

She said, “Yes, she’s my favorite author.”

I pulled out my pin. “I am Jodi Thomas. How can I help you.”

She got so excited she started crying. I realized how much my books meant to her and was deeply touched.

Q: If someone told you “the sky is falling” and you could only take three of your books along, which ones would you take and why?
Probably the one I’m working on because even if the sky falls my editor will still want the book turned in.

In truth, I probably wouldn’t take any of my books—they are in my head. I’d take blank paper so I could get a few stories that haven’t been written down.

Q: Do you believe the blogging community has affected your fan base at all?

Yes. I think it has brought readers and writers closer together.

Q: Do you read the blogs of people who have read your books? How do you react to favorable/unfavorable reviews?

I do when I have time. I could so easily spend half my day blogging and reading others. Like an addict I have to make myself work on a computer not hooked up to anything in the afternoon.

Favorable reviews make me feel great. Unfavorable reviews hurt. Books are like writer’s babies. I’ve never understood why some people walk by and tell you how ugly they are. I do like to read reviews that list the good and then tell how the writer might have pulled in more readers or made the story stronger. Those help.

Q: Does interacting with your fan base via internet connection affect your creative process at all?

Yes. When fans tell me what they loved about a book I think it encourages the creative growth in that direction.

Questions about the books…

Q: Tall, Dark, and Texan is the third in the Whispering Mountain series and coming out this month. What kind of teasers/spoilers can you give us about this book?

Tall, Dark, and Texan was fun to write. I think it’s my best work. I loved Teagen. He was so hard, so strong and so unprepared for a loving woman and three little girls.

Q: What are you planning on working on next?

I have a story coming out in April 09 called REWRITING MONDAY about a big city reporter who ends up on a small town newspaper. In the next few months I’ll be working on Sage’s story, the 4th in the Whispering Mountain series. I’ve watched Sage and Drum grow up in three books now so it’s time for their story.

Q: Are you planning a follow-up book to Twisted Creek? Will Mary Lynn and Paul get their own story?

I’m creating a community of small towns in west Texas . All I can say now is characters from both Twisted Creek and Rewriting Monday will walk through future stories.

Q: Do you have any plans to write any contemporaries based on the descendants of your historicals?

I’m planning on it.

Q: So many books these days have book trailers attached to them, Twisted Creek included. How do you feel about the use of trailers? What are the pros and cons of this as a marketing tool?

I think they are well worth the money. My new trailer for Tall, Dark and Texan should be on my website this week. Today it cost me a great deal to travel to autograph and talk about my book. Trailers are a way hundreds, maybe thousands can see what my book is about.

Questions about stuff other than writing…

Q: What are some of your hobbies? What do you do to relax?

I like to travel. I’m planning a trip to England this summer. When I’m not on deadline I like to cook—I’m not a great cook, but I think it’s fun. I love reading and movies.

Q: Do you get much time to read? If yes, what genre do you find yourself reading the most?

I don’t get enough time to read, but when I do I read all kinds of women’s fiction. Just like any reader I love it when I get lost in a book and read all night.

Q: What are you reading right now?

I’m reading Marcia Preston’s THE BUTTERFLY HOUSE.

Q: Who are some of your favorite authors?

I have so many I couldn’t list them without leaving one out.

Q: What is your favorite color?

Sky blue

Q: What is your biggest weakness?

Chocolate

Q: If you could be anywhere, where would you be?

I’d be right here in the plains of West Texas . I often laugh and say I’m in the middle of the world here. We’re a thousand miles from anywhere. The perfect place to write.

Q: If there was one thing that you could do over again, what would it be?

In life: I think I’d have more children. I loved watching my sons grow into men.
In writing: I’m not sure I’d change a thing. It’s been a great ride. If it hadn’t been for the downs, I wouldn’t have felt the ups. No matter how long I live I hope I die with stories still dancing in my head.d.

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What would an interview be without a contest to go along with it? Exactly! So, leave a comment here and you’ll be entered to win a signed copy of Tall, Dark and Texan!

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