Monday, October 28, 2013

Today's Special -- Jodi Thomas




Today, we welcome back New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Jodi Thomas! Jodi is the author of 38 novels and 11 short story collections. A five-time RITA winner, Jodi currently serves as the Writer in Residence at West Texas A&M University in Canyon, Texas. Her newest book, Promise Me Texas, the seventh book in her Whispering Mountain series, releases November 5th! Welcome, Jodi!






When I began PROMISE ME TEXAS, I thought about how some people are actors and some are reactors.  Some, like my Beth McMurray, are tired of waiting and decide to make change happen, while others watch.
 

On a sudden impulse, she travels north, catching up to the train her fiancĂ© is on. She plans to surprise him.  Within hours, she realizes her mistake.  He’s not the man she thought him to be.  When a train wreck happens, she has only a moment to stand by the bum, or turn to a stranger and claim him as hers.  As always, Beth jumps.
 

Andrew McLaughlin, on the other hand, has always been a reactor.  He watches people, writes about places and daydreams.  When the beautiful lady claims him as hers, he goes along.  Interested in the details of this story this pretty lady seems to be living in. 
 

When he first wakes up from the wreck, injured and disoriented, he finds they’re engaged.  Second time, Beth claims they are married. Third time, he sees two kids in the pictures.  Confused, he doses off wondering what the grandkids will look like when he wakes again.
 

PROMISE ME TEXAS is the story of a strong loving family who founded Whispering Mountain Ranch and how their big hearts open up to let others in.
 

Readers often ask me where my characters come from.  That is a hard question to answer.  For the most part I just open my mind and let them walk in. 
 

That’s what happened when I began this story.  Beth had been a baby in another book.  Andrew was lost, trying to find his reason for life.  He was one of those men she wouldn’t have given a second glance to if fate hadn’t stepped in and tossed them together.  Once she saw him, really saw him, she wouldn’t let go. 
 

I think the hardest thing in life is finding what direction to head.  Real people as well as those in my head sometimes have trouble finding the road to take.  Maybe the important thing is to simply keep walking.
 

I had a great deal of fun writing about a writer trying to live in reality and a beautiful, spoiled woman trying to make up her life as she went along. 
 

Everyone, even the outlaw leader, tries to give them advice, but somehow they find a crazy kind of love. In my experience it’s sometimes that crazy kind of love that is just right.  Enjoy the journey through Texas as you come along with me meeting people that are very real to me, if only in my mind.

 

Jodi Thomas

 
 
 
Question! What is the best advice you've ever been given? What is the worst? Tell us and one lucky commenter will win a copy of Jodi's Promise Me Texas after it releases! Open to anywhere Book Depository ships!




NY Times and USA Today bestselling author Jodi Thomas returns to Texas with her seventh Whispering Mountain historical about an unpredictable adventure in romance that sets two unlikely hearts on fire…

 
"When 24-year-old Beth McMurray sneaks onto a train to surprise her fiancĂ©, former Senator Lamont La-Croix, she’s shocked to overhear him bragging about his plans for her and her money. By the time Beth drives a wagon out of town, she has collected a pretend husband, two little boys, an ill teen cowboy, and a pregnant young woman, and the adventure has just begun. Complex plot-ting, superb character development, and touching roman-tic scenes make this a winner. "—Publishers Weekly starred review

"One of my favorites." Debbie Macomber, #1 New York Times Bestselling author

"PROMISE ME TEXAS is one of the best western historical tales of this year!"—Vickie@ReaderToReader.com

21 comments:

  1. Congratulations to Jodi on her new book! Her stories are all so wonderful. The worst advice I ever heard was on the Today show where they had on an 'expert' on parenting. Her advice was that if your child is over a friend's house where they were playing video games or showing movies that you didn't want your child to see that you should call up the parent and let him/her know that you don't allow your child to watch these things. Why don't you just explain to them how wonderful a parent you are and how awful a parent they are instead since the outcome will likely be the same which will be that your child will likely never be invited back to that house.

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    1. Maureen, that's terrible! Sometimes it's hard being a parent and having to decide what to do and what not to do and at what time. With my kids, I usually go with my gut, but the older they get, the harder it gets!

      Hugs to you!

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    1. The best advice I got was never go to bed angry with your spouse. The worst was when a girl told me not to go out with a certain guy. Thanks god I didn't listen because married him and will celebrate 30 years in December!
      Congratulations Jodi! I love all your books!

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    2. Kim, I couldn't agree with you more about your best advice! My husband and I have said that exact thing since day one. Great advice!

      And I'm so glad your bad advice worked out in the end! Happy almost anniversary!!

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  3. I cannot really think of any bad advice I have gotten. My mom has always said be kind and treat everyone like you would like to be treated. She will be 94 in March and is one of the kindest woman I know and always thinks of others first.

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    1. Terrific advice, Pat! I teach my kids this advice on a daily basis. :-)

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  4. Best: Live within your means

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    1. In today's economy, jcp, this is PERFECT advice!!

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  5. Best advice - never say never. As to bad advice, I have been given a lot of that but listening to it was my mistake. One really has to make their own decisions. I guess that's my good advice lol.

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  6. Just started 'Whispering Mountain - Texas Rain' and am enjoying it a lot. I just wish all the books were available here in the UK in electronic format (audio at audible and e-book at Amazon).

    Best advice: "Fear the man who knows one book" from my old head master. Dissipating effort with multiple textbooks is not a route to success!

    Worst advice: "Give em hell" from a financial wizard on how to handle a tax claim from the Inland Revenue ..... disaster! LOL

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  7. Wow... this book sounds so much fun! I just came back from Disneyworld and my friend and I were laughing b/c as we were walking in Magic Kingdom, we heard a young voice sagely telling someone behind us "He's only in your life for one of two things: to teach you a lesson or just to have fun. You must decide which one. But don't overthink it". What cracks us up is that the girl appeared to be only about 13. We would love to hear what she has to say in another 13 years! Thanks for sharing!

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    1. Ha! Oh, to be 13 again....

      I hope you had a great time, Erin!

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  8. My mother always told me to finish what I start and if a job is worth doing always do it right. I have always stuck to these things to. She was so right.

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    1. Great advice, Quilt Lady! I tell this to my kids, too. :-)

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  9. Good advice: Stop, look and listen. This can pertain to any part of your life.

    I try not to listen to bad advice. I trust my own decisions.

    This book sounds like a whole lot of fun. I especially liked how every time Andrew woke up his 'family' had changed and he wondered what his grandkids would look like next. LOL

    Marcy Shuler
    bmndshuler(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  10. This sounds like a wild ride of a story. I love it already. Beth is a bit more impulsive than I am, but It is a bit frightening that I can see myself getting into the same position. I usually think things through, but know how things can spiral out of control and you end up very far from what you planned.

    Best advice: Do the best you can with whatever you try. Worse advice: a "great" investment recommended by a financial advisor. Almost 30 years later my IRA is worth less than the original investment.

    Best wishes for a great release of PROMISE ME TEXAS. It sounds like a fun read.

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  11. Congratulations on your new release, Jodi! The book sounds like a lot of fun and I am looking forward to reading it. The best advice I have ever gotten was to never go to bed angry and to never say anything bad about anyone. The worse advice: Choose your fiance or me. Needless to say, I chose my fiance and was never sorry that I did.

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  12. PROMISE ME TEXAS does look & sound fabulous.

    Best advice: apply for the job that's opened up

    Worst advice: apply for the job that's opened up

    It started out great & then nose-dived in a spectacular fashion

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