Jodi’s goal is to give them an avenue of escape, a tool they can use to relax at the end of the day. She knows that her fans are hard-working people that have to overcome numerous obstacles to earn a living every day. But her impact on the world as a published author is just as strong. Jodie agrees that she was making the world a better place by shaping the hearts and minds of impressionable children. The author doesn’t regret abandoning her teaching career. She wants to show them that they can succeed critically and financially as writers. Jodi doesn’t want young people to struggle with the same challenges. When she was young, writing and publishing were not viable career options.Įvery adult Jodi knew worked a practical job, which is why it took her a while to discover her purpose in life. She encourages students to approach her with questions about her craft. Jodi enjoys giving back to the writing community. She also lends her talents to the West Texas A&M University as a Writer in Residence. Since those early days, the author has written dozens of novels. By that point in her career, she had abandoned her teaching position to write full-time. If Jodie had any doubts about her publishing career, they disappeared when she entered the Romance Writers of America Hall of Fame. ‘Beneath the Texas Sky’ was a critical hit that earned the author a Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice award. It took thousands of hours of writing (and five years) for the author to finish and sell her first book. She was convinced that she could do better. They had too many historical errors, not to mention implausible relationships.

However, she was an avid fan of historical fiction, and like many authors, Jodi was frustrated by the quality of storytelling she encountered in the novels she read. Initially, Jodi wrote short stories and articles. So, she turned her attention to publishing. They became teachers, plying their trade for the next few years.Įventually, Jodi realized that they had to save for their children’s college education, and their salaries were not enough to achieve that particular objective. By the time their two sons came along, the couple had returned to Amarillo.

To Tame a Texan's Heart by Jodi Thomas