Jessie: In New Hampshire where my quince is about to burst into bloom!
As a part of our ongoing series featuring authors writing in non-mystery genres, I am delighted to welcome NYT Bestselling author Jodi Thomas to the blog today! Thanks for visiting with us!
Somedays I think of myself as a contractor, not a writer. I build a house for my people to live in. At first, it was a ranch house, the hotels and cafés. As the books kept coming, I continued to build oil fields, hospitals, and finally towns.
With each town came a series. I loved how characters played off one another as the series moved from book to book. New characters dropped in now and then, but as the books came into my head the core people made the town come alive.
I am now launching the second book in the Honey Creek Series in April 2021 and working hard on book 4. Book 3 is already finished and will be out in October.
Why are writers driven crazy? (Actually, we don’t need to be driven, most of us could walk.) When we promote one book, we are usually editing the next book, writing another and putting together an outline for one down the road. I once gave an entire interview on the wrong book and no one noticed.
At least when I write a series, I can stay in town!
I love living in Honey Creek. I started writing the series during the pandemic. All the world seemed darker and I was alone.
One cold March day I stepped into a town where people cared about each other. All at once I was going skinny dipping at the creek and worrying about my ‘want to be’ Texas ranger and feeling sorry for the barmaid who fell in love with a bum.
As the months passed, I spent my time upstairs looking out my windows at a world I couldn’t go out into. But, I was smiling as I walked into the town of Honey Creek. I got into bar fights, danced on the town square and fell in love a few times.
I invite you all to visit me in Honey Creek with BREAKFAST AT THE HONEY CREEK CAFÉ and stay to read PICNIC IN SOMEDAY VALLEY released April, 2021.
Readers, which genres besides mystery do you like to read? Who are some of your favorite non-mystery authors?
I will read a women’s fiction or a romantic suspense book. I like Marie Force’s Fatal series.
I like romantic suspense too!
Welcome to the blog, Jodi! What genre are your books described as being part of?
Generally speaking, the other genres I read are comics, fantasy and science fiction. But these days I don’t read very many of those books.
In fantasy, I read a variety of stuff in the world of comics but I love stuff featuring Conan the Barbarian (and prose novels featuring the Cimmerian as well). I love Usagi Yojimbo and stuff from the Star Wars and Star Trek universes as well. But I read stories from any genre in comic form.
In fantasy novels, I’ve read stuff from Terry Brooks, Robert Jordan and many others over the years.
In science fiction, I read mostly TV tie-in novels featuring Firefly and Star Trek. I like the work of Peter David a lot. I also read the Honor Harrington Universe books by David Weber.
All this said, I still focus mainly on mysteries and thrillers.
I’ve never tried a television tie-in novel but am intrigued by the notion of them. I keep meaning to try one of the Monk books.
James Rollins’ Sigma Force series, fantasy, Dean Koontz, Stephen King…I’m all over the place lol!
What a fun and varied selection!
Congratulations on the release of PICNIC IN SOMEDAY VALLEY!
Honey Creek sounds like a wonderful place to visit – within the book and a place like it in person.
I enjoy reading just about every genre except sci-fi.
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I thought Honey Creek sounded charming too!
Honey Creek sounds like a wonderful place to visit! I make occasional forays into the world of romance where Sheryl Woods is one of my favorite authors.
I like variety in my genres too!
Isn’t this the truth: “When we promote one book, we are usually editing the next book, writing another and putting together an outline for one down the road.” I’m waiting for the minute I’m supposed to be talking about one series and I start talking about the other!
I read almost everything – except horror.
I’m waiting for that time too, Liz!
Jodi, I’d like to see that bar fight! Truly, Honey Creek sounds like my kind of place. When I’m not reading mystery, I’m enjoying Debbie Macomber’s wonderful novels about people rebuilding their lives and forging new relationships.
It sounds like you have a lot of books to love!
Welcome to the blog! Honey Creek sounds delightful and I love how it was born out of the pandemic.
Welcome, Jodi! Your experience of building your series town feels so similar to my own.
I love getting lost in a series as well, really getting to know the characters.
And I completely understand about not knowing when it is. I’ve just finished March account reconciliations in my day job as an accountant. I’m gearing up for April close. But today, I will be drafting my first book review for May while I start reading my second book for May. Confused? Why, yes I am.
You have a lot on your plate!
Hi, I love the sound of your books, and I love the book covers they are Beautiful. I love reading family sagas, and I love to read mystery, thriller romance books, I love reading different genres , and I especially love page turners! Honey Creek sounds like a Great place. Have a Great rest of the week and stay safe.
You said it! Page turners for the win!
I like historical fiction, off the wall things by authors like Terry Pratchett, Jasper Fforde, and Douglas Adams, and non-fiction of various sorts. But good old-fashioned cozies that do not use a fill-in-the-blank template are still my favorite go to books.
Honey Creek sounds like a great place to visit.
I think we have very similar taste in books, Ginny!
When I’m not reading a mystery, I read just about any genres. Debbie Macomber, Sheila Roberts, Masiey Yates, Stephen King, etc. Im all over, LOL.
Love your books! The boom covers are beautiful!
Besides mysteries I love to read rom-coms like Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum series, thrillers by various authors and women’s fiction like Diane Chamberlain’s novels.
I do my best to avoid horror and eroticism; otherwise, I’ll read practically anything. I miss Terry Pratchett and not all of Victoria Pinder’s work involves mystery.