This past few weeks have flown by. At night, I’m deep into working on Teagen’s story and having fun. He’s played the big brother for two books and now it’s time for him to have his share of trouble. It comes in the form of a widow and her three daughters.

During the day I’m working at my office on the campus. For me the year always starts in September. I guess after years of teaching the beginning will always be when school starts and never January. I’m writing several articles and lining up talks. Plus, of course, talking to lots of students.

Question: 1. The question I get asked all the time is, Where do your ideas come from?

I always want to say, Where did yours go? because stories have played in my head since I can remember. It’s a hard question to answer. I usually say, “I was blessed with a loose grip on reality.

In truth, anything can bring on a story. One line from a song, something I see, something I hear someone say. Once a story starts to simmer in my mind I’ll go back to it again and again as if putting the pieces together. Often I think the story is there, I just have to find it.

2.What do you see after Whispering Mountain?

I have an idea of what I want to write but it needs a great deal of thought before I say anything. But, there are many more historical romances in my head, so don’t think I’m leaving that period.

3. Do you ever put real people in books?

No. But people think I do. Once I wrote a story about a prostitute who went straight and married a rancher in a small town. I happened to be autographing in a small town months later and about five people came up to me and told me they knew who I was writing about and that she still lived in the town.

Sometimes I use the names of people. The first one was Don Lawson, a programer friend of my husband. Don was in a wheelchair and an all around nice guy. When I asked him if we wanted to be in a book, he said sure but make me a hell-raiser. And I did. He loved it.

Here in my office we are into full swing in putting a tour together for the November book TEXAS PRINCESS. As of right now it looks like the towns I’ll be hitting will be Austin, Lubbock, Amarillo, Plainview and Dallas/Fort Worth. If anyone lives in those places please watch my calender and make sure you’re on my list. I’d love to see you when I come to town.

In Fort Worth we are planning a tea as a signing and I can’t wait. Great fun.

In Amarillo the fan club is planning a lunch at the tallest building in Amarillo with gifts and prizes. I have a great fan club. The ladies always surprise me with all the wonderful things they do.

I’m also looking for help in finding bookclubs. I’m going to have a new kind of book out in April. It’s women’s fiction and I think it would be perfect for bookclubs. So, if you know a bookclub, send me how to get in touch with them. Sometimes an idea for a book comes to me that isn’t historical western romance. That doesn’t mean I don’t still love writing historicals. I just have this story idea and I need to write it. WIDOWS OF WICHITA COUNTY was the first story that wouldn’t stay out of my head. Now, in April, I’ll have TWISTED CREEK.

I’ve sent in more pictures for my Photo Gallery. I have lots of pictures but I always have trouble figuring out how to get them in the right place. I’ve been writing on a computer since 1986 and still most of the time I don’t think we’re on speaking terms.

Until next week take care, Jodi

After all my travels I’m finally back home. Sometimes I think the best part of traveling is returning home. I loved meeting all the wonderful people and seeing all the new places, but it feels good to see the world today from my own window.

I spent the weekend playing around with an idea for a book that has been simmering in the back of my mind for a long time. I’ve met the characters and know the place, but I’m not sure where they plan to take me. I think that is the surprising thing about writing–it’s a journey you go on with the readers. Many nights I write a little longer just to see what happens.

Today, or more like tonight when I start writing, I think I’ll go back to Whispering Mountain. Teagen’s story is filling my brain. I plan to have great fun with him and the little ladies in his life.

Today I spent the day planning the November book tour. Can’t wait to see TEXAS PRINCESS on the stands. Someday I’ll write a nonfiction called, What happened to me on the way to an autographing. No matter how much I plan there is always the unexpected. Watch my ‘Where’s Jodi’ to see where I’m heading. If I come near, stop by and say hi.

Until next week, Jodi

Hello from Sul Ross University in Alpine, Texas! I’m here for a week teaching a class on creative writing. I’ve got a great group of creative folks to work with!

I love teaching and wish I could do more, but then I love writing too. Part of me will always be a teacher. I’m like a race horse–every September I get ready to run.

This part of Texas is different than any other. The quiet beauty of it takes your breath away sometimes. The silence of it allows you to feel like thoughts come clearer here.

I’m working on the third Whispering Mountain book. By the time TEXAS PRINCESS comes out, I’ll be finished with the third one. I’m getting to know these characters so well I wouldn’t be surprised if I set a place for them at the dinner table. I’ve loved Teagen through two books. He’s so hard and set in his ways. I knew he’d be fun to write and I love turning his world upside down.

Until next week, Jodi

I’m back in Texas, tired and full of stories to tell. I’ve had a wonderful five weeks of travel and met great people. My first stop was Austin, Texas, at the Agents and Editors Conference, then on to Houston to TESA. (Texas Educational Secretaries Asso.) These are one great group of ladies who adopted me years ago so that every year when I see them it’s like coming home to family.

June 25th I left for England. I had this fear that I’d get off the plane and spend hours just standing around at the airport wondering what to do. But somehow, it wasn’t all that hard to get around. I’ve heard it said that when you travel abroad it changes you forever and I think that must be true. We found ourselves walking the streets seeing so much history and loving it. We also noticed that we didn’t talk much when out, I think because we wanted to be a part of them.

The only day I felt homesick was July 4th. I missed celebrating. It’s always been my favorite holiday. In England we didn’t think they’d like it much if we partied, so we bought take out at Victoria Station and went back to our room at the hotel.

The writing conference in Leicester was grand. I meet many warm and friendly writers. Even though we talked different we were very much alike. I’ll always remember how friendly they were and hope to stay in touch.

The night after we got back from England I met with my editor in Dallas about the book I just turned in. As soon as we settle on a title for this one I’ll be talking about it. I’m excited.

The next morning we headed back home. At the first gas station, I fell hard. For a moment I just lay there thinking I had to have broken something as bad as I hurt. But, I’m fine, just bruised from head to toe. I walked past a librarian this morning and said, “I’m back from England.” She took one look at me and commented, “Must have been a hard landing.”

Until next week, Jodi

For everyone who knows I’m traveling, I am safe.

We left London this morning, traveling northeast on a rainy day–correction, I’ve stopped writing “it rained” in my journal! Plan to add a note when it doesn’t rain. Now I know why the Brits don’t ever say “love your hair” to each other!

There is some trouble in England. We’re on high alert here. But, like the Brits, I’m keeping a stiff upper lip–long lines in train depot and looong wait at airport. This morning they made all cabs park about a block from train station and we had to walk with luggage through check points.

I’m loving the people here and can’t get enough of the history. Tom and I are already starting the list for next time!

Sorry I haven’t written lately. I have been working on an idea that’s my most original ever. I just sent it to my editor and agent. I’ll be letting you know more about it as months go by.

I’ve just seen the cover of TEXAS PRINCESS, which is next in the Whispering Mountain Series. I hope you like it when it comes out. It’s very exciting.
This summer I have a writer from England staying with me, her name is Sally Vaughan. She’s a delightful houseguest.

Here we are together…

I’m updating my web page and I am very excited about the changes. Please look for some fun things to come! Wish I could write more, but I’m heading to a brainstorming meeting about my next release TEXAS PRINCESS.

Today I seemed to be fighting to stay awake. Wrote way too late last night. I’m deep into Tobin’s story and loving the writing.

I had a great autograph party Saturday. The fan club had coffee and cake before the party. It’s funny, but I think the fan club is made up of people I’m a fan of. I love and care for them all and they make me feel great just showing up to say hello every time I have a book come out. I think the fans and readers sometimes don’t truly understand how important they are to the writer. I wish I could tell all my readers that, “We’re a partnership. Without you, there wouldn’t be me.”

I got a note from my editor this morning that says I will be on B&N’s bestseller list this week. I’m number 48 out of 50. It’s the bottom of the list, but I’m on. I remember the first time I was on the USAToday list. I think I was 149 out of 150. I was showing it to my young son and saying, “I’m not very high on it.” He didn’t see it that way at all. In fact, he said, “Mom, you should call that writer at 150 and say, “Hello, I’m kicking your butt.” Of course, I’d never do that, but it did make me laugh.

Until next Monday….

Question of the week from Mariana: Who do you love to read?

Answer: If a book takes me away I love it. I don’t really have a favorite auther…more like a hundred. Writers are readers and every time I good to the bookstore I find another one I love.

Question from Gayle: From TEXAS RAIN Series: Will Sage have her own book?

Answer: I’ve done this before and enjoyed it. Sage will play a part in all three of the brother’s stories, first Travis, then Tobin, then Teagen. But my plan is as of now to have a fourth book all about Sage.

Good morning.

This is an exciting week for me. The first book in my new series comes out tomorrow. I’ve been waiting for this book to be born for a year and I can hardly wait to see it on the stands. I’ll only be doing one autographing this time. I’ll miss doing the tour, but I have another book due Jan. 1 so I’m pretty much locked in my study.

This weekend I went back to Texas Tech. We had a great time watching my brother get a much deserved award on Friday night and then Sat. we when to the game. Loved all of it. At one point Tom and I were walking ahead of everyone and we smile and started running. Almost as if we could run hard and fast enough we could get back to being 21 and students again. The weekend was one of those rare times you wish you could freeze and keep forever.

Until next Monday