Jodi Thomas

Jodi Thomas (born Amarillo, Texas) is the pen name of Jodi Koumalats, an American author of historical romance novels, most of which are set in Texas.

Biography

Born Nelda Jo Price, the daughter of Sally and Clifton Price, Thomas is a fifth-generation Texan, whose grandmother was born in Texas in a covered wagon. She was graduated from Caprock High School in Amarillo in 1966. In 1970, she received a degree in Education from Texas Tech University, continuing on to earn her Masters in Family Studies, with a certification in Marriage and Family Counseling, at Texas Tech in 1974. She has also completed some work towards a Ph.D. at Texas Women's University. Thomas spent several years counseling victims at the Lubbock Rape Crisis Center, before returning to Amarillo, where she taught home economics and Family Living to high school students. Thomas also found time to teach one class each semester at Amarillo College. In 1991, when her third book became successful, Thomas quit teaching to become a full-time writer. Since 2002, Thomas has served as a Writer in Residence at West Texas A&M University, where she speaks to classes and provides mentoring to students.

Thomas has "served on the Dean's Advisory Council for the Texas Tech College of Human Sciences and on the scholarship board of Amarillo College. She has volunteered as a historical interpreter at Palo Duro Canyon State Park and an educational tour guide at Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum in Canyon. She also has served on the education board of Planned Parenthood and been a volunteer rape crisis counselor and speaker." [http://www.zoominfo.com/people/Koumalats_Nelda_262668900.aspx]

Thomas and her husband, Tom Koumalats, married January 2, 1970. The couple currently live in Amarillo, Texas, and have two sons, Matt and Cole.

Awards

*1988 - National Press Women's Novel of the Year, "Beneath the Texas Sky"
*1990 - (Texas) Panhandle Professional Writers Best Novel, "Northern Star"
*1990 - Oklahoma Writers Federation, Inc. best novel, "Northern Star"
*1991 - Romance Writers of America (RWA) RITA Award for Best Historical Romance, "The Tender Texan"
*1994 - Romance Writers of America RITA Award for Best Historical Romance, "To Tame a Texan's Heart"
*1998 - Romantic Time Magazine Career Achievement Award for outstanding contributions to women's fiction over the past ten years
*1999 - Romantic Times Magazine Career Achievement Award for Outstanding Fiction
*2002 - Named a Texas Tech University Distinguished Alumna
*2005 - National Reader's Choice Award, "Finding Mary Blaine"
*2006 - Romance Writers of America (RWA) RITA Award,"The Texan's Reward"
*2006 - Inducted into the Romance Writers of America Hall of FAme

Bibliograpy

The Wife Lottery Series

*"The Texan's Wager", 2002
*"When a Texan Gambles", 2003
*"A Texan's Luck", 2004
*"The Texan's Reward", 2005

The McLain Series

*"The Texan's Touch", 1998
*"To Kiss a Texan", 1999
*"To Wed in Texas", 2000
*"Twilight in Texas", 2001
*"The Texan's Dream", 2001

The Whispering Mountain Series

*"Texas Rain", 2006
*"Texas Princess", 2007

Other Historical Novels

*"Beneath the Texas SKy", 1988
*"Northern Star", 1990
*"The Tender Texan", 1991
*"Prairie Song", 1992
*"Cherish the Dream", 1993
*"The Texan and the Lady", 1994
*"To Tame a Texan's Heart", 1994
*"Forever in Texas", 1995
*"Texas Love Song", 1996
*"Two Texas Hearts", 1997

Mainstream Fiction

*"The Widows of Wichita County", 2003
*"Finding Mary Blaine", 2004
*"The Secrets of Rosa Lee", 2005

Anthologies

*"Sweet Hearts", 1993
*"A Country Christmas", 1993
*"How to Lasso a Cowboy", 2004

External links

* [http://www.jodithomas.com/ Jodi Thomas Official Website]