Jodi Thomas: A Place Called Harmony

I’m always delighted to welcome New York Times bestselling author Jodi Thomas back to Thoughts in Progress because it means fans get a chance to return to the charming small town of Harmony.

Jodi joins us today to talk about her newest book, A PLACE CALLED HARMONY, which is scheduled for release Tuesday, Oct. 7. This time the story features the three hard-luck men who first settled Harmony, a place where last chances and long-awaited dreams collide. The book can be pre-order through Jodi’s website HERE.

Here’s a brief description of the story:

        Desperate to escape his overbearing father, Patrick McAllen disappears with his bride, heading north to build a new town—discovering strength, honor and true love along the way.
        After drinking away the grief from his family’s death, Clint Truman avoids jail by taking a job in North Texas and settling down with a woman he vows to protect but never love—until her quiet compassion slowly breaks his hardened heart wide open.
        All Gillian Matheson has ever known is Army life, leaving his true love to be a part-time spouse. But when a wounded Gillian returns home to find her desperately fighting to save their marriage, he’s determined to become the husband she deserves.
        Amidst storms, outlaws, and unwelcome relatives, the three couples band together to build a town—and form a bond that breathes life into the place that will forever be called Harmony.

Now please join me in giving a warm Thoughts welcome to Jodi. Welcome, Jodi.

I’m excited about the release of A PLACE CALLED HARMONY. The story has been in the back of my mind since I started writing the Harmony series. Often I thought about how my people in the present were affected by the past. To have a town where people care about each other and understand one another, the roots needed to run deep. I felt like I knew the three men who settled the town long before I wrote their story.

Many times during the writing of this story I felt all three men standing behind me telling me their lives. Patrick McAllen, young and full of dreams, thought of it as an adventure and believed love came easy. Clint Truman felt old at thirty and didn’t believe in love. When he heard he had to have a wife to get the job, he went to the prison gate and picked the first woman walking out. And then there was Captain Gillian Matheson who loved his wife but also loved adventure.

All three men were prepared for the challenge of building a town but unprepared for the depth of love they found as they build their families. I loved writing these men and I hope the readers will follow me into this historical romance. 

If you’ve read a Harmony book, you’ll feel like you already know the characters. If you’ve never read one this book would be a great place to start. So, step into Harmony for the first time as the three families build a town while they form bonds and loves that last a lifetime.

Enjoy the adventure, Jodi.

Jodi, thanks for stopping by today and sharing this behind the scenes look at how the town of Harmony got its start. Three intriguing men (and three completely intriguing women) are a great foundation for this charming town.

Now let me share a bit of background on Jodi for those who aren’t familiar with her or her writing.

A fifth generation Texan, Jodi Thomas chooses to set the majority of her novels in her home state. 

With a degree in Family Studies, Jodi is a marriage and family counselor by education, a background that enables her to write about family dynamics. Honored in 2002 as a Distinguished Alumni by Texas Tech University in Lubbock, she enjoys interacting with students on the West Texas A & M University campus, where she currently serves as Writer In Residence.

When not working on a novel or inspiring students to pursue a writing career, Jodi enjoys traveling with her husband, Tom, renovating a historic home they bought in Amarillo, and "checking up" on their two grown sons.

For more on Jodi and her writing, please visit her website and connect with her on Facebook and Twitter.

Thanks so much for stopping by today during Jodi’s visit. Do you enjoy a small town atmosphere woven into books?