Last night I went to a lecture/concert at West Texas A&M University to hear a legend, Red Steagall.
He talked about this way of life in the West and how important it is to America. He told stories of ‘Riding for the Brand’ and being loyal to the man who signs your checks and doing the best you can. He talked of ‘Working until the job’s done’ and I was reminded I’d been burning midnight oil to get my next book finished for about a month.
Now I’ve never dug a post hole or ‘Ridden the River’ but I understood what he was saying. By the way (for you city folks—like me) Riding the River with someone means you trust them with your life.
I come from five generations of farmers and ranchers. Mostly dry land and small ranches. ‘Helping your neighbor.’ ‘Being kind.’ ‘Loving your country’ were a few themes Red talked about.
As a writer I often feel I live in two worlds. One is real and the other is in my mind. Somedays Honey Creek is real to me. I know just where it is, a small town in the heart of Texas.
But last night the country music was what touched my heart and made me smile. The song took me back in time to an old Ford on the way to Hollis, Oklahoma. Four kids in the back seat and my dad singing cowboy songs to put us asleep.
Red sang a few early cowboy songs last night that my father sang on road trips. Sometimes stepping into fiction is great, but then again so is walking into the past. I’ll be playing Red’s songs while I’m writing the west.
Here are two versions of the songs:
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=there+is+a+bunk+in+the+bunkhouse+tonight
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCtqvGhXqt8
If you’re looking for something new to read, my latest book will be out April 26. SUNDAY AT THE SUNFLOWER INN is a fun read about Honey Creek. Love must be in the air because in addition to the mystery, I’ve added lots of laughs and three love stories. Please order your copy at http://www.jodithomas.com.
I’d love to hear the name of your favorite country song. I’ll listen to them all and pick one lucky winner for an autographed copy of my new book SUNDAY AT THE SUNFLOWER INN.
Looking forward to chatting with you,
Jodi is giving away one autographed copy of
Jessica Ann McKenzie—“Jam” to everyone in Honey Creek—has fulfilled her dream of owning the best restaurant for miles around. Serving candlelit dinners to every couple in town on Valentine’s Day is a reminder of another dream, one she’s just about given up on. Until, that very night, Sergeant Tucson Smith clambers out of the muddy river and onto her land, bringing the promise of something they’ve both been searching for.
When McCoy Mason crashes on Interstate 45, he doesn’t just bust up his Mustang, his leg, and his relationship. He also loses his prospects of a job and apartment in Houston. Honey Creek, home to his estranged grandfather, offers a temporary respite, a place to recover before moving on again. After all, what permanent use could a town so picture-perfect have for a man like him?
At sixty-seven, Charles H. Winston III lives by order and routine. One of his most cherished rituals is a regular lunch date with three lovely ladies at the Honey Creek Café, including the very proper Miss Lilly Lambert. But it’s not too late to surprise the whole town—or himself—by seizing a chance for a once-in-a-lifetime adventure. And there’s no better season than spring, when the warm breeze blowing in from the Brazos River brings fresh hope and second chances to those who need them most . . .
About Jodi
With millions of books in print, Jodi Thomas is both a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over 50 novels and countless short story collections. Her stories travel through the past and present days of Texas and draw readers from around the world.
In July 2006, Jodi was the 11th writer to be inducted into the Romance Writers of America Hall of Fame. With five RITA’s to her credit, along with National Readers’ Choice Awards and Booksellers’ Best Awards, Thomas has proven her skill as a master storyteller. You can connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and her website – https://www.jodithomas.com/
