Heidi Thomas: Follow the Dream

Do you love horses?

Heidi M. Thomas grew up on a working ranch in eastern Montana. She had parents who taught her a love of books and a grandmother who rode bucking stock in rodeos. Describing herself as “born with ink in her veins,” Heidi followed her dream of writing with a journalism degree from the University of Montana and later turned to her first love, fiction, to write her grandmother’s story.

Heidi’s first novel, Cowgirl Dreams, has won an EPIC Award and the USA Book News Best Book Finalist award. Follow the Dream is the second book in the “Dare to Dream” series about strong, independent Montana Women.


Heidi, welcome back to the blog! Congrats on the new book.

Thanks, it's good to be back.

Can you tell us what books came along at just the right time to influence your reading/writing?

Ivan Doig’s books based in Montana inspired me, Wallace Stegner’s Angle of Repose, Jane Kirkpatrick’s historical fiction.

 Please give us a short synopsis of Follow the Dream.

Nettie Moser’s dreams are coming true. She’s married to her cowboy, Jake, they have plans for a busy rodeo season, and she has a once in a lifetime opportunity to rodeo in London with the Tex Austin Wild West Troupe.

But life during the Great Depression brings unrelenting hardships and unexpected family responsibilities. Nettie must overcome challenges to her lifelong rodeo dreams, cope with personal tragedy, survive drought, and help Jake keep their horse herd from disaster.

Will these challenges break this strong woman?

Heidi, how has your writing progressed since your first book? Has it changed you? If so, how?

I’ve learned so much since the very first book I wrote (not published) and even though I’m more critical of my writing than anyone else, I can tell I’ve improved. In some ways, what I’ve learned has made things easier—developing rounded characters, a true sense of place, etc., with perhaps fewer rewrites. However, in my naïve ignorance, I wrote the first book much faster. Now I seem to struggle and take much longer to finish a book.

Is there another book on the horizon?

Yes, I’m working on the third in the “Dare to Dream” series, with a working title of Nettie’s Cowgirls.

After hours of intense writing, how do you unwind?

Usually by reading and watching TV with my cat on my lap.

Are your books available in print, ebook, and Kindle?

Both books are available in print and e-book form. Follow the Dream is on Kindle.

Where can we purchase these books and get more information about you?

 For autographed copies, go to my website

http://www.heidimthomas.com/ My books are also available from my publisher, Treble Heart Books, http://www.trebleheartbooks.com/SDHeidiThomas.html  

Heidi, thanks for stopping by again, and continued success!