"Whenever I begin work on a new book, I am reborn into a new world."
                 James Alexander Thom has written a book on how
              he researches and writes his popular historical novels, and
              it was published early this year by Writer's Digest Books. The title is

              THE ART AND CRAFT OF WRITING HISTORICAL FICTION

                 Though it is basically a textbook on how to work in this
              special literary field, it is more. Part How-To and part memoir,
              the book is full of insights on how this prize-winning author learned
              the lessons that built his reputation for accuracy and vivid
              story-telling. More than 30 years of experience in the field,  and 
              interviews with half a dozen respected historians,  make it as
              entertaining as it is instructive.

                 Critics and readers of the new book say:
              --"This is really the best textbook I've ever read."
              --"His precise, witty, common-sense approach is a delight."
              --"It's like sitting at the feet of your grandfather or your
                 favorite teacher and learning how things should be done."
              --"Readers and writers both will find this work inspiring and
                 practical."

                 Thom describes his purpose: "I would like to guide novelists
              to write stories so vivid and powerful that the reader is in
              the past, living those moments. And I want their novels to
              be so accurate that even professional academic historians
              will be glad to praise them."  He adds:

                 "My philosophy of writing about the past is in my motto:
                                ONCE UPON A TIME IT WAS NOW."

               The book is in paperback, cover price $16.99. In bookstores
               nationwide.
                                                 *

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First Editions are available
SIGN-TALKER -$27 incl. postage
WARRIOR WOMAN-$27 incl. postage

both in hardcover

Autographed for the reader.

Designate the person to whom you want it signed and order at:
clangeah@aol.com
or
Thom First Editions
6276 West Stogsdill Rd.
Bloomington, IN 47404

Home
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About my Life
Writing Historical Fiction
Warrior Woman
St. Patrick's Battalion
Sign Talker
Panther in the Sky
Follow the River
Long Knife
The Children of First Man
From Sea to Shining Sea
Red Heart
Staying Out of Hell
Spectator Sport
Dark Rain Thom
Kohkumthena's Grandchildren The Shawnee
Dark Rain Thom
The Spirit of the Place
Author's Special
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                                  THOM NOVELS GOING ELECTRONIC                                  

             Six of James Alexander Thom's historical novels have been selected to be included in Random House's Electronic Book (ebook) publishing program.
             The titles chosen for such formats as Amazon Kindle, iPod, and
         the Sony Reader are:
           LONG KNIFE
           FOLLOW THE RIVER
           THE RED HEART
           SIGN-TALKER
           FROM SEA TO SHINING SEA
           PANTHER IN THE SKY 

             The author finds the news good, but ironic, musing, "I use every bit of my skill  and imagination to take my readers hundreds of years into the past -- and now they'll visit those old days through the screen of an electronic gizmo." 


Awards & Accolades

SPUR Award – Best Novel of the West: Panther in the Sky

Indiana Author Award Winner – Indianapolis Public Library

New York Times Bestselling Author with more than 2,000,000 million copies sold

Follow The River selected for 2005 One Book, One West Virginia

2014 inductee into the Indiana Journalism Hall of Fame

Doctorate of Humane Letters from Indiana University