Take a Peek Through the Window of Fran Thomas.

Who Although I grew up in the suburbs of Pittsburgh, PA, and will always be a ‘Burgher in my heart, I have lived in southwest Florida for more than 20 years. Among Floridians, that makes me nearly a native. 
I earned an undergraduate degree in English at night school while working fulltime in the insurance industry. This was a square-peg-in-a-round-hole career choice. In my forties, I went back to school and got a master’s degree in educational psychology/counseling.
The career change I hoped for didn’t materialize for quite a while. I worked as the editor of our town newspaper, the administrator at the chamber of commerce, and a shelver at the library before I finally landed a job at the local community college.
At the college, I started tutoring remedial and non-native English speakers. Then I did academic coaching with first year students. Eventually, I became an adjunct professor and taught a class called Cornerstone. This is required for all first year students and covers study skills, time management, career development, working in groups, and the like. 
While all the above was happening, I started to write five or six romance books. In 2016, I finally finished one. This was the first novella in my Calusa Town Tales series.
Interests Besides romance books, I read a lot of nonfiction of the self-help variety. I’m interested in theories about personality differences: Myers-Briggs, Enneagram, but also astrology and numerology. 
I also love to sing. Before Covid, I was a member of the chorus at the college. We never got to sing our spring concert, Mozart’s Requiem. I’m hoping the chorus is able to start again in the fall. I was able to perform with my previous chorus last December. We sang wearing masks outside on a baseball field. Where there’s a will, there’s a way, right? The concert raised money for the local food bank.
Another interest that went by the wayside in the pandemic was my dance class taught at the Elk’s Club by a former Rockette for a class of four. Sadly, no sign that this will start up again. A few years ago, I danced with a senior women’s troupe called Calendar Girls Florida. They raise money to provide service dogs for veterans. I had such fun dressing up and dancing my little heart out. I really hope another dance opportunity presents itself soon.
Network My network is online. I am a big fan of The Writing Gals who have a YouTube channel and an annual conference.
Desk Confession time. My work habits are atrocious. I don’t have a desk. I do all my writing sitting on my sofa with my laptop on my lap. Worse yet, I generally have the television on. 
Outrageous talent I enjoy cooking, but I almost never make a recipe as written. I add, subtract, and substitute ingredients at will. I often take the basic idea of a dish from The Pioneer Woman and tweak it to suit what I have handy. According to my patient husband, I mostly succeed.
What’s outside my window? I live in Florida, so I can see two palm trees and a frangipani or plumeria out my window.

​Blurb for The Lady Is a Mayor:
Her town is going broke. He plans to build a new hotel. It should be a perfect match.

Geneva is relieved to be back in her tiny Florida hometown after her budding political career in the state capital and her romance with a big-city guy come to an end. She’s content to hold a seat on the local council until the mayor flees in the middle of the night, and the job of fending off bankruptcy falls in her lap.

Pittsburgh-born Seth arrives in Calusa with architectural plans in his polished briefcase. His family firm already owns a prime piece of land, and he can hang with his college buddy while the building is erected. But what should be a slam dunk faces opposition from the quirky residents.

Geneva is willing to partner with Seth to find a solution. What she won’t do is risk her heart.

The Lady Is a Mayor is the first book in the Calusa Town Tales series. If you love clean romances filled with southern charm, you’ll love The Lady Is a Mayor.
Buy on Amazon 
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GYUON8O

Amazon Author Page 
https://www.amazon.com/~/e/B07NPXFSDR

Facebook Page
https://www.facebook.com/FranThomasAuthor

Website
www.FrancesOThomas.com
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