Kim Thomas

I am a writer, painter, and wife. Putting words on a page, or paint on a canvas, fills my days. Being a wife fills my life.

I have loved words and story as long as I have had a memory My love for visual art followed almost immediately, and I have been pursuing both for most of my life, except for that short period of time when I lost my mind and studied math in college. The little 18 year stint as a musician and songwriter left a little time for me to paint and write, but now it is what I spend all my time doing.

Most of the things a professional bio would say would also be mostly uninteresting to you. So I choose to simply tell you that I have been a professional writer and painter long enough to sell enough to pay some bills and purchase a few fun things, like the Silver Bullet, my VW bug convertible. Other people have said nice things about what I have done, and it always affirms that insecure artist hiding just behind the well crafted image of a confident artist I cultivate on good days.

I am not Oprah-famous, but people outside of my family have reviewed my work and gone on record as liking it. Magazines, newspapers, radio and tv shows have liked it enough to mention, interview or print me.

I believe in discipline as an author/artist, and resist the flaky unorganized image romanticized by many. It is hard work to be creative, and respect for the daily routine keeps me productive. I am a writer and painter because I write and paint, so I have to show up and do the work. Sometimes it is easy and I pinch myself that this is what I get to do. But most days, it is simply hard work and requires every ounce of my reserves to face the empty page or canvas. Sometimes I am courageous and sometimes I take a nap.

I may have mentioned that I love words. I have often said I could write a book about dirt, or air, or chewing gum. I simply love the connection of words and thoughts, and I see metaphors in almost everything. One of my favorite toys as a young girl was my dictionary. I played the open the book and put your finger on a word, and the other person has to guess the definition game. Have you played? It is really quite enjoyable. It is actually a derivation of the spin the globe and land your finger on a country, and the other person has to guess the country by asking questions game.

When I write, I either work on my screened in porch or in Middle Womb, my in the house writing studio. I work on a Mac iBook, and enjoy the convenience of wireless internet access. I prefer silence, or the ticking of a clock, lit candles, and the smell of aromatic oils. I suppose I am an all senses sort of worker.

POTLUCK is my fifth book. Five books is a lot of words, but I still have a few I have not used yet. So I am working on some new books. When I cannot write, I paint. When I cannot paint I write. When I cannot paint, or write, I am mostly unpleasant.