Story Tools

Email this story | Print this story

Indexes

Today's Stories

Last 7 Days

Top Blogs

• Planning commissioners push for 'heritage tree' protections in Lodi

• District: Nichols-Washer right for the job

• Outpatient Surgical Center can't reach deal with Blue Cross

• Chase suspect gets3 years in federal prison

• Regional Roundup

November 21st, 2009

• Logbook

• Holiday drive spreads cheer to U.S. troops

• Galt High students want board to approve open-campus policy

• Poisoning victims remain hospitalized

• Expert: Half a mushroom cap can be deadly

• Tokay grad files claim over Lodi's Grape Bowl

• Lodi Middle School holds annual Turkey Trot

• Regional Roundup

• No motive or suspect in shooting

• Sacramento cop arrested for alleged kidnapping

November 20th, 2009

• Acampo woman killed

• Salvation Army Kettle Kickoff

• Advocacy groups sue East Bay Municipal Utility District over Pardee expansion

• Regional Roundup

• Galt plans to help residents with energy-efficient projects

• Stable southeast of Lodi approved

• One year after a heart attack, Lodi's Judy Mims thanks rescuers

• National Guard troops return home in time for the holidays

• Real estate market gets on more solid ground

November 19th, 2009

• Operation: Christmas

• Logbook

• Suspect arrested after hiding in fridge

• Chase ends in crash

• Galt Joint Union High School Distric hires new superintendent

• Sales tax hike yields dividends: 5 new officers join Galt Police

• Lodi Unified School District board votes to cancel summer school for 2010

• Water surges in Mokelumne River yield more salmon

• Lodi City Council will consider redevelopment next June

• Lodi City Council plans to cap number of taco trucks at 22

• Corrections

November 18th, 2009

• Regional Roundup

• Paranormal group conducts second investigation of building

• Congress allocates money for local water projects

• Sarah Palin's book hits the shelves: Locals react

• Lodi man finds wife's ashes during police display of stolen property

• Galt City Council rejects study on rent stabilization

November 17th, 2009

• Paying tribute to a Lodian

• Lodi Budget and Finance Committee to look into ways to save money on employee benefits

• Regional Roundup

• Decision on summer school expected at tonight's Lodi Unified School District meeting

• Clements gets free water rescue boat

• Redevelopment to be discussed by Lodi City Council again

• Court reinstates death penalty for killer of Lodi grad

• Clarification

November 16th, 2009

• Correction

• Public Meetings

• City Council 'triple-dog dared' to ditch cars, use Lodi buses

• Sierra Adventure store to close after four years in Downtown Lodi

• Lodi's First Sip event showcases area wineries' latest vintages

• Three members of Lodi-area family fall ill after eating poisonous mushrooms they reportedly found at Lodi Lake

• Regional Roundup

November 14th, 2009

• Galt school district narrows superintendent search to one

• Regional Roundup

• Despite budget cuts, some Lodi Unified School District salaries continue to rise

• Watchful neighbor in Lodi helped bust suspected burglars

• New Galt city manager juggles job, family

• Despite an increase in homeless students, school districts look to bolster enrollment, raise revenue

• A first look at 2009 vintages at Lodi's First Sip wine-tasting event

The following stories have received the most reader comments during the last 7 days.

• The country's mess is our fault (165)
• Obama is not a moderate (130)
• Sarah Palin's book hits the shelves: Locals react (70)
• Lodi City Council plans to cap number of taco trucks at 22 (48)
• The haves should help the have-nots (30)
• Public health care is a Christian option (29)
• Tokay in, traveling to unbeaten No. 3 Grant for football playoffs (25)
• Government-run health care is a bad idea (17)
• Young woman fatally shot at Acampo home (17)
• Sierra Adventure store to close after four years in Downtown Lodi (16)

ADVERTISEMENT

First novel by former Lodian explores loss of a child

The wife of a former Lodi pastor has published her first book, which combines plot elements involving the loss of a child and switching babies at birth.

Debbie Thomas

Debbie Thomas, whose husband, Don, was pastor at Lodi Community Church from 1984 through 1996, wrote "Tuesday Night at the Blue Moon."

"It's a Christian novel, but you don't have to be a Christian to read it. It's not preachy," Thomas said in a phone interview from her Auburn home.

The plot involves a woman whose child dies, only to find out that she didn't give birth to that child, Thomas said. It turns out that the child she raised and who ultimately died was switched with another baby. The biological daughter, age 13, then has anger issues and doesn't want to be a part of her birth family.

The idea came from a People Magazine article about two babies switched at birth, she said.

Thomas didn't begin creative writing until a neighbor in Lodi, Linda Opp, suggested that she try writing.

"I had a home daycare (in Lodi) with six preschoolers," Thomas said. "I needed a diversion and started writing fiction."

She took some writing classes and attended some conferences.

Thomas is now manager of after-school and day camp programs for the Auburn Area Recreation and Park District. Her husband was pastor of an Auburn church until last fall, when he made a career change. Don Thomas now has his own window cleaning business in Sacramento. He specializes in commercial buildings.

Contact reporter Ross Farrow at rossf@lodinews.com.