Walk into Janet Thoma’s apartment at Southminster, and you will quickly notice the awards, plaques, and even a gold record that hint at a remarkable career. What those accomplishments do not immediately reveal is where it all began: with a grandfather who loved reading to his grandchildren.
Growing up in Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania, Janet and her sister spent countless hours listening as their grandfather read aloud. He lived with the family, and some of Janet’s favorite childhood memories are of gathering around for stories read by the man she loved dearly. “He read every story we wanted to hear and any story he thought we needed to hear as well,” Janet recalled. Looking back, she believes those moments inspired a lifelong love of books. In fact, when asked where her career in publishing began, she gave a simple answer: “He gave me my career,” she said, pointing to one of the many photos of her grandfather sitting on her dresser.
That love of reading eventually led Janet to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree from Ohio University and a master’s degree in journalism from Ohio University’s Scripps College of Communication before pursuing a career in publishing. While many people dream of writing their own books, Janet discovered she was more interested in helping others tell their stories. “If you are writing a book, you should really have something to say,” she explained.
Janet began her career as a children’s editor at David C. Cook Publishing and then became managing editor of the book division. Early in her career, publishing leadership positions were overwhelmingly held by men. Janet became one of the few women serving in editorial leadership roles at the time. “There was only one woman in publishing as an editorial manager, and then I became the second one,” she remembered. While the role came with challenges, Janet helped pave the way for future generations of women in publishing through expertise, persistence, and a genuine passion for books.
In an article titled Who Are Your Reliable People?, author Gary Thomas credits Janet as a mentor and editor who took a chance on him before anyone in the publishing world knew his name. Thomas described her guidance as invaluable, even when it was direct: “Gary, this is way too long, didactic, and boring, but I’m going to turn you from a man who wrote a master’s thesis into an author who writes books people want to read.”
After seven years in publishing, Janet joined Thomas Nelson Publishers in Nashville, Tennessee. As Senior Editorial Vice President, she spent more than 20 years helping authors develop and publish their work. She explained that she was specifically an acquisitions editor, a role she says many people do not fully understand. While many people assume editors simply correct grammar and punctuation, Janet’s career centered on something much bigger. As an acquisitions editor, her job was to find people with stories worth sharing and help bring those books to readers.
“You can be famous and still not have something to say,” Janet said. “Our job was to find people who had something worthwhile to share.”
Throughout her career, she helped authors shape their ideas into books that would inform, inspire, and connect with readers.
Her success eventually led to the creation of her own imprint, Janet Thoma Books. When asked how many books were published under her imprint, Janet laughed and admitted she had no idea. She then pointed to a heavy glass book-shaped award displayed in her apartment recognizing 19 years of service and more than 10 million copies sold through Janet Thoma Books. The award was presented in 2003, meaning that milestone was reached more than two decades ago.
Throughout her career, Janet worked with a wide range of authors, entertainers, athletes, and public figures. Among the most recognizable names are Michael W. Smith, Reggie White, Dr. Kevin Leman, Larry Gatlin, Stormie Omartian, Dr. Frank Minirth, and John and Patsy Ramsey. One project that stands out in Janet’s memory was her work with John and Patsy Ramsey following the death of their daughter, JonBenét. Janet worked closely with the Ramseys to help tell their side of the story during a time of intense public attention and scrutiny. She described the project as one of the most significant and emotionally challenging experiences of her career. However, she said publishing The Death of Innocence: The Untold Story of JonBenét’s Murder and How Its Exploitation Compromised the Pursuit of Truthwas one of her proudest accomplishments.
Another memorable experience involved Hall of Fame football player Reggie White. After Janet helped bring a book project to Thomas Nelson, delays within the contracting process nearly caused the deal to fall apart. Another publisher offered White more money, but before accepting the offer, he called Janet. “Janet, I told you first that I would do a book with you,” she remembered him saying. Despite the higher offer, White honored his original commitment, something Janet still remembers decades later.
A couple of other awards stand out when you step into Janet’s apartment in Southminster’s Embrace Health Assisted Living. First is the gold record hanging on the wall. Janet worked on Michael W. Smith’s This Is Your Time, which achieved gold-level sales of more than 500,000 copies in 1999. She said Smith’s agent was kind enough to send her the gold record. Another notable award is The Gold Book Award from the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association, which sits on her coffee table. Janet received the award for her work on Love Is a Choice by Dr. Frank Minirth, Dr. Paul Meier, and Dr. Robert Hemfelt. This award also recognized sales of more than 500,000 copies in 1995.
Two authors she worked closely with, Larry Burkett and T. Davis Bunn, dedicated a book to her and wrote: “Janet is a great friend, a tireless worker, and most of all, a godly person. Her behind-the-scenes efforts have helped bring many great books to life.”
Even in retirement, that passion has never faded. This summer, as in several recent years, Janet served as a judge for the Christy Awards, also known as the Christian Book Awards, and was tasked with reading and evaluating 28 books in just three months. The workload was demanding, but Janet approached it with the same dedication she brought to her career. She said she continues to volunteer because she feels grateful for everything the publishing industry gave her. “I felt I owed the industry something,” Janet said. “I wanted to help in any way I still could.”
Today, Janet calls Southminster home, but her impact reaches far beyond Charlotte. Through the authors she encouraged and the stories she helped bring to life, she has influenced millions of readers. Yet despite the awards, bestselling books, and career milestones, Janet still traces it all back to the man who first introduced her to the power of a good story: her grandfather.