JANIS THORNTON
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Janis Thornton is Tipton, Indiana’s home-grown author of history, mystery, and true crime.

Her latest book, 
The 1965 Palm Sunday Tornadoes in Indiana, takes a look back at Indiana’s worst weather disaster and includes more than 100 horrific, heartbreaking stories about the tornadoes, told by the people who experienced them.

Her previous release, 
No Place Like Murder, is a collection of 20 true crime stories that rocked Indiana between 1869 and 1950.

Her most recent novel, Love, Lies, and Azure Eyes
, is a suspenseful, paranormal romantic mystery about possibilities for second chances, righting old wrongs, and finding love that lasts forever. 

Her 2018 non-fiction release, 
Too Good a Girl, tells the story of Janis’ high school classmate, Olene Emberton, whose tragic, unsolved death in 1965 shocked their community. Now, some 50 years later, Janis has written Olene’s story to ensure it is never forgotten.  

Janis’ other works include two cozy mysteries in the “Elmwood Confidential” series —
Dead Air and Double Dare, released in June 2017 and Dust Bunnies and Dead Bodies, published in 2014. 

Janis also is the author of three Central Indiana history books —
Images of America: Tipton County, Images of America: Frankfort, and Images of America: Elwood — and she is a contributor to Undeniably Indiana, a bicentennial project from Indiana University Press.

She is a member of the national mystery writer’s organization, Sisters in Crime, its Indianapolis chapter, Speed City Sisters in Crime, The Author’s Guild, Women Fiction Writers Association, the Indiana Writers Center, and the Tipton County Historical Society.
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​In the news

BOOK REVIEW BY JANIS: “All Good People Here” by author/true crime poscaster Ashley Flowers • February 2023
BOOKRIOT.COM: True Crime Vs. Murder Mysteries – Two Sides of the Same Coin, or Mutually Exclusive?
• By Elisa Shoenberger • Jan. 5, 2023

CLINTON COUNTY NEWS: Author Revives 1965 Palm Sunday Tornadoes in Indiana at Skanta Theatre • June 2, 2022
LA GRANGE STANDARD: Local Memories of Palm Sunday Tornadoes Included in New Book • May 30, 2022
WLFI-TV, Lafayette: Indiana Author to Give Talk and Book Signing • May 22, 2022
STURGIS JOURNAL: Author on New Book on 1965 Palm Sunday Tornadoes to Hold Public Promotion at Museum 
ABC57 ELKHART: New Book Sheds Light on Palm Sunday Tornadoes • May 13, 2022  
GOSHEN NEWS: Indiana Author Releases Book Chronicling Palm Sunday Tornadoes • May 2, 2022

HAMILTON COUNTY REPORTER: Tipton Author’s Book about Palm Sunday Tornadoes Coming in May • April 24, 2022
​KOKOMO TRIBUNE: Local Author Pens People’s History of Palm Sunday Tornadoes • April 20, 2022
LEBANON REPORTER: Tipton Author Releases Book about 1965 Palm Sunday Tornadoes • April 18, 2022
FRANKLIN DAILY JOURNAL: Indiana Authors Collect Stories Around the State • December 3, 2020
HOOSIER HISTORY LIVE! Radio Interview w/Nelson Price • November 21, 2020
KILLER CRAFTS & CRAFTY KILLER, Guest Blog, November 20, 2020
ZOOM Q&A by JAMIE ANDERSON of the FRANKFORT LIBRARY • November 14, 2020

RADIO INTERVIEW w/WFYI’s MATT PELSOR: ‘True Crime in Indiana’ • November 10, 2020
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NEW CASTLE COURIER-TIMES’ HER MAGAZINE, Guest Article • November 7, 2020
HOOSIER STORYTELLERS: Interview by Mike Clossin & Jamie Anderson • October 2020
JANE FRIEDMAN: ‘
Writing True Crime: Q&A with Janis Thornton’ • September 30, 2020

ANDERSON HERALD TRIBUNE STORY • September 28, 2020
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ANGOLA HERALD REPUBLICAN  STORY • September 13, 2020
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THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE MURDER FOR A WRITER WITH CURIOSITY • August 4, 2020

MURDER WE WROTE, SPEED CITY SISTERS IN CRIME AUG. 5, 2018 BLOG POST:
          “150 Pack Tipton Public Library for Launch of Thornton's True Crime Book, ‘Too Good a Girl’”

MIDWEST WRITERS WORKSHOP INTERVIEW • May 14, 2015



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