Wendall Thomas is a well-established American author, known for her expertise in the field of writing and her work in the entertainment industry. She received her MA in English from the University of North Carolina in 1986 and has since built an impressive resume that includes a wide range of experience in film and television.
Thomas has worked as a script reader, casting director, story editor, director's assistant, entertainment reporter, screenwriter, and development executive for various companies, such as Universal, Disney, PBS, A&E, Scottish Screen, NBC, RKO, Showtime, Warner Brothers, and Paramount. Her diverse background in the entertainment industry has provided her with a wealth of knowledge and experience that she has been able to apply to her writing.
Thomas is perhaps best known for her Cyd Redondo Mysteries series, which has been nominated for several awards, including the Lefty and Macavity Awards. Her first novel in the series, Lost Luggage, was published in 2014 and quickly gained a following for its unique blend of humor and mystery. The second novel in the series, Drowned Under, was published in 2018 and was nominated for an Anthony and Lefty award for Best Paperback Original and Best Humorous Mystery of 2019. The third novel in the series, Fogged Off, was published in 2020 and was nominated for the Best Humorous Lefty for 2021. Thomas's short fiction has also been featured in various crime anthologies, including Ladies Night (2015), Last Resort (2017), Murder-A-Go-Go's (2019), and Crime Under the Sun (2023).
In addition to her work as an author, Thomas is also a highly respected screenwriting instructor. She currently teaches in the Graduate Film School at UCLA and lectures internationally on screenwriting. Her expertise in the field of screenwriting has been recognized with numerous accolades, including her work as a writer on PBS’s Wishbone and A&E Biography. Thomas also wrote the speech for Bonnie Raitt's induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Her versatile background and wealth of experience in the entertainment industry have made her a respected and accomplished figure in the writing world.