A dusty country setting. Cowboy hats and printed shawls. A mighty delicious, generation-spanning family drama tied to property investments.
No, this isn’t “Yellowstone.” This is “Ransom Canyon,” Netflix’s new Western based on the book series by the same name that author Jodi Thomas tells TODAY.com is actually very “different than ‘Yellowstone.'”
“The men in (Ransom Canyon) are flawed and still love their family and land even when they are arguing,” Thomas tells TODAY.com over email. “This series has something for everyone.”
Thomas compliments the show, which premiered on April 17, particularly showrunner April Blair’s depiction of the series, noting that she tells the story “through a woman’s gaze” but the focus remains on “character, family, love and legacy.”
“It’s about ranches and problems, but told in a different way,” she says.
Thomas says the way the series characters — particularly some of its leads like Staten Kirkland (Josh Duhamel), Quinn O’Grady (Minka Kelly) and Cap Fuller (James Brolin) — have come to life is exactly as she “envisioned them” when she wrote them, even if their plot lines differ from the books.
One major change? In Thomas’ novel, Quinn becomes pregnant. That plotline is omitted from the show.
Minka Kelly tells TODAY.com that she didn’t read the books since she knew the show would be headed in its own direction.
“I knew that April was going to be translating it in a really specific way, so I didn’t read it,” she says. “I just really relied on the scripts and trusted the writers and used their words.”
Thomas, however, isn’t upset by these changes. In fact, she adores the additions made to the tale.
“(Blair) turned these characters and my story into a compelling, bingeable series and I love the subplots and twists she’s added,” Thomas says. “I wasn’t involved, although I did get to visit the set and I had a wonderful time seeing my characters come to life. It was really a thrill and so impressive. Netflix has treated me and my book well.”
Whether its book or show, “Ransom Canyon” is full of romance, just as Thomas intended.
Thomas, who says she “fell in love at 17 and I’ve never stopped,” likes writing romance because “romance makes people feel good and gives them hope and we certainly could use more of that in the world.”
“I would love to touch your heart and not just your mind,” she continues. “My wish is that my books and this show give people hope and good feelings and that’s really the point of entertainment in my mind. At the end of the day we want to feel deeply and care.”
The main love story in the books and the show belongs to Staten and Quinn. Their romance comes from her belief that “people love long and never stop.”
“I’ve always written love stories because I really believe in the power of love,” she says.
Thomas believes Staten’s character keeps people reading the books and watching the show as he gives you something to root for. When viewers first meet Staten in the show, he’s a lonely rancher still grieving the loss of his wife and child.
“He was definitely a rich rancher, but he’s lost all he really valued,” Thomas says. “I’ve always written about people that have gone through a lot because that’s where the really great stories come from. The reader cares deeply about such flawed characters and is rooting for them.”
Thomas, who has published over 50 books all set in Texas, comes from five generations of Texans. She says writing about the state is “in (her) blood.”
Read the ‘Ransom Canyon’ books in order
- “Ransom Canyon”
- “Rustler’s Moon”
- “Lone Heart Pass”
- “Sunrise Crossing”
- “Wild Horse Springs”
- “Indigo Lake”
- “Mistletoe Miracles”
- “Christmas in Winter Valley”
“I’ve taken inspiration from not only walking the land but exploring historical societies and libraries in tiny Texas towns,” she says. “I just love the history and the legacy of the land. The people of Texas have big hearts and they’re ready to fight for a cause.”
Since Thomas has already penned eight books in the “Ransom Canyon” series, she hopes that the TV show gets greenlit for future seasons so some of her other characters have the chance to be brought to life and shine.
“There will be new characters for readers with their own love stories in the other books in the series,” she says. “I am hoping we get more seasons of the show so that some of these characters may make an appearance but fans of the show can read ahead and see more of this world I created.”
