Dian Thomas:Author and TV Personality
Dian Thomas is an author and television personality best known for her bestselling book Roughing It Easy and her regular appearances on The Tonight Show and the Today show. She is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Thomas was born and raised in southern Utah where she learned camping, outdoor cooking techniques, and many other outdoor skills. She earned her BS degree from Brigham Young University. After graduating with a master’s degree from BYU, she taught home economics at Orem Junior High in Utah. Her master’s thesis provided the basis for her first book, Roughing It Easy, a guide to camping and cooking outdoors. The book catapulted to the New York Times bestseller list after her first appearance on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. For eight years she was the lifestyle editor for NBC’s Today show, and then for six years she was with ABC’s Home Show. She appeared on several other television shows during the 1980s, such as ABC’s Good Morning America, Mike Douglas, Merv Griffin, and Sally Jessy Raphael.
She became an expert in public relations, publicity, and promotion. She wrote several other books, such as Holiday Fun Year-Round with Dian Thomas and Today’s Tips for Easy Living, and was a national spokesperson for divisions of Kraft Foods, Procter & Gamble, and other companies.
She traveled extensively and made thousands of personal appearances for many years until she slowed down in 2000 to take care of her aging parents; they passed away in 2003 and 2004.
Thomas is a regular on the Hallmark Channel’s Home and Family Show. She also teaches public relations seminars, and leads four travel tours to China annually. Her most recent book is a product of her journey to lose weight and regain her health: Tipping the Scales in Your Favor. She lives in Utah.
