7.11.14 - On Losing A Friend

View fullsize

We’ve lost a great man. John Seigenthaler is a Nashville legend, one of the classiest, smartest, most interesting men I’ve ever had the pleasure to know. When I heard the news today, the inevitable news, because he’s been fighting cancer, and was clearly getting frail, I cried. I haven’t seen him lately, despite our planning to have a lunch date to discuss a story I want to do on the Fugitive Poets, and we didn’t do our annual interview, which told me the end was near. As is always the case, I’ve been meaning to reach out these past few weeks, and of course hadn’t, and that’s a terrible shame, something I’ll always regret.

There are a lot of great stories out there about his incredible life, and I encourage you to read them. My own will be more personal.

You see, John was a catalyst for me. He was my first big interview when my debut novel came out in 2007. My publicist at the time was friends with him, and got me slated for the show. A WORD ON WORDS has been a Nashville Sunday morning institution for years. I was scared to death, and thrilled that I was about to enters the annals of the shows history, get to sit down with the John Seigenthaler. 

Most authors will tell you, many interviewers don’t read the books. They have talking points and synopses sent by publicists, and they rely on a few well-placed questions to guide the discussion. That wasn’t John Seigenthaler. He read the book. He read all the books. When we sat down, before the cameras rolled, he opened the back cover and I saw three pages of notes. He refreshed his memory whilst I panicked, then the cameras rolled and we began.

Saying he’d read the book is a misnomer. He’d dissected it. Had gone so in-depth, as a matter of fact, that he asked me questions I had no answers for, in ways I’d never thought of, about parts I didn’t even realize were there. He drew every exquisite inch out of that interview, peppering me with interrogatories and asides about his own life as a crime reporter (there’s a crime reporter in the book) diving into relationships between the police and the feds, the poems, the killer, the whys behind the story, my process. 

It’s funny, you can hear the abject terror in my voice when we started. By the end, I wanted to keep on talking with him for days. If he’d offered me a spot living in his pocket, I would have gladly accepted.

Our meetings became more personal. I'd always wear my pearls in his honor, he'd always wear a tie. When he told me about the cancer, I wanted to weep, but he kept a brave face on, and so did I. Every time we parted, he gave me a hug and a kiss, because “it might be the last time.” He was hyper-aware of his own mortality, telling me his age with a sly sense of pride. After one interview, he plainly stated he was wondering about his legacy, and that he feared this would be our last interview. He wasn’t kidding, and I gave him the only answer I could.

“John, you are unforgettable.”

And he is.

When I heard the news this morning, I wanted to hear his voice again, so I went to the Nashville Public Television website, lit a candle, and starting listening to the podcasts of our many interviews for A WORD ON WORDS. It’s like stepping through a time warp, watching my career unfold. And having been able to share it with this incredible man is something I will treasure, always. 

John taught me how to do an interview. He taught me how to think about my novels, about my work, about the interconnectivity of the characters and the story. His interviews were my favorite part of every tour, because I knew he’d find something so challenging for me to think about, to chew on. There were lines I’d throw in just to see if he’d catch the reference, and he always, always did. 

And it wasn’t only the intellectual challenge he provided. The kindness this man showed to all of us was legendary. His gift was his ability to make every author, every person who met him feel like the most important person he’d ever been with. He made it clear that you mattered. 

You mattered to me, John. I will miss you terribly. And if you have a chance to send me a dream, please do. 

There's a big book event tonight at Parnassus, our major local indie bookstore. I know John will be toasted all over town tonight, and can't help but think that raising our glasses to him in the midst of words and friends is the best tribute of all. 

Here are links to our interviews. I hope you listen to one or two, simply to get an idea of how amazing John was. 

Rest in peace, my friend. 

2007 - ALL THE PRETTY GIRLS  

2008 - 14 

2009 - JUDAS KISS 

2010 - THE COLD ROOM 

2011 - SO CLOSE THE HAND OF DEATH 

2012 - A DEEPER DARKNESS 

On Breaking My Lenten Fast to Share Great News: More Nicholas Drummond Books Coming!

So I promised I'd reach out from my 40 Days of Silence if anything newsworthy happened. Well, this counts, I think. From Publishers Marketplace: 

DEAL OF THE DAY

Fiction: Thriller

NYT bestselling author Catherine Coulter's next two books in her BRIT IN THE FBI series, co-authored with J.T. Ellison, which expands her FBI books with the addition of the UK-bred hero Nicholas Drummond of Scotland Yard, to Ivan Held at Putnam, in a major deal, for seven figures, by Robert Gottlieb at Trident Media Group (NA).

I am so excited to continue working with my amazing friend Catherine Coulter on the Brit in the FBI series, with our incredible editor Chris Pepe, and awesome Putnam and Trident Media Group teams. We are having so much fun developing these books. The second in the series, THE LOST KEY, will release September 30. (Cover reveal coming soon - it is SO pretty!) 

So this means more exciting locales and intriguing characters and wild-ass villains. I can't wait.

And you must know, you make these awesome things happen. You buy and read the books, cheer us on, and I can't thank you enough for reading.

I hope everyone is doing wonderfully. I miss you all! Raising my champagne glass to you.

xoxo, JT

On A Wrap-up for WHEN SHADOWS FALL

So WHEN SHADOWS FALL is out in the world, and there have been a few write-ups and reviews, interviews and guest blogs. In the interest of housekeeping, I've gathered them all together.

Interviews and Blogs

One of the most extensive looks at WHEN SHADOWS FALL, really digging down into the story, comes from Bookreporter.com

I am so honored to have been asked to do an interview for She Reads, one of the book world's leading curators for new books, book clubs, book blogging... they're awesome! 

Riffle Backstory - Riffle is a cool new site dedicated to readers, helping you find and share your favorite books, and this is a fun interview - with many of my favorite books and writers listed.

I did a brief podcast with my awesome audiobook publishers, Tantor Audio. The audiobook of WHEN SHADOWS FALL comes out March 31.

I'm always so excited to do anything with my good friend Allison Brennan, who's new book NOTORIOUS is coming next month. Here's a guest blog on her Murder She Writes 

I participated in the ITW Thriller Roundtable – How do News Events Shape Your Plots discussion

On Writerspace, Samantha Owens took the Proust Questionnaire, and I also discussed the book's path into being.

I did a piece about never giving up for The Strand Magazine's Mystery Center (Link to come)

And from CAFTAR - Campaign for the American Reader

• WHEN SHADOWS FALL takes the Page 69 Test
• My Book the Movie - and I have some new casting ideas
• What is J. T. Ellison reading?
• Writers Read: J. T. Ellison

Reviews:

Publishers Weekly Pick of the Week (February 24, 2014)

Starred Review in Publishers Weekly

Exceptional character development distinguishes Thriller Award–winner Ellison’s third Samantha Owens novel (after 2012’s Edge of Black), the best yet in the series. When Sam, now head of Georgetown University Medical School’s forensic pathology department in Washington, D.C., receives a letter from a stranger named Timothy Savage asking her to solve his murder, she gets drawn back into her former career in law enforcement. Sam performs an autopsy on Savage, who recently died in Lynchburg, Va., and the examination shows he did not commit suicide, as the police ruled, but was indeed murdered. Meanwhile, Sam and her boyfriend, former Army Ranger Xander Whitfield, become embroiled in a search for a missing child whose disappearance may be related to Savage’s death. The suspense builds as Sam and Xander, aided by D.C. homicide detective Darren Fletcher, chase down a host of surprising leads. The author’s ability to neatly tie together the mysterious clues helps make this a standout in the romantic thriller subgenre. Agent: Scott Miller, Trident Media Group. (Mar.)

Starred Review in Booklist

What at first appears to be a suicide propels Dr. Samantha Owens into a case that will test her resolve and sanity in Ellison’s third novel to feature the forensic pathologist. It starts with Owens receiving a letter from the victim—posted before his death—asking her to solve his murder. She is also listed, it turns out, as one of the beneficiaries in the man’s will. Having no idea who he is or why he sought out her services, she reluctantly conducts an autopsy and discovers that the death was, in fact, murder. How did he know he was going to be killed? His secret will shock Owens and her colleagues to the core, forcing them to ask hard questions about themselves, their careers, and how something as infallible as DNA can produce the wrong results. The mystery only intensifies as the narrative unfolds, and it’s a guarantee that readers will not figure out all of the details before the end. Ellison has crafted a terrific thriller, and fans of forensic mysteries, such as those by Patricia Cornwell, should immediately add this series to their A-lists. Knowledge of the prior books is not necessary to enjoy this one. —Jeff Ayers 

Romantic Times Top Pick

Ellison excels at imaginative and terrifying plots, and this thriller is a fine example that sucks readers in at the beginning and spits them out at the end, emotionally drained. The latest Samantha Owens installment is a complex story with interwoven mysteries and a frightening conspiracy. Villains range from just greedy to truly evil.

After several years of tragedy and danger, forensic pathologist Samantha Owens has accepted a teaching position at Georgetown University in an effort to lead a calmer life. Her plan is shattered when she receives a letter from a dead man, Timothy Savage, asking her to solve his murder. Savage’s attorney is then murdered, and the killer is working his way down the list of Savage’s beneficiaries. Sam becomes involved with the FBI’s investigation of a missing girl and finds out Savage was an FBI agent who went undercover in a cult to rescue a young girl. (MIRA, Mar., 416 pp., $24.95) —Joyce Morgan

Library Journal

Dr. Samantha Owens is transitioning into her new job teaching and chairing the forensic pathology department at Georgetown University Medical School when she receives a cryptic letter from a stranger asking her to solve his murder. Hesitant to get involved in fieldwork after recently opting out of law enforcement, Sam ignores the request. When the dead man's will stipulates that Sam perform the autopsy, her curiosity is piqued. The autopsy indicates murder, catapulting Sam and those closest to her into an intense FBI case. In her five harrowing days on the case, Sam uncovers dangerous links among a missing FBI agent, cold-case child abductions, and a suspicious religious cult led by a charismatic female. VERDICT Ellison's third Samantha Owens installment (after A Deeper Darkness and Edge of Black) is a gripping page-turner. Skillfully seasoned with suspense, intrigue, adventure, and a dash of romance, it's essential for suspense junkies. Fans of Patricia Cornwell's Kay Scarpetta books may notice similarities but will find that Ellison puts her own unique spin on forensic investigation. —Mary Todd Chesnut, Northern Kentucky Univ. Lib., Highland Heights

Suspense Magazine 

Ellison, yet again, offers up a story that goes from 0-to-60 in seconds.

Dr. Samantha Owens is working to set up her classroom for her new job as head of the Georgetown University Medical School’s Forensic Pathology Department in Washington, D.C. She is extremely happy about her new career and has no regrets about giving up a life in law enforcement.

While she’s going about her work, looking forward to the new path her life is taking, she receives an extremely odd letter. The letter is from a corpse who states that he’s dead and wants, more than anything, for Dr. Owens to solve his murder. In addition, the supposed victim is even more helpful by compiling a list of suspects for the doctor to look at, and setting aside some money in order to cover any expenses she has during the investigation. Downside? The corpse also states that Dr. Owens life will definitely be on the line if his killers find out she’s received this post-mortem letter.

Samantha doesn’t have a clue as to who Timothy Savage, the signer of the letter, is. What makes it even more confusing is when she’s approached by his lawyer and informed that Savage was not murdered at all; he is dead by his own hand.

After a great deal of hesitation, she agrees to perform an autopsy on Savage and finds that natural causes or suicide are not the case at all. Add to this, another plot where her significant other, Army Ranger Xander Whitfield, is pulled into a case involving a search for a missing child whose disappearance may be connected to the death of Mr. Savage, and the story blows up. When Homicide Detective Darren Fletcher arrives, anything and everything boils to the top.

Full of carefully mastered clues that tie both cases together, this is a true thrillfest that will keep readers on the edge of their seats until the very end. —Mary Lignor, Professional Librarian & Co-Owner of The Write Companion

Fresh Fiction 

Dr. Samantha (Sam) Owens is an expert forensic pathologist the FBI would love to have working for them. After turning down their job offer, Sam wants nothing more than a normal life teaching at Georgetown University. She's deeply in love and building a life with Xander Whitfield, a former Army Ranger, and content with her decisions. That contentment crumples when she receives a strange letter from a man named Timothy Savage begging her to solve his murder, even though his recent death has been ruled a suicide.

Things become even more bizarre when Savage's will names Sam as executor, as well as a benefactor, compelling her to autopsy his body to learn the truth. Her findings verify his death was murder, not suicide, but there's also foreign DNA on him that belongs to a girl who was found dead years ago. That's impossible, or is it?

Each step taken in the investigation turns up even more questions. Who is [Timothy] Savage, and how did he know he was going to be killed? How did he get a dead girl's DNA on his body? Is the DNA wrong? The mystery unfolds and intensifies with many shocking twists and turns leading to a totally incredible conclusion.

J.T. Ellison's WHEN SHADOWS FALL is a cleverly devised forensic thriller with multifaceted characters and a compelling storyline. Even though it's part of a series, WHEN SHADOWS FALL is an excellent stand-alone novel giving all the background information that's needed for its total enjoyment. Ellison is a master-craftsman at developing superb forensic thrillers!  —Tanzey Cutter

And last, but not least, here's a short Excerpt from WHEN SHADOWS FALL

Thanks for your support!

On Release Day for WHEN SHADOWS FALL!

February Newsletter Special Edition

Vol. XXXIII

 “Exceptional character development distinguishes Thriller Award–winner Ellison’s third Samantha Owens novel, the best yet in the series.”

– Publishers Weekly Starred Review
– Publishers Weekly Pick of the Week 

Gentle Readers:

My eleventh novel, WHEN SHADOWS FALL, has been born into the world today, and I want to celebrate with you!

Over on my Facebook page,  I’m giving away 3 $50 gift cards to your favorite bookstore. All you need to do is leave a comment on the post to be entered – and in the interest of spreading the word, if you share it on your page, you’ll be entered twice. How’s that for a deal? I’ll announce the winners on Friday, February 28th at noon.

          Buy Yours Today!

IndieBound / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Books-a-Million / iBooks / Kobo /  East Side Story / Parnassus 

Audiobook available March 31, 2014 from Tantor Audio

Every series has a path, planned or unplanned. When I started writing my Taylor Jackson books, I had no idea it was going to be a series. I hadn’t thought about extended story, structure, character development. I created a finite character in a finite world, and it was difficult to see where to take the books.

With Sam, it was the opposite. I knew I wanted a character who could grow and change remarkably. I knew I wanted to allow her the freedom to move around the country, the world, with relative ease. As my then editor and I were planning the first book in the series, I mentioned I wanted Sam to be the Indiana Jones of forensic pathology. The idea stuck.

This third book is a seminal part of the series. Sam is faced with the biggest decision of her life, one she must grapple with over the course of the strangest case she’s seen to date. She receives a letter from a man begging her to solve his murder, but a quick look into his death shows he is a clear suicide. Sam discovers his body has DNA from a twenty-year old cold case, linking him to a kidnapped child whose remains were recovered years earlier.

The book unfurls from there, traveling all over D.C. and Virginia, from Georgetown to Lynchburg, and the beautiful Great Falls – all my old stomping rounds – delving into the a world of killers and cult leaders and things that go bump in the night.

I hope you’ll love this third installment in Sam’s story, enjoy watching her truly come back to life, moving forward with her new love and her dear friends at her side, into a mind-bending case that will decide her fate for years to come. Here’s a quick excerpt from the book to give you an idea of what’s ahead. 

For those of you in the Nashville area, I will be reading from and signing WHEN SHADOWS FALL at the Barnes & Noble in Cool Springs tonight at 7:00 p.m. I hope you’ll join me for an evening of fun and frivolity and murder.

Thank you, as always, for being the best readers on the planet. I wouldn’t be here without you! Cheers!

xoxo,

JT

Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Books-a-Million / iBooks / Kobo / Walmart 
IndieBound / East Side Story / Parnassus / Reading Rock

Audiobook available March 31, 2014 from Tantor Audio

 ___________________________________

Praise for WHEN SHADOWS FALL 

“Ellison has crafted a terrific thriller, and fans of forensic mysteries, such as those by Patricia Cornwell, should immediately add this series to their A-lists.”
-- Booklist (starred review)

“Skillfully seasoned with suspense, intrigue, adventure, and a dash of romance, [WHEN SHADOWS FALL is] essential for suspense junkies.”
-- Library Journal

“Ellison excels at imaginative and terrifying plots, and this thriller is a fine example that sucks readers in at the beginning and spits them out at the end, emotionally drained. The latest Samantha Owens installment is a complex story with interwoven mysteries and a frightening conspiracy. Villains range from just greedy to truly evil.”
-- Romantic Times Book Review (Top Pick!)

“Exceptional character development distinguishes Thriller Award–winner Ellison’s third Samantha Owens novel (after 2012’s Edge of Black), the best yet in the series. The author’s ability to neatly tie together the mysterious clues helps make this a standout in the romantic thriller subgenre.”
-- Publisher’s Weekly (Starred Review)

“You want compelling characters, warp-speed action, a complex, terrifying plot, then Ellison's When Shadows Fall, with Dr. Samantha Owens, is for you. Be prepared for calloused fingers you’ll be turning the pages so fast.”

-- Catherine Coulter, #1 New York Time Bestselling Author of Bombshell

1.27.14 - Starred PW Review for WHEN SHADOWS FALL

Thank you, PW! 

WHEN SHADOWS FALL (Starred Review)

Exceptional character development distinguishes Thriller Award–winner Ellison’s third Samantha Owens novel (after 2012’s Edge of Black), the best yet in the series. When Sam, now head of Georgetown University Medical School’s forensic pathology department in Washington, D.C., receives a letter from a stranger named Timothy Savage asking her to solve his murder, she gets drawn back into her former career in law enforcement. Sam performs an autopsy on Savage, who recently died in Lynchburg, Va., and the examination shows he did not commit suicide, as the police ruled, but was indeed murdered. Meanwhile, Sam and her boyfriend, former Army Ranger Xander Whitfield, become embroiled in a search for a missing child whose disappearance may be related to Savage’s death. The suspense builds as Sam and Xander, aided by D.C. homicide detective Darren Fletcher, chase down a host of surprising leads. The author’s ability to neatly tie together the mysterious clues helps make this a standout in the romantic thriller subgenre. Agent: Scott Miller, Trident Media Group. (Mar.)

Reviewed on: 01/27/2014 
Release date: 02/25/2014

As you can imagine, a good day. Getting close on THE LOST KEY, too, so back to the grindstone....