11.8.15 - Sunday Smatterings

Bonjour, mes amis! Did you have a good week? Mine...was a whirlwind. (I know I keep saying that, but this year has been bonkers.) This was the week of ALL THE NEWS. Observe:

1. WE'RE GETTING MORE TAYLOR AND SAM BOOKS!!!
2. I STARTED MY OWN PUBLISHING HOUSE!!!
3. I FOUND OUT HOW TO CHANGE TWITTER LIKES TO SQUIRRELS!!!

As for other happenings:

New York Times bestselling author Patti Callahan Henry was my very first guest on A WORD ON WORDS, and the show aired this morning. Check it out here.

I'm doing #NaNoWriMo, and got my first words in on my newly finished back porch. It's official: I am in love!

I am obsessed (no, really, obsessed) with my friend Tara Stiles' recipe for olive guacamole. Check it out!

Having trouble deciding what to read next? This quiz should help you out, brought to you by XOXO After Dark.

Um, THEY ARE MAKING A NEW STAR TREK TV SERIES! Cue the excitement!! (squee)

Face it, chickens: there are some days when you're too slammed or zonked to make it to the grocery store. That's why there's Shipt, who will deliver your groceries right to your front door with just the click of a button. Yes, it's true! Check the website for locations, but if you've found yourself pining for a Grocery Fairy Godmother, Shipt is it.

On the Tao, I hosted the lovely Kim Alexander, who just wrote a fabulous fantasy debut (spoiler alert: she's wicked funny!).

Don't forget: there's a new November contest! Have you entered yet?

And on The Wine Vixen, Amy dished about her favorite go-to Chardonnay (folks, it's cheap: less than $10 a bottle), which actually pairs quite well with this Braised Chicken & Herb-y Mushrooms recipe from the archives. 

That's all from me this week. Hang in there—I know this is the time of year when schedules fill up quickly, you have to stand in never-ending lines at the post office, and your mom won't stop calling you about holiday menus and strategies to keep Uncle Morty in check at Thanksgiving this year. When you're feeling overwhelmed by the I must do it all feeling, remember to stop. No really, just stop. Take a breath. And remember that life's purpose isn't found in a perfect holiday experience. If we're being honest, life happens in the little moments each day, in the ordinary. So when you're feeling anxious by the plans, take a second and recognize a little miracle or two. You might be surprised how much easier it is breathe a second or two later.

Xoxo,
JT

11.1.15 - Sunday Smatterings

November is upon us, chickens. It's NANOWRIMO month for thousands of writers across the world. National Novel Writing Month is something I always like to participate in. Truthfully, every month is NaNoWriMo when you're a professional writer, but there's something special about November. It's the annuals in me -- the 2nd quarter was always my best time in school, probably because that pesky Daylight Savings Time had ended and I sleep better with more darkness. Better sleep + better focus. So Yay! November and NaNo!

I'll be updating my progress here on Smatterings. My minimum word count is 12,500 per week. If you're in, leave a message in the comments, and we can help each other stay on track.

Now, to the wrap-up!

I had the great honor of interview one of my favorite authors this week for A WORD ON WORDS. Deborah Harkness was as charming and erudite as I could have hoped. We did a wine tasting at Natchez Hills Winery at Fontanel, and it was an incredible afternoon. Grab her latest book in the All Soul's trilogy, THE BOOK OF LIFE, and I promise you'll love this whole series! #keepreading

Another favorite of mine, Karin Slaughter, talks her travel tips on The Overhead Compartment. Some great ideas here, and I agree, when the plane door closes, it's ME time!

This guide to The Mobile Writer has a lot of great tips for how to write on the road, or even just away from your house for the day.

With NaNoWriMo upon us, here are 10 Tips for Writers to stay focused this month!

From The Wine Vixen: If you're anything like us, there is a huge bucket of leftover candy on the steps. What better time to have a candy and wine party? Impress your friends and know what wine goes best with your favorite #Halloween candy.

Also, A WORD ON WORDS officially launched this week! First up was Mary Laura Philpott's interview with young adult authors Adam Silvera And David Arnold. The show will be airing on Sundays at 10:26 am, then repeating on Thursday nights at 7:26 pm. There will be links online to the shows, and to the longer interviews as well. Will share when I have them, but here's the website's blog so you can follow along!

That's it from me. Don't forget to sound off if you want to do NaNo with me!

xo,

JT

10.18.15 - Sunday Smatterings

Hello, lovely people. How was your week? Nashville is starting to settle into fall, the leaves are turning crayon-colored, the mornings deliciously crisp. Such a beautiful time of year. I want to bask in it for as long as I can.

Now, to the Internets!

First of all, did you see that I have a new book coming out?? My first standalone novel, NO ONE KNOWS, comes out in March, and it's unlike anything I've ever written . . .  

Are you looking for a give-you-goosebumps read for the Halloween season? Look no further than Laura Benedict's CHARLOTTE'S STORY. A Southern Gothic of the highest order, trust me—you'll be pleased.

"We are all beautiful and offer amazing gifts to the world, if we would just get out of our own way." A beautiful post that I really needed to hear.

The Wine Vixen says BEWARE: you may not be drinking the wine you think you are.

Baby animal alert: this little baby bat hugging his mama will fill up your Cute-O-Meter for the day!

What's better than attending a Readerfest? Why, attending a Readerfest in your pajamas, of course! Join me and fellow thriller author Laura Griffin at the XOXO Connects Readerfest this Saturday, October 24, at 12:30 pm EST. We'll be talking all things thriller and books and will have just a delightful time. This is a no-pants-required sort of deal, so no judgment from this corner if you show up in your skivvies.

That's all I've got for now, folks. May your weeks be filled with a warm mug of tea, a good book, and a toasty, cozy fire.

Xoxo,

JT

10.11.15 - Sunday Smatterings

My chickens!!!

How've you been? I have been running around like a chicken with its head cut off (but not one of you chickens, of course!). Busy, busy, busy has been the MO in the Ellison household for the past few months, between all the travel, all the book launches, and all the writing. Craziness. But good crazy. 

I do know this, though: I'm not traveling anymore until the holidays. So shall it be written, so shall it be done. I've got books to write and kitties to love on!

Whew.

Here's what caught my eye on the Internets this week:

Reunited, and it feels so good! The cats and I were ridiculously happy to be back together after so much travel.

This is the first trait of successful people, according to Om Swami (I loved this).

For all the hopeless romantics out there: watch the gum commercial that made Assistant Amy cry in the middle of Starbucks. That's some fine storytelling right there.

Some "artists prefer resistance to success. Are you one of them?

The incomparable Jackie Collins wrote a moving and inspirational final letter to her readers, in honor of October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

For all of you who dream of a vacation in Napa, tune into my four-part travelogue, In Vino Veritas, on The Wine Vixen. Oh, this was a fun one, folks, and I have wine recommendations to boot!

Also, my recipe this month is ridiculously easy and perfect for this chillier weather: turkey and sweet potato chili. Also, don't forget to sign up for my newsletter, where you can get recipes, book recommendations, and my latest news all delivered into one pretty package in your inbox!

And on the contest front, I've got a couple for you: a Thrills and Chills Sweepstakes, courtesy of my publisher, MIRA (open to US residents only); and my monthly October contest. Click here to enter!

That's all for now. Stay warm, and I'll see you next week!

Xoxo,

JT

9.27.15 - Sunday Smatterings

Happy Sunday, chickens! How was your week? I spent mine finishing up copyedits for my new standalone NO ONE KNOWS, and ramped up writing on Nicholas Drummond #4. No rest for the weary, I’ll tell ya.

I love writing for you guys, and I especially enjoy getting feedback from my readers. One of my favorite things is when you tell me you've liked something (think of it as a Sally Field-type reaction!). And clearly, by THE END GAME'S placements on three New York Times Best Seller lists, (and keeping THE LOST KEY on the paperback list at #6 for the fourth week running) you've sent the message loud and clear that you like Nick and Mike!! I'm so grateful to you for making that happen! Thank you, thank you, thank you for reading along. Y'all are the best.

And now, to our regularly scheduled programing—what I found on the Internets this week:

If you don’t read Laura Benedict, you should. My BFF has written such a lovely essay on the Romantic Imperative blog about her muse. If you like this essay, then check out Laura's books—trust me on this one! 

Aspiring indie authors, listen up! Here are 9 lessons to be learned in self-publishing, and the founder Reedsy (a self-publishing start-up) discusses how we should create and publish books in the 21st century. Good stuff to keep in mind if you're kicking around writing that book (And what are you waiting for!? Carpe diem, baby!).

How many of you dread waking up in the morning, knowing that bleary-eyed, just-five-more-minutes feeling is waiting for you all over again? Let's kick zombie mornings to the curb. This Navy SEAL revisualizes your morning routine in 6 steps that'll help you stay focused and feel great all day.

With so many things vying for my attention, I needed this essay (and I suspect I'm not the only one): "I'm Returning to Single-Tasking."

And back at base, I hosted my buddy Lee Mossel on another edition of 7 Minutes. And I also updated my Events page—I've got a lot of stuff going on this fall I want you to join me for (book fests, signings, Q&A's and more), and I'd love to say hi!

And don’t forget to stop by my new venture, The Wine Vixen, for delectable vino recommendations (most of it is under $20, people), and follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

Alright, peeps, that's all I've got this week. I leave with you the immortal words of one of my muses, J.K. Rowling. Be good!

Xoxo,
JT