XM Radio's Kim Alexander talks to JT about 14

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I'm Kim Alexander and this is Fiction Nation. The book is 14, the new thriller by J.T. Ellison.

J.T. Ellison's new book featuring Nashville deb-turned-cop Taylor Jackson is out; it's called '14'. This time Taylor is tracking a serial killer who has seemingly returned from the dead, and she's also planning her wedding — guess which one is scarier? As usual, J.T. works on a realistic canvas — her hometown — which makes the cavalcade of lunatics who crop up to ruin Taylor's special day even more menacing. (Although if you can find anything more terrifying than a caterer please do let me know about it.) There are a couple of plot twists that I certainly didn't see coming (I love that) and one 'ripped from the headlines' event that J.T. swears she wrote long before the news story broke. (Hint, it involves a pervy attorney general.)

I have talked to J.T. a couple of times over the last year and it's been a pleasure to see her continue to explore the world of her tough minded heroine, Nashville cop Taylor Jackson. I don't recall reading a lot of serialized fiction as a kid — there was the obvious Lord of the Rings and a few others, but somewhere along the line it became the done thing to create a character and a universe and keep talking about them. If you're lucky and good, your main characters and the world they live in are interesting enough to warrant return visits. If you're not, the reader realizes you're telling the same story over and over.

I think some fantasy fiction falls prey to this — how many elves can defeat the evil sorcerer and return the sword to its rightful king? J.T. Ellison is good and isn't afraid to take Taylor Jackson to places she probably wouldn't want to go. I can almost picture Taylor getting the script for the book and saying, "Oh no, I am not doing this. It's scary and weird and out of my comfort zone. I am not getting married!"

Because while serial killers, press conferences and trips to the morgue are all in a day's work for Taylor, getting an up-do and a big white dress? That is a whole different thing. True, she's been with her hot FBI fiancé John Baldwin for a while and the time was right, but Taylor is clearly more comfortable drinking cold coffee on an all night stakeout than wearing white satin pumps and getting in front of her family. Speaking of which, Taylor's mother and father figure pretty prominently in this book, and the disconnect between the resolutely, no, defiantly blue collar woman she's become and the deb princess her parents raised her to be is coming more and more into focus. As the series continues I'll be keeping an eye on her slowly unfolding past. Oh, and there's a family of serial killers, a creepy old house, the young victims are piling up and the wedding is at the end of the week. Guess which one makes our girl Taylor quake in her boots?

Hear my interview with J.T. Ellison on Fiction Nation, on Take Five, XM 155 on Wednesday, September 10that 7:00am, on Thursday, September 11th at midnight, on Friday September 12th at 11:00pm, on Saturday September 13th at 6pm, on Sunday September 14th at 10:00am and 8:00pm, and on Monday September 15th at 12:00 midnight. You can also hear Fiction Nation on Sonic Theater, XM 163 on Thursday September 11th at 3:00 pm in its half-hour format. All times EDT.

14 takes the Page 69 Test

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JT Ellison is Murderati's Friday columnist, a short story writer, and a novelist.

Last year she applied the Page 69 Test to her debut novel, All the Pretty Girls. Now she has applied the Page 69 Test to the sequel, 14, and reported the following:

Page 69 of 14 gives the reader a chance to see the investigation of the Snow White Killer from the perspective of the Nashville police. The major clues in the investigation are laid out, theories bandied about. Without the hard DNA evidence, they don’t know if they’re dealing with a copycat or the original Snow White Killer, showing this isn’t a cut and dried case. All four detectives working the case are present in the scene as well, showing their ability to work as a team, they flesh out suppositions and compare research. I hope it does entice the reader to keep reading, and definitely think it’s indicative of the book itself.

Taylor nodded in agreement. “Well, now we have the makeup of this cream found on their temples. Arnica, frankincense and myrrh? What’s up with that?”

“I think we’re dealing with a religious nut. Look at the biblical aspects – the gifts of the three wise men were gold, frankincense and myrrh. They also used myrrh oil in Roman times to cover up the smell of dead bodies. I looked up the modern uses – perfume, anti-inflammatory, homeopathic cholesterol lowering agents ... there’s tons of uses and tons of availability. But the most common use is in churches and synagogues. It just makes more sense that this has some sort of significance to the killer. And the placement, on their temples, makes it seem like he’s anointing them.”

“Lincoln’s right, there might be a religious component to all of this. Toss that into the mix.”

Marcus played with one of his chips. “Maybe he stopped killing back then because he got called to God. You know, took the opposite road, tried to repent. Hell, he might have become a priest or something. And then he just couldn’t stand it, broke free and started killing again.”

They were all silent for a moment, thinking about those implications.

“I wish we had the DNA comparison. That would at least tell us definitively if we are dealing with the same man or a copycat,” Fitz said.

Read an excerpt from 14, and learn more about the book and author at J.T. Ellison's website and MySpace page.

Watch the video trailer for 14.

The Page 69 Test: All the Pretty Girls.

The Page 99 Test: 14.

14 and the Page 99 Test

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JT Ellison is Murderati's Friday columnist, a short story writer, and a novelist.

Last year she applied the Page 69 Test to her debut novel, All the Pretty Girls. Now she has applied the “Page 99 Test” to the sequel, 14, and reported the following:

I believe page 99 of my new novel, 14, is indicative of the whole of the book. Homicide Lieutenant Taylor Jackson and FBI profiler Dr. John Baldwin are having a quiet dinner at home, talking about their day. Two major points are made that drive the story – first, Taylor tells Baldwin she’s missing a piece of vital evidence from a twenty year old murder case, and second – Baldwin reveals that a woman named Charlotte Douglas is coming to town. I love that the page ends with the revelation – seemingly innocuous – that a woman named Charlotte Douglas is coming to Nashville to participate in the Snow White Killer case. Taylor has never heard the woman’s name, but is about to meet a formidable opponent, both in the Snow White case and from Baldwin’s past. I hope the reader is driven to the next page, and the next, to find out why it’s important that Charlotte is getting involved in the Snow White case.

Without giving it all away, the missing evidence that Taylor mentions ties directly to the solution of the case, and to understanding Charlotte Douglas. Here’s an excerpt from page 99 of 14.

“Do I need a special occasion to bring flowers to my almost wife?”

“No, of course not.” She dropped the holster on the counter and buried her nose in the flowers. “Mmmm, they smell great. I better get them in some water. Where’d you find the Gerberas this time of year?”

“A man must protect his secrets.”

She rolled her eyes at him, eliciting a laugh. It was all so comfortable, it didn’t feel right. She got the flowers into water, set them thoughtfully on the kitchen table. Baldwin watched her; she felt his eyes on the back of her neck. Jesus, what was wrong with her?

“How was your day?”

“Other than the fact that we’re missing a piece of evidence from the Snow White case? The old cases, I should say.”

“What kind of evidence?” He opened the refrigerator. “Oh good, you got dinner.”

“Like I’d let you starve.”

They bustled around the kitchen, getting their salads on plates, buttering bread, pouring wine, and Taylor told Baldwin about her afternoon. He listened with sympathy until she asked about his day. They sat on the floor in the living room, their plates on the coffee table, their backs propped with pillows, and talked while they ate.

When they were settled and Taylor was a few bites into her salad, Baldwin answered her question.

“Well, it was interesting, I’ll say that. Tomorrow might be a little crazy.”

She just raised an eyebrow. As if anything could be crazier in this case, in their lives.

“Charlotte Douglas is coming to town.”

Read an excerpt from 14, and learn more about the book and author at J.T. Ellison's website and MySpace page.

Watch the video trailer for 14.

The Page 69 Test: All the Pretty Girls.

Crimespree Loves 14!!

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14 (Mira) is a twisty creepy and wonderful book from JT Ellison, her second. Nashville thought the terror of the 1980's was over when the Snow White Killer stopped and even sent a letter saying so. But now Taylor Jackson of Homicide is seeing a return of the killings. Possibly a copy cat, maybe the elusive original killer returned, either way Taylor has her work cut out for her as the murders are escalating. With pacing that makes Nascar look dull this book is a real ride on the lightning. Ellison is relentless and grabs the reader from the first page and refuses to let go until the soul tearing climax.

(J Jordan, Crimespree, September 2008)