10.14.13

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Today was a day of happenstance and serendipity in the form of a visit to Roslyn Chapel. Roslyn's been on my bucket list for years, ever since THE DAVINCI CODE. In three previous trips to Edinburgh, I haveb't made it to the Chapel, so I was beside myself with excitment. We arrived in time for noon prayers, Roslyn being an active Episcopal Church. So there I was, saying the Lord's Prayers in Roslyn Chapel, feeling more than a little verklempt. I was able to light a candle as well, which made me very happy, and we also timed it perfectly to hear a twenty minute lecture on some of the fascination of the chapel. It. Was. Awesome. 

Then the long, beautiful haul up to the Highlands. We had all sorts of weather, stopped at Blair Castle (many of you remember I based Memphis Highsmythe's ancestral home, which features prominently in WHERE ALL THE DEAD LIE, on an amalgamation of Blair Castle, and Dunrobin, which I've never actually seen, but I'm visiting tomorrow!) and instead of the massive chickens -- I'm talking come up to your knee chickens -- there was a mated pair of peacocks stalking the car park. Just wandering along, doing their peacocky thing.   

Now we're at our very favorite Highlands hotel, Lochardil House, managed by our very fine friend (also distantly related) Robert McBean, where we've been warmly greeted, fed and watered, and are now going down for the night. I'm developing a taste for a finger of Laphroaig just before bed. This is one habit I can definitely get behind.

Slàinte, and sweet dreams!

/ / /Source

J.T. Ellison

J.T. Ellison is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than 25 novels, and the EMMY® award winning co-host of thJoss Walkere literary TV show A WORD ON WORDS. She also writes urban fantasy under the pen name Joss Walker.

With millions of books in print, her work has won critical acclaim and prestigious awards. Her titles have been optioned for television and published in twenty-eight countries.

J.T. lives with her husband and twin kittens in Nashville, where she is hard at work on her next novel.

10.13.13

/ Ghost Tour/

Y'all know I am not a fan of being scared. I am also not a fan of being in dark tunnels beneath cities, three floors of thick stone away from fresh air. But because my SIL is braver than I, off on a ghost tour we went tonight. It was fitting weather, rainy and cold (the new coat worked wonderfully, thanks) and after a few good above ground stories of death and dismemberment -- exploding tongues, anyone? -- into the vaults we went. Dark. Damp. Stinking of mold and rot and God knows what else. And there, we saw a ghost. At least, my iPhone saw a ghost. It's a creepy as hell shot, like a face in the dark. I was very happy to get out of there.

Holyroodhouse Palace today, plus a march up the Royal Mile. My calves are screaming, and according to my Fitbit, I've done 13,513 steps, which is almost 6 1/2 miles. Not bad, considering most of it was uphill.

No great food to report today, but I plan to remedy that tomorrow. We're off to Inverness, to the Highlands, and I plan to wallow in cod and cottage pie.

Slàinte! 

/ Ghost Tour/ / /Source

J.T. Ellison

J.T. Ellison is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than 25 novels, and the EMMY® award winning co-host of thJoss Walkere literary TV show A WORD ON WORDS. She also writes urban fantasy under the pen name Joss Walker.

With millions of books in print, her work has won critical acclaim and prestigious awards. Her titles have been optioned for television and published in twenty-eight countries.

J.T. lives with her husband and twin kittens in Nashville, where she is hard at work on her next novel.

10.12.13

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Ah, Edinburgh. It never fails to show off - from the rainy mist to the cobblestone streets to the store after store full of gorgeous cashmere. And coats. Thank all that's holy, they sell coats. Someone - we aren't naming names here - decided a fleece was more than sufficient for a mild Scottish October. And it would have been, if Scotland had decided to stay mild. Instead, the winter winds roared in like a lion today, and someone was forced to go coat shopping. But don't feel too bad, someone found a lovely jacket she's in love with.

There's been fish and chips consumed, and cottage pie, and scones. And wine. And Scotch. Castles stormed, and streets walked; churches reverently visited, and pubs frequented. 

And that's just in the first day! 

We're safe and sound and happy, and I sent in the AAs for WHEN SHADOWS FALL, so that's novel the 13th gone to production. All in all, a good start to the week. 

And regarding the romance that seems to follow us about? We were at Edinburgh Castle, and up rolls a Rolls, and out pops a lovely bride, followed by a piper. It's strange, no matter where Randy and I go, we stumble upon a wedding. 

Slàinte! 

 

/ / /Source

J.T. Ellison

J.T. Ellison is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than 25 novels, and the EMMY® award winning co-host of thJoss Walkere literary TV show A WORD ON WORDS. She also writes urban fantasy under the pen name Joss Walker.

With millions of books in print, her work has won critical acclaim and prestigious awards. Her titles have been optioned for television and published in twenty-eight countries.

J.T. lives with her husband and twin kittens in Nashville, where she is hard at work on her next novel.

10.10.13

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I’m somewhere over Toronto right now, and the plane doesn’t have wifi, which is a bit of a shock, considering the length of the flight. No big deal for me, I have to work, and wifi is a distraction, but I was hoping to post this blog tonight (last night? Not sure what day it is where you are!) Alas, it is not meant to be.

Listening to Beethoven’s Symphony in D Minor whilst working on the AAs, very inspirational music. I was hoping to be done by now, but this stage of the process is so nitpicky. I put a comma in. I take a comma out. It’s the very last chance I have to see the book before y’all do, so I want things to be perfect. And the people next to me are looking at me funny because I’m reading it aloud – under my breath, of course, but my lips are moving.

We switched seats with a woman and I think we’ve made a love connection with her new seatmate. Wouldn’t that be a hoot? Karma, chance, whatever you call it – the two of them have hit it off and seem quite taken with each other. In Finnish. Cute.

So I’ll sign off now, and post this when we land.


Sweet dreams!

 

/ / /Source

J.T. Ellison

J.T. Ellison is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than 25 novels, and the EMMY® award winning co-host of thJoss Walkere literary TV show A WORD ON WORDS. She also writes urban fantasy under the pen name Joss Walker.

With millions of books in print, her work has won critical acclaim and prestigious awards. Her titles have been optioned for television and published in twenty-eight countries.

J.T. lives with her husband and twin kittens in Nashville, where she is hard at work on her next novel.

10.9.13

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What is it about trips? Suddenly nothing you have is absolutely perfect and you end up with a new wardrobe, new jackets, new shoes... and I am the worst about this.

Which is the vehicle for admitting I caved and bought a pair of Merrell waterproof boots. The Wellies I bought are simply too hot for all day wear, and look silly in restaurants, and take up a LOT of room in my carryon. Waterproofing my beloved nubuck boots was an option. And of course, there's the motorcycle boots that looks so fantastic with jeans... Yeah. I'm a boot whore. There. I said it.

But the Merrells are super stylish and waterproof, all in a gray leather boot with an unbelievably cushy footbed. And I didn't have gray leather boots. Gray suede... So from here on out, these will be my travel boots. Win win for all, right? 

I can justify most anything... 

Good news: THE FINAL CUT is on the NYT list for the third week - I am so incredible grateful for this! It's so exciting to think of so many people reading this book.

Spent most of the afternoon on the phone with Garmin, trying to get my European maps to work. Things aren't looking fabulous on this front; the download keeps crashing, so fingers crossed it will actually work. I don't particularly want to get stranded in Scotland with no GPS.

Tomorrow is WHEN SHADOWS FALL AAs, and we turned in the outline for YARD OF GRAVES. So... onward! 

Sweet dreams! 

/ / /Source

J.T. Ellison

J.T. Ellison is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than 25 novels, and the EMMY® award winning co-host of thJoss Walkere literary TV show A WORD ON WORDS. She also writes urban fantasy under the pen name Joss Walker.

With millions of books in print, her work has won critical acclaim and prestigious awards. Her titles have been optioned for television and published in twenty-eight countries.

J.T. lives with her husband and twin kittens in Nashville, where she is hard at work on her next novel.