Tao of J.T. is the online blog of New York Times bestselling author and EMMY-award winning television host J.T. Ellison.
What's better than attending a Readerfest? Why, attending a Readerfest in your pajamas, of course!
The lovely Laura Griffin and I are holding a Thriller roundtable at the #XOXOConnects Readerfest on Saturday, October 24, at 12:30 pm EST. You should come! (no pants required).
There are things that happen in your life that are, to say the least, unexpected. Back in June, I received an email from a producer at NPT (Nashville Public Television) letting me know they were considering rebooting the Nashville literary classic, A Word on Words. If you’re not familiar with it, for 40 years, it was was a Sunday morning staple on Channel 8, hosted by the amazing John Seigenthaler. I was really excited to hear this, because I did my first EVER interview with John on the show, and since we lost him, there has been a real void in the literary community, as well as all of our hearts.
What I wasn’t expecting was an invitation to be the host. "Caught short" is a good term, actually. I mean, y’all know me. I have a serious public speaking fear. I’ve overcome it for the most part, but I still get a wad of butterflies in my stomach before events, and cameras — yeah, right. The idea of voluntarily sitting down in front of a camera multiple times seemed a little masochistic. So my immediate reaction was . . . no.
But.
John Seigenthaler.
What John did for the book in Nashville can’t be discounted for a moment. He was the beating heart of literature in this city for a very, very long time. I always loved being on the show (I think I did it six times over the years.) John made me think about my stories in ways I hadn’t before. He could find that kernel in the book, the why behind the story, and make it come alive for the viewers.
The idea of having even a small part in continuing his legacy drove me to the screen test, then to accepting the offer to shoot a couple of pilots, and through the first shoot. I nearly threw up on Patti Callahan Henry, I was so scared.
But I didn’t. And after a while, in the joy of talking story with a fellow writer, I forgot about the cameras. The end result was awesome, and I can’t wait for y’all to see it.
And I decided that maybe, just maybe, I could do this after all.
Mary Laura Philpott is my co-host — if you’re not familiar with her hilarious book PENGUINS WITH PEOPLE PROBLEMS, you should definitely get it. She’s kind and gracious and gorgeous and one heck of a writer and will be the perfect complement to round out the show. I can't wait to work more with her.
I need to say thanks to a bunch of people who made this happen. Linda Wei, first and foremost, who found a unique way to reboot the series and thought ML and I would be a good fit; our amazing crew, including Matt Emigh and Will Pedigo, for their incredible generosity making me at ease behind the cameras, and making us look so good; Hank Phillippi Ryan, who gave me the bones for how to build a good interview; Andy Levy, who shared all his secrets; Laura Benedict for cheering me on; Ariel Lawhon for helping us get things kickstarted; Patti Henry and David Bell, for agreeing to let me use them as pilot episodes, coming to Nashville and knocking it out of the park; Amy Kerr, who does just about everything; ML, for being the co-hostess with the mostest; NPT, and especially Beth Curley, for having the bravery and vision to let us try this; our lovely sponsors, Judy and Steve Turner, for funding this awesome show; and of course, Randy, who encouraged me when I needed it the most. As he always does.
And John. You are forever in our hearts, kind sir. I hope we do you proud.
Here’s some shots from the most recent episodes. A Word on Words will begin airing in late October. Specifics to come. Announcement here.
#KeepReading!
Courtesy of my friends at FoxTale Book Shoppe near Atlanta, GA.
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
Friends, Romans, Chickens, lend me your eyes.
Because I'm ridiculously excited to show you the cover of my first standalone novel, NO ONE KNOWS, coming your way March 22, 2016!
Isn't it gorgeous??
I can't wait until you guys read this one. It's been in the making for about six years now, and it's unlike anything I've ever written—but in a good way (according to my editor!). If you liked Gone Girl and Girl on the Train, I think this one will be up your alley.
Here's where you can pre-order NO ONE KNOWS and get it in your hot little hands on March 22!
And here's a bit about what happens in NO ONE KNOWS!
In an obsessive mystery as thrilling as The Girl on the Train and The Husband’s Secret, New York Times bestselling author J.T. Ellison will make you question every twist in her page-turning novel—and wonder which of her vividly drawn characters you should trust.The day Aubrey Hamilton’s husband is declared dead by the state of Tennessee should bring closure so she can move on with her life. But Aubrey doesn’t want to move on; she wants Josh back. It’s been five years since he disappeared, since their blissfully happy marriage—they were happy, weren’t they?—screeched to a halt and Aubrey became the prime suspect in his disappearance. Five years of emptiness, solitude, loneliness, questions. Why didn’t Josh show up at his friend’s bachelor party? Was he murdered? Did he run away? And now, all this time later, who is the mysterious yet strangely familiar figure suddenly haunting her new life?In NO ONE KNOWS, the New York Times bestselling coauthor of the Nicholas Drummond series expertly peels back the layers of a complex woman who is hiding dark secrets beneath her unassuming exterior. This masterful thriller for fans of Gillian Flynn, Liane Moriarty, and Paula Hawkins will pull readers into a you’ll-never-guess merry-go-round of danger and deception. Round and round and round it goes, where it stops . . . no one knows.
You'll hear more about this book in the coming days. But you should probably pre-order it. Because let's just say, hypothetically, you forget that you ordered this (I know this is impossible, but just run with me here). And then it shows up unexpectedly on your doorstop or tablet. And then you've just basically thrown yourself your own mini-surprise party. I mean, at the end of March, I can guarantee we're all going to need a mini-surprise party of sorts. Just saying.
I hope you enjoy it. Thanks for helping me continue the greatest job on the planet!
xoxo
