Tao of J.T. is the online blog of New York Times bestselling author and EMMY-award winning television host J.T. Ellison.
Hi, y'all, happy Monday! Just wanted to let you know about a new Goodreads giveaway I have. Thanks to my publisher, Gallery Books, you can enter to win one of 30 advanced reader copies of NO ONE KNOWS!
FYI: the giveaway ends February 22. Good luck!!!
Hi, lovelies! Who are you cheering for tonight? I'll be decked out in my Broncos regalia, cheering on Peyton and the boys. I do hope they win for Peyton's sake, especially if it's his last game. Talk about going out on a high note, right?
Get ready: this is an extra-long Smatterings this week. But I know you can handle it!
Okay, first things first: you need to read this book. I'm serious. Ariel Lawhon has written a captivating, immersive story full of intricate historical details, intrigue and romance—all aboard the Hindenburg's final journey. It's not a book you're not soon to forget.
Scientists may onto a cure for Type 1 Diabetes. So cool!
Also, LOOK at this pen! (What? I'm a sucker for cool writing instruments.)
I must say, this is an excellent theory: Harry Potter fan theory links Dursleys to the Deathly Hallows.
Aside from the first line of this interview (um, who hasn't heard of Nora Roberts, even in England?), this is an interesting read: Nora Roberts: The woman who rewrote the rules of romantic fiction.
Self-love is important. The end. Here's how to be nicer to yourself.
I love this Booksgiving experiment The Bloggess is running. (Also, if you haven't already, pick up a copy of her book FURIOUSLY HAPPY. I mean, I was crying with laughter!)
The history of the ampersand is more interesting than you'd think.
A fabulous rant on how we writers can get lazy with our craft: Why I'm Taking a Break From Contemporary Romance. (heads up: this is pretty NSFW)
For creatives, sometimes it's a bit too easy to compare your success with someone else, studying why they may have more than you do. Here's how you can combat that feeling.
This is how to ease yourself into great writing.
I'm pretty pumped for my pal, YA author Victoria Schwab, whose crazy-successful A DARKER SHADE OF MAGIC is getting adapted for TV by Gerard Butler!
Ever wish you had a road map for your literary adventures?
One of my favorite bookstores, Seattle Mystery Bookshop, is turning 25! And they're celebrating with a giveaway!
PSA: have you added my new standalone, NO ONE KNOWS, to your Goodreads "Want to Read" list?
If you're itching for some free books, I have TWO Goodreads giveaways going on right now: one for a copy of THE FINAL CUT, and one for an ARC of my Taylor Jackson prequel, FIELD OF GRAVES (coming your way this June!).
And I had a fabulous time with InD'Tale Magazine, and you can read our interview here! We covered the gamut: Jaws, the White House, true love, and more.
So I got to interview the brilliant Greg Iles about his latest book, NATCHEZ BURNING, for A Word on Words. The show aired this morning and will be on again Thursday night. He's just as cool as he is brilliant, which is saying something. I really enjoyed our conversation!
Don't forget: I've got three unconventional love stories on sale for $0.99 at Two Tales Press!
On The Wine Vixen, I dished about this Pinot Noir, which you should take to your next big social gathering (i.e. like a Super Bowl party tonight!), and Amy raved about this Pinot Grigio. We also liked this article that divulges where you can find the best value wines in the world.
That's all from me! I've got some news coming your way tomorrow, so pay attention to the social media feeds—you don't want to miss it!
Xoxo,
J.T.
Giveaway ends February 08, 2016.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.
Y'all, it's February. The days are short, it's cold outside, and it's been a long time since I've eaten a vegetable that wasn't shipped to Publix from South America.
I know, I'm just a ray of sunshine. I'm a riot at parties, too.
You know what we all need? A nice winter pick-me-up. And what's a bigger breath of fresh air than a big ol' free book to read by the fire?
Good luck!
Another Sunday is upon us -- and can you believe it, tomorrow ushers in February? This month has flown by. I get lost in words sometimes and I look up to see a portion of life has passed with nothing to show but oodles of story. It's rather surreal, time. One wonders just how fragile and flexible it truly is. We let a groundhog dictate the weather, maybe we need a time squirrel who can run backward and give us another 15 minutes a day. That would add up, don't you think? (And yes, all this is a giant metaphor for OMG DEADLINE and bonus distraction, I have SQUIRRELS in my attic. Who can blame them, really. It's nice and warm up there.) And speaking of small beasts, don't forget to say bunny rabbits first thing in the morning -- brings you good luck all month!
A beautiful read that might explain my earlier thoughts: Stealing Time. Don't wait, people. Just don't wait. Follow your dreams now.
My Broncos are going to the Super Bowl! Such a nail-biter of a game, and I'm so glad they beat Tom Brady. Just sayin'.
On the 30th anniversary of the day we lost the Challenger Seven, the Smithsonian had this remembrance. I was on my very first visit back to Colorado after we'd moved to D.C., and my father and I were sitting in the parking lot outside my junior high listening to it on the radio. I remember looking at him in horror, asking, "What does that mean? Did it blow up?" and the sadness etched on his face when he nodded. We hugged an extra long time before I went into school.
Writers, some solid advice here, including: "...treat the readers you have like they are the most special people on earth." And other solid advice. Truly, without your readers, the ones you already have, you won't have a career. Honor them, and they will honor you.
More for writers: looking for ways to develop a scene? Or maybe an outline? This article is for you. When I'm on deadline, a part of my brain is already disengaged and thinking about the next book, and I am going to try outlining it. Why not, right?
Book lovers: here are 99 ways you can spread word about the book you love. You may not think one person's actions make a difference. But remember your chaos theory: one ripple in the ocean can be felt a world away. If you care about books, show your love! You have no idea how much we authors appreciate it when you do—when people can more easily discover our books, it makes all the difference.
"Women & Booze: Is Everything We Know About Alcoholism Wrong?" This was fascinating. I didn't know AA was originally for men only.
CBS has ordered a Nancy Drew pilot that features the super sleuth...as a 30-something NYPD cop. Um, what? (Hat tip to Laura Benedict)
"The Deep Space of Digital Reading." This is why we shouldn’t worry about leaving print behind. Do we have what Nicholas Carr calls "the shallows", our brains flitting from piece to piece, book to book, article to article, never fully delving and focusing and comprehending what we're consuming? Perhaps. But I like this historical context, how reading has changed from verbal to silent, and our consumption changes along with it. Cool read.
As I'm on deadline, I've been thinking a lot about the writing process and this thing I do every day. Here's a little inspiration for the frustrated creative: Endurance separates the published novel from the book in a drawer.
We premiered a new segment on The Wine Vixen: a culinary travelogue! Each month, Amy and I will bring you a new restaurant we loved, either here in Nashville or found on our travels. First up: one of the best restaurant meals we had in 2015 right here in Music City.
And on Two Tales Press, in the spirit of Valentine's Day, we debuted a new low price for MAD LOVE, our collection of... unconventional love stories, now available for $0.99.
That's it from me! The February newsletter is coming out this week, chock-full of goodies and a pretty awesome slow cooker recipe. If you haven't signed up, click here!
Xoxo,
J.T.
