Tao of J.T. is the online blog of New York Times bestselling author and EMMY-award winning television host J.T. Ellison.
When I first started writing, I never could have imagined my name appearing next to these luminaries.
The Suspense on the Edge of Romance Collection includes ALL THE PRETTY GIRLS, the first book in my Taylor Jackson series, FLAWLESS by Heather Graham, SAINT’S GATE by Carla Neggers, and THE SECRET SISTER by Brenda Novak. What an amazing deal!
Get your digital copy today!
Welcome to the bright and shiny new digital edition of WHEN SHADOWS FALL! My publishers are repackaging the series in fabulous new covers, and I’m so excited to share them with you. For your enjoyment, here’s a peek inside the origins of the novel!
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I’m not sure exactly how it happened, but my eleventh novel will be born into the world soon. WHEN SHADOWS FALL is the third Samantha Owens novel, a seminal book in the series, as it decides the course of action for the next several books.
Every series has a path, planned or unplanned. When I started writing my Taylor Jackson series, I had no idea it was going to be a series. I hadn’t thought about extended story, structure, character development. I created a finite character in a finite world, and it was difficult to see where to take the books.
With Sam, it was the opposite. I knew I wanted a character who could grow and change remarkably. I knew I wanted to allow her the freedom to move around the country, the world, with relative ease. As my then-editor and I were planning the first book in the series, I mentioned I wanted Sam to be the Indiana Jones of forensic pathology. The idea stuck.
What happens in this book wasn’t supposed to happen until book 4 in the series. It’s funny, the same thing happened to me in the Taylor series. The third book, JUDAS KISS, was supposed to be the fourth. I made mention of my idea for it, hoping to entice my editor to buy the book when I was finished with the third I had planned. Instead, she jumped on the idea and told me in no uncertain terms this was the ONE.
So when I found myself in the same position this time, I knew what I needed to do. Abandon the story and move the next book into its place. I couldn’t let Sam languish in her sorrow any longer. It was time for her to move on. To start anew. Insert resurrection clauses here.
Of course, Sam wasn’t aware of the change her life was about to take. She wasn’t particularly ready to move on, not really. And I had to tell her, Too bad, sister. I’ll let you have some onscreen sex to make up for it.
I think its one of the most part of the fun being a writer, this game you play with your characters. I once asked a very famous writer about how characters sometimes do their own thing, and he looked at me like I was a recent escapee from an insane asylum and declared his characters would never do such a thing because they only did what he told them to do.
I find that so sad. I like that my characters and I have this sort of push and pull relationship. They give me some of what I want, I give them some of what they want. In the end, we’re all happy and moving on to the next adventure. At least, that’s the plan. After wrestling alligators with them for 500 pages, they damn well better be ready to move on. Cause if they’re not, they often end up dead. Or maimed. Or married off, or on the run.
Poor characters. Poor, poor characters. Better behave, or I’ll make your life hell.
But Sam behaved, and she was rewarded with many exciting things, all of which set up the rest of the series. I’m not one-hundred percent sure where we go from here, but I love that book three has become this seminal turning point for the Sam. And as such, for Xander and Fletcher too. The whole cast is being thrust into a new world because I got impatient. I hope they continue to behave!
Hello, friends!
As you read this, I am taping the last two (of six) A Word on Words shows of the weekend at Southern Festival of Books. We have a very aggressive festival schedule this year because there are so many cool authors in town! What’s Southern Festival of Books, you ask? Only the loveliest festival in Nashville. It’s chilly this weekend for the first time since last March, and we all congregated to talk story, books, and all things literary.
And tomorrow, I will be in Charlotte, North Carolina, at the Bibliofeast! I have heard such amazing things about this event. I can’t wait to talk about TEAR ME APART with everyone.
It’s been a busy week, and you all know how much I despise that term. Every day was filled with new challenges, but happily, I finally zeroed in on a title for the new book. I’ll share as soon as I’m allowed, but I love it — it totally encapsulates the story and the unique setting. The story is starting to come alive for me, too, which is an incredible feeling. Every time I start a book, I forget how to write a book. And every time I remember I forget how to write a book, I can breathe easier, and the story starts to reveal itself. But titles are important, and now I can really put my head down and plow on.
Since I need to go pack… time for the latest and greatest links!
Speaking of forgetting how to write books, I give you the article I read this week that reminded me of this weird quirk of mine — and helped me relax and let the story start to shape itself. Lou Berney’s NOVEMBER ROAD is on everyone’s lips, and this interview shows you why.
Bouchercon Author Interview: Lisa Unger. Crime By The Book has a fabulous interview, this time with one of my faves! Lisa is the real deal.
Imagining your future projects is holding you back. Whoa...this gave me pause. Like, serious, major, rethink my life strategy pause.
A Discovery of Witches conjures its U.S. premiere date. Jan. 17, 2019 is only 95 days from now. Just sayin'. And maybe a little birdie has seen the first four episodes and is in LOVE!
Time management Monday: Reduce morning overwhelm. Good tips. I need to try some of these myself. Then again, I could just continue to skip mornings and start my day at noon…
BookPage Interviews: Rena Rossner. Great interview, and her book looks absolutely fascinating: The Sisters of the Winter Wood.
Star Trek Isn’t a Paperless Future. (video) I adored this. You can pry my notebooks from my cold, dead hands…
On everyone's lips at Digital Book World, NPR's very sexy Book Concierge. This is fabulous! If you want to have some wonderful curation for your TBR pile, give it a shot.
Recently Digitized Journals Grant Visitors Access to Leonardo da Vinci’s Detailed Engineering Schematics and Musings. OMG people. How incredible is this? da Vinci is astounding, and to have a peek into his mind… so cool!
I’m telling you, publishing a book is a LOT of work. Every time I think I’m finished with the prep for A THOUSAND DOORS, another facets rears its head. Which makes me respect you indie writers even more, and makes me doubly thankful for my traditional publishers, who make it so easy for me to keep my head down and do my work.
Early reviews of A THOUSAND DOORS streaming in, and I have to say, I am beside myself with happiness at how the novel is being received. To celebrate, here’s a wee giveaway…
Goodreads is giving away 50 digital advanced reader copies of A THOUSAND DOORS! US only, sorry…. Head here to enter.
The day Mia Jensen died, she finally got to live.
We've all played the "what if" game. For Mia Jensen, "what if" is a fact of life. Dissatisfied with her choices, she often dreams about what could have been. Now she has the chance to know. But that knowledge is going to cost her dearly. Only through death can she fully realize the value of her life.
Bringing Mia to life are the following amazing writers: Kimberly Belle, Laura Benedict, A.F. Brady, Paige Crutcher, Rebecca Drake, Heather Gudenkauf, Patti Callahan Henry, Joy Jordan-Lake, Alisha Klapheke, Ariel Lawhon, Kerry Lonsdale, Catherine McKenzie, Kate Moretti, Lisa Patton, and Kaira Rouda.
AMAZON
BARNES & NOBLE
INDIEBOUND
AMAZON
BARNES & NOBLE
INDIEBOUND
KINDLE
NOOK
iBOOKS
KOBO
GOOGLE PLAY
THE SIXTH DAY, the fifth book in the Brit In The FBI series with Catherine Coulter, comes out in trade paperback on November 13! I love this new cover, it’s so evocative, and the colors are gorgeous. Plus, I love the story — falcons and drones and London — what could be more fun?
In this incredibly busy book fall, I still must say thank you to everyone who has bought and read and reviewed and talked about TEAR ME APART. If you haven’t given it a try, I think you’ll like it!
That's all for now! Send me some of your extra energy for the weekend, toast some marshmallows, leave out some kibble for the neighborhood cat, and I’ll see you next Sunday!
peace and hugs,
J.T.
Hello, friends!
I had a very interesting week. I attended Digital Book World, which has moved from New York to Nashville. You know me, I’m curious—about the industry, about bookselling in the digital age, about ways to connect with bookstores and readers, and how the digital revolution affects them long term.
I learned a lot. Like most everyone, I love books. I read digital, but I read as much or more physical, too. [[edit: I also listen to audiobooks, which is a relatively new thing for me, and I LOVE!]]
I love that the book market is no longer only about the front list, and that backlist rejuvenation is bringing many authors’s careers back to life. I love that discoverability is in the hands of the consumer, and I LOVE that I can walk into a bookstore and ask the bookseller for a personalized recommendation.
But there is no denying ours is a changing industry. I wish I could say I had a solid idea where we’re headed, but if anything, I’m even murkier about that. Some of the storytelling AI initiatives are astounding. Metadata is more than a buzzword; it’s a necessity to break out.
One thing is for certain — storytelling, in all its forms, isn’t going away. So I’m going to keep my head down, write my books, and see where things go.
Since I’m playing catch up, let’s take a look at the latest and greatest links!
10 Story Collections by Women You Should Read Right Now. Oh, and you should probably throw A THOUSAND DOORS into this mix...
How to Build Routines That Conserve BrainPower For High-Level Thinking. I'm building a lot of routines this fall. I have had a rough 18 months and I’m ready for some habits.
V.E. Schwab: Exploring Philosophical and Moral Dilemmas. I liked this because I think villains are the unsung heroes of fiction. Without a good villain, stories fall short for me.
What Personality Tests Really Deliver. This is rather fascinating. I am an INTJ, and I embody those personality traits so intensely that the idea that they might not be real bothers me. I am also a Taurus, and I spent my teen years trying to divine the personalities of people around me using Linda Goodman’s Sun Signs. So science, or astrology, regardless, we are all unique in our ways.
How "comfort dogs" are improving behavior in New York City classrooms. I loved this. We all know how great animals make us feel.
2018 Fall/Winter Reading List. So honored to see TEAR ME APART included on Deep South Magazine’s list, alongside some incredible other favorites, like PCH’s Becoming Mrs. Lewis!
Organized Chaos: An Interview with Jeff VanderMeer. Organized Chaos is pretty much the theme song for my life. Also, it’s a great band name.
12 Yin Yoga Poses to Awaken Dormant Energy and Recharge Your Practice. We can all use some yin today! There is nothing better than getting into that fascia and helping it open. Breathe, peeps. Namaste!
An Idyllic Artists’ Retreat that Invites Guests to Take in the View. Yes, please. I would ship off here in a heartbeat.
The Useless Days Will Add Up to Something. This is really good advice. Just keep plugging away. Even if your fingers aren’t on the pen or keyboard, you can be working.
Looking Back To Go Forward: Lafite-Rothschild 1868 – 2015. I love Vinous for learning about wine. A fabulous site for those of you interested in the divine grape.
We’re gearing up for the release of A THOUSAND DOORS next month! Have you preordered it yet?
The day Mia Jensen died, she finally got to live.
We've all played the "what if" game. For Mia Jensen, "what if" is a fact of life. Dissatisfied with her choices, she often dreams about what could have been. Now she has the chance to know. But that knowledge is going to cost her dearly. Only through death can she fully realize the value of her life.
Forty-year-old Mia Jensen is home after a terrible day, trying to figure out how she's come to this point in her life, when she hears a strange noise from the kitchen. She investigates, only to be brutally attacked and left for dead. As she dies, she experiences some of the lives that could have been hers had she only made a different choice.
Can one woman can find peace with the path she's chosen before it slips through her fingers forever?
Through the unique voices of New York Times bestsellers and rising stars in women's fiction, A THOUSAND DOORS examines how our smallest decisions can create lasting effects, and allows the thought–can we actually change our lives?
Bringing Mia to life are the following amazing writers: Kimberly Belle, Laura Benedict, A.F. Brady, Paige Crutcher, Rebecca Drake, Heather Gudenkauf, Patti Callahan Henry, Joy Jordan-Lake, Alisha Klapheke, Ariel Lawhon, Kerry Lonsdale, Catherine McKenzie, Kate Moretti, Lisa Patton, and Kaira Rouda.
AMAZON
BARNES & NOBLE
INDIEBOUND
AMAZON
BARNES & NOBLE
INDIEBOUND
KINDLE
NOOK
iBOOKS
KOBO
GOOGLE PLAY
Two TEAR ME APART book tour events are right around the corner! I’ll be speaking at 10 am Saturday October 13 at the Southern Festival Of Books in the Nashville Public Library Banner Room. This is the best bookish event in Nashville and I’m thrilled to be a part of it again.
Then October 15 I’ll be at the 9th Annual Bibliofeast Book & Author Dinner hosted by the National Women’s Book Association-Charlotte, NC chapter. I would love to see you there!
That's all for now! Send me some of your good energy for the week ahead, because I have a ton on my plate. Then, kick some leaves, put out some fresh bird food, and I’ll see you next Sunday!
peace and hugs,
J.T.
Hello, friends! What a week it’s been. I don’t know about you, but it’s going to be a major self-care weekend for me. Books, candles, baths, wine, even some closet cleaning, maybe a little golf… There’s been a LOT happening here (see the awesome news below) and I need a bit of a breather.
And of course, it’s time to turn my energies to my 2019 book. I’m in the VERY early stages, not even 100% what the story is, though I do have a theme that I’m very excited about, and a setting, and a main character. But not a title, not yet. That will come soon; I’m one of those thematic writers who really needs a title to make the story come to life.
But it’s a story that’s been nibbling on my psyche for five months, so it’s time to open the mental floodgates and let it in.
My first step for writing a new book is to clean my office of any and all detritus from the previous title. It may seem trite, but a clean slate is absolutely necessary for me. I’ve decided to go a step further than the new chair and redo everything, including a new desk, and floor to ceiling bookshelves. It’s time to move on from my intimate cubbyhole and design something that’s going to serve me better — AKA, more book space. It’s this pesky little problem that comes with writing a lot of books — they have a tendency to pile up!
With that, I’ll leave you. Time for the latest and greatest links!
What she reads if she loves V.E. Schwab. I'm so excited to read VENGEFUL! Victoria is a marvel; her books just keep getting better and better.
14 Signs It's Time To Walk Away From That Book You Just Can't Seem To Finish. I hate to DNF a book, but sometimes it’s just not working for me. I have finally given up the guilt and say it’s not you, it’s me. Unless it is you. But that’s rare….
7 Easy Ways To Make Sure You Actually Get Writing Done On Your Next Trip. Good advice - especially setting specific time blocks. It’s hard to meet word counts on the road, but you can always find thirty minutes to touch the story.
25 of the New Words Merriam-Webster Is Adding to the Dictionary in 2018. I’m down for adorbs, marg, and guac. What are your new favorite additions?
French bookshops revolt after prize selects novel self-published on Amazon. “According to the French author Laurent Binet, it’s easy to understand why bookshops are up in arms. For booksellers, the issue was not so much that the book was self-published, he said, but that it was published through Amazon.” As an author who has a few indie titles, I have very mixed emotions on this. I understand the bookseller position, I really do, but I hate to see good work stifled, too.
23 Book Jokes You’re Gonna Laugh At Even If You Haven’t Read In A While. These are great!
Speaking of indie titles… In case you missed my announcement Monday, I have a new book coming out!
The day Mia Jensen died, she finally got to live.
WHAT IF...
We've all played the "what if" game. For Mia Jensen, "what if" is a fact of life. Dissatisfied with her choices, she often dreams about what could have been. Now she has the chance to know. But that knowledge is going to cost her dearly. Only through death can she fully realize the value of her life.
Forty-year-old Mia Jensen is home after a terrible day, trying to figure out how she's come to this point in her life, when she hears a strange noise from the kitchen. She investigates, only to be brutally attacked and left for dead. As she dies, she experiences some of the lives that could have been hers had she only made a different choice.
Can one woman can find peace with the path she's chosen before it slips through her fingers forever?
Through the unique voices of New York Times bestsellers and rising stars in women's fiction, A THOUSAND DOORS examines how our smallest decisions can create lasting effects, and allows the thought–can we actually change our lives?
Bringing Mia to life are the following amazing writers: Kimberly Belle, Laura Benedict, A.F. Brady, Paige Crutcher, Rebecca Drake, Heather Gudenkauf, Patti Callahan Henry, Joy Jordan-Lake, Alisha Klapheke, Ariel Lawhon, Kerry Lonsdale, Catherine McKenzie, Kate Moretti, Lisa Patton, and Kaira Rouda.
KINDLE
NOOK
iBOOKS
KOBO
GOOGLE PLAY
My show A WORD ON WORDS was on national TV this week, thanks to The Great American Read! What Makes a Great Book included excerpts from our interviews with authors John Boyne, Elizabeth Gilbert, and Mohsin Hamid, as well as with poet Billy Collins. Authors and Their Hometowns included an excerpt from our interview with John Boyne. So cool!
Phenom skier, a terrible accident, murder, motherhood, mental illness, and so much more in this chilling tale of domestic suspense~JT Ellison on TEAR ME APART. I really enjoyed talking with Leslie Lindsay in this exclusive interview. I think you’ll like it, too!
That's all for now! Take care of yourself this week. Enjoy the cooler nights, build a fire, kick some leaves, and read a good book. I’ll see you next Sunday!
peace and hugs,
J.T.
