THE LOST KEY is on sale for $1.99!

THE LOST KEY, the second book in the Brit In The FBI series, is on sale for $1.99! Get your copy while it lasts.

About the book:

"A thriller packed with nonstop action, real-life name-dropping and enough cutting-edge science to make you wonder how much of it could be true." – Kirkus Reviews

Freshly minted FBI agent Nicholas Drummond is barely out of his Quantico training when he and his partner, Mike Caine, are called to investigate a stabbing on Wall Street.  

Their investigation, however, yields more questions than answers. It quickly becomes clear that the victim, John Pearce, was more than the naval historian and antiquities dealer he appeared to be. What Drummond doesn’t know is that buying and selling rare books was Pearce’s cover, and that he had devoted his life to discovering the whereabouts of a missing World War I U-boat concealing a stash of gold bullion, and an unexpected surprise that only raises more questions. When Drummond and Caine find both of Pearce’s adult children have disappeared, the case assumes a new sense of urgency. The FBI agents know their best lead lies in the victim’s cryptic final words—“The key is in the lock.” But what key? What lock?

The search for Adam and Sophia Pearce takes them on an international manhunt, which threatens to run them afoul of an eccentric billionaire industrialist with his own plans not only for the lost gold, but the creation of a weapon unlike anything the world has ever seen.

Download the eBook

KINDLE
NOOK
APPLE BOOKS
KOBO
GOOGLE PLAY
EBOOKS.COM

Sunday Smatterings

Hello, October! My favorite month. I’m ready for some cooler temps, cozying up to the fireplace, and all the attendant fall regalia.

I’ve been thinking about something. (I know, I know, the most dangerous sentence in the language, topping “Hold my beer” by just a few ticks...) But I’m at that stage in the new book, where I’m looking at some of the connections that need to come into play down the road, looking at some character motivations, and I realized something was missing. This is nothing new, at this stage of the book, 1/3 of the way in, it finally becomes a story unto itself and I have to come to grips with, yes, this is the story you’re telling, get on with it. 

I was thinking about motivation. What motivates a character to do something? What drives them? In my previous few books, I had a scenario that was very distinct (a missing husband, writers in a bad marriage, Olympic skiing, a private boarding school) and I have one in this as well, but I still feel like there’s a layer I need to dig into that isn’t on my radar yet.

I asked the Literati this week what they are fascinated by, what they would like to do as a hobby, what skill they don’t have that they’d like to. I was surprised by how many people mentioned forensics. That’s utterly fascinating. What’s your answer?

I have a few. Architecture. I’ve always wanted to design houses. Meteorology. Weather fascinates me. I would love to be a conductor, bringing out the best performance of a symphony. Golf, obviously. Astronomy.

I think a good book always hangs on something super interesting about the character. Like Michael Koryta’s IF SHE WAKES -- one of the characters in a stunt driver. A female stunt driver. Obviously that plays into the story in several elegant ways.

Another is Deborah Harkness’s Diana Bishop in A DISCOVERY OF WITCHES. She is a scholar of alchemy. Unique, strange, fascinating. 

Anyway, I’m just noodling about at the moment. I have a character whose background is distinct, but I’m missing her passion. Even her name is being difficult. Whatever her passion, it’s hiding itself at the moment.

I’ll find these aspects of her soon enough, I can feel them circling, wanting to land but not finding any branches to their liking.

I mentioned last week I might try to post some writing advice today. What I realized is something you may or may not know...I have a whole section of writing advice here on the website. If you look up at the navigation, there’s a heading called For Writers. Click it, and you’ll see a series of articles I feel are important for new writers, little bits of advice from that might help you on your way.

One last thing: the newsletter will be coming out in a few days. Be sure to sign up for exclusive content you won’t find anywhere else. Now, let’s check out the links!

---

THE LATEST ON THE INTERNET:

50 Must-Read Crime Novels for Fall and Winter 2019. Thrilled GOOD GIRLS LIE is included in this list! Such good company.

Fall In Love With This Ultimate Guide To Bookish Candles. I love a good candle.

Top 10 culinary memoirs. Adding these to my TBR...

Physical books still outsell e-books — and here's why. “Genres that do well in print include nature, cookery and children’s books, while people prefer to read crime, romantic novels and thrillers via e-reader, according to Nielsen Book International.”


The Best Writing Tips from Electric Literature Interviews. Lots of great advice!

15 Of The Best Books Like SHARP OBJECTS. I loved SHARP OBJECTS so this list perked my ears up.

THE OCTOBER BIG THRILL: New column explores the iconic impact of the King, plus interviews with Cornwell, Jance, Gerritsen, Chbosky, Khoury + 30 more. If you're not subscribed, and you like crime fiction, you really should get on this.

Snøhetta’s New Library for Temple University Is a Soaring Ode to Knowledge. Such an incredible design!

---

WHAT I’M READING:

THE THIRD WIFE by Lisa Jewell

The Third Wife is my first book of Jewell's but it won't be the last. I love how she can take a story that could be banal in the hands of a lesser writer and make it suspenseful, touching, and complex all at once. I cared so much about the characters that I forgot I was reading a book and felt like I was catching up with distant friends. Super!

What are you reading?

---

That’s it from me. Share your fascinations in the comments, break out the cider and cinnamon, give a lost grocery store pumpkin a home for the season, and I’ll see you next week.

Sunday Smatterings

Happy last day of Mabon Sunday, friends. 

It is a Sunday of mixed emotions for me. As some of you already know, we had to make a decision about my knee, which isn’t healing properly. Whether a screw up in surgery or a too-aggressive physical therapy or me simply not respecting my limitations (Ha! When do I ever do that?) it seems the meniscus is retorn, and it needs to be repaired again, properly this time. Surgery is again on my radar, scheduled for Thursday. 

I admit to a few moments of extreme and mixed emotion at this news. Obviously, I’m not looking forward to the pain. To starting all over, as if the past three months didn’t happen, to be back on crutches going into a huge fall of events and work. I’ve already cancelled my out of town commitments and will be cutting back dramatically on everything local, too. I’m not going to make the mistake of pushing too hard again. 

I refused to stop my life this summer just because I was having issues with walking. But now I’m going to nest, and heal properly. I have a book due, I have oodles of reading material, I have lots of shows to binge. I’m going to turn inward, set boundaries for myself that truly limit me. I might get a little stir crazy, but it has to happen.

So in better news, I had a brilliant time this week with the divine Lisa Unger. I’ve been a fan for years, her thrillers are just about perfect—deep, dark, menacing, character-driven, and intellectual—my favorite aspects in literature. It is truly a gift to have so many incredible authors to call friend., probably the most rewarding aspect of this career. And when you find the ones you can open yourself up to, it’s even more special. Lisa did the show and we did an in-conversation at Parnassus (if you missed it, there are signed copies waiting...) We toured the town a bit, had some delightful meals, and in general caused trouble whilst delving into the meaning of life. It was a blast. 

---

On the Homefront, we’ve been doing some lovely autumn Mabon decluttering. It’s felt so great getting everything organized (using The Home Edit as a guide). With all the corners cleaned, boxes broken down and taken to recycling, unused shampoos and toiletries packed for the shelter, the creative energy is swirling, and that has made for a great writing week. My creative energy is very much tied to my environment. When everything is clean and tidy, I work so much better.

We might have an abbreviated Smats next week, depending on how much energy I have over the weekend, or I might resurrect some writing advice. We shall see.

And oh yeah, this happened… 😜

NO ONE KNOWS came out in mass market paperback! Go grab a copy—it has the original ending, and this packaging is gorgeous.

With the same page-turning suspense as The Husband’s Secret, New York Times bestselling author J.T. Ellison’s No One Knows is a “riveting…skillfully plotted” (Publishers Weekly) thriller that questions if the narrator’s husband really has returned from the dead—or if she’s merely losing her mind.

Aubrey Hamilton has been mourning her missing husband for five years, despite being the prime suspect in his murder. When he is officially declared dead, there are still more questions than answers: Why didn’t Josh show up at his friend’s bachelor party? Was he murdered, or did he run away? And is the new, mysterious man in Aubrey’s life as familiar as he appears, or have years of loneliness and confusion finally driven her mad?

No One Knows is an evocative mystery that explores the complex darkness within all of us, perfect for fans of Gillian Flynn, Liane Moriarty, and Paula Hawkins.

Now, without further ado… let’s take a look at the links.

---

The Latest On The Internet:

Baking Shows Are Secretly Reality TV for Frustrated Writers. "Writing, like baking, is beholden to the vicissitudes of everyday life." It’s a creation thing, isn’t it? Create a story with words, create a cake with flour and sugar — how different is it, really?

I Spent the Night at a Library in Wales, and You Can Too. I want to go… I visited Wales as a teenager and it was one of the most fun places I have ever been.

Most Haunted Places in North America. Who's up for a road trip? These are seriously spooky spots.

Rachel Cusk Said She Was Done With Autobiography. These Essays Suggest Otherwise. “The ego, of course, does not die so easily, nor is it possible for modern writers to avoid speaking and writing about their private lives.” Read that quote again. I am so interested in this phenomenon, this moment in the artistic wheel where our egos drive us to the socials, and we interact directly with the readers. It’s a necessity. Isn’t it? Or is it?????

Spooooooky: 25 of the Best YA Ghost Books. ‘Tis the season! What’s your favorite on this list?

How Beatrix Potter Pioneered the Art of Merchandising. Such an interesting history.

Books are Heavy. "If a weighted blanket is supposed to help you sleep and provide comfort, then a similar case can be made for the weight of a paper volume on your lap. Even a slim book can still pack an emotional wallop." #Truth.

A Midcentury Modern homeless shelter rises in an abandoned Hollywood library. A repurposed library is still a safe place for those who need it. And that’s the best news.

The Wine of the Week at The Wine Vixen starts with a duel—also, going forward, I’ll probably be posting far more on the Wine Vixen Instagram rather than the blog. Part of the fall self-care ritual is backing away from commitments that take too much time away from my writing.

---

What I’m Reading:

THE TURN OF THE KEY by Ruth Ware

I wanted to wait to read this book until I was in Scotland proper, since it takes place at a renovated smart home in the Highlands. I started reading on the plane over, and by the time I reached the Highlands myself a few days later... I was so damn freaked out I had to put it down and read nonfiction for the remainder of my stay. This is a stellar book, hand's down my favorite of her yet. Moody, atmospheric, and chilling, it's a tour de force from Ware, who has become one of my all-time favorites. What are you reading?

---

That’s it from me. Clean out a drawer, a closet, a cabinet, put up some fall decorations, send me some good healing energy, and I’ll see you next week.

peace and hugs,
J.T.

PS: I heard you about the comments. We have a new system in place and you should be able to comment without problem once again. Thanks for letting me know there was an issue!

NO ONE KNOWS mass market is here!

NO ONE KNOWS is out in mass market paperback today, and I am so excited to share it with you!

It has a spiffy new cover, and I was able to do a pass through, fixing some tiny issues. But even more importantly…

For the first time in print and ebook in the US, the original ending for the book has been restored!

Why would I want to change the ending? Well, this is now the original ending I submitted. My editor wanted something slightly different, but it’s always felt… incomplete to me. The fine folks at Gallery books agreed, and so here it is!

NO ONE KNOWS was my first standalone novel. It was a leap forward in style, much more “literary” than my series novels. It was the first time I really stretched my wings as a writer—leveled up, as we like to say. I am obscenely proud of my debut effort at a standalone. It was a Book of the Month selection, was long listed for the SIBA Southern Book award, was an Okra Pick, was a She Reads pick, made Modern Mrs. Darcy’s Summer Reading Guide, and, thanks to you, hit the USA Today list.

If you haven’t heard the story behind the plot of NO ONE KNOWS, you should read this: THE SECRET PROJECT IS NO LONGER A SECRET. It’s a fun peek into the origins of this novel. I hope you love it, and if you haven’t read the book, now’s your chance.

---

About NO ONE KNOWS:

With the same page-turning suspense as The Husband’s Secret, New York Times bestselling author J.T. Ellison’s No One Knows is a “riveting…skillfully plotted” (Publishers Weekly) thriller that questions if the narrator’s husband really has returned from the dead—or if she’s merely losing her mind.

Aubrey Hamilton has been mourning her missing husband for five years, despite being the prime suspect in his murder. When he is officially declared dead, there are still more questions than answers: Why didn’t Josh show up at his friend’s bachelor party? Was he murdered, or did he run away? And is the new, mysterious man in Aubrey’s life as familiar as he appears, or have years of loneliness and confusion finally driven her mad?

No One Knows is an evocative mystery that explores the complex darkness within all of us, perfect for fans of Gillian Flynn, Liane Moriarty, and Paula Hawkins.

Get your copy!

Listen to the Book Soundtrack

Sunday Smatterings

Happy Sunday! How is it we’re halfway through September, people? My fall has started with a bang, and I’m out of the gates, running... running... jogging... okay, I’ve slowed to a nice, leisurely stroll. Look, are those roses?

Yes. You read that right. I’ve stopped to smell the roses. That doesn’t mean I’m not working—it just means I’m working smarter. I had some excellent downtime one rainy afternoon in Edinburgh, which I spent with my bullet journal and my thoughts. I won’t bore you with the details, but I did come to some solid conclusions about how I wanted my work life to look going forward. I deleted some old social media accounts, cleaned up the ones I do use, and decided to just makes things easier on myself. 

We writers are in an interesting position in the creative world. We’re all readers, so we want to talk to other readers, and other writers, and booksellers and librarians. And then there’s the news—so much to consume, so much to stay on top of, so much to invest in, and who knows what sort of ideas it might engender. Notice something missing from all that? Yes. The writing. Without which, we’re just readers. 

I obviously get my writing done, but there are certainly moments in time when all the rest of the business gets in the way of that. This is why I encourage all writers to invest in some help. A virtual assistant can get a heck of a lot off your plate. If you do a cost benefit analysis on your time, what’s more important—that $25 hour that frees you to write 1000 words, or making sure all the filters are correct on your instagram photos for the week?

Words win. Hand down. Every time. Do you know why? Words equal money. If you want to be a writer, a successful writer, words are the only thing that genuinely matter. The rest is for fun.

I mean, if you want to abandon the social media entirely in favor of writing, DO IT! Trust me when I say my finger has hovered over the delete button too many times to count. No one, NO ONE, will blame you, forget you, or otherwise have an issue if you don’t want to have fifteen social media streams running at once. I promise. What they will remember is that book the you spent so much time on that you leveled up in your writing. The book that breaks you out.

In this vein, I wanted to share this video my DH sent me a couple of weeks ago. It had a huge impact on my thought process on these things. It helped me take a nice, deep breath, set down the laptop, and take a nap. Something I NEVER do. And oddly enough, when I woke, I worked better. Who knew?

With that, I’m off to take a nap. I’ll leave you to the links.

---

Here's what happened on the Internets this week:

Literary Paper Dolls: Rebecca. "To me, it is one of the most sickening passages in all of literature. Because, for me, the jury is still out. Which Mrs. de Winter am I?"

Goodreads is giving away 100 copies of NO ONE KNOWS. (US only.) This giveaway ends tomorrow, so hurry ye to the link!

Column: How the Little Free Library led to the Little Free Pantry, a fast-growing approach to helping those in need. This is such a wonderful idea! Literacy frees people.

10 Fantastically Fierce Books Like CIRCE By Madeline Miller. CIRCE was one of my favorite books last year so this list is up my alley.

This article about how our skulls are shrinking might be the key to helping kids with behavioral problems. Fascinating!

'The Bloggess' Jenny Lawson to Open Combination Bookstore and Bar in San Antonio. This sounds like a cool development! Jenny’s a brilliant writer, so what a lovely match: writer to bookstore.

Snap Out Of A Reading Slump With These 20 New Books. Great ideas for those who need help getting out of that slump. I was in one all summer!

The chaotic evil 'Don't have a bookmark?' meme is out of control. *shudders* Someone used a taco. A TACO!

140,000 Pieces of Paper Form a Colorful 'Universe of Words' Installation by Emmanuelle Moureaux. Incredible!

The Editor of Modern Love on the Books That Taught Him About Love. A thoughtful list.

The Wine of the Week at The Wine Vixen is a delightful French gem.

---

What I’m Reading:

THE STRANGER INSIDE by Lisa Unger

I'm a fan of Lisa's work, and especially of how she builds her characters. From the most innocent to the most evil, every one of them has depth that makes them come alive on the page. THE STRANGER INSIDE is no different -- a brilliant character study of victims who've survived a terrible event in their childhood and how they've found ways to cope with the aftermath. As always, this is more than a page turner, it is a complex psychological study and thrilling to boot. Her best yet.

What are you reading?

---

That’s it from me. Start making room in your closet for the sweaters, cut something that’s not vital from your day, take a walk in a field, and I’ll see you next week.

peace and hugs,
J.T.