A Word On Words: Jeremy Finley

Season 5 of A WORD ON WORDS kicks off with a trip to the dark side with the superb Jeremy Finley in The Dark Above. #keepreading!

Sunday Smatterings

Happy Sunday! I hope you’re having a restful weekend.

When I sat down to draft Smatterings this week, I had a sudden realization.

I am out of practice living my life.

It sounds strange to say aloud, but that’s exactly what’s happening. For months now, I’ve been working toward the dual goals of book release and book deadline, doing knee rehab and managing both pain and expectations. It’s taken oodles of time, all my brain energy, and much of my physical energy, as well. 

But now the incredibly fun but taxing GOOD GIRLS LIE tour is done and the path is cleared for me to finish this book. I can go to the gym regularly without terrible pain. I’m reading a couple of great books and watching some excellent TV.

But everything feels... strange. I am not an adrenaline junkie, far from it, but the stress of the past few months has certainly temporarily rewired my brain to crave a different kind of excitement and stimuli than normal. 

Which is why I’m debating starting my social media sabbatical a little early, so I can get back into a more quiet groove. Wake, eat, write, gym, write, cook, read/watch, sleep. That’s my perfect day. It is simple, and calm. It gives me my best chance to produce work that you will enjoy. Which, truly, is the only thing that matters in the long run. I hope stepping away from the day-to-day socials early will help me find that equilibrium again. 

Speaking of watch: I’ve been watching the Netflix show THE WITCHER, which is based on Andrzej Sapkowski's fantasy books. It is so good, so much fun, a knight-errant tale that has all the best fantasy tropes: humor; romance; monsters; moral quandaries; sword-fighting; new worlds; evil, evil villains; and of course, magic. It’s been the perfect antidote to my own adrenal overload. I find Henry Cavill strangely appealing in this role, much more so than any he’s played. And it is littered with incredible female characters. I am mad for the Mage Yennifer, played by the stunning Anya Chalotra. I have to say, she would be AMAZING as Dr. Samantha Owens… Highly recommended.

I sent out a plea on Twitter this week asking for new shows to watch, so now I have a huge long list. I’ll report back my thoughts as I plow through them. I find great TV, like great writing, refills my well very nicely.

And with that, off we go!

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GOOD GIRLS IN THE WILD…

Though the bulk of the physical tour is over, more PR and media coverage continues to roll in, for which I am forever grateful! Here are a few of the places GOOD GIRLS LIE has popped up recently:

-Shelf Awareness: “An intense work of suspense, featuring a protagonist who holds her cards close to her vest…The final act's twist will send readers back to the beginning, eager to see how the pieces fit perfectly without having given anything away.”

-BookReporter: “I encourage readers to pick up what may be Ellison's most addictive novel to date. While reading, I could not help but think that this page-turner would make a great film or miniseries. Can you hear me, Netflix?”

-Game Of Books Corks and Conversation with J.T. Ellison: This was such a fun conversation. We chatted up a storm, and I know you’ll love their podcast.

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THE LATEST ON THE INTERNET:

New York Public Library’s Top 10 Checkouts of All Time. Not what I was expecting!

Crafters create pouches, mittens for burned animals in Australia. Attention, knitters and crafty folk…what a wonderful endeavor!

12 Genius Hacks for Bookworms. Do you do any of these?

Netflix’s ‘The Witcher’ Has Turned ‘The Last Wish’ Into An NYT Best-Seller, 27 Years Later. As plugged above… but this is a wonderful lesson on IP — intellectual property — it’s never too late for a book to be optioned!

10 Facts About Jane Austen’s Sanditon. The miniseries looks pretty great, and is on my list.

What I learned from studying billions of words of online fan fiction. "The overriding reason that authors wrote fan fiction, we found, was for the love of it. They unanimously believed that it had helped them to become better writers." Have you read any great fan fiction?

‘Little Women’ was filmed entirely in Massachusetts. Here are the historic, picturesque locations from the movie. Gorgeous! Have you seen the movie yet? I am SO overdue for a trip to the theater.

7 Dream Jobs For Book-Lovers. There’s nothing better than books.

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WHAT I’M READING:

DIGITAL MINIMALISM by Cal Newport

I’m sensing a theme this week, aren’t you? Cal Newport is always on my best of list when he has a book out, mostly because I admire how he stares into the digital abyss and finds a path for us mere mortals to navigate. I appreciate the thought behind this book—how can we find ways to make the internet work for us, instead of sapping our energy and creating issues? A wonderful quick read and a solid life plan for those of us who struggle with digital addictions.

What are you reading?

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That’s it from me. Take a day off the socials and see how it feels, find a great new show to binge, organize your TBR pile, and I’ll see you next week!

Peace and hugs,
J.T.

Sunday Smatterings

Happy Sunday! I’m out on the road touring GOOD GIRLS LIE, which has been incredibly fun, oftentimes moving, and laden with good friends, lots of great book discussions, some poignant moments, and many new readers. I’ll do a full wrap up later. For now, enjoy some links…

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GOOD GIRLS in the wild…

I have been having a blast on book tour! Thank you to everyone who has come out to celebrate GOOD GIRLS LIE with me. From Nashville to Boston, the events have been so much fun!

A few of the places GGL has popped up recently:

-BookBub: This Thriller Is ‘Pretty Little Liars’ Meets ‘Gossip Girl.’

-The Page 69 Test. It’s always interesting to see how one of my books does with this test.

-My Book The Movie. Here’s who I’d cast!

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THE LATEST ON THE INTERNET:

Winter 2020 YA Books: 175+ January–March New Releases To TBR. There goes my TBR. Again.

Why Ebook Subscription Services Will Finally Succeed In The Coming Decade. Very interesting…

I Almost Died on the Way to Mr. Darcy’s Estate. Absolutely fabulous.

How Sheet-Pan Cooking Took Over Instagram. It’s always interesting to hear how a trend got started.

'Like sending bees to war': the deadly truth behind your almond-milk obsession. A fascinating, sobering story. Save the bees!

The Voynich Manuscript: A New Documentary Takes a Deep Dive Into the Mysteries of the Bizarre Manuscript. Very cool!

17 Impossible Questions for the Writer in Your Life. Yes. Don’t ask me these.

Why the U.S. Sent Librarians Undercover to Gather Intelligence During World War II. Super cool story!

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WHAT I’M READING:

GIDEON THE NINTH by Tamsyn Muir

Every review you will see about this book starts the same way—I’ve never read anything quite so unique. This is the truth. I mean, you put together space, necromancy, wars and petty grievances, a kick ass heroine (Gideon) with a smart mouth and a longing to prove herself, pair her with a nemesis named Harrow who is the daughter of the Ninth House Leaders and as such in total control of her, and watch the bones fly. I’ve never read anything quite so original in my life. The cover itself gives you a clue about the journey—all those skeletons! Absolutely wonderful, and more to come in this series next year! I can’t wait.

What are you reading?

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That’s it from me. Think about a visit to our nation’s capitol, visit your local indie, watch a great new show, and I’ll see you next week!

Peace and hugs,
J.T.

Sunday Smatterings

Happy Sunday! I’m en route to Raleigh as you read this. Book tour for Good Girls Lie has begun. I get to spend the night with my maid of honor/best friend from high school tonight, then tomorrow, I will put on my author clothes and author smile and break out my Marvy’s, and it all begins.

We had a fantastic launch at Parnassus Books in Nashville Tuesday night. I did what we call an “in conversation” with my dear friend and fellow author Ariel Lawhon. We talked about life and writing and the book and had so much fun! Thanks to all of you who came out, it was a wonderful way to kick off the tour. Almost all my events this tour are “in conversation” so do come out, because you’ll get to meet and hear some incredible authors. I’ll be with Barbara Claypole White (NC), Emily Carpenter and Kimberly Belle (GA), Alma Katsu (DC), and Hank Phillipi Ryan (MA) - all brilliant authors and friends.

I admit this is the moment in the process I’d like to go off-grid, build a cabin near a stream, and disappear. Once I get going, it will all be fine, but the few days leading up to a big tour is a little stressful. There are so many moving parts, so much packing and prepping. Printing of itineraries, double-checking of routes. Of course, the thriller kittens know something is afoot, and Jameson has made sure to bless every piece of black clothing I’ve planned to take with a luxurious nap. That is just a natural cat instinct, I think, to keep us close, to keep us home. I understand this instinct completely.

I hope I get to see you out of the road. That’s what this is about, after all, sharing the book that’s lived in my head and heart for over a year with you. 

Two housekeeping notes—the January newsletter went out Thursday, so if you don’t have it, check your promo/bulk mail folders. And I posted my Annual Review this week, too.

With that, on to the links!

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Welcome to The Goode School

A few of the places GOOD GIRLS LIE has popped up recently:

-Fresh Fiction January 2020 Fresh Pick

-The Big Thrill: Up Close: J.T. Ellison

-Chapter 16: The Best Literary Citizen

-J.T. Ellison and Lisa Unger, In Conversation. This was a fun pen pal conversation about the writing life.

-CrimeReads: The Lure of the Board School Mystery. I really enjoyed putting this together.

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THE LATEST ON THE INTERNET:

The Turkish Novelist Elif Shafak Wants You to Read More Women. Here, here!

What I Accomplished In the Last Decade: Classic Literary Characters Edition. Too funny.

Here's how you can help Australia's bushfire victims. Sending love and prayers to all who are affected.

5 Books That Changed My Life In 2019. A very interesting, meditative list.

How Chinatown’s public library is adapting to its senior population, along with others around the country. This is great to see!

There’s A Way To Make Your Creativity More Efficient. It’s Just Not What You Think. Lots of great tips here.

Like People, Ghosts Come in Many Colors. Lovely and fascinating, the way the artists think.

13 Book Club Questions To Energize Any Meetup. These questions are great!

'It's not going away': Vets still seeing cases of dog heart problems linked to grain-free food. Careful with your baby’s diet...

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WHAT I’M READING:

STRONG IS THE NEW BEAUTIFUL by Lindsey Vonn

Lindsey Vonn is one of my heroes, and I thoroughly enjoyed this glimpse into how she keeps her body running at world champion level. If you have been dieting, or exercising, and aren’t seeing results (or are starving to death) read this. It’s a wonderful, simple, straightforward way to look at our health, and how we nourish our bodies.

What are you reading?

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That’s it from me. Pack an umbrella, polish your shoes, oil your leather goods, and I’ll see you next week!

Peace and hugs,
J.T.

2019 Annual Review

Welcome to my annual review!

This isn’t just the end of a year, it is the end of a decade. I thought this would feel incredibly momentous, and it does, in many ways. But it’s also business as usual, which, if I’m being honest, is the best line I can possibly type. I have one simple goal for my career -- and that’s to stay in the game. And I stayed in the game this year.  

LOOKING BACK ON 2019 - THE YEAR OF JOY

After all the changes of 2018, I’m so looking forward to 2019. I go forth into the new year with joy in my heart, not the pervasive dread of “how am I going to do it all?” I usually feel at this time of year. I’m not worrying as much about what I’m going to accomplish, instead I’m focused on being present, enjoying my work, my family and friends, and my life. Being happy. Contentment and creativity are the primary goals. A big birthday is looming, and I plan to enjoy every minute of the transition into another decade, approaching this new stage of my life with gratitude instead of fear.

HOW DID I DO?

Well, not too bad, actually. Surgery meant I had to take a lot of time off. While that hurt my word counts and stressed me out tremendously business-wise, it certainly meant I was more present. Almost too present. But in general, I think I achieved the being happy part. I certainly backed off on a lot of things that I normally want to do/have done in years past, and I’m looking forward to continuing that trend in 2020.  Maybe it’s the whole mellowing with age thing, or a certain frustration with things out of my control, but I’ve gotten much better at stepping away from situations that drive me bonkers and allowed myself the grace to not do something if it doesn’t serve me or my current situation. Wine Vixen and Two Tales are both perfect examples. Do I want to work on them? Yes, absolutely. Do I have the time? Nope. Am I beating myself up over it? Also, nope. THAT is a big shift in priorities and balance for me, so yeah, I’d say I achieved the goal.  

SO WHAT WENT RIGHT, AND WHAT WENT WRONG?

If you take out the physical calamities, 2019 was a very good year. Most importantly, I laid all the groundwork for the next few years of my writing career with a new deal with my longtime publisher and editor.  I finished a novel (GOOD GIRLS LIE) and promptly started a new one (HER DARK LIES). I played with the secret project some, but it’s not getting the traction I’d hoped for, so it’s been temporarily shelved. Catherine and I wrapped the Brit in the FBI series, and I look back on the experience with great fondness and appreciation. 

I found a steady, comfortable non-fiction writing rhythm. I have to say, I think non-fiction saved me this year. It kept me writing. The two knee surgeries, the first to repair a torn meniscus, the second (with a different doctor) to repair the first botched surgery, really messed things up. I had no choice—after 10 weeks on crutches and no improvement in pain, mobility, swelling, and general healing, I couldn’t handle it anymore. Unfortunately, the double rounds of anesthesia and months of pain and drama really hurt my creativity. Oh, I wrote. I wrote a lot. But I felt like much of my fiction in the second half of the year lacked the spark I wanted. The work wasn’t satisfying my creative spirit. The story was there, and trust me, it’s a GREAT story. But I couldn’t get it out of my head and onto the page properly. The characters weren’t breathing. I kept sliding off into tangents, and they weren’t good tangents. I couldn’t find the right voice. This is a freaky experience, let me tell you. I’m still struggling with it, too, though it is getting better. My concentration has improved tremendously, and the words on the page are beginning to work. I feel like I know my characters and have found the threads that will pull me through. 

What all that means is, I started over. Tossed what I had and started over. That’s what went wrong in 2019. It’s kind of a biggie.

It’s been a humbling, and to be honest, frightening, experience, to not be in control of the uncontrollable, namely, the spark that is my art. So I turned to non-fiction, a safe place for me to work through these anxieties and problems. 

In better news, I exercised my passport this year, with travel to Italy, Canada, and Scotland. I debuted GOOD GIRLS LIE at the Toronto International Film Festival, and it was a blast. We had two great trips to New York, (I still can’t believe I did Thrillerfest on crutches), I got to go to Southern Voices, and we had a few side trips to the Southern and Western Commands (Florida and Colorado). I also went on a perfectly lovely writer’s retreat in North Carolina, where I learned so much (hello, 40 Scenes). 

I fell in love with the memoir, and read several that truly changed my life. I became a better cook. I did NaNoWriMo and wrote 36,000 words (most of which were thrown out, but still.) I was a good friend. I watched a ton of MasterClasses (y’all, Malcolm Gladwell is brilliant) and can’t wait to watch more. That is well worth the effort, I promise you. I blogged regularly, made pithy comments on Twitter, posted pretty pictures on Instagram, and grew the Literati. I moved newsletter service providers seamlessly and to great effect—my open rates skyrocketed. I mastered Outlook, moved to a 365 email account, and in general, streamlined my processes all around. 

And I spent more time with the people I love. And that is the most important part of my accomplishments this past year.  

NITTY GRITTY: AKA NERDOLOGY

2019 Word Total: 756,247
Fiction Total: 233,555
Non-Fiction Total: 122,692
Email: 400,000
Fiction Percentage: 31%
Books Read: 88

2018 Fiction Total: 200,430 (Fiction 24%)
2017 Fiction Total: 274,410 (Fiction 30%)
2016 Fiction Total: 217,228 (Fiction 25%)
2015 Fiction Total: 203,749 (Fiction 28%)
2014 Fiction Total: 291,114 (Fiction 36%)
2013 Fiction Total: 270,000 (Fiction 34%)
2012 Fiction Total: 265,000 (Fiction 34%)
2011 Fiction Total: 252,300 (Fiction 35%)
2010 Fiction Total: 198,383 (Fiction 32%)
2009 Fiction Total: 135,738 (Fiction 27%)

My non-fiction total dropped magnificently this year, all due to a smaller than usual email number. This stands to reason—my assistant and I use a different app for our primary communication, so I wasn’t emailing as much. A lot of our work together is verbal, and there’s no way of knowing how many words I spoke. I’ll take the decrease anyway. Always good to see the fiction number rise and the non-fiction drop. Though I will say this—I still wish there was a way to capture how many words I delete as I go. I only count finished words in my daily counts. There’s no telling how much I actually write and throw way, delete, reword, etcetera. 

Original Books Published: 
GOOD GIRLS LIE
THE LAST SECOND (Brit in the FBI #6)

Reprint/Repackage: 
LIE TO ME (mmpb)
NO ONE KNOWS (mmpb)
THE SIXTH DAY (mmpb)
THE LAST SECOND (trade)
A THOUSAND DOORS (trade and hardcover)

Conferences/Festivals/Bookstores:  
Southern Voices, Thrillerfest, Southern Festival of Books, Toronto International Film Festival, In Conversations at Parnassus with David Bell and Lisa Unger

Major Projects Worked On: 
GOOD GIRLS LIE, SECRET PROJECT, HER DARK LIES

A WORD ON WORDS Shows Taped: 6

Books read: 88

More Awesome Stuff:
PW Starred Review: GOOD GIRLS LIE
Library Reads December Pick: GOOD GIRLS LIE
NYT List: THE LAST SECOND
USA Today List: THE LAST SECOND
GOOD GIRLS LIE made several major best of 2019 lists, including Strand Magazine and Real Book Spy

A Brief Look Back on the Decade:

19 books published, 13 short stories published, 2 anthologies edited. 2.4 million fiction words written, 1.4 million of non-fiction. It was a good decade. Can't wait to see what the 20s bring!

THE YEAR AHEAD - 2020, THE YEAR OF ENOUGH

This year, I’m working a mindful theme as well, using the word Enough. I’m a terrible perfectionist, and I can lose time trying to fix things that don’t necessarily need to be fixed. I battle with myself over little details that most people would never notice. Granted, I do have OCD, so its hard for me to shut off these little buggy things like an extra space between an emoji and the next letter. I mean, that’s ridiculous, and NO ONE CARES! I’m going to work on desensitizing myself so I can focus on the things that matter, instead of the things that don’t. 

But it’s more than that. So much more. Enough is a tree with a hundred branches for me. It’s getting enough sleep. It’s getting enough exercise, eating whole, fresh foods. Making sure I have enough water throughout the day. It’s breathing enough. It’s recognizing when I have enough consumer goods, enough books to read, enough in my closet and pantry. It’s recognizing when I’ve been online too long, It’s being at peace with the little things. It’s standing up for what I believe in. It’s pushing back when I feel threatened or used. Enough is all about intentionality for me. Mindfulness. Boundaries. 

And it’s about finding beauty and peace, doing away with not having enough time to do some of the little things that make me happy. It’s recognizing when my creativity has run out for the day and going for a walk then reading a book. It’s putting down my laptop and snuggling the cats, or putting down my iPad and chatting with my husband instead. It’s about forging a new path. 

Enough. Enough. 

It should be an interesting year. It’s probably my hardest challenge to date.

2020 Book Releases:
HER DARK LIES (December 2020)
GOOD GIRLS LIE mmpb (August 2020)

Plans for the Year:
I have set my normal goals of 200,000 words of fiction and 80 books read. I also did something I’ve not done before--I laid out my plans for each month, so I know the top-line projects and goals that I need to be thinking about. For example, January will be dominated by finishing HER DARK LIES and book tour for GOOD GIRLS LIE. I’ve tried four or five different planning methods in the past, but this—just the top-line of what the project is, what travel or major event is happening, and what I want to accomplish—it’s simple, straightforward, and let’s me focus on what matters. (Again... Enough.)

I want to finish HER DARK LIES and move on to the next story. I already know what it’s going to be, at least in theory. It’s a story I am acutely able to tell, so I’m excited to get moving on it. And I will outline it using the new app I found, StoryPlanner, that gives me a nice structure and overview. The biggest thing I learned in 2019 was this: Don’t start writing the book until you have 40 scenes. Because book math: 40 scenes which, fleshed out to 2000 words per scene, equals 80,000 words. This was a life changing formula for me when I had to toss out the plot for HER DARK LIES and start over, so I’m anxious to see how it works for a brand new concept. 

I’d like to get a couple of short stories in place, too, but the novels are paramount. Standalones take longer, take more planning, more thought, more mental energy for me, so I won’t be fussed if I don’t.

I’d like to keep Sunday Smatterings going, which is my journal. I love looking back on where my head was that week, and what stories and essays were turning my crank. I have several planned retreats this year, and I’m taking a real, unplugged vacation, regardless of whether it fits into the schedule or not. I’ll of course be honoring my Lenten social media sabbatical—it might even start a little early this year. And it’s our 25th wedding anniversary, so there will be something special, and just for us. 

Another goal is to just stop worrying so damn much about everything, and to do that, I’m being better to myself, taking time for myself. I’m committed to living more for me and my people. I often sacrifice my own happiness and well-being to satisfy others’ expectations, and I’m not doing that anymore. This isn’t a resolution but a lifestyle change. So if you don’t see me around as much, know that I’m practicing my healthy boundaries. You can always come to the blog and leave a comment if you miss me 😊

Here’s to a brilliant, lovely, productive, and peaceful 2020!

THE DEETS

For the past several years, I’ve been doing annual reviews of my life and work, based on the format from Chris Guillebeau’s wonderful Annual Review on his blog, The Art of Non-Conformity. Chris’s system is exceptionally detailed, more so than I really need, but the gist is there. It’s a great system for those of us who are self-employed and want to do an assessment of our work for the year. Here’s the link to the actual post. Go on over there and take a read. I’ll wait. 

And if you're interested, here are the links to my previous annual reviews for 2009 (Too Damn Much), 2010 (Evolution), 2011 (Depth), 2012 (Simplicity), 2013 (Pencil), 2014 (Making Do), 2015 (No), 2016, (Lent), 2017 (Flow), and 2018 (Joy).