Sunday Smatterings

Hello, chickens, happy Sunday to you. How's it going? It's beginning to feel like fall here in Tennessee, though the leaves haven't quite caught up yet—it's still fairly green—but I'll take what I can get. I do love a nip in the air.

I've just finished my last event for the year. Bouchercon was so much fun, but this writer has been on the road since August, and I'm looking forward to staying in one place for a while, with my kitties and my laptop and my words. Plus, a new season of hockey is underway (#GoPreds),  I'm hubby's good luck charm. I can't ditch the boys in their time of need, right?

Right.

And, of course, the Dodgers are going to be in the World Series!!! Guess what we're doing Tuesday? (love ya, #Blue)

Let's talk about some links!

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Here's what happened on the Internets this week:

Star Wars Halloween costumes for your pet. Because this is super important. If only the girls would let me turn them into mini-Yodas...

7 true crimes books you may have missed (but need to pick up). Because we all need more books on our TBR pile, of course.

15 riveting books with unreliable narrators or ambiguous endings. All of my heroes are on this list!!!

You can buy the Long Island mansion that inspired THE GREAT GATSBY! You know, if you're willing to shell out some major bucks.

The one thing you should never say to an agent. Listen up, aspiring writers. This is gold.

I got the good word that my favorite winery in Sonoma survived the fires. So many didn't, and the devastation is heartbreaking. There are a ton of ways to donate, but I went for the Napa Humane Society and the Sonoma Humane Society, and we will be buying wine from the region exclusively for the rest of the year. 

The 28 coolest independent bookstores in the US. My hometown store made the list (Parnassus rules!). Did yours make it, too?

I can't wait to get my copy of BETRAYED: Powerful Stories of Kick-Ass Crime Survivors. What a great lineup and cause. In our current environment, raising awareness is so very important.
 

And speaking of raising awareness... I found this powerful op-ed by Lupita Nyong'o to be both moving and infuriating. I so desperately hope we have a new normal going forward. And since this seems the right place and moment to say it, I tearfully join you. #metoo. 

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And closer to home:

Today is the LAST DAY you can get the NO ONE KNOWS ebook for $1.99! This is the first time it's been on sale, so grab it before the price goes up.
 

Enter to win a copy of DEAD ENDS! The best way to celebrate Goodreads Horror week? Free books, of course. If you're a US or Canada resident, enter to win one of three copies of our new Two Tales Press anthology DEAD ENDS: Stories from the Gothic South. It's the perfect spooky reading for the fall.

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That's it from me! Go tromping through the leaves, say hi to your indie bookseller, watch a fun movie or two, and we'll talk again soon.

xo,
J.T.

LIE TO ME Roundup

Well goodness, it's been quite a fall, hasn't it?

Like I said in the author's note, LIE TO ME was a book of first, and such a stretch for me. I was curious to see what you'd think—and it turns out you liked it, too. I'm so glad. 

I've gathered a few links as a digital scrapbook of sorts, so in the coming days we can look back and see what fun we had. Enjoy!

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Recognition

• Toronto Star Bestseller List: Original Fiction #9

• The Globe and Mail Bestseller List: Hardcover Fiction #10

• ★ Publishers Weekly starred review

• Publishers Marketplace Buzz Books – Fall 2017

 

Reviews

RT Book Reviews

The Associated Press

Book Reporter

MyShelf.com

Chapter 16

BlackFive.net

 

Features

PW Fall 2017 Announcements: Mysteries & Thrillers.

ITW’s The Big Thrill: “The Twisted Stories Behind Closed Doors”

Liza & Lisa’s Best Of Roundup

BookBub: 19 Thrillers to Read Before Summer’s End

Goodreads: 21 Big Books of Fall

Libro.FM: Books We Love – A Sampling of HarperCollins New Releases Popular in Independent Bookstores

Judith D. Collins: Top 21 Must Read Books Coming in September

Book Riot: 21 BIG BOOKS OF FALL: LIST LIST #268  

The Kill Zone Blog: Pushing Your Boundaries [guest post]

Women’s Book Reviews: Feature Book by J.T. Ellison

Buzzfeed: 21 Books Goodreads Users Are Damn Excited to Read This Fall

BookBub: 12 Psychological Thrillers Coming This Fall

 

Interviews

Crime by the Book

Book Reporter

Read with Sam

Conversations Live with Vicki St. Clair

LiveSigning and Interview with Ariel Lawhon

Praise

"[An] exceptional domestic thriller from bestseller Ellison... this standalone may be Ellison's best work to date."
—★ Publishers Weekly, starred review


"This is the book that will be on everyone’s eyes --- and lips --- for weeks and months to come."
—Bookreporter.com

"A page-turner, rife with twists, turns, and surprises... an absolute must-read."
—Mystery Scene Magazine
 

"Wonderful ... a one-more-chapter, don't-eat-dinner, stay-up-late sensation."
—Lee Child, #1 New York Times bestselling author of NO MIDDLE NAME
 

"Fans of GONE GIRL will gobble up this thriller about a marriage from hell, which moves at a blazing-fast pace and smoothly negotiates more twists and turns than the backroads of Tennessee. J.T. Ellison will keep you guessing every step of the way to the surprise ending!"
—Lisa Scottoline, New York Times bestselling author of ONE PERFECT LIE
 

"LIE TO ME twists you up, throws you into nail-biting action and unexpected revelations. Belt yourself in for this roller coaster ride."
—Catherine Coulter, #1 New York Times bestselling author of ENIGMA


"LIE TO ME brilliantly combines a domestic noir thriller with a searing portrait of two writers trapped in a web of lies, betrayals, and murder. Sharply written and masterfully plotted, full of hard truths about the creative life and modern marriage, Ellison has written her finest novel—a breakout page-turner certain to win her a wide audience."
—Jeff Abbott, New York Times bestselling author of BLAME

"A wickedly good thriller about a picture-perfect marriage that is anything but, LIE TO ME has it all: murder, lies and betrayal. J.T. Ellison will have readers hanging onto the edge of their seats with her latest cunning tale."
—Mary Kubica, New York Times bestselling author of EVERY LAST LIE

"Secrets, secrets, who has more secrets? Writers or wives? With more surprises than a kitchen sink casserole, in LIE TO ME, J.T. Ellison lets us in on what goes on behind the closed doors of both."
—Helen Ellis, New York Times bestselling author of AMERICAN HOUSEWIFE

"Ellison knows how to deliver gripping psychological suspense... Appearances can be deceiving, but Ellison's writing is not."
—Library Journal
 

"...An astonishing and satisfying ending that makes for a fantastic reading experience."
—RT Book Reviews
 

"[An] immensely readable domestic thriller... lush prose."
—Booklist

FIELD OF GRAVES Is $1.99 Today on Kindle!

Heads up, Taylor fans! If you haven't learned how Taylor and Baldwin met, or how Taylor got her infamous scar, now's your chance to do it on the mega cheap.

About the book:

With FIELD OF GRAVES, New York Times bestselling author J.T. Ellison goes back to where it all began… 

All of Nashville is on edge with a serial killer on the loose. A madman is trying to create his own end-of-days apocalypse and the cops trying to catch him are almost as damaged as the killer. Field of Graves reveals the origins of some of J.T. Ellison's most famous creations: the haunted Lieutenant Taylor Jackson; her blunt, exceptional best friend, medical examiner Dr. Samantha Owens; and troubled FBI profiler Dr. John Baldwin. Together, they race the clock and their own demons to find the killer before he claims yet another victim.

This dark, thrilling and utterly compelling novel will have readers on the edge of their seats, and Ellison's fans will be delighted with the revelations about their favorite characters.

Sunday Smatterings

I woke up Monday morning to the devastating news out of Las Vegas, and, like everyone, stayed glued to the television and internet for most of the day, searching for answers. The problem is, there are no answers to explain these kinds of violent attacks. Evil resides in this world. I spend a lot of time in my own world trying to suss out the motivations of evil people, to see the world through their eyes, to comprehend. It's a double slap in the face when it comes to life. I am so grateful for the heroes, so sad for the victims and their families and friends, and so happy to see some rational discussions about the flaws in the system finally taking place.

So this week I come to you from a place of sorrow, but hope. I'm sending peace and love out to you today, and I hope that it's a small balm on your soul. ❤️

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Here's what happened on the Internets this week:
 

Spend more time alone. Because deep thinking aids in human flourishing.
 

Cover Reveal! SMALL TOWN TROUBLE. My bestie, Laura Benedict, is such a talented writer. Not only is she a killer suspense and Southern Gothic novelist—she's a heck of cozy mystery writer, too. This is the cover of her new cozy, and it's purrrrfect. I just pre-ordered mine!
 

Harry Potter wand-lore detailed in new book. In your weekly Harry Potter news, I bring you this.  A great gift for the serious Potterheads in your life.
 

Today, I'm brave – Curt Smith. I truly believe being authentic is the only way to live this life. I love this story so much. I sometimes lose my brave, and this made me find it again.
 

TANGLED MERCY, an Amazon Kindle bestseller. My talented author friends are doing all kinds of fun things this week. So many congrats to Joy Jordan-Lake, whose new novel A TANGLED MERCY is a literary fiction bestseller. The novel is available everywhere on November 1, but those of you with Kindles can get it right now for $4.99. And if you're a Prime member, it's a Kindle First! Such a beautiful read, y'all. Very healing, and very timely.
 

How exceptionally productive people end the word day. Y'all know I love productivity. This article is full of helpful tips for maximizing time and peace of mind.

Our home library. Dearest Anne Bogel, if you're reading this, would you mind coming over and designing a home library for me? Yours is ridiculously gorgeous. Thank you.
 

The shorter you sleep, the shorter your life. Excellent piece—I'm a big fan of plentiful sleep. Keeps my creative juices flowing. People ask me when I sleep—the reason I can do as much as I do is because I sleep SO MUCH! 

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And closer to home:
 

Just in time for Halloween: DEAD ENDS. If you need some spooky binge-reading, pick up our new Two Tales Press anthology, DEAD ENDS! It's on sale for only $3.99 through 10/31, so grab yours before this offer disappears like the Snickers bars out of a trick-or-treat bag.

And I had to share this interview: I had a blast talking all things LIE TO ME with Vicki St. Clair, out of KKNW in Seattle. So much fun.

Speaking of LIE TO ME–there are signed copies at various Barnes and Noble stores across the country, specifically Seattle, Denver, and Nashville. Go forth and find them!

And one last fun thing, LIE TO ME has been chosen as an Amazon Kindle Select 25 for this week. Woot!!!

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That's it from me. Bring your neighbors some pumpkin muffins, linger a bit on that last sip of tea in the morning, and we'll talk again soon.

xo,
J.T.

Sunday Smatterings

Hey, peeps, what's shakin'? Did you have a good week? We're on the final homestretch of 2017—how did we get all the way to October? Wasn't it just May? It's crazy what a summer of travel will do to your brain... luckily, this writer gets to slow down for a while really soon. 🙌

I may be a writer, but at heart, I am a reader first. That's how I fell in love with words, after all. And nothing makes me more giddy than J.T. the Reader hanging with an author she admires. This week, I saw Leigh Bardugo at Parnassus talking about her new book (YA fantasy FTW!), and I remembered just how awesome it is to be a reader, to fly to a new world on the wings of another writer's words. Books really are magic, you know? If you've never read Leigh Bardugo, I suggest you start with her Grisha series. It's the Ottoman Empire in a fantasy world, and it's astoundingly brilliant. You should check it out.

Anyway. Enough of that. Some links for your consideration:

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Here's what happened on the Internets this week:
 

Spotify Can Curate a Throwback Soundtrack Based on the Year You Were Born. If you're hankering for a trip down memory lane, you're welcome.
 

The One Thing You Should Never Say to an Agent. Hubris is real. That's all I have to say.
 

Murder by the Book is proud to announce Book Lovers Care, a collectible book auction benefiting natural disaster relief. It's been a hard season for so many in the South. I hope you'll join me in donating whatever you can. We book people need to stick together.
 

Hans Christian Andersen Was a Terrible Houseguest, According to Charles Dickens. We all have our strengths. Being a fairytale guest was apparently not Hans Christian Andersen's...
 

Crime by the Book's September 2017 Recommended New Releases. Stock your TBR piles, friends! 
 

Macro Resistance and Micro Resistance. Another one for the aspiring writers among us. Mr. Pressfield knows all about resistance and its many forms.
 

The Jane Austen £10 note has entered circulation. This is the real reason we should all take a trip to Britain right now...

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And closer to home...

DEAD ENDS is on sale now! If you've been living under a rock, you may have missed that we launched DEAD ENDS, the first multi-author anthology from my indie press Two Tales! I'm ridiculously excited to share this with y'all—there's so much talent in this book, I can hardly stand it! DEAD ENDS has arrived just in time for Halloween, perfect for reading by a fire with a mug of hot cider in hand. And it's available in hardcover, ebook, and paperback!

And in case you're having a hard week...

Here's a reminder that dreams really do come true. At least they do for Jameson Ellison, the silver mackerel tabby.

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That's it from me! Y'all have a great week, pick up a copy of DEAD ENDS for you and a friend (hey, Halloween presents are a real thing...) and we'll talk again soon.

xo,
J.T.