THE CREATIVE EDGE, now on Substack

Come on over and check out my new blog, THE CREATIVE EDGE!

I’ve been working behind the scenes for years on a project I’ve called jokingly Type, Drink, Loathe.

Type, Drink, Loathe has been a part of my lexicon for more than a decade. It is the former title of a writing book that started in my Murderati days. Yes, I’m debating writing a book about writing. About creativity. About the realities of publishing and my journey through the writing life.

Back then, TDL was a flip, cute title that examined the three sections of my writing life: Type = Writing. Drink = Creativity and Spirituality. Loathe = The Business of Publishing. But so much has changed over the past decade. The industry. My work, my approach, my process. My personal life.

And it has such negative connotations—as was pointed out by a smart friend recently. I am not a negative person, at all.

That joking title simply doesn’t fit anymore. Especially Loathe. Primarily because there is nothing I loathe about my job. I have a complicated relationship with social media and marketing, yes, but if I actually loathed it, I wouldn’t do it. Full stop. The rest of it? I kind of love. I enjoy working with my teams to find the best paths to get books out of my head and into your hands. I love being surrounded by the creativity that goes into modern marketing. I love the art, and the audio, and the planning, and the plotting.

And when I say a complicated relationship, it’s mostly because I am an introvert. Letting people in has always been difficult for me. So opening my heart and soul on the internet to people I don’t know intimately? Yes, that’s challenging.

But being challenged is different than loathing something.

For the middle, Drink: My creativity and spirituality are not driven by substances. It was a joke play on a Hemingway ethos—done by 12, drunk by 3—but I don’t know anyone who actually does that outside of vacation. I certainly don’t. Dealing with the after-effects of Long Covid, I barely drink at all anymore. As such, external forces do not drive my gifts, nor the gifts of any writer I know.

The opening moniker, Type, still works, because, obviously, writing is what I spend the majority of my time doing, but without the other facets, the whole thing falls apart.

TDL, though, has been entrenched in my world for so long that the idea of rebranding freaked me out. Then I listened to the awesome interview between Tim Ferris and James Clear. They were discussing how Clear titled his mega-bestseller Atomic Habits. He was going through the process of the usual formula if X then Y, and how deviations with juxtaposed concepts were more his speed. He used a huge favorite of mine, Deep Work by Cal Newport. Atomic Habits. Deep Work.

It came as suddenly as a meteor streaking across a darkened sky.

Galactic Creativity

That would be a super cool title for a book, right?

A few months ago, I was talking to a dear friend, who is my sounding board on all things, about this very project in addition to several others I was contemplating and working on. I was spinning a lot of plates, juggling two pen names in diametrically opposed genres, alongside a new release, a new novel underway, and multiple short stories. We were trying to figure out how I could basically stop time and do everything, which obviously isn’t possible. But she said something that stuck with me.

“Your creativity is galactic.”

I wrote that down. I posted it next to my desk. I thought about it, a lot. I took it as a compliment, even though it was said in a frame of “Slow down. Take a breath. You can’t do everything, nor should you. Your creativity is galactic. But...”

It’s been a great thought to meditate on, and I decided I wanted it front and center. It is both a reminder that I can’t do everything and that nothing is holding me back but me. It defines me in many ways, defines my writing life. I love what I do, and I want to do it with joy and excitement and gratitude. I have a hundred stories to tell, and good storytelling— capturing the essence on the page, turning it into a novel that readers will enjoy—that’s marathon-level work. It isn’t a sprint. It takes regular deep work on a daily basis to accrue the words. Day after day.

What she was telling me is: There’s time. It’s not like the galaxy was created overnight.

But it didn’t feel right as the name of a writing book. A personal ethos, yes. But for the project, I am moving forward with a different title.

THE CREATIVE EDGE

And it’s available now on Substack. I’m going to be working on all aspects of the writing life, non-fiction essays as well as some early look at my fiction—that last will be for paid subscribers only. I’m also doing audio posts for the sight-impaired, so if you’d rather listen, you can do so there.

Fun times, friends! I hope you’ll give it a go!

J.T. Ellison

J.T. Ellison is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than 25 novels, and the EMMY® award winning co-host of thJoss Walkere literary TV show A WORD ON WORDS. She also writes urban fantasy under the pen name Joss Walker.

With millions of books in print, her work has won critical acclaim and prestigious awards. Her titles have been optioned for television and published in twenty-eight countries.

J.T. lives with her husband and twin kittens in Nashville, where she is hard at work on her next novel.

A New Short Story For You - LOUCHE 49!

the cover of the infinity anthology

I’m so excited to share that my new short story, LOUCHE 49, in the Infinity Anthology, edited by Catherine Coulter and published by Suspense Magazine, is available today!

LOUCHE 49 is a thrilling tale of revenge and redemption, following a female assassin—Tempeste Ranier—who goes undercover to investigate her mother’s murder in Paris in the early ‘80s. Inspired by the classic French noir thriller film ELEVATOR TO THE GALLOWS, the story is a dark and atmospheric exploration of the seedy underbelly of both the City of Lights and Nashville and deep dives into how the actions of our past reverberate in the present.

The prompt — a story with a number in the title — was fun, as this title, LOUCHE 49, quite literally leaped into my mind the moment I saw the description. I’ve learned not to mess with those kinds of intense moments, and I’m excited for you to see what the title really means.

I’m thrilled to have my work included alongside so many talented authors. I mean, just look at this lineup!!!

Thank you to Catherine Coulter for editing, and the team at Suspense Magazine, especially John Raab, for pulling us all together into this incredible opportunity, and of course, to all of you for your support and encouragement. I can’t wait for you to experience the twists and turns of LOUCHE 49, and I hope it will leave you on the edge of your seats until the very end.

J.T. Ellison

J.T. Ellison is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than 25 novels, and the EMMY® award winning co-host of thJoss Walkere literary TV show A WORD ON WORDS. She also writes urban fantasy under the pen name Joss Walker.

With millions of books in print, her work has won critical acclaim and prestigious awards. Her titles have been optioned for television and published in twenty-eight countries.

J.T. lives with her husband and twin kittens in Nashville, where she is hard at work on her next novel.

It's One Of Us Media Roundup

This is an ongoing listing of the amazing conversations I’ve been having about IT’S ONE OF US, the reviews, the blurbs from some of the world’s finest authors. I hope you enjoy!




Reviews


Praise

“A heart-stoppingly tense thriller about the price of secrets and the layers behind every marriage.”
—Ruth Ware, New York Times bestselling author of THE IT GIRL

“It’s One of Us brings all the twists, chills, and thrills I expect from the preternaturally gifted Ellison, and it’s also an emotionally resonant read that I can’t wait to recommend to my book club. The secrets snarled in the threads of an unraveling marriage and a heroine who wholly won me over put this one on my keeper shelf—you are going to love it!”
—Joshilyn Jackson, New York Times bestselling author of WITH MY LITTLE EYE

“J.T. Ellison has done the impossible in IT’S ONE OF US, by crafting a riveting domestic thriller full of twists and turns, but also heart and emotion. You’ll root for her heroine Olivia Bender every step of the way, as soon as a knock on the door brings shocking news that threatens her marriage and her world. You won’t be able to put this novel down!”
—Lisa Scottoline, New York Times bestselling author of LOYALTY

“A smart, taut, mind-blowing thriller full of heartbreak and betrayal that moves along at breakneck speed. IT’S ONE OF US is a force to be reckoned with. I’ve always been a fan, but Ellison has outdone herself with this one. Readers will be obsessed!”
—Mary Kubica, New York Times bestselling author of LOCAL WOMAN MISSING 

“Without ever once sacrificing narrative grace, J.T. Ellison hits every bumper in her newest novel: IT’S ONE OF US — a husband and wife who are both troubled and troubling, murky medical ethics targeting people desperate for babies, the thicket of surprise families through DNA testing and the murders of two young women, twenty years apart. It might sound like a whirlpool of social-media fodder, but it’s anything but: It’s one of the most compelling psychological suspense stories I’ve read in years.”
—Jacquelyn Mitchard, New York Times bestselling author of THE DEEP END OF THE OCEAN and THE GOOD SON

"Beautifully written and impossible to put down, master storyteller J.T. Ellison will have you spellbound with this deeply layered psychological thriller. Immersive and propulsive, IT’S ONE OF US, keeps you turning pages with an ending you’ll never see coming. I loved it!”
—Liv Constantine, bestselling author of THE LAST MRS. PARRISH

“IT’S ONE OF US is an emotional and thrilling psychological journey through the shadows of the human heart. Just when you think you know what’s coming, prepare to gasp with each new revelation. Through multiple fascinating points of view, layers of secrets, lies, love and loss are revealed. I did not put this book down until the last unexpected and breathless page. Unpredictable, intense and riveting, J. T. Ellison is at her heart-stopping best.”
—Patti Callahan Henry, New York Times bestselling author of THE SECRET BOOK OF FLORA LEA

“IT'S ONE OF US sets a stunning new gold standard in psychological suspense. At once an extraordinary, unpredictable, absolutely riveting thriller and a fiercely insightful, emotional journey, this is psychological suspense at its most enthralling and intense.”
—Jayne Ann Krentz, New York Times bestselling author of SLEEP NO MORE

“In IT’S ONE OF US, J.T. Ellison pulls no punches as she expertly explores the intensely complex emotions surrounding infertility, loss, and marriage. Throw in murder, a vivid cast of characters, and shocking secrets, Ellison masterfully mines the human heart in this treasure of a thriller that will keep readers turning the pages long into the night.” 
—Heather Gudenkauf, New York Times bestselling author of The Overnight Guest

“J.T. Ellison is one of my absolute favorite authors and with IT’S ONE OF US, she brings things to a whole other level. Ellison takes her trademark gripping, breathless thriller, adds an incredibly unique premise and delivers a novel that’s also a deeply poignant story about our deepest desire for love, family and happiness. Brimming with tension and raw emotion, it’s the perfect book club pick. I’ll be thinking about this book for a very long time.”
— Hannah Mary McKinnon, internationally bestselling author of NEVER COMING HOME

“Secrets and lies abound, relationships are tested, and the twists keep coming. A signature J.T. Ellison thriller told from multiple points of view with an added layer of emotional depth that held me captive until the end. This read is wild, going from 0-60 mph on the first page, and doesn’t stop until the last. I’m pretty good at guessing whodunit. Not this one, which made this book that much more gripping. Ellison outdid herself, a master storyteller. This is a must read, especially the author’s note at the end, which gutted me.”
—Kerry Lonsdale, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post & Amazon Charts Bestselling Author of NO MORE WORDS

“J.T. Ellison is one of my favorite authors. I eagerly await everything she writes. And in IT’S ONE OF US she is at the very top of her formidable game. Don’t miss this layered, emotional, and twisting thrill ride.”
—Lisa Unger, New York Times bestselling author of SECLUDED CABIN SLEEPS SIX

“The perfect mix of edge-of-your-seat tension, deep emotion, and impeccably developed characters, J.T. Ellison’s latest is a masterclass in storytelling. Secrets and lies, love and loss mix flawlessly to create a novel that touches every single emotion. Fans of Lisa Jewell and Ruth Ware will flock to IT’S ONE OF US, and book clubs won’t be able to stop talking about it. Five dazzling stars.”
—Kristy Woodson Harvey, New York Times Bestselling author of THE SUMMER OF SONGBIRDS

"A tense and propulsive thriller, IT’S ONE OF US explores the dark truths of marriage, the lengths we go to hide our deepest secrets and the ways in which they find their way to the light. J.T. Ellison knows how to grab readers and hold them on their edge of their seats to the final pages, and IT’S ONE OF US proves this writer is at the top of her game."
—Danielle Girard, USA Today and Amazon #1 Bestseller of THE EX

“Raw, layered and full of stunning revelations, IT’S ONE OF US is the most original thriller we’ve read in years. With a richly drawn cast of characters, an emotionally charged plot and a jaw-dropping ending, IT’S ONE OF US should be your next read!”
—Liz Fenton & Lisa Steinke, authors of How to Save a Life 

J.T. Ellison is at the top of her game with IT’S ONE OF US, an extremely compelling thriller shot through with twists and turns, a strong emotional pulse, and heartfelt exploration of the pressures of marriage and starting a family. Impressive and gripping.
—Gilly Macmillan, internationally bestselling author of THE LONG WEEKEND

J.T. Ellison

J.T. Ellison is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than 25 novels, and the EMMY® award winning co-host of thJoss Walkere literary TV show A WORD ON WORDS. She also writes urban fantasy under the pen name Joss Walker.

With millions of books in print, her work has won critical acclaim and prestigious awards. Her titles have been optioned for television and published in twenty-eight countries.

J.T. lives with her husband and twin kittens in Nashville, where she is hard at work on her next novel.

Release Day for It's One of Us! 💚

IT’S ONE OF US  is here at last!

The germs of this story have been floating around in my brain for over a decade, sparked by one of those tragic-comedic life moments: my husband and I were in the middle of some rather grueling fertility treatments. One fateful day, he was locked alone in a room in the clinic with a magazine and Sweet Home Alabama blasting out of the speakers (not his first choice). That evening, as we laughed at the absurdity of our situation, he told me this had the makings of a novel... but I’m a thriller writer, and fertility is more of a women’s fiction story. I didn’t know how to marry the two until recently. Enter the complicated forensics of sibling DNA, the moral ambiguity of the sperm donation industry, and a killer on the loose, and poof, the story came together.

My protagonist, Olivia Bender, was such a dream character to write. She came to my mind fully formed one day: a sad, lonely woman with sable hair in a cream cable knit sweater and rolled-up chinos, walking barefoot down a chilly beach, having just suffered a miscarriage. I had to know who she was. It turns out, she’s a dynamic architectural designer who owns her own firm, shares her gifts with the community, and is struggling with the same fertility issues my husband and I went through.

And then... twist. That’s what I do, I take the story and turn it into a pretzel.

Olivia is placed in an absolutely untenable position by the circumstances of the novel, and all I could think was: What would I do in this situation? How would I react? I think this book has a great philosophical core of uncertainty that I hope many, many readers will connect with. What would YOU do? How would YOU react? What would be YOUR path forward? Do you agree with how Olivia handles the situation, especially as it spins out of control? And what about the rest of the characters? We hear from all the people affected: The Husband. The Mother. The Daughter. The Brother. The Cops. The Murderer. I love books that force you to examine your own motivations and morality, while exploring the same in the characters, and this one will, for sure.

This story is certainly identifiable as one of mine, from the creepy opening to the high-stakes life and death struggle, the push and pull of a police investigation against the domestic backdrop, characters you want to root for, and characters you’ll love to hate. And of course, the Nashville setting. But I think this story has a different kind of nuance and tackles questions that are much closer to our realities than the more fantastical world of some of my other psychological thrillers. I think readers will see themselves reflected more in these characters than anything I’ve done previously. It’s not a scary, leave the lights on kind of thriller. It’s scary in a different kind of way. It’s quiet and insidious and morally complicated. And, if I’ve done my job correctly, completely addictive.

And there’s no denying this is, at its heart, a story of loss, specifically, the kind of loss that comes from infertility and miscarriage. When you’re in the throes of trying, and not succeeding, to have children, it feels like the world is caving in around your ears. I couldn’t write a book about what it’s like to have children, but I can write with some authenticity about what it’s like to lose them. And even more importantly, to survive those losses. Survive, and thrive. I am hoping to normalize the conversation around infertility and send a clear message that there is life on the other side of these tragedies. A joyful, wonderful, complete life.

I hope you love IT’S ONE OF US! It’s available now wherever you like to buy books, and the audio is read magnificently by the one and only Julia Whelan.

eBook

KINDLE | NOOK | APPLE BOOKS | GOOGLE PLAY | KOBO

Hardcover

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | TARGET | BOOKS-A-MILLION | INDIGO | BOOKSHOP

Audiobook

AUDIBLE | LIBRO.FM | HARLEQUIN AUDIO | KOBO

If you’d like a personalized copy, please check in with Parnassus books, where there are goodies to go along with your order!

And please come see me on tour!

J.T. Ellison

J.T. Ellison is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than 25 novels, and the EMMY® award winning co-host of thJoss Walkere literary TV show A WORD ON WORDS. She also writes urban fantasy under the pen name Joss Walker.

With millions of books in print, her work has won critical acclaim and prestigious awards. Her titles have been optioned for television and published in twenty-eight countries.

J.T. lives with her husband and twin kittens in Nashville, where she is hard at work on her next novel.

Release Day for These Cold Strangers 🥶

These Cold Strangers book covers on a treelined foggy background

I could not be more excited to share that my short story, THESE COLD STRANGERS, is now available from Amazon Originals! What’s so fun is this is a part of a themed collection called We Could Be Heroes, which digs into what it really means to be a hero. Do you need a cape and the ability to fly? Or is it something deeper, smaller, but no less extraordinary?

The collection features five original short stories written by a couple of folks you might know... Lisa Scottoline, Lisa Unger, Janelle Brown, Victor Methos, and me! They’re all available today—the full collection or as individual stories—and in both digital and audio!

Here’s more about THESE COLD STRANGERS, which is read by Brittany Presley, who beautifully narrated Her Dark Lies, too.

From New York Times bestselling author J.T. Ellison comes a chilling tale about how a reporter’s deep dive into a viral video challenges her preconceived notions of what being a hero really means.

When she recognizes the heroic stranger in a sensationalized news video, Addison Blake plans to use the information to her career’s advantage. That means returning to the hometown she left behind ten years ago, but her ambitions are more important than the ghosts of her past. She’s focused on breaking this story—as long as it doesn’t break her first.

J.T. Ellison’s These Cold Strangers is part of We Could Be Heroes, a darkly inquisitive collection of short stories that examines heroic intentions versus their real-life consequences. Read or listen to each in a single sitting.

Get yours today!

KINDLE | AUDIBLE

And some background for you about this cool program:

Amazon Original Stories is Amazon Publishing’s imprint dedicated to short nonfiction and fiction by bestselling authors and new voices. AOS stories are intended to be read—or listened to—in a single sitting (5,000 to 20,000 words). Each story is available free to Prime members and Kindle Unlimited subscribers, and $1.99 for non-subscribers. Every download includes a free Audible edition as well.

Amazon Original Stories has published stories by Pulitzer and National Book Award winners and international bestsellers, in categories ranging from memoir to suspense to true crime to literary fiction. AOS stories have won the Hugo, Audie, and O. Henry awards and have been nominated for the Edgar, Locus, and Thriller Awards. They have been selected for the Best American anthology series four times and optioned for film and television. An overview of all published titles can be found here.

J.T. Ellison

J.T. Ellison is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than 25 novels, and the EMMY® award winning co-host of thJoss Walkere literary TV show A WORD ON WORDS. She also writes urban fantasy under the pen name Joss Walker.

With millions of books in print, her work has won critical acclaim and prestigious awards. Her titles have been optioned for television and published in twenty-eight countries.

J.T. lives with her husband and twin kittens in Nashville, where she is hard at work on her next novel.