10.25.15 - Sunday Smatterings

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Sunday Smatterings

Happy Sunday, lovelies! Hope you guys had a great week and have had all manner of fall weather and apple-flavored everything.

I might have interviewed Margaret Atwood this week. That was pretty rad (FYI she is GORGEOUS. I told her so. C'mon, she needed to know!). She was just as gracious and warm and brilliant and hilarious as I imagined. Can't wait to share that interview with you! 

Here are some interesting tidbits I found on the Internets this week:

First things first, Harry Potter fans: have you heard about the Harry Potter stage play that takes place 19 years after the end of the 7th book? NEW MATERIAL, PEOPLE! This is not a drill. I repeat: THIS IS NOT A DRILL.

One of my favorite online sites, Tools & Toys, has some helpful tips and equipment for mobile writers. Nifty!

Speaking of writers, are any of you in for NaNoWriMo? (aka National Novel Writing Month) If you're unfamiliar with this 30 days of self-flagellation, every November thousands of writers gear up to write a minimum of 50,000 words (half of a full-length commercial novel) so that they can jumpstart the heck out of their work in progress (WIP). And you thought only the No Shave November people had to most fun! Anyway, I'm partaking in NaNoWriMo (because . . . that's basically my day job), and here are 10 helpful tips for all of us who are crazy enough to undertake this monumental task.

And if any of you growing a stash or a beard (or doing NaNo) want to go head to head, words to hairs, let me know! 

Did you read/watch GONE GIRL? Then here are 9 novels for you. (and if you liked GONE GIRL, check out my new standalone thriller, NO ONE KNOWS!)

On The Wine Vixen front, Amy found a fun pinot grigio, and I had a #TBT when I remember a delicious zinfandel that knocked my socks off. The best part of these wine picks? BOTH are well under $20! 

And here at home, I waxed rhapsodic on how I became a TV host (I'm still dumbfounded by this).

Alright, chickens, that's all I've got this week. You guys be good!

Xoxo,
JT

Neil Gaiman
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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.

10.24.15 - Your Saturday Bookish

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Your Saturday Bookish: cozy fire

I need this. Forever.

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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.

10.23.15 - #XOXOConnects Readerfest (AKA the no-pants-required book festival)

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What's better than attending a Readerfest? Why, attending a Readerfest in your pajamas, of course!

The lovely Laura Griffin and I are holding a Thriller roundtable at the ‪#‎XOXOConnects‬ Readerfest on Saturday, October 24, at 12:30 pm EST. You should come! (no pants required).

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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.

10.22.15 - On How I Came to be a TV Host

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A Word on Words

There are things that happen in your life that are, to say the least, unexpected. Back in June, I received an email from a producer at NPT (Nashville Public Television) letting me know they were considering rebooting the Nashville literary classic, A Word on Words. If you’re not familiar with it, for 40 years, it was was a Sunday morning staple on Channel 8, hosted by the amazing John Seigenthaler. I was really excited to hear this, because I did my first EVER interview with John on the show, and since we lost him, there has been a real void in the literary community, as well as all of our hearts. 

What I wasn’t expecting was an invitation to be the host. "Caught short" is a good term, actually. I mean, y’all know me. I have a serious public speaking fear. I’ve overcome it for the most part, but I still get a wad of butterflies in my stomach before events, and cameras — yeah, right. The idea of voluntarily sitting down in front of a camera multiple times seemed a little masochistic. So my immediate reaction was . . . no.

But. 

John Seigenthaler. 

What John did for the book in Nashville can’t be discounted for a moment. He was the beating heart of literature in this city for a very, very long time. I always loved being on the show (I think I did it six times over the years.) John made me think about my stories in ways I hadn’t before. He could find that kernel in the book, the why behind the story, and make it come alive for the viewers.

The idea of having even a small part in continuing his legacy drove me to the screen test, then to accepting the offer to shoot a couple of pilots, and through the first shoot. I nearly threw up on Patti Callahan Henry, I was so scared.

But I didn’t. And after a while, in the joy of talking story with a fellow writer, I forgot about the cameras. The end result was awesome, and I can’t wait for y’all to see it.

And I decided that maybe, just maybe, I could do this after all. 

Mary Laura Philpott is my co-host — if you’re not familiar with her hilarious book PENGUINS WITH PEOPLE PROBLEMS, you should definitely get it. She’s kind and gracious and gorgeous and one heck of a writer and will be the perfect complement to round out the show. I can't wait to work more with her.

I need to say thanks to a bunch of people who made this happen. Linda Wei, first and foremost, who found a unique way to reboot the series and thought ML and I would be a good fit; our amazing crew, including Matt Emigh and Will Pedigo, for their incredible generosity making me at ease behind the cameras, and making us look so good; Hank Phillippi Ryan, who gave me the bones for how to build a good interview; Andy Levy, who shared all his secrets; Laura Benedict for cheering me on; Ariel Lawhon for helping us get things kickstarted; Patti Henry and David Bell, for agreeing to let me use them as pilot episodes, coming to Nashville and knocking it out of the park; Amy Kerr, who does just about everything; ML, for being the co-hostess with the mostest; NPT, and especially Beth Curley, for having the bravery and vision to let us try this; our lovely sponsors, Judy and Steve Turner, for funding this awesome show; and of course, Randy, who encouraged me when I needed it the most. As he always does.

And John. You are forever in our hearts, kind sir. I hope we do you proud. 

Here’s some shots from the most recent episodes. A Word on Words will begin airing in late October. Specifics to come. Announcement here. 

#KeepReading!

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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.

10.20.15 - Edgar Allan Poda

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Edgar Allan Poda

Courtesy of my friends at FoxTale Book Shoppe near Atlanta, GA.

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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.