1.14.16 - What people are saying about my new standalone, NO ONE KNOWS

Available for pre-order!

Hi, loves! We are getting sooooo close to the March 22 release of my new standalone novel, NO ONE KNOWS. Here's an update on what's going on:

First, really exciting news: NO ONE KNOWS was selected as a 2016 Winter Okra Pick by the Southern Independent Booksellers Association (SIBA)! I am so honored to be among some killer books and authors. I was over the moon when I found out about this.

And BookBub named it as one of their 15 New Books to Read if you loved GIRL ON THE TRAIN -- super cool

And I was also tickled when the fine people at Publisher's Weekly said this about NO ONE KNOWS: 

"Riveting . . . a skillfully plotted story that's equal parts mystery, psychological thriller, and cautionary tale. Ellison's twists are fresh . . . and the novel's action-packed conclusion will shock."

Hooray! Thanks, PW!

And these nice people had some thoughts about it, too:

“You think GONE GIRL couldn't be topped, try Ellison's web of betrayal, lies and deceit. And wonder --”
— Catherine Coulter, #1 New York Times bestselling author of NEMESIS 

“Enthralling! Ellison's twisty, turny thriller is my kind of novel: interesting characters, complex plotting, and an ending you'll never see coming. Suspense at its finest!”
— Lisa Gardner, #1 New York Times bestselling author of FIND HER

“Clever and compelling, J.T. Ellison’s NO ONE KNOWS is a page-turner full of unexpected twists and surprises. Pour a glass of wine, settle down in your favorite chair, and get ready for an entertaining roller coaster of a read. J.T. Ellison is a fast-rising star.”
— Jeff Abbott, New York Times bestselling author of THE FIRST ORDER

“Like a nerve-shredding trip through a carnival house of mirrors, NO ONE KNOWS left me breathless. Ellison's deft, seamless prose makes her devilish twists look effortless, and her sleight-of-hand with the facts of Aubrey Hamilton’s troubled life keeps the tension wire-high. NO ONE KNOWS is razor-sharp, shocking, and delicious.”
— Laura Benedict, author of CHARLOTTE’S STORY

“Reader, beware: In NO ONE KNOWS J.T. Ellison has created a masterful game of cat-and-mouse—with Ellison being the cat and us readers her prey. My favorite kind of story—I loved it.”
— Erica Spindler, New York Times bestselling author of THE FIRST WIFE and THE FINAL SEVEN

“NO ONE KNOWS grabs you from the start and doesn’t let go. A compelling thriller about loss, betrayal, and buried secrets, it’s a book you’ll devour, trying to guess what’s going on and what will happen next. The twists are genuinely—and satisfyingly—shocking. J.T. Ellison has written another winner.”
— Meg Gardiner, Edgar Award-winning author of PHANTOM INSTINCT

“J.T. Ellison has created one hell of a brain-bender. NO ONE KNOWS is a masterfully written shell game in which a grief-stricken woman is forced to reckon with her past until everything she believes about love, hope, and trust is tested. Ellison’s storytelling powers are on sharp display in this literary thriller, proving that no one is who they claim to be and everyone has secrets worth protecting. Compelling, perceptive, unsettling and with an ending so on point I wish I could read it again for the first time. I inhaled this novel.”
— Ariel Lawhon, author of FLIGHT OF DREAMS

Suffice it to say, I can't WAIT until y'all get your hands on this one. Five years in the making, baby. And it's almost here!

Pre-order now!

1.12.16 - Literary Cat Cannot Be Bothered

1.11.16 - Ground Control to Major Tom

2:30 a.m.

I was up with the cat, giving her some food and love, when the notification buzzed on my iPad — David Bowie, dead from cancer at 69.

It is inevitable, these deaths. I am at an age now where this is becoming more and more clear. 

But sitting on the floor, feeding my ailing cat in the middle of the night, was not when I expected one to come.

Bowie, man. Bowie. 

Many will do him justice in print today. I just wanted to get down some thoughts about how much he influenced me. He was the grooviest cat, the man who broke all the boundaries, whose search for his authentic self through his art. He became his art. I respect the hell out of that. 

You see, it was a Bowie song that inspired my very first book.

OK, it’s not a book. It’s a weird little handwritten short story I penned when I was 11, which ended up bound, and lives in my office drawer with all the rest of my early attempts at creativity. 

It’s called The Samaritan: Part Two. I have no idea why it’s Part Two. I don’t recall ever writing Part I. Even at 11, I was sure every story needed to start in media res. 

I have older brothers, both of whom had excellent taste in music. I believe it was Jay, though, the eldest, 11 years older than me, whose collection I most often raided — mostly because his room was totally, completely, 100 percent off limits to me, so when he wasn’t home, I’d sneak in and play his records. Yes, I was a brat. My middle brother, Jeff, never told on me, either. (Sorry, Jay!)

In Jay's room, I discovered a whole new world.

Heart. Jethro Tull. Pink Floyd. Deep Purple. Procol Harum. Blue Oyster Cult.

Bowie.

Bowie especially affected me. Space Oddity, in particular, set my imagination asoar. So simple, so evocative. NASA’s worst nightmare.  Can you hear me Major Tom? Can you hear me Major Tom?

 We grew up in an aerospace family. My dad worked for Lockheed Martin. They sent rockets to space. (At one point, the entire family did — both my brothers and me and Daddy; Daddy and Jeff retired, I quit, but Jay still does.) Growing up, there were telescopes, and star gazing. Science fiction dominated the bookshelves. Star Trek was practically required watching. The idea that there was more out there, infinite space, was something my dad instilled in us all, and I’m sure shaped my desires for knowledge. 

When I listened to Space Oddity, over and over and over, I felt, in my own childish way, the song was written for me.

So I wrote a story about a man named Max, an astronaut, who is abandoned on Mars when his ship, and crew mates, explodes. 

(Yes, I wrote a variation of THE MARTIAN when I was 11. I did not science the shit out of it, though.)

Space Oddity started my lifelong love of Bowie. Ashes to Ashes, China Girl, The Man Who Sold The World. Genius, all. The man could reinvent himself at will, though he did it with so much thought, so much care. He was always willing to break down the preconceptions, about music, life, sexuality, everything. 

In short, Bowie was awesome. I pushed his music on everyone I knew. Some got it, some didn’t. 

When I was 18, on a school trip to the UK, my best friend and I met up with a cute guy in a bar in Edinburgh. We were talking music, the Clash, a band he liked called King, and I began my usual proselytizing about Bowie. He completely freaked — he was a Bowie junkie. And I mean, junkie. This guy had traveled the world going to Bowie concerts, and made bootleg tapes of them all. 

He offered to make copies and send them. My desire for law and order ( I despise piracy, did then and still do) was pushed aside, and I gave him my address, figuring he’d never follow through.

But he did! A few weeks later, a package arrived, with fifteen or so bootlegs concert tapes.

I wore them out. I played them and played them and played them. They were my prized possession. I was rarely without at least one of them in my car and in my Walkman.

Until my senior year of college, when someone stole them. I have a sneaking suspicion who (you BITCH!) The loss of those tapes was so hurtful. My special connection to the musician I revered, gone forever. 

Suffice it to say, I am a lifelong Bowie fan. I even wrote his fabulous heterochromia into my Taylor Jackson series. Just a small honor. When I heard he’d died, a small part of my childhood did, too. 

I started my day with Space Oddity, at 3:00 a.m., singing it to myself as I tried (and failed) to fall back asleep, shedding tears for a man I'd never met, but who shaped so much of my life.  

Bowie has a new album out. I don’t have the heart to go play it right now. But I will. And I know he’ll find a way to make my imagination take flight, as he always does.

May God’s love be with you, David Bowie, you fabulous creature. You live on in all our hearts.

1.10.15 - Sunday Smatterings

Hi, chickens! How was your week? I'm hunkered down, writing away on the next Nicholas Drummond book, THE DEVIL'S TRIANGLE. I won't say much here yet, but I think you're going to like this adventure!

Without further ado . . .

Here's what happened around the Internets this week.

Guys. The frisson I got while watching this . . . it's overwhelming. I am one giant goosebump after watching this Outlander Season 2 sneak peek on STARZ. The first season was excellent, but this looks like it's moving into magnificent territory. 

And speaking of Outlander, designed Terry Dresbach talks at length about how she goes about creating the Least Patriarchal Costumes on TV. Seriously, more is . . . well, more.

According to Nashville novelist and bookstore owner Ann Patchett, the indie bookstore isn't dead. In fact, Patchett says in The Wall Street Journal that they're coming back. This is nothing but great news for all of us.

Hey, MacNerds, listen up: Griffin Technologies has introduced a BreakSafe Magnetic USB-C Power Cable for the 12-Inch MacBook. Thank goodness! I was thinking about this MacBook, but not having the MagSafe stopped me.

Thriller writers should read this for accurate research: Oregon Militia Occupation and Tamir Rice: The Facts. 

Oh, if you're looking for some reading material, you should check out my buddy Jeff Abbott's newest, THE FIRST ORDER. Killer! Also, Lisa Gardner has a new short story out, Three Truths and a Lie. Great title, great story!

And closer to home . . . 

I'm thrilled to announce that NO ONE KNOWS was selected as a 2016 Winter Okra Pick! I was so honored to be selected. I also posted my 2015 Annual Review, and chose my path for 2016 -- the Year of Lent. 

And for those of you wondering, thrillercat Jameson is feeling much better after her medical debacle last weekend. Here she is, locked in her cage, posing as the Caped Catsader. Thanks for all your warm thoughts and well wishes! 

The Wine Vixen gave us two new bottles this week: a sexy Shiraz from Amy, and a deliciously classic Barolo from me.

Two Tales brought us 16 Resolutions Only Book Nerds Can Relate To, as well as a bookish Valentine's Day gift to nag your honey for. 

That's it from me, peeps. Stay warm, keep reading, and I'll see you soon!

Xoxo,
JT

1.5.16 - Take a peek at the next Taylor Jackson cover . . .

I am thrilled to show you the cover of the new Taylor Jackson prequel, FIELD OF GRAVES, which releases June 14! You can read more about the book below—and check out the surprise I have for you, too . . . 

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

Pre-orders are open now!
 

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.

(Also, a quick disclaimer -- this book was formerly titled CROSSED, and appeared online briefly last year in the Sweet Dreams anthology. It has since been rewritten and edited.)

 

Can't wait until June? Enter to win an advanced galley copy of FIELD OF GRAVES!

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