10.16.16 - Sunday Smatterings: Southern Festival of Books edition

Welcome to another Sunday! It's been a special weekend in Nashville--Southern Festival of Books time!  Three days packed with books, authors, panels, food, and friends... really, what more can you ask for? Here are a few shots of my weekend, starring, in order: my panel, with Jaden Terrell and I cutting up (photo courtesy of Genny Carter), the awesome Megan Abbott, my buddy Laura Hill from Reading Rock Books, Paul from NPT in my favorite shirt ever, the divine Victoria Schwab, snacks at the Oak Bar, my housewife crush, Helen Ellis, the adorable Meg Mitchell Moore, comrade-in-arms Ariel Lawhon, pointing and in hat, ghostly hands in the men's room at the Hermitage and a pile of housewives (photos courtesy of Helen Ellis), and my book haul. 

A good time was had by all.

Now, on to the links!

A most fascinating story that backs up something I've always believed: The Secret Life of Trees: The Astonishing Science of What Trees Feel and How They Communicate 

Solid productivity advice: To take control of your email inbox, think about it like your IRL mailbox.

From Bustle: 11 Desk Accessories Every Book-Lover Needs In Their Working Space

One of my favorite series is Deborah Harkness's All Souls Trilogy. I've been rereading A DISCOVERY OF WITCHES this week, and say this awesome short video: Yoga and The All Souls Trilogy (cc @DebHarkness)

In case you didn't already know this, LitHub edifies Why Calvin and Hobbes is Great Literature.

This is a fantastic piece for my fellow writers. I don't mean to provoke any sort of existential crisis, but deciding "What Kind of Writer Are You?" if a great exercise. 

And closer to home: We Made A Book! 

Here are all the details you need to purchase THE FIRST DECADE in PRINT!!!!

And a little piece I wrote about it on the Tao,  Plus a short piece about friendship and books on the divine Laura Benedict's blog

Thanks for being here. We'll see you next time. Have a great week, and #keepreading!

XOXO,

JT

10.11.16 - SURPRISE! I have a new book out today!

My anniversary as a published author is just around the corner. My very first novel, ALL THE PRETTY GIRLS, released into the world for the first time October 23, 2007. 

But 2006 was when everything started really happening for me. It was a huge year, very exciting, very scary. My awesome agent (the brilliant Scott Miller) was shopping my novel to New York publishers. I placed a couple of short stories. I was part of a stellar line-up on an award-winning blog called Murderati. 

It’s amazing to look back on that year. I’m so glad I was a regular blogger, because I’m not much of a journaler, and the blog gives me a week-by-week snapshot of all the exciting things that happened those first couple of years. 

Now, I have 18 novels under my belt, and a wad of short stories. I co-write with Catherine Coulter, and co-host a literary television show. I’m writing standalones on my own—my ultimate goal—and I’ve started a publishing house for my fiction that doesn’t fit in with my traditionally published work.

Which is why I’m writing this post. 

Over the years, many people have asked if they could have a print version of my shorts. I’m so thrilled to be able to offer this option at last.

Today, my very first print novel through Two Tales Press is available. It’s aptly named THE FIRST DECADE, and represents my most popular and personal favorite short stories written over the past ten years.

It also has two brand-new, never-before-seen stories that I wrote expressly for this collection. Plus, it’s a delight to have my best work over the past ten years in one place, in a tangible, physical book. Because we all love that new book smell, right?

THE FIRST DECADE is available through all your favorite retailers, and with any luck, your local independent bookstore as well.

(though you will have to ask them to order it for you) We are partnering with several stores where you’ll be able to get copies (more on that later). 

I hope you’ll grab this one today, and spread the news to your friends as well.

Buy the Print Book

Download the ebook

Thank you for always supporting me and my writing. You mean the world to me!

10.9.16 - Sunday Smatterings

Y'all, it has been a crazy couple of weeks. We've known for months that the second half of the year was going to be busy, what with the regularly scheduled deadlines and book tours and conferences supplemented by parental joint replacement surgery and multiple tapings for Season 2 (!) of A Word on Words. And then Mother Nature decides to send a hurricane right at our beloved beach? It's the perfect metaphor, isn't it? Happily, the joint-replacee is doing great, the show is great, the deadlines were met, the hurricane did superficial damage, and I'm home of the foreseeable future (at least until November, LOL). Half of me is so sad we're heading into the second week of October, and the other half keeps saying "only 8 more weeks and things calm down!"

These are the blessings of my life, and trust me, blessings they are. Though I am looking forward to a quieter 2017. 💤

So. Here's what happened on the Internets this week:

First things first: if you'd like to help those who were devastated by Hurricane Matthew, here are some organizations you can look into for spreading the relief effort. Your help is so greatly appreciated!

Ever dreamed at working at a bookstore, or at least being Kathleen Kelly in You've Got Mail? Then you're gonna love these 17 behind-the-scenes secrets of working at a bookstore. I worked at a mall Waldenbooks for a while, and it was a blast.

A headline I know you didn't think you'd see today: Charles Dickens was a real-life Ghostbuster. Yes, we're getting into that time of year, people! 👻
 

If you're not reading the Bliss House series by Laura Benedict, you are missing OUT! Laura's prequel to the series, THE ABANDONED HEART, comes out Tuesday, and you need to go get it!!!! It's perfect reading for the Halloween season.

Looking to update your fall wine fridge? Here are 6 varietals to stock as the weather gets cooler.

 

And closer to home:

Would you look at this beauty!!!! Last week, the cover for Nick & Mike #4, THE DEVIL'S TRIANGLE, made its debut and I don't think Catherine and I could be more thrilled with how it turned out! Mark your calendars for 3/14/2017, y'all, and pre-order it here.

The final episode of A WORD ON WORDS Season 1 just aired, and my guest couldn't have been a lovelier person: the wonderful Ariel Lawhon!!! If you're into historical fiction, you've got to check out Ariel's newest book, a masterful work on the Hindenburg's final flight—appropriately titled FLIGHT OF DREAMS.

That's it from me! Y'all be good, deck your porch with the trapping of fall (send pics, I'd love to see your decorations!) and I'll talk to you again soon!

xoxo,
J.T.

10.2.16 - Sunday Smatterings

Hello, friends!

How's it going? Did you have a good week? I'm out in the wilds of Colorado, spending some time with my family. I love it out here, nestled into the mountains and valleys I grew to love when I was a kid. It's always good to be home. Wanna see some photos? You can check them out here! There is something special about fall in the mountains. The colors are astounding.

So, without further adieu...

Here's what happened on the Internets this week:

One of the cutest memes I saw this week were people posting the three fictional characters that describe them best. Hmm! Mine weren't hard, Hermione Granger, Katniss Everdeen, and Jaime Fraser. Rebels, one and all. Who are yours?

Let's face it: writing is hard. Getting published is even harder. For those of you trying to accomplish anything, but especially publishing something, turn to J.K. Rowling's pitch-perfect advice on perseverance. She does know a thing or two about the subject.

Speaking of J.K. Rowing, she's finally telling us what our Patronuses are!!!! This quiz on Pottermore finally answers what we Potterheads have always wondered about ourselves. My Patronus is a wild rabbit, which fits in so many ways. No wonder I adore the bunnies in my backyard so much.

Attention all Yogis, Deb Harkness fans, and those of us who are both 🙋 – you need to read this article now. I've lost my yoga practice lately; travel and injury and the craziness of deadline has made getting to my mat very hard. I want to reboot my practice this fall, and this article was the perfect incentive. Because Matthew and Diana, y'all! Namaste!

What is it about fall that beckons us to the page? Is it the crisp breezes, the longer nights, the way we ever-so-slowly settle down in preparation for winter? Whatever it is, let's embrace it. Here are 13 places we book lovers should visit this fall.

Fact: there are many words we are just plain pronouncing... well, differently than intended. Fellow word nerds, I bet you'll find this article fascinating: The 150 Most Commonly Mispronounced Words, Explained. I know I did.

 

And closer to home:

If you've been following me for a while, you know that I co-host a TV show on Nashville Public Television called A WORD ON WORDS. My co-host, fellow Nashville author Mary Laura Philpott, and I are wrapping up our first season of the show, and needless to say, it's been the literary ride of our lives. We've interviewed some of our favorite authors, some of the most well-respected in the industry (I mean, MARGARET ATWOOD, come on!). And if you don't live in the Nashville viewing area, I've made it infinitely easier to catch up on the show! I've got a new A WORD ON WORDS page here on the website, where I've collected all the interviews for your binge-watching pleasure. As we get more, I'll add them. Enjoy, y'all! 📚🤓

Also, some good news: THE END GAME is on the New York Times bestseller list for the third week running. Thank you so much for your support! You can also find the entries to both the Taylor and Sam series on specials this week: ALL THE PRETTY GIRLS on sale for .99 this week, and A DEEPER DARKNESS for $1.99. What a bargain!

That's it from me! Enjoy the rest of your Sunday, I hope your team wins, and we'll talk again soon!

Meanwhile, here's something adorable to begin your week with:

xoxo,
J.T.

9.25.16 - Sunday Smatterings

Hello, dear readers!

How did you fare this week? I'm slowly recovering from a glorious week in New Orleans (you can see a few of my favorite photos here), but man. It takes me a bit longer to get over a few late nights than it used to.

So forgive me that this week's list is a little shorter than some. But without further adieu...

Here's what happened on the Internets this week:

When you woke up this morning, I know you were thinking, How can I dress more like a Victorian today? Well, dear reader, your wish is my command.

Just like maturing, every writer writes at his or her own pace. This is how long it took some of the world's most famous novelists to finish their books. (Les Mis = 12 YEARS)

Sometimes this writing this is pretty surreal. Case and point: I've been reading Tess Gerritsen (and nearly everyone on this list) for years. YEARS! Long before I was a writer. So to be mentioned in this BookBub list of series to read if you miss Gerritsen's Rizzoli & Isles on TNT is just, along with my writing heroes...I'm verklempt.

And closer to home:

You might've heard that I just finished a book (🎉🎉🎉), and... the Sam & Taylor book I thought was coming out next year won't be coming out just yet. I know—I really don't like disappointing you. Here's a little bit more insight into that decision.

🍝 BONUS: cooler temps harken visions of comfort food, so this week I cracked open the archives and rediscovered this beauty: carbonara featured in WHERE ALL THE DEAD LIE. Man, oh man, did it hit the spot. I used gluten-free ziti, since that's what I had in the cabinet. Between mixing cheeses using farm-fresh eggs (we're talking sunset-golden yolks), and lots of pancetta and black pepper, this was just spectacular. And it's quick and easy, perfect for busy weeknights!

That's it from me this week, y'all. Happy first full week of fall, put out your festive decor, and we'll talk again soon!

xoxo,
J.T.