J. T. Ellison

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For the silversmith and Nashville mayor, see Joseph Thorpe Elliston.
J. T. Ellison
BornOrlando, Florida, U.S.
OccupationAuthor
NationalityAmerican
EducationRandolph-Macon Woman's College, George Washington University
GenreMystery, Thriller, Suspense
SpouseMarried
Website
www.jtellison.com

J. T. Ellison is a New York Times bestselling American author. She writes domestic noir and psychological thrillers, the latter starring Nashville Homicide Lt. Taylor Jackson and medical examiner Dr. Samantha Owens. She also pens the "A Brit in the FBI" series with #1 New York Times bestselling author Catherine Coulter. With over a million books in print, Ellison's work has been published in twenty-eight countries and sixteen languages. She is also the co-host of the Emmy Award-winning television series, A Word on Words,[1] which airs on Nashville Public Television. Ellison is also the founder of Two Tales Press,[2] an independent publishing house, and The Wine Vixen,[3] a wine review website. She lives with her husband in Nashville, Tennessee.

Background[edit]

Ellison was born outside of Orlando, Florida and moved to rural Colorado when she was two, then to Washington, D.C. at the age of fourteen. She graduated from Randolph-Macon Woman's College with a double major in Politics and English Creative Writing and a minor in Economics, then received her master's degree from George Washington University's Graduate School of Political Management. Ellison was a presidential appointee and worked in The White House and the U.S. Department of Commerce before moving into the private sector to work as a financial analyst and marketing director for several defense and aerospace contractors.[4]

Writing career[edit]

When Ellison's college advisor told her that her writing wasn't good enough to be published, Ellison changed her plan to get a Master's of Fine Arts and, instead, went into politics. Eight years later, while living in Nashville, Ellison was recuperating from a back injury when she first read the PREY series by John Sandford and rediscovered her love of storytelling.[5]

Ellison began to research her hidden passions: forensics and crime, and was compelled to begin writing down her stories. To research her books, she has worked with the Metro Nashville Police Department and the FBI, as well as performing autopsies and studying survivalists.[6]

Ellison is perhaps best known for her Lt. Taylor Jackson series, which features Nashville homicide detective Taylor Jackson. Ellison successfully spun-off the series with Jackson's best friend, Medical Examiner Dr. Samantha Owens, as she begins her life in Washington, D.C.[7] In 2012, Ellison teamed up with #1 New York Times bestselling author Catherine Coulter to co-write a new FBI series. The first book, The Final Cut, released in September 2013 and hit every major bestseller list. The series continues with The Lost Key, The End Game, The Devil's Triangle and The Sixth Day; the newest installment is The Last Second.[8] Ellison published her first standalone novel, No One Knows, a Nashville-based domestic thriller, in 2016 with Gallery Books.[9] and followed with a second standalone, Lie to Me, in 2017 with MIRA Books. Her third standalone, Tear Me Apart, released in 2018. Good Girls Lie in 2019, and Her Dark Lies in 2021. Her latest standalone, It's One Of Us, is set to release February 28, 2023.[10]

She also has co-written with Erica Spindler and Alex Kava on two anthology collaborations: Slices of Night and Storm Season.[11]

Ellison is a co-founder of Killer Year, an interactive society composed of 13 debut crime/mystery/suspense authors whose books were first published in 2007, creating an active online community and teaming authors with mentors from among the most established authors within the genre. The group was dedicated to furthering the writing, publishing and marketing goals of its members and the highly popular community involved readers, reviewers, and publishing professionals. A collection of short stories by the graduating class, including comments and contributions from seasoned vets such as Lee Child and Allison Brennan, was published to acclaim as Killer Year: Stories to Die For...From the Hottest New Crime Writers. Killer Year became the model for the International Thriller Writers debut author program, which Ellison helped develop.

Ellison also was one of the original members of, and a contributor to, the Anthony Award-nominated crime fiction blog, Murderati, which ran from 2006 to 2012 and is now an archive. She also contributed essays in volumes published by Mystery Writers of America and International Thriller Writers and regularly blogs about the writing business on The Tao of JT.

She also writes under the name Andrea Ellison overseas (France and Holland/Belgium)[12]

Ellison is an active member of several professional writing organizations, including International Thriller Writers, Mystery Writers of America and Romance Writers of America.

Ellison's books have been published in: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Chile, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Holland, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Norway, Philippines, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, United Kingdom.

Other ventures[edit]

In 2015, Ellison became the co-host of Nashville Public Television's premier literary television series A Word on Words. The show was hosted for more than forty years by journalist and bibliophile John Seigenthaler before his death in 2014.[13] The show features authors who discuss their books, the publishing business, and their personal lives. The rebooted show is filmed on location in Nashville, and appears on-air in two- to three-minute segments. In 2017, the first season of "A Word on Words" won a regional EMMY for Best Interstitial.[14] In 2018, NPT was awarded the NETA Award from the National Educational Telecommunications Association for the show.[15]

Ellison is also the founder of Two Tales Press,[16] an independent publishing house featuring Ellison's short stories and novellas.

Under the fantasy pen name of Joss Walker, Ellison is working on an urban fantasy series called Jayne Thorne, CIA Librarian.[17]

An amateur oenophile, Ellison occasionally posts to The Wine Vixen,[18] a blog dedicated to all things vino. The blog resurrects Ellison's Wine Recommendation of the Week, a staple of her blog posts on Murderati, and features wines for any budget, travelogues, wine zeitgeist, and more.

Personal life[edit]

Ellison lives with her husband and twin cats in Nashville.[19]

Reception[edit]

  • The Sixth Day debuted at #3 on the New York Times Best Sellers List[20] and #2 on the list of USA TODAY Best-Selling Books[21]
  • The Devil's Triangle debuted at #1 on the Wall Street Journal Best-Selling Books list,[22] #2 on the New York Times Best Sellers List[23] and #2 on the list of USA TODAY Best-Selling Books[24]
  • The End Game reached #5 on the New York Times Best Sellers List[25]
  • The Lost Key climbed to #3 on the New York Times Best Sellers List[26] and was named one of the Best Thrillers of 2014 by Library Journal[27]
  • The Final Cut reached #3 on the New York Times Best Sellers List[28] and #3 on the list of USA TODAY Best-selling Books[29]
  • No One Knows reached #122 on the list of USA TODAY Best-Selling Books[30]
  • All the Pretty Girls reached #87 on the list of USA TODAY Best-Selling Books[31]
  • Lie to Me reached #9 on the Toronto Star Original Fiction bestseller list,[32] #10 on The Globe and Mail Hardcover Fiction bestseller list,[33] and #55 on the list of USA TODAY Best-selling Books[34]

Awards[edit]

  • SIBA 2017 Southern Book Prize Long List, Thriller nominee (Field of Graves and No One Knows)[35]
  • 2016 Spring Okra Pick (Field of Graves, 2016)[36]
  • 2016 Winter Okra Pick (No One Knows, 2016)[37]
  • ITW Thriller Award for Best Paperback Original (The Cold Room, 2010)[38]
  • Best Mystery/Thriller Writer by Nashville Scene's "Best of Nashville 2008" [39]
  • Romantic Times Reviewer's Choice nominee for Best Suspense/Thriller
    • A Deeper Darkness (2012)[40]
    • The Final Cut (2013)[41]
    • When Shadows Fall (2014)[42]
    • What Lies Behind (2015)[43]
    • The End Game (2015)[44]
    • The Devil's Triangle (2017)[45]
  • RITA® Nominee for Best Romantic Suspense (Where All the Dead Lie, 2012)[46]
  • RITA® Nominee for Best Romantic Suspense (Field of Graves, 2017)[47]

Trade Picks[edit]

Book of the Month Club[edit]

Indie Next Pick[edit]

  • A Deeper Darkness[49]

Publishers Weekly Pick of the Week[edit]

  • A Deeper Darkness[50]
  • When Shadows Fall[51]

She Reads Book Club Selection[edit]

SIBA Okra Pick[edit]

Reviews[edit]

Booklist starred reviews[edit]

  • When Shadows Fall[55]
  • What Lies Behind[56]
  • The Devil's Triangle [57]

Publishers Weekly starred reviews[edit]

Library Journal starred review[edit]

Kirkus Reviews[edit]

Romantic Times Five Star Gold[edit]

Romantic Times Top Pick![edit]

  • The Cold Room[74]
  • So Close to the Hand of Death[75]
  • Where All the Dead Lie[76]
  • A Deeper Darkness[77]
  • Edge of Black[78]
  • When Shadows Fall[79]
  • What Lies Behind[80]
  • The Final Cut[81]
  • The Lost Key[82]
  • The End Game[83]
  • The Devil's Triangle[84]

Interviews[edit]

  • "Between The Lines: J.T. Ellison." The Big Thrill.[85] Retrieved March 1, 2021.
  • "Between The Lines: J.T. Ellison." The Big Thrill.[86] Retrieved October 18, 2018.
  • "J.T. Ellison: Interview: September 8, 2017". Bookreporter.com. Retrieved September 29, 2017.
  • Brown, Josie. "What Lies Behind by J.T. Ellison". The Big Thrill. Retrieved January 20, 2016.
  • "Meet the Author". Bookpage Archived 2015-09-06 at the Wayback Machine. Print. Retrieved January 20, 2016.
  • Cha, Steph. "The Lost Key by Catherine Coulter and J.T. Ellison". The Big Thrill. August 27, 2014.
  • "Interview: February 27, 2014 - When Shadows Fall". Book Reporter. Retrieved January 20, 2016.
  • Petit, Zachary. "The Power of Pairs". Writer's Digest January 2014. Print.
  • Petit, Zachary. "The Power of Pairs Roundtable: Exclusive Outtakes". www.writersdigest.com. Retrieved December 25, 2013.
  • Lamb, Joyce. HAPPY EVER AFTER. Interview: Catherine Coulter and J.T. Ellison, 'The Final Cut.' USA TODAY September 17, 2013. www.USAToday.com. Retrieved November 25, 2013.
  • "Catherine Coulter and J.T. Ellison: Co-Writing (Potential) Jewel Thieves". RT Book Reviews. September 17, 2013.
  • Crutcher, Paige. "Spotlighting: author J.T. Ellison". Nashville Examiner. JTEllison.com. January 21, 2011.
  • "LIFE IS NOT A STRAIGHT LINE". Oprah Winfrey Network. September 17, 2010. www.Oprah.com

Selected bibliography[edit]

Standalone Novels[edit]

  • No One Knows (2016)
  • Lie to Me (2017)
  • Tear Me Apart (2018)
  • Good Girls Lie (2019)
  • Her Dark Lies (2021)
  • It's One of Us (2023)

A Brit in the FBI series (with Catherine Coulter)[edit]

  • The Final Cut (2013) introduces Scotland Yard Detective Chief Inspector Nicholas Drummond. Features Special Agents Lacey Sherlock and Dillon Savich from Coulter's bestselling FBI series
  • The Lost Key (2014)
  • The End Game (2015)
  • The Devil's Triangle (2017)
  • The Sixth Day (2018)
  • The Last Second (2019)

Dr. Samantha Owens series[edit]

  • A Deeper Darkness (2012) medical examiner Dr. Samantha Owens was a secondary character in Ellison's Lieutenant Taylor Jackson series
  • Edge of Black (2012)
  • When Shadows Fall (2014)
  • What Lies Behind (2015)

Lieutenant Taylor Jackson series[edit]

  • Field of Graves (2016), a prequel, introduces Nashville homicide detective Taylor Jackson
  • All The Pretty Girls (2007)
  • 14 (2008)
  • Judas Kiss (2009)
  • The Cold Room (2010)
  • The Immortals (2010)
  • So Close the Hand of Death (2011)
  • Where All the Dead Lie (2011)

Short stories[edit]

Featuring Lieutenant Taylor Jackson[edit]

Other[edit]

  • A Thousand Doors: An Anthology of Many Lives (2018, Two Tales Press)
  • Dead Ends: Stories from the Gothic South (2017, Two Tales Press)
  • The First Decade: A Short Story Collection (2016, Two Tales Press)
  • "Prodigal Me" in Killer Year: Stories to Die For (January 2008), Lee Child, ed. (Minotaur Press)
  • "X" in Demolition Magazine (2007) and Nashville Lifestyles (February 2009)
  • "Chimera" in Surreal South '09 (2009), Laura Benedict and Pinckney Benedict, ed. (Press 53)
  • "Killing Carol Ann" in First Thrills (2010), Lee Child, ed. (Tor)
  • Sweet Little Lies (2010), an anthology of short stories by J.T. Ellison
  • "Gray Lady, Lady Gray" in Surreal South '11 (October 2011), Laura Benedict and Pinckney Benedict, ed. (Press 53)
  • "Where’d You Get That Red Dress?" in Flashing in the Gutters (2007), (inspired by James McMurtry)
  • "The Number of Man" in Thriller 3: Love is Murder (2012), Sandra Brown, ed. (Mira Books)
  • "The Omen Days" (2015, Two Tales Press)[87]

Non-fiction[edit]

  • "The Charm School: An Appreciation of Nelson DeMille's Groundbreaking Novel" in THRILLERS: 100 Must Reads (July 2010), David Morrell and Hank Wagner, ed.
  • "What is Evil?" in WANTED UNDEAD OR ALIVE: Vampire Hunters and Other Kick-Ass Enemies of Evil (August 2010), Jonathan Maberry and Janice Gable Bashman, ed.

References[edit]

  1. ^ "About | A Word on Words". A Word on Words. Retrieved 2016-01-14.
  2. ^ "About". TwoTalesPress. Retrieved 2016-01-14.
  3. ^ "About". The Wine Vixen. Retrieved 2016-01-14.
  4. ^ "JT Ellison LIVE on 2nd Sunday Crime with Libby Hellmann 3/27"
  5. ^ "DA Confidential Interview with J.T. Ellison", February 2011
  6. ^ J.T. Ellison official web site
  7. ^ "Search results for "samantha owens ellison" (showing 1-4 of 4 books)". www.goodreads.com. Retrieved 2016-01-15.
  8. ^ "A Brit in the FBI series by Catherine Coulter". www.goodreads.com. Retrieved 2016-01-15.
  9. ^ Ellison, J. T. (2016-03-22). No One Knows. books.simonandschuster.com. ISBN 9781501118470. Retrieved 2016-01-15.
  10. ^ "Lie to Me". harlequin.com. 2017-09-05. Retrieved 2017-09-29.
  11. ^ "Search results for "kava ellison spindler" (showing 1-3 of 3 books)". www.goodreads.com. Retrieved 2016-01-15.
  12. ^ "www.jtellison.com/france"
  13. ^ Barnes, Zack. "Following Seigenthaler not easy for Ellison, Philpott". The Nashville Ledger. Retrieved 13 March 2017.
  14. ^ "NPT wins 2017 Midsouth Emmy Award; Producer Simington Honored – News and Programming Updates From Nashville Public Television". blogs.wnpt.org. 23 January 2017. Retrieved 2017-01-27.
  15. ^ "NPT wins 2018 NETA Awards for 'Aging Matters' & 'A Word on Words'". NPT Media Update. 2019-01-28. Retrieved 2019-02-22.
  16. ^ "About". TwoTalesPress. Retrieved 2016-01-15.
  17. ^ "Joss Walker". Joss Walker. Retrieved 2022-10-21.
  18. ^ "Blog". The Wine Vixen. Retrieved 2016-01-15.
  19. ^ "The Tao of JT", December 18, 2013
  20. ^ "Best Sellers - The New York Times". The New York Times. Retrieved 2018-04-19.
  21. ^ "The Sixth Day - USA TODAY Best-Selling Books". www.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2018-04-19.
  22. ^ "Best-Selling Books Week Ending Mar. 19 - The Wall Street Journal". Wall Street Journal. 24 March 2017. Retrieved 2017-03-27.
  23. ^ "Best Sellers - The New York Times". The New York Times. Retrieved 2017-03-24.
  24. ^ "The Devil's Triangle - USA TODAY Best-Selling Books". www.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2017-03-24.
  25. ^ "Best Sellers - The New York Times". The New York Times. Retrieved 2016-01-20.
  26. ^ "Best Sellers - The New York Times". The New York Times. Retrieved 2016-01-20.
  27. ^ "Best Books 2014: Genre Fiction". Library Journal Reviews. Archived from the original on 2015-12-30. Retrieved 2016-01-20.
  28. ^ "Best Sellers - October 6, 2013 - The New York Times". The New York Times. Retrieved 2016-10-26.
  29. ^ USA TODAY Best-selling Books, September 23, 2013
  30. ^ "No One Knows". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2017-10-18.
  31. ^ "All the Pretty Girls". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2016-10-26.
  32. ^ "Bestsellers". Toronto Star. Retrieved 2017-09-29.
  33. ^ "Bestsellers: Hardcover Fiction, Sept. 23, 2017". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2017-09-29.
  34. ^ "Lie to Me". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2018-01-04.
  35. ^ "The 2017 Southern Book Prize Long (Long, Looooong) List". SIBA. Archived from the original on April 5, 2017. Retrieved April 4, 2017.
  36. ^ "A Basket Full of Spring 2016 Okra Picks". SIBA. Archived from the original on April 28, 2016. Retrieved April 21, 2016.
  37. ^ "2016 Winter Okra Picks". SIBA. Retrieved January 20, 2016.
  38. ^ "The Thriller Award: A Literary Award for Crime Fiction". awards.omnimystery.com. Retrieved 2016-01-20.
  39. ^ The Tao of JT, October 15, 2008
  40. ^ "Suspense/Thriller Novel | RT Book Reviews". www.rtbookreviews.com. Retrieved 2016-01-20.
  41. ^ "THE FINAL CUT | RT Book Reviews". www.rtbookreviews.com. Retrieved 2016-01-20.
  42. ^ "Suspense/Thriller | RT Book Reviews". www.rtbookreviews.com. Retrieved 2016-01-20.
  43. ^ "Thriller | RT Book Reviews". www.rtbookreviews.com. Retrieved 2016-01-20.
  44. ^ "Suspense | RT Book Reviews". www.rtbookreviews.com. Retrieved 2016-01-20.
  45. ^ "Suspense | RT Book Reviews". www.rtbookreviews.com. Retrieved 2018-02-20.
  46. ^ "Romantic Suspense Nominees for 2012 RITA Awards by Crime HQ". www.criminalelement.com. 27 March 2012. Retrieved 2016-01-20.
  47. ^ "RWA Announces 2017 Contest Finalists". www.rwa.org. Retrieved 2017-03-21.
  48. ^ "Book of the Month". www.bookofthemonth.com. Retrieved 2016-10-26.
  49. ^ "Indie Next List | IndieBound". www.indiebound.org. Retrieved 2016-01-20.
  50. ^ "PW Picks: Week of April 16, 2012". PublishersWeekly.com. Retrieved 2016-01-20.
  51. ^ "PW Picks: Books of the Week, February 24, 2014". PublishersWeekly.com. Retrieved 2016-01-20.
  52. ^ "Spring Book Club Selections - She Reads". www.shereads.org. Retrieved 2016-10-26.
  53. ^ "A basket full of Spring 2016 Okra Picks! - Southern Indie Booksellers Alliance". sibaweb.site-ym.com. Retrieved 2016-10-26.
  54. ^ "Winter 2016 Okra Picks!". www.sibaweb.com. Archived from the original on 2016-11-19. Retrieved 2016-10-26.
  55. ^ When Shadows Fall, by J. T. Ellison.
  56. ^ What Lies Behind, by J. T. Ellison.
  57. ^ The Devil's Triangle, by Catherine Coulter and J. T. Ellison.
  58. ^ "Fiction Book Review: Judas Kiss by J. T. Ellison". PublishersWeekly.com. Retrieved 2016-01-20.
  59. ^ "Fiction Book Review: The Immortals by J.T. Ellison". PublishersWeekly.com. Retrieved 2016-01-20.
  60. ^ "Fiction Book Review: When Shadows Fall by J.T. Ellison". PublishersWeekly.com. Retrieved 2016-01-20.
  61. ^ "Fiction Book Review: The End Game by Catherine Coulter and J.T. Ellison". PublishersWeekly.com. Retrieved 2016-01-20.
  62. ^ "Fiction Book Review: Field of Graves by J.T. Ellison". PublishersWeekly.com. Retrieved 2016-04-27.
  63. ^ "Fiction Book Review: Lie to Me by J.T. Ellison". PublishersWeekly.com. Retrieved 2017-07-17.
  64. ^ "Fiction Book Review: Tear Me Apart by J.T. Ellison". PublishersWeekly.com. Retrieved 2018-07-31.
  65. ^ "Fiction Book Review: A Thousand Doors by J.T. Ellison". PublishersWeekly.com. Retrieved 2018-12-01.
  66. ^ "Fiction Book Review: Good Girls Lie by J.T. Ellison". PublishersWeekly.com. Retrieved 2019-11-07.
  67. ^ "Fiction Book Review: Her Dark Lies by J.T. Ellison". PublishersWeekly.com. Retrieved 2020-12-08.
  68. ^ "Best Books 2013: Thrillers". Library Journal Reviews. Archived from the original on 2016-04-16. Retrieved 2016-01-20.
  69. ^ "TEAR ME APART by J.T. Ellison | Kirkus Reviews". Kirkus Reviews. Archived from the original on 2018-10-19. Retrieved 2018-10-18.
  70. ^ "THE LOST KEY by Catherine Coulter , J.T. Ellison | Kirkus Reviews". Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved 2016-01-20.
  71. ^ "THE END GAME by Catherine Coulter , J.T. Ellison | Kirkus Reviews". Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved 2016-01-20.
  72. ^ "No One Knows by J.T. Ellison". Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  73. ^ "THE SIXTH DAY | RT Book Reviews". www.rtbookreviews.com. Retrieved 2018-04-19.
  74. ^ "THE COLD ROOM | RT Book Reviews". www.rtbookreviews.com. Retrieved 2016-01-20.
  75. ^ "SO CLOSE THE HAND OF DEATH | RT Book Reviews". www.rtbookreviews.com. Retrieved 2016-01-20.
  76. ^ "WHERE ALL THE DEAD LIE | RT Book Reviews". www.rtbookreviews.com. Retrieved 2016-01-20.
  77. ^ "A DEEPER DARKNESS | RT Book Reviews". www.rtbookreviews.com. Retrieved 2016-01-20.
  78. ^ "EDGE OF BLACK | RT Book Reviews". www.rtbookreviews.com. Retrieved 2016-01-20.
  79. ^ "WHEN SHADOWS FALL | RT Book Reviews". www.rtbookreviews.com. Retrieved 2016-01-20.
  80. ^ "WHAT LIES BEHIND | RT Book Reviews". www.rtbookreviews.com. Retrieved 2016-01-20.
  81. ^ "THE FINAL CUT | RT Book Reviews". www.rtbookreviews.com. Retrieved 2016-01-20.
  82. ^ "THE LOST KEY | RT Book Reviews". www.rtbookreviews.com. Retrieved 2016-01-20.
  83. ^ "THE END GAME | RT Book Reviews". www.rtbookreviews.com. Retrieved 2016-01-20.
  84. ^ "THE DEVIL'S TRIANGLE | RT Book Reviews". www.rtbookreviews.com. Retrieved 2017-01-27.
  85. ^ "Between the Lines: J.T. Ellison | THE BIG THRILL". 2021-02-28. Retrieved 2021-07-08.
  86. ^ "Between the Lines: J. T. Ellison". THE BIG THRILL. Retrieved 2018-10-18.
  87. ^ "The Omen Days". Goodreads. Retrieved 2017-03-13.

External links[edit]

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