2.28.16 – Sunday Smatterings

By JT Ellison

Hi, guys! Amy here, wondering how are we at the end of February!?! Not that I’m complaining: you know I’ve been waiting for spring for the past few weeks. I spotted the first buttercups peeking out of the ground this week, and I flushed with giddy excitement.

SPRING IS ALMOST HERE!

Happy Dance

But I digress . . .

Here’s what happened on the Internets this week:

This is beyond precious: kids practice reading to shy shelter dogs at Missouri humane society. Be still, my beating heart!

When I worked for HarperCollins, cover meetings were always my favorite. I loved getting to see someone else’s visual representation of what a story was all about, and to watch that cover evolve over time (believe me: there are several iterations of a cover before the book hits shelves). This was a fascinating read from a book cover designer who crafted one of the coolest covers I’ve seen in a while.

Game of Thrones fans: George R.R. Martin has revealed that his (forthcoming TBD) sixth book in A Song of Ice and Fire, THE WINDS OF WINTER, features a character that’s been killed off in the show. Oh my! I’m curious to see how the two plots diverge even further . . .

Book World Alert: Barnes & Noble says they have an Amazon-like store in the works.

This is the best Harper Lee tribute I read.

You guys. Library bars are a real thing!

I love to cook—a lot. When we were first dating, Boyfriend opened my spice drawer (one of them, anyway) and jumped back about three feet, baffled by the sheer volume of spices I had (hey, they’re basically my grown-up box of 96-count Crayolas). It takes a lot for a recipe to get on my regular rotation, and this one just did. I love Greek/Turkish food with all my heart, and I swear, I think this recipe for homemade gyro meat must be identical to my favorite Turkish place in town. Wow, mama, are these delicious! Any extra meat you have leftover would freeze beautifully, I’d wager (and you’re gonna want leftovers—trust me).

And closer to home:

J.T. wrote a blog post about Imposter Syndrome, a new buzzword flying around the creative world, and why it’s a bunch of rubbish (need a boost? read this post).

On The Wine Vixen, I wrote about this delicious Sauvignon Blanc that YOU MUST have in your life this spring. Seriously. This is the best white I’ve had in quite a while AND it’s under $20.

And don’t forget: there’s a Goodreads giveaway to win one of 30 advanced copies of J.T.’s new Taylor Jackson prequel, FIELD OF GRAVES! Look at it this way: your odds of winning a copy far outweigh your chances of winning the lottery. Just sayin’.

That’s it from me! I hope you find buttercups, chocolate, and good books somewhere in your life this week. I’ll talk to you soon!

–Amy

Via: JT Ellison

    

2.25.16 – Imposter This

By JT Ellison

Long ago, when I was but a wee, ignorant lass, I worked for a boss who was, to put it politely, a complete and total arse.

He was a yeller, something I’d never experienced, and his bite was, sadly, as bad as his bark. He liked to make points, and when he did, inevitably with an audience, I always felt humiliated and embarrassed. As a grown up, I look back now and realize he was a deeply, deeply unhappy person who had zero communications skills (strange, considering the profession).

And he made himself, and everyone around him, miserable.

This has always been a dark time for me to think about. I wanted that job so badly, and when I landed it, I was so proud. It was a coveted, enviable position, and at the time, I was on a pretty big tear, career-wise. My future looked bright.

I realized I was in over my head pretty quickly.

After only a few months, unable to handle the constantly shifting sands, unreasonable hours, slightly shady things going on, and my total inability to do the job to his satisfaction, I left in a blaze of burnt bridge glory (go, me!). He did a great job of making sure I couldn’t find another position, too. Lovely, right?

No, it wasn’t fair. But it was a GREAT lesson.

It wasn’t my first big challenge in a job, but it was the first that I couldn’t find any way to resolve. And I tried. I consulted my mentors. I talked to other people in the field. Randy and I were dating at the time; I spent night after night complaining to him. It was a disastrous, unhappy few months, and I ended up getting out of the industry entirely because of it.

And truthfully: statistics? Dear God in heaven, what was I thinking?

Also, I now completely and totally understand the job, and know it is NOT FOR ME! So technically, by being a jerk, he saved me. Cue irony.

So you can understand the panoply of emotions that bombarded me when I ran into said former boss on a recent flight.

He was ahead of me in line, and, of course, seated in the window to my aisle. He’s somewhat well-known, so I’ve seen him from time to time on television, but it had been twenty-some odd years since I saw him in person. As I eavesdropped on his last minute phone call, I realized he was still up to his old tricks.

I couldn’t help myself. I waited for the call to finish, and as I was stashing my carryon in the overhead, I greeted him, by full name. The conversation went a bit like this:

Me: “Hi. I used to work for you, for a few months, twenty-odd years ago.”

Him, somewhat taken aback: “Where was my office?”

Me, panicking slightly because I don’t remember the damn street and my defiant greeting is about to fail: “Northwest D.C.”

Him, still confused: “I had a few offices up there.”

Me: “You probably don’t remember me. I’m [[First Name, Last Name]]”

Him, a slight delay, then complete, 100% abject horror crosses his face: . . . (he is speechless)

(I didn’t leave well, remember.)

Me, quite saucily now, with a wide grin: “Save my seat, I’m going to the loo.”

I trotted off and when I got back, he was feigning sleep. He stayed that way through the whole flight (missing the drink service, which I’m sure, knowing what he’d just been dealing with, he needed), the landing, and disembarking.

And I was on top of the world. Which pretty much makes me as big of a jerk as he was.

I didn’t tell him what I do now. I didn’t tell him anything. I didn’t have to, I know what I’ve accomplished since I left his employ. He treated me horribly, blackballed me so I couldn’t get another job in the field, and his petty nonsense used to have me in tears daily. Leaving was the smartest thing I could have done. Clearly, I managed to rise above that position. I succeeded in following my dreams. I succeeded despite him.

But over the years, I’ve sometimes wondered if I succeeded to spite him.

That brief moment on the plane, being able to remind him of a moment in time when he was a jerk to a kid starting out felt like absolutely fucking vindication, twenty years in the making.

And then, of course, I felt obnoxious for even having that thought. It is NOT how I approach my life. Ever. I am a big believer in everything happens for a reason. I value negative experiences because they teach me how I don’t want to live my life. It’s too short to be caught up in stupid stuff that happened in the past.

I’m weird. I admit this freely.

And thank you for hanging in, because all of this is an elaborate prelude to my real point. I tell you the story so you can understand where I’m coming from.

I think everyone has had that jerk of a boss, that person who treated you unfairly. For many people, it is the impetus to leave an unhappy situation, and for some, to strike out into an artistic field. It didn’t work that way for me, not immediately. It took marriage, a few more jobs, a new city, and a sick cat for me to finally allow myself to become a writer, though I’d known all along that’s the dream I wanted to follow.

Writing, for me, was like falling into cool water on a hot, steamy day. It saved me, in more ways than one. It gave me the identity I’d long been searching for. It gave me hope. I found new friends, new freedoms, and basically started my life over again. I was 37 when my first book came out. Happily, I got to find my bliss earlier than some.

There’s a buzzphrase on everyone’s lips, a concept that’s being passed around, called Imposter Syndrome.

And I want to call bullshit on it.

This is not going to be a popular concept. I know a lot of people are fully convinced that their strange feeling of dislocation when it comes to having success in a creative field is due to this label. I’m willing to bet most creatives have these thoughts in their head (like I do):

I’m so lucky. I’m doing something fun, creative, exciting, getting to work in my pajamas and make my own hours and make money at it. People read my books and blog and say nice things and ask me to do more, and hurry up already . . . but someone’s going to figure out I’m a total fraud, and then I’ll be exposed, homeless, left to eat out of trashcans and wander aimlessly, talking to the squirrels.

This, according to the definition, is rather classic Imposter Syndrome.

So here’s where I call BS.

We ALL feel that way.

Everyone feels that way. You are not alone, special, or any sort of martyr because you feel like a fraud at what you do, and that you don’t deserve your success.

WORSE, by buying into this, you’re letting yourself be treated like I let myself be treated by my horrible boss. Only it’s your OWN BRAIN doing it.

Here’s the official Wikipedia explanation of Imposter Syndrome:

Impostor syndrome (also spelled imposter syndrome, also known as impostor phenomenon or fraud syndrome) is a term coined in 1978 by clinical psychologists Dr. Pauline R. Clance and Suzanne A. Imes referring to high-achieving individuals marked by an inability to internalize their accomplishments and a persistent fear of being exposed as “fraud”. Despite external evidence of their competence, those exhibiting the syndrome remain convinced that they are frauds and do not deserve the success they have achieved. Proof of success is dismissed as luck, timing, or as a result of deceiving others into thinking they are more intelligent and competent than they believe themselves to be. Some studies suggest that impostor syndrome is particularly common among high-achieving women, while others indicate that men and women are equally affected.

So basically, a bunch of women’s brains got together without proper invitations and RSVPs and decided, “Hey, you super suave, spectacularly smart chick — we’re going to pull the rug out from under you and make you feel like you’re not worth anything because there’s a SYNDROME that explains why you feel a sense of dislocation at being rewarded for following your heart, your dreams and succeeding at what you love.”

We are such masochists.

Please don’t fall into this trap.

The whole idea of Imposter Syndrome is flawed, and it sucks. No one thinks they’re excellent at their jobs except brain surgeons and heart surgeons, who can’t afford to be anything but cocky and arrogant because they are playing with the very organs that makes you human. Okay, maybe fighter pilots. But the rest of us are left out here trying to feel like we’ve done the best we can, and no one can live up to their own expectations of themselves.

No one is perfect. No one is always awesome. Everyone has doubts. Everyone feels like they don’t deserve the accolades, the compliments, the money. Everyone gets a 1-star review. IT DOES NOT MAKE YOU AN IMPOSTER.

This idea that we need to be cuddled and soothed every time we take a chance is silly. We try. Some times we succeed, sometimes we don’t. Sometimes we fall down and people have to pick us up. Sometimes we don’t succeed, and we have to start over. Sometimes, we get our dreams.

Humility is great up to a point. The idea of humility so blown out of proportion that we’ve convinced ourselves we are frauds who don’t deserve the respect we have earned by working our asses off is unhealthy, to say the least.

I know our brains are weird places. Dear God, I of all people know this. (Hellooo OCD, anxiety, fear of public speaking, etcetera.)

But please, I beg you, please stop this Imposter Syndrome crap. You are gorgeous. You are smart. You work so hard for what you have. You are an artist, a mother, a wife, a sister. A husband, a brother, a creator. You deserve all the good things in this world. Don’t hold yourself back from them because it’s cool to be humble.

There’s a difference between humility and deciding you have a pathological disorder, and using it to hide from your gifts.

Rant over.

Oh, and old boss?

I forgive you for being a jack off. Cause look what running into you all these years later did for me. I am NOT an imposter, thank you very much. I am a writer, and I love my job.

And that’s good enough for me.

Via: JT Ellison

    

Anatomy of a PhD – analysing novels (Big Little Lies)

By PD Martin

Is there any ‘literary’ in Liane Moriarty’s Big Little Lies?

Of course, one of the big requirements of a PhD in creative writing is to analyse sample texts in line with your exegesis topic. The texts I’ll be examining for ‘literary’ features are Peter Temple’s Truth, Martin Amis’s Night Train, Benjamin Black’s Christine Falls and Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl. However, I’m also expected to read widely in my genre (crime fiction), looking at both ‘popular’ crime novels and the more literary-styled crime novels. Which brings me to Liane Moriarty’s Big Little Lies.

While on the surface this book is ‘popular’ fiction – it’s written by a best-selling author, after all — when we break down some of the elements that are classed as “literary” Big Little Lies actually ticks some boxes.

While there are many characteristics that are considered ‘literary’ for the purpose of this blog I’ll be focusing on three of the elements I’m looking at for my PhD exegesis.

But first I’ll look at the big question…is Big Little Lies a crime novel? Of course, like many things it depends on your definition. It’s certainly not a police procedural (there is a police officer, but he’s only mentioned in passing), yet the mystery element is at the fore. Interestingly, however, the focus isn’t on whodunit, rather it’s on who’s dead? In the opening scenes we know someone has been murdered, then Moriarty takes us back six months. We get to know the characters, we connect with them, and with tiny excerpts from the ‘current’ time zone (in the form of ‘quotes’ from some of the secondary characters) we’re left wondering who is dead right up to the final pages of the book.

During her 2009 doctorate dissertation, Kelly Connelly looked at some of the different definitions of detective novels. Melling identifies three elements, “a criminal, a crime, and a detective” (Melling in Connelly v), Paul describes it as “a rational solution of a puzzle originating in a crime” (Paul in Connelly vi) and Sweeney’s broader definition describes it as “a ravelling and an unravelling”. Under both the second and third definitions, Big Little Lies is classed as a ‘detective’ novel and given Big Little Lies won the 2015 Davitt (Sisters in Crime) for Best Adult Novel, it’s clearly being ‘judged’ as a crime novel.

But back to the literary elements…

The role of characterisation compared to narrative form

One of the broader differentiations often attributed to a division between literary texts and popular fiction is that literary fiction is character-driven and genre fiction is plot-driven. This belief argues that literary fiction contains deeper characterisation and often a protagonist with a stronger sense of interiority, whereas popular fiction focuses more on the narrative structure and genre conventions with the plot more important to keep readers turning the page.

Big Little Lies drives the reader forward through both characterisation and plot. The characterisation is more in-depth than an ‘average’ popular fiction novel. We get to know the three main female characters — Jane, Celeste and Madeline — through their own point of view chapters. The writing style is alternating limited third (i.e. we change character perspectives (alternating) but it’s limited in that when we’re with each character we only have an insight into their thoughts). However, the narrative distance is extremely close, intimate, so the reader bonds with the characters. And with larger chunks of internal monologue (characters’ thoughts) it certainly delivers character interiority.

However, like many mystery novels the plot is also driving the reader forward. The twist of Moriarty’s Big Little Lies is that it’s not our burning desire to discover the killer that makes us turn the page, rather it’s our need to find out who’s dead. Because of this ‘need’ Big Little Lies is certainly plot-driven. However, the role of characterisation is also imperative.

Socio-political critique

Like many popular fiction genres, crime fiction is usually seen as pure entertainment or escapist reading, a genre that doesn’t challenge the reader or make any kind of societal commentary. Literary fiction, on the other hand, is often charged with not only raising deeper social issues, but bringing about change — or at least seeking to. When it comes to novels, there is a sense that the socio-political critique is the realm of “literature” and the “literary”. However, it has been argued that popular fiction can, and often does, provide social commentary.

In addition to tackling a big issue in our society, Big Little Lies also comments on society, albeit a sub-set of society — school mums. As a school mum myself, I found the commentary in this regard fascinating. We see the clicks of the school mums, the helicopter parents in action, and a sense of competition bubbles under the surface and explodes on the pages.

However, it’s much deeper social commentary is around domestic violence. One of the characters has the ‘perfect’ life…however the reader finds out quite early on that her husband is physically abusive. Interestingly, Moriarty chooses to highlight violence within the higher socioeconomic group, a couple who are the school’s ‘IT’ couple. This perhaps talks to her readership, but it also opens up the issue of domestic violence within relationships we don’t necessarily expect, or that aren’t as widely publicised in the press.

Voice, language and style

While an exact description of the “literary” is difficult to come by and difficult to formulate, literary novels often also share a different approach to language compared to popular fiction, with literary novels often being described as unique in their language or written in a more poetic form. Other stylistics elements that are more likely to appear in ‘literary ‘works are more internal monologue, dialogue that’s not obviously attributed to the speaker, and unreliable narrators.

While Big Little Lies does feature some pretty intensive internal monologue, none of the other literary characteristics are present. Certainly the language, while well-written, does not have any of the poetic or unique flair that’s usually associated with true literary novels.

The ending – narrative form and resolution

Finally one last note, which I’ve left to the end because it’s about the end…

Spoiler alert…

Literary novels are often marked by a lack of resolution, a lack of the happy ever after. If Moriarty’s novel followed a true literary narrative structure, one of her three main characters would have turned out to be the victim. Instead, the victim would probably win the most reader votes for “the person I’d like to see dead” and so in this way Big Little Lies conforms to the narrative structure of popular fiction.

So is it literary?

For the reasons noted above, Big Little Lies is not a literary crime novel. However, it does contain many features of a literary novel, and so if we consider the literary as more of a continuum Big Little Lies would perhaps be a few places further toward the literary than the ‘average’ crime novel.

Via: P.D. Martin

    

2.21.16 – Sunday Smatterings

By JT Ellison

Hi, guys! Amy here, reveling in the sunshine and warmth we’ve gotten in the South over the weekend. Even though our winter has been fairly mild, I am SO READY for spring: flowers, blue skies, soft, green grass . . . my soul stretches a little bit more when the world feels alive. Maybe I should move to a private island.

Or maybe I should win the lottery first before I continue that train of thought.

ANYWAY.

Here’s what happened around the Internets this week:

The Guardian published an article about the Koh-i-Noor, the storied diamond behind J.T. and Catherine’s first Nicholas Drummond novel, THE FINAL CUT. It’s mostly accurate, too.

Cat lovers, rejoice: the Orange Collar Project aims to get lost cats home (!).

While she’s on social media sabbatical, J.T. hasn’t stopped reading things (if she did, she’d explode—trust me). So writers, read up: here’s a collection of links she curated just for you:

A very thoughtful piece on accessing and building vulnerability: What’s Your Kryptonite?

If you don’t subscribe to Steven Pressfield’s blog, you should. This week: the difference between subject and theme.

A beginner’s guide to growing and maintaining men’s long hair. (five words: Matt. Damon. Man. Bun. YES.)

How writing helps you think. (especially the part about note taking. I always absorb more when I write it down.)

Use your own voice, people, the one thing that can’t be taught: Serious Writer Voice. J.T. recommends all writers learn the grammatical rules of their trade, and then trust themselves enough to know when to break those rules.

Have any of you been watching the BBC’s War and Peace miniseries? Thanks to the show, the book shot up on bestseller lists for the first time since the last century. Call me crazy, but this might be one I’d watch instead of read. Sorry, Tolstoy.

Also, Chris Stapleton won a bunch of Grammys, and that made me very excited. He and his wife, Morgane, have been hidden gems around Nashville for years, and I’m glad he’s finally getting the recognition he deserves. Listen to this recording of the two of them singing this folk-bluesy version “You Are My Sunshine.” They’re just delightful.

Agents turned booksellers in this interview, and I just loved it.

And closer to home:

On the Tao this week, we hosted J.T.’s friend, YA author C.J. Redwine, who just released a new series!

If you’re looking for some cheap weekend reads, here are a couple of ebook deals for you:

On The Wine Vixen, I disclosed why it’s so important to chill your wine, and J.T. talked about one of the best value red wines she’s found (spoiler alert: it’s great with pizza!).

Well, folks, that’s it from me. Let’s cross our fingers for spring, and I’ll see you next week!

–Amy

Via: JT Ellison

    

2.18.16 – 7 Minutes With… C.J. Redwine

By JT Ellison

C.J. Redwine is a rather amazing writer. She’s a rather amazing woman, actually. As a huge force on the Nashville YA-writer scene, she juggles some hefty deadlines with her multitude of kids, biological and adopted from foreign countries. Her writing is fierce, fantasy-laden, and tough (I mean, really, how can you not a love a trilogy named Defiance?). C.J. conducted an interview with me several years ago, which was possible the most fun I’ve ever had answering questions – from Captain Jack Sparrow, of course. She’s proof you can have it all – and I predict more great things to come. Here’s C.J.!

_________

Set your music to shuffle and hit play. What’s the first song that comes up?
“I Dare You” by Shinedown

Now that we’ve set the mood, what are you working on today?
I’m working on the next book in the Ravenspire series. It’s due this coming Monday so it’s basically all I’m doing with my life right now.

What’s your latest book about?
THE SHADOW QUEEN is a dark epic fantasy inspired by the Snow White fairy tale. It’s the story of a fugitive princess who has become a fierce warrior, a wicked queen who is the most powerful sorcerer the kingdom has ever seen, and a desperate dragon shape-shifter prince from a neighboring kingdom who makes a deal to become the queen’s huntsman to save his people from destruction.

Where do you write, and what tools do you use?
I write either at my desk in my office or at the little back corner table at the coffee shop in my local bookstore. I use a notebook and Pilot gel pens for plotting, world building, character development, and fix-it notes. I use my laptop for everything else. And I always use a playlist developed specifically for that one story so that as soon as I hear those songs in that order, I’m instantly transported to the story’s world.

What was your favorite book as a child?
My boxed set of The Chronicles of Narnia. I still have that set. It’s in my daughter’s room now. And it’s decorated with puffy rainbow stickers because apparently 9-year-old C.J. thought that was EPIC.

What’s your secret talent?
I can snort just about anything up my nose on accident. Don’t believe me? Here’s a list of recent offenders: Chicken nuggets (this is what death feels like), Diet Coke (sinus douche!), a tiny shard of a tortilla chip that defied gravity and leaped from my lips straight up my nose (moment of silence for his courage), bread pudding (I was really worried the raisins were going to be permanently lodged …), and wasabi (spontaneous combustion starts in the sinus cavity, I always say).

What book are you reading now?
I don’t read while I’m heavily drafting, but my reward for finishing this book is Renee Ahdieh’s THE WRATH AND THE DAWN.

When did you know you wanted to be a writer?
When I was in second grade and was given an assignment to write a 3-paragraph story. I turned in 4 pages (with illustrations!) and never looked back. Story-telling is how I translate my experiences.

Who is your writing idol? Have you met him/her? If so, did you completely nerd out or keep your cool?
J.K. Rowling! I haven’t met her, and I love that you actually think I have a cool to keep. Awkward fangirling all the way, baby!

What’s your favorite bit of writing advice?
Take risks!

What do you do if the words aren’t flowing?
Stop and do something mostly mindless so I can let the story play around in my head until the solution shows up. By mostly mindless, I mean take a walk or a drive or … I was going to say do housework, but let’s not get crazy.

Are you creatively satisfied?
Yes, while at the same time always striving for more. At least once a week, I wish I could be one of those people you hear about sometimes that can sleep maybe 3 hours a night and they’re fine. Martha Stewart is like that. Of course that led her to believe she should do things like make her own mirrors out of little sheets of silver that you can only find from like … three vendors in the entire country, so … maybe that’s not such a great idea.

What would you like to be remembered for?
For loving people well.

Alright, now for the really important questions:

Beach or mountains? Beach! (But with mountains and cliffs)
Coffee or tea? Peach tea
Skydive or bungee jump? Oh dear Lord, my stomach just plummeted. Nope. ALL THE NOPE.
Chocolate or vanilla? Chocolate. If you’re going to ingest the calories, you might as well go for broke.
Winter or summer? Autumn!
Cake or pie? PIE. YES. PIE. EVERY DAY. PIIIIIIIIIIIIE.
Cats or dogs? Cats, though I love dogs too.
Pens or pencils? Pens! Pilot gel pens in a rainbow of color options, to be specific.
Truth or dare? Truth
Print or ebook? Print, though ebooks for trips are the best thing since pie.

_________

C.J. Redwine loves fairy tales, Harry Potter, and Sherlock. She is the author of the Defiance trilogy, a post-apocalyptic fantasy from Balzer + Bray. C.J. lives in Nashville with her husband and children. If the novel writing gig ever falls through, she’ll join the Avengers and wear a cape to work every day. To learn more about C.J., visit her website at www.cjredwine.com.

Think you’d like THE SHADOW QUEEN? Learn more here!

Via: JT Ellison

    

2.14.16 – Sunday Smatterings

By JT Ellison

Hi, guys! Amy here, trying my best to fill J.T.’s big shoes (metaphorical, of course) while she’s on her annual Social Media Sabbatical for Lent. You may know me as the other half of The Wine Vixen, where I review mostly white wines (I’m a sucker for Riesling and Pinot Grigio and Sauvignon Blanc) and beg J.T. to come with me to review Nashville restaurants. It’s a really tough sell, let me tell you. I also love Mexican food, NPR, and greyhounds.

I mean, come on, how could you not?!

greyhounds are the best

They are also 45 mph couch potatoes that love to sleep.

so much sleepScreen Shot 2016-02-12 at 1.51.41 PM.png

ANYWAY. You came here for links, and links are what you’re going to get. J.T. is still reading things while she’s on sabbatical, so some of these links are hers and some are mine. We’ll be dividing things up like this until after Easter. There will be lots about food, books, and dogs, just so you know.

And without further ado . . .

Here’s what happened around the Internets this week:

Here’s something to stick in your back pocket: 9 Dates for Book-Loving Couples. (Boyfriend, take note: literary road trip!!!!)

You know what would be a great companion for your literary road trip? This literary road map, OF COURSE.

If you’re in the Knoxville area and want a cheap, low-key Valentine’s meal, head to Sweet P’s BBQ. The original location is on the river, just off the Maryville Pike, but there’s a downtown location, too. 3 courses (including wine pairings for each course!) are only $25. Just sayin’, folks. And the regular menu is open, too, perfect for a Lady & the Tramp moment over a rack of ribs!

This is the book I’m obsessing over right now: Ariel Lawhon’s FLIGHT OF DREAMS, which is coming out in a couple of weeks. An expertly-paced plot, intricate historical details, and a lovely romance against the backdrop of tragedy. This ain’t your mama’s historical fiction.

If you’ve been hiding under a rock, you might not have heard that J.K. Rowling is giving us an 8th Harry Potter book . . . sort of.

Writers, take note: Steven Pressfield is discussing theme, and it will change your writing in the best possible way.

Fascinating article from the Nashville Scene: KFC Has Created the Luke Bryan of Hot Chicken.

Also, I’m a TV junkie who’s a frequent binge-watcher. My latest binge-watch was Showtime’s Nurse Jackie, which just came on Netflix. Oh my. It’s dark, for sure, but has some spit-things-out-of-your-mouth funny moments (that, um, happened to “a friend”), courtesy of Merritt Wever’s character, Zoey Barkow. Edie Falco is excellent in this, and while there are some plot points that raise my eyebrow, I thought it was an overall well-done series. I watched 7 seasons in . . . well, a shamefully short amount of time.

And speaking of TV, I know J.T. nearly shrieked with excitement when she found out that Deborah Harkness’s All Soul Trilogy is being adapted for television!

Even MORE TV news: Outlander Season 2 will debut April 9, and here’s a trailer (!). Even if you haven’t read the books, the show is worth a watch. J.T. would call blasphemy on this statement, but I think the show may be just as good as the books (sorry, boss, just being honest . . . ).

And closer to home:

The Wine Vixen

On The Wine Vixen, J.T. and I compiled some of our favorite wines for you and your honey to enjoy tonight, and I wrote about tasting the (supposedly) most cancer-fighting wine in the world.

A Word on Words

Are you a fan of the book (or movie) THE MOSQUITO COAST? Then you need to catch J.T.’s newest A Word on Words interview with the unforgettable Paul Theroux! If you missed J.T.’s A Word on Words interview with Greg Iles (author of NATCEZ BURNING and THE BONE TREE), you can watch it here.

Two Tales Press

If you’re in the mood for creepy love stories, Two Tales Press has the MAD LOVE bundle on sale for $0.99!

And PS: J.T. still has a couple of Goodreads giveaways that are still live! You could win one of 30 ARCs of NO ONE KNOWS or one of 20 ARCs of FIELD OF GRAVES. Good luck!

Well, that’s all I’ve got for you. Happy Valentine’s Day, have fun with your loved ones, and I’ll see you next week!

–Amy

Via: JT Ellison