L.J. Sellers

, Female

Eugene, OR

United States

Profile Information:

Hometown:: Eugene, Oregon
About Me:: I’m the award-winning author of the bestselling Detective Jackson mystery/thriller series: THE SEX CLUB, SECRETS TO DIE FOR, THRILLED TO DEATH, PASSIONS OF THE DEAD, DYING FOR JUSTICE, and LIARS, CHEATERS & THIEVES. My novels have been highly praised by Mystery Scene and Crimespree magazines and are a Readers Favorite Award winner.

I also have three standalone thrillers, THE BABY THIEF, THE GAUNTLET ASSASSIN,and THE SUICIDE EFFECT. When not plotting murders, I enjoy cycling, social networking, performing standup comedy, attending mystery conferences, and editing fiction manuscripts. I’ve also been known to jump out of airplanes.

Professional info: I'm an award-winning journalist, who's earned the Grand Neal Award for trade magazines.

Personal info: I love to be outside; I have no pets or children currently living with me (yeah!); I'm both cynical and optimistic.

I'm a member of Sisters in Crime, Willamette Writers, Dorothy L, Murder Must Advertise, 4MA, Book Place, MySpace, Facebook, LibraryThing, GoodReads, and Shelfari.

I'm currently writing a futuristic thriller and outlining the fifth Detective Jackson story. Follow me on my blog at:
http://ljsellers.com/wordpress
I Am A:: Reader, Writer, Editor
Website:: http://www.ljsellers.com
Books And Authors I Like:: I read mystery/suspense novels and futuristic thrillers.
Favorite authors: Lawrence Sanders, John Sanford, Michael Connelly, Ridley Pearson, Harlan Coben, Leslie Glass, Elmore Leonard, Rex Stout, John MacDonald, Laura Lippman, Anne Rule, and Perry O'shaughnessy.
I have also enjoyed: Stephen King, James Lee Burke, John Grisham, Sue Grafton, Patricia Cornwall, Scott Turrow, Edward Stewart, James M. Cain, PG Wodehouse, Margaret Atwood, John Irving, and many others.
Movies And TV Shows I Like:: TV shows: House, Gray's Anatomy, Dexter, John Stewart, and Real Time with Bill Maher
Movies: comedies (except those with Will Farrell) and thrillers
Some oddball favorites movies: Princess Bride, Total Recall, Duets, V for Vendetta

follow ljsellers at http://twitter.com

Comment Wall:

Load Previous Comments

Lia

Hi L.J.

Thanks ! Really like the sound of your book . Will put it on my list of books to read :)

Apr 9, 2008
Burl Barer

I must be doing something right? Hmmmm. Not according to Bank of America (aka The Evil Empire -- ooops, that title already belongs to Capitol One) where my bank account looks like an unsecured loan. I do, however, have a new book coming out October 7th, 2008, and a contract for another. Now, if I could just make a living!

Apr 10, 2008
Ludger

Hello L.J.

thanks for adding me. All the best wishes for your new novel - sounds interesting.
Greetings from Germany,
Ludger

Apr 11, 2008
Persia Walker

Thanks for the lovely comment. I've taken a bit of inspiration from your page now, and redone part of mine. Thanks again and best wishes in finding a new publisher!

Apr 12, 2008
Brian L Porter

Hi L.J. Thanks for adding me to your friends list. I've just read your interesting post about JACK!. Funny that, when you consider my latest novel. Yet anohter Jack for your list, but mine's the bad guy!

Good to know you.

Regards

Brian

Apr 13, 2008
Carola Dunn

Hi, LJ, what are you doing at the computer on such a glorious day? It's actually too hot to work in the yard, and I've sprained my ribcage (at least that's what it feels like) so I have an excuse not to be mowing the lawn.

Apr 13, 2008
Brian L Porter

L.J. Unfortunately no-one knows who Jack the Ripper was. Obviously his real name wsn't Jack but he is known to history as just 'Jack trhe Ripper'

Regards
Brian

Apr 13, 2008
Colin Galbraith

Hi LJ,

Very interesting read about the name Jack. I posted a comment as I'd never realised it until now what I'd been doing. Very weird!

Cheers and all the best

Apr 14, 2008
Brian L Porter

Hi L.J.

No problem, you can't have too much fun in the sun. You can still list him if you like as somnay books have been written about him!

Regards

Brian

Apr 14, 2008
Colin Galbraith

Yup - it's a small world, indeed! :-)

Apr 14, 2008
Carola Dunn

5 months of spring is one of the best things about Eugene. I'm looking out at plum and cherry blossom, tulips, daffodils, forsythia, rhodies ,bleeding hearts, grape hyacinths, primroses, wallflowers and of course the ubiquitous dandelions and daisies.

Apr 14, 2008
Janet Ortegon

Thank you L.J.! I just saw the title of your book and that is going on my book list RIGHT NOW.

Apr 15, 2008
Laura L. Cooper

L.J.,
I'm glad I joined the Guppies about a year ago. I haven't met another Guppy in person yet, but I've found lots of email/Internet support. It's a group where everyone cheers you on, and you are encouraged to share your achievements--large or small--unlike most lists. You can join subgroups (no additional costs) to swap manuscript critiques, search for an agent, etc. If you'd like assistance beyond your local writers groups, I'd really recommend that you join up.

All the best to you and Det. Jackson.

Apr 16, 2008
Jeri Westerson

Thank you, L.J. It's very exciting, especially as we ease closer to release date.

Apr 16, 2008
Helen

Hi L.J., thanks for 'friending' me!
4MA is the best isn't it? With so many recommendations from people whose taste I share, I rarely pick up a bad book now.
I really must start spending a bit more time around here.

Apr 16, 2008
Richard Krauss

Thanks for your advice about the Willamette Writer's organization! I'll give it a go!

They have a conference coming up too, but I think they're still putting the details together.

Apr 17, 2008
Allan E. Ansorge

I will be returning north at the end of the week. I wanted to make contact so I would not lose you, I may need your editing services soon. The editor handling some of my shorts and flash has a voice much different than mine. Technically perfect but we can't seem to get together on dialect and she loathes contractions.

Apr 21, 2008
Joan Conwell

Thank you for friending me and your comment. I'm going to look for THE SEX CLUB tomorrow. Hard to resist that title...

Apr 21, 2008
HELI COP

It's a book from world war 2, what happen when small towns would fall to the Germans. it shows how others had to live, when they didn't want too. But they got it in the end.

Apr 21, 2008
HELI COP

I hope it didn't upset you, if it did I am really sorry.

Apr 21, 2008
Neil Plakcy

Hi LJ,
If I could only go to one conference a year I'd probably go to Bouchercon, because it is the biggest. It's easier to get lost in the crowd than at some of the smaller cons, but you would have lots more opportunities to meet fans & other writers because there are so many people there.

Apr 22, 2008
James R. Tate

Hi L.J. I'm new to the site and had a quick question. Why are you looking for a new publisher. I've recently finished a novel and am searching for a publisher or Agent. I can't seem to get my foot in the door even though I won a novel excerpt competition at a good size conference and have had several published authors rave over the book. I feel like a grain of sand in the desert

Apr 22, 2008
Kim Howell

Thanks for the add LJ. It's good to meet others on here that enjoy a good mystery. Your Sex Club looks like it'll be right down my alley too. It's been a while since my last trip to the left coast, but I really enjoyed visiting family there in Eugene. I look forward to returning again one of these days.

Apr 22, 2008
Christopher Valen

L.J.
I'll let you know as soon as I finish reading it.
Chris

Apr 23, 2008
Timothy Hallinan

Hi, LJ --

I've been following you on DL, too -- and congratulations on the title of the year. Why didn't I think of it?

Oh, well. We can only write what we can write.

Apr 24, 2008
Dick Stodghill

I like your choice of favorite writers.

Apr 25, 2008
Jessica

Thank you very much!

Apr 25, 2008
Margaret

L.J., I ordered your THE SEX CLUB book and was enjoying it immensely. I put it aside in order to answer the doorbell, and when I returned, it had disappeared. The only person who could have taken it was my husband, and he was asleep in his chair. Is this normal for your books to just disappear in thin air, or do you suppose one of my dogs is reading it under the bed? Yes, I looked under the bed, but all I saw were dust rhinos.

Margaret

Apr 26, 2008
Arkansas Cyndi

You asked if writing was worth all the time and money... If I were doing this for fame and fortune, then no. But I write for my enjoyment, to tell my stories. I have to realistic about the $$$.

As far as sex in stories go, I have too many friends who write erotica to not be intimately familiar with the situation. Is there a place in mystery and suspense? I think so. How much can only be determined by the comfort of the author.

Apr 26, 2008
Rosanne

Hello! I just joined and saw that you and I are the only ones online! So I was hoping I could add you as a friend. Your book looks interesting. I'll have to check it out! I also think it's funny that you are a Stand-Up comic! Do you ever get up to Seattle? Not too far from Eugene (my nephew goes to college down there!)
Nice to meet you!
Rosanne

Apr 28, 2008
Jacqui Horwood

Hi LJ - nice to make your acquaintance.

Apr 28, 2008
K.R. Lewis

Hi L.J. Eugene, huh? That's just up the road from me. Well, about 3 hours up the road. I'm really new to this site and still trying to figure things out. This place is as confusing as my kid's myspace pages. I'm trying to put a CrimeSpace Badge on my website but it's not really working out too well at the moment.

Apr 28, 2008
K.R. Lewis

Oh, THAT one. Yes, been to it before, two or three years ago, and it was very well attended the time I was there. Are you aware of the Oregon Author Fair put on by Bob's Beach Books in Lincoln City though? They had two last year, shooting for 3 or more this year. If you haven't heard of it, contact Dianna Portwood at their website.

Apr 29, 2008
Susan

Yeah, I love Dexter. That show is sooo droll.

God is Not Great was very informative, in many cases confirming things I'd known or heard about before, but with precise documentation. Hitchins is good about that. And I did learn more about the Koran and Muslim religious beliefs. I'd recommend it. If you read it, let me know how you like it!

I wasn't crazy about the latest John Sandford (or his new protagonist). I guess I'm addicted to Lucas Davenport. But JS did seem to be running out of gas with that series. Lucas and Weather got married and had a kid, which has no name that I can recall!

Apr 29, 2008
Susan

Funny, I don't like Sandford's Kidd series. Not that into computer crime, and also its written first person POV and I prefer reading (and writing) 3rd. Just my quirk. L.J. I love the cover of your book. I want to put a jpeg of my book cover on my page but can't figure out how to do it. Any hints?

Apr 30, 2008
Earl Staggs

Thanks for inviting me over. I see a few familiar names here, so I feel safe. I've read so many great comments about The Sex Club I want to read it.

May 3, 2008
Tom Cooke

I'm ashamed to admit that I haven't read Sex Club yet. I've been so busy trying to get query letters and #$%^ synopsis' ready to go that I haven't done anything else. Wouldn't it be nice if they all at least had similar formats?

Just saw you online and thought I would vent a bit.

Tom
San Antonio, Texas

May 4, 2008
Debbie Behrens

Thanks, LJ! The Sex Club looks good!

Deb

May 5, 2008
Jack Getze

Wow, L.J., can't believe I missed reading a piece of publicity. Guess I still haven't figured out these networks. I shall hustle over right now--a week late?--and see what's up.

May 5, 2008
Jack Getze

I had no idea I liked that sound so much. Is it louder maybe than other speech?

May 5, 2008
Jennie Bentley/Bente Gallagher

Thanks for the add! I look forward to getting to know you, and checking out your book.

May 5, 2008
Vicki Delany

Very well, thanks. I'm back in Ontario now. Hope things are going well with you.

May 7, 2008
Julie Hyzy

Hi L.J.
Thanks for adding me as a friend! I love your book cover and I'm looking forward to picking up The Sex Club. From what I've read on DL it sounds great!

May 8, 2008
Timothy Hallinan

L.J. -- Thanks for the nice words about the reviews. The PW was especially heartening. Let's hope we both sell a zillion this year, and then we can go on the road together -- a double-bill featuring the author of THE SEX CLUB and the BANGKOK novels might draw a whole new public.

Although they might not necessarily be readers ...

May 12, 2008
Ed Lynskey

Hi L.J. -- Thanks for your invite and welcome. This is a new experience for me. Good luck with your new book, too.

May 14, 2008
Seth Harwood

Thanks for the congrats, LJ. Super excited here about the release next year from Three Rivers.

May 19, 2008
L.J. Sellers

I'm guest blogging today at Muderati. Check it out:
http://www.muderati.typepad.com

May 21, 2008
Patricia Harrington

Great review, LJ. I hope your novel is a resounding success. Great title, too. Will check it out.

Best to you,

Pat Harrington - who is headed for "Sandy Pat's" on Antigua. Actually, that pix is taken on one of the five, very tiny islands that make up the village of Five Islands on Antigua in the Caribbean. Where I do serious research for Murder Visits Antigua.

May 21, 2008
Torch

L.J. thank you for the invite. I can't wait to read The Sex Club! I love the title. It reminds me of an idea I had for a book that just did not pan out for me. Margaret Atwood is one of my all time favorates. Have you read Alias Grace by Atwood. I loved it!

May 26, 2008
Miriam Parker

Thanks so much! I'm happy to be here!

May 31, 2008