JP McLean

Writing Addictive Fiction

We Have a Title!

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I’m thrilled to share with you that we have a title for the new book. Thanks to everyone who submitted their choices, added new ideas, and shared their opinions. It was a nail-biting decision, but it’s done. The new title is—drum roll please . . .

The Never Witch, A Thorne Witch Novel

The wheels are now in motion to get the publishing ball rolling. I’ve received the ISBN numbers, the copyright certificate, and I’ve engaged a cover designer. I’ve finished writing the front- and back-end material, and I’m also familiarizing myself with new software, Affinity Publisher, which should make laying out the interior of the book much easier.

While I wait for the manuscript to be put through its paces, I’ll get caught up with the weeding (is anyone ever caught up with weeding?) and when the sun goes down in the evenings, I’ll pick away at creating marketing material. With a glass of wine.

What I’m reading

Book Cover for The Nature of Witches by Rachel Griffin featuring a girl in a field with her long brown hair blowing straight up.The Nature of Witches by Rachel Griffin Loved this book. Griffin gives us a new take on magic and witches with a strong tie-in to the environment. Lovely language and writing. Romance and magic in perfect balance. I also love the book cover. Highly recommend.

Book cover orange writing on black, The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab. Another excellent book. It’s about a woman who makes a deal with the devil to escape an unwanted marriage . But the devil is in the details, and the deal she thought she’d made isn’t what she’s dealt. Though mildly repetitive, I’d still recommend it.

If you’d like to know more about me, my writing life, and my home on Denman Island, please sign up for my monthly newsletter, where I share photos, updates, FREE short stories, and insider scoop. I never share your email address, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Happy Mother’s Day.

Until next time . . .

 

Would you help me choose a book title? 🤔

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Firming up the Title for The Warlock Witch

Though I’ve used The Warlock Witch as my placeholder title for the new book, it’s time for me to firm up a name. Would you help me choose a book title? My track record for picking good ones is abysmal. With the help of my friends, we’ve compiled the following list. Let me know which title grabs your attention: (If none of them works for you, I’m open to suggestions.)

  1. The Runed Witch
  2. The Never Witch
  3. The Warlock’s Witch/The Warlock Witch
  4. Adeline Thorne, the Runed Witch
  5. The Magic of Thorne
  6. The Nevermore Witch

Also, please let me know which series title you like best:

  1. The Runeglyph Series/A Runeglyph Novel
  2. The Warlock Witch Series/ A Warlock Witch Novel
  3. A Thorn Witch Novel

Back-of-the-book Description

And if you’d like a little more insight into the book, the following is a draft back-of-the-book description:

When power bites back, beware the Warlock Witch

Adeline Thorne was a witch in name only. She never inherited the magic that should have been her birthright. But she’s learned to accept it. She’s built herself a quiet life on the west coast as a better-than-average portrait painter, a big sister, loving aunt, and ex-wife. And that was enough. It had to be.

Until a convicted warlock, in an act of desperation, dumps his magic into her. To him, she was only a vessel. He didn’t care that warlock magic was incompatible with her witch’s DNA. He didn’t care that his attack would jeopardize the fragile peace between witches and warlocks. And he didn’t care that his power would tear Adeline’s world apart.

The Warlock Witch now had magic, an irresistible drug. The only problem? He wants it back.

If you can’t get enough of Rachel Griffin, Shanna Swendson, Emma Törzs, then you’ll love The Warlock Witch

Upcoming Events

Date: Friday, June 20, 2025, 5:00 pm until sundown
Location: The Crow’s Nest Artist Collective
Address: 2550 Island Highway South, Campbell River BC

 

Book Recommendation

This month’s book recommendation is Spells for Forgetting by Adrienne Young. I had a hard time putting this one down. It’s imbued with subtle and devastating magic. I found myself picking apart the writing to see how Young had accomplished the deep pull of emotion. Great writing. Great story. I think you’d like it.

If you’d like to know more about me, my writing life, and my home on Denman Island, please sign up for my monthly newsletter, where I share photos, updates, FREE short stories, and insider scoop. I never share your email address, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Until next time…

Denman Island’s Annual Herring Spawn

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March has been a busy month with Denman Island’s annual herring spawn.

The island where I live is home to an annual herring spawn that occurs between late February and early March. The millions of herring that arrive on our shores turn the water the colour of the Caribbean. A cacophony of sea lions, seals, eagles, and seagulls, follows, along with the fishing fleet. I took this video in early March to give you an idea of what it looks and sounds like.

Oceana Canada provides a more in-depth explanation on YouTube.

It’s loud, it’s bright, and it’s busy. At night, when we’d normally only see stars and a few distant lights on neighbouring islands, we instead look out on what could be mistaken for a cityscape with glaring lights in constant motion.

I wouldn’t want to live with that full-time, but once a year it’s an exciting change of pace.

Witch Book Progress

I’m thrilled to report that my WIP (work in progress) now sits at 80K. The finished draft will end up between 90-100K.

image

When I’m writing, I find it useful to find a photo that looks like the character I’ve created in my head. This is who I picture for the main character, Adeline Thorne. Adeline is a thirty-four-year-old witch who didn’t come into the magic she should have inherited. In real life, this woman is Magdalena Zalejska, a Polish model.

Upcoming In-Person Events

Can you believe I’m already booking Christmas? Continue Reading

The Dark Dreams Audiobooks are LIVE

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Dark Dreams Audiobook Update

collection of three audiobook covers for the Dark Dreams series of books featuring a woman from the shoulders up in mysterious poses

I’m happy to report that the Dark Dreams audiobook files have passed the approval hurdles at all the big retailers. Whew! Fourteen months of work has not been wasted. The audio files will continue to roll out to new retailers, with more being added all the time.

Something frustrating I learned during this process is that creators can’t set the price of their audiobooks on Audible. Audible sets the price, which in my opinion, is much too high for this genre. But in the markets where I was able to set the price, I priced the audiobook at the paperback price of $16.99 US. And for those of you who have subscriptions to Audible, Kobo, or others, you’ll get an even better deal.

The unaffiliated retailer links are listed under “All Other Retailers” on my Bookstore Page. You can also find the unaffiliated links below (the link to audible is glitchy—you may have to search for the book by title and JP McLean).

Blood Mark

Ghost Mark

Scorch Mark

If you’re a library customer, please ask your local library to order the audiobooks, which are now on Libby and Overdrive.

Witch Book Progress

Writing on the WIP (Work in Progress) is speeding along at an unprecedented clip. I’m at the 25% mark on my way to 90-100K words. Let’s hope I can keep up the pace.

That’s all my news for January of 2025. My thoughts and prayers go out to those of you impacted by the California wildfires.

JP McLean Author Headshot #4If you’d like to know more about me, my writing life, and my home on Denman Island, please sign up for my monthly newsletter, where I share photos, updates, FREE short stories, and insider scoop. I never share your email address, and you can unsubscribe at any time.