Witches and Warlocks and Magic, Oh My!

October 24, 2025 By JPMcLean 2 Comments

Happy Halloween

Are you stocked up for the trick or treaters? I wonder what the most popular costume will be this year? When I heard on the news that the cost of costumes has increased by a shocking amount, it got me reminiscing about the years before costumes were bought, to a time in my childhood when costumes were cobbled together.

I don’t think buying costumes was even an option when I was young. But if it were, with four of us kids in the family, I imagine forking out money for costumes would have been out of the question. But we had a secret weapon: our mom could sew. I remember a devil’s costume and an iridescent black and purple satin witch’s skirt. There was also a memorable paper horse’s head attached to a fabric costume body made for two. I seem to recall my older sister was the head and I was the horse’s behind. Haha! A classic. I’ll have to look for photos of those costumes next time I visit my folks.

This year, Halloween holds a special place for me with The Never Witch out and about in the local shops. The launch events have been hauntingly good and I’ve enjoyed meeting readers and lovers of witches and warlocks and magic, oh my!

My next in-person events are:

Saturday, October 25, 4-9 pm, Witchy Market at the Crow’s Nest Artists’ Collective, Campbell River
Saturday, November 15, 10 am – 4 pm & Sunday, November 16, 10 am – 3 pm, Lighthouse Christmas Market, Qualicum Bay
Sunday, November 23, Union Bay Christmas Craft Fair, 10 am – 3 pm

Editorial Reviews

I’m thrilled to share three BIG editorial reviews that have come in for The Never Witch:

McLean’s writing has never been more stylish and powerful—this book raises the bar on craft.

—Ottawa Review of Books

Original, unique, clever, deftly crafted, and a simply riveting and fun read from start to finish.

—Midwest Book Review

Action-packed, thrilling, and entertaining, author JP McLean’s “The Never Witch” is a must-read occult suspense and urban fantasy.

—Anthony Avina, Book Blogger and Reviewer

My interview with Peter McCully

As promised, here is a link to my interview with Peter McCully on The PULSE Community Podcast in Parksville. Peter and I had an interesting chat about my writing process and the inspiration behind my books. Peter is personable and curious, which makes for an entertaining conversation. I really enjoyed speaking with him and had the pleasure of meeting him in person at The Never Witch book launch at Fireside Books in Parksville.

Retailer News

I’m also pleased to announce that Laughing Oyster Bookshop and Coles in the Driftwood Mall in Courtenay are now carrying The Never Witch. It is also available from my website and at these independent bookshops:

Elsewhere, you can order The Never Witch by title or its ISBN number (978-1-988125-72-5) from your favourite bookshop.

And finally, I wanted to share this stunning video sunrise with you. Enjoy!

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Until next time…

Jo-Anne

It’s Launch Day for The Never Witch

September 16, 2025 By JPMcLean 6 Comments

Today is Launch Day for The Never Witch

Local support for The Never Witch book launch has been wonderful. I am especially pleased that the launch’s press release was picked up by the Comox Valley Record and the Parksville – Qualicum Beach News. The media coverage led to Peter McCully contacting me for an interview, which we recorded yesterday. It will air on the PULSE Community Podcast in Parksville. I’ll share the link here and on social media as soon as I have it.

Thank you to everyone who purchased early review copies of The Never Witch at Nautical Days in Comox. I sold out of the few copies I had. Your early feedback and reviews are SO appreciated. Your keen eyes caught some typos I’d missed (and have since fixed), and the early reviews warmed my heart.

💖Thank you! 💞

Upcoming In-Person Events

Book launch events are now slated for:

Saturday, September 20, 10 am–2 pm, Abraxas Books and Café on Denman Island
Saturday, September 27, 10 am–2 pm, Blue Heron Books in Comox
Saturday, October 11, 1–3 pm, Fireside Books in Parksville
Friday, October 17, 10 am–2 pm, Mulberry Bush Books in Qualicum
Saturday, October 18, 10 am–2 pm, Coles in the Driftwood Mall, Courtenay

I hope you can make it out to one of the launch events. But if not, I also have markets scheduled:

Saturday, October 25, 4–9 pm, Witchy Market at the Crow’s Nest Artists’ Collective, Campbell River
Saturday and Sunday, November 15, 10 am–4 pm, & November 16, 10 am–3 pm, Lighthouse Christmas Market, Qualicum Bay
Sunday, November 23, Union Bay Christmas Craft Fair, 10 am–3 pm

There are a few other events I’m wait-listed for and will keep you posted.

On The Home Front

My time “home” with my family was lovely. We made two side trips, one to visit an aunt and cousin in Haliburton, and another to visit my nieces in their new home on a half acre close to the beach in Grand Bend on Lake Huron (Ontario’s west coast).

This photo is of the Manitouwabing River flowing past my sister’s house.

It’s always great to visit the family. There were lots of laughs and we got a few chores knocked off the to-do lists. We power-washed my parents’ house, reorganized their kitchen cupboards, (Mom dislocated her shoulder a few months back and couldn’t get items off the top shelves), and helped install some beautiful steps at my sister’s place.

A highlight was enjoying a girls’ night with some local gals and indulged in a Friday martini (mine was dirty, half gin/half vodka, with garlic-stuffed olives; hers was a vesper with vodka, no gin, Lillet, and a lemon twist).

What I’m Reading

Again, I’m primarily listening these days. I finished The Bittlemores, written and narrated by Jann Arden. It’s part mystery, part coming of age, sprinkled with humour, a few horrific events, and some touching moments. I’m a big fan of Jann Arden, so the best part for me was listening to her tell me a story.

I’m still making my way through Louise Penny’s mystery series set in Three Pines and centred around Chief Inspector Armand Gamache of the Sûreté du Québec. My favourite book in the series (so far) is How the Light Gets In. I highly recommend.

Following a recommendation, I’ve also started listening to The Alice Network by Kate Quinn.

And now I must get back to The Never Witch launch week activities. May your October be filled with brilliant fall colours, pumpkin-spiced anything, and a terrific new book!

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Until next time…

Jo-Anne

First Reviews for The Never Witch

August 15, 2025 By JPMcLean 3 Comments

August Highlights

August is the best of our summer months: sunny days, warm nights, vacations, and outdoor festivals. Sadly, we also have forest fires. So, though I do love August, I keep those affected by the forest fires in my thoughts.

In Canada, the first Monday in August is a civic holiday. This year, once again, I spent my long weekend at the Nautical Days Festival in Comox.

I love talking to readers and watching their eyes light up when a pitch lands perfectly. Some readers gravitate toward the Dark Dreams books, others to the Gift Legacy, and this year, I also had advance review copies of The Never Witch.

And finally, Denman’s Reader/Writer Festival

The Denman Readers and Writers Festival sold out again this year. This festival is unlike any other I’ve attended. The atmosphere is laid back, the authors are approachable, and the audiences are enthusiastic. Invited authors are billeted with families on Denman and mingle with attendees during lunches and dinners at the event’s venue. This year’s opening session was over-the-top entertaining! I dare say there is no other festival where the invited authors’ books are shown this much love! This is a video link to that very special opening session. Enjoy!

The Never Witch is Finalized

July 18, 2025 By JPMcLean 3 Comments

I’m pleased to report that The Never Witch is finalized. The ebook and paperback editions are now available wherever pre-orders are permitted. I’ll soon have a copy to hold in hands and will share photos when it arrives. In the meantime, here’s a look at the bookmark:

Upcoming In-person Events

The following are my upcoming events. Come by and say hello. Pick up a beach read for yourself or a gift for a friend. (All of my in-person events are listed here.)

Campbell River Farmers’ Market, Sunday, July 20, 2025, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm, in Spirit Square, Shoppers Row, Campbell River, BC

Parksville Summer by the Sea Street Market, Tuesday, July 22, 2025, 6:00-9:00 pm, on Craig Street in downtown Parksville

Comox Valley Makers’ Market, Saturday, July 26, 2025, 10:00 am – 2:30 pm, at The Old Farm Market (across from the courthouse), 660 England Ave, Courtenay, BC

Comox Nautical Days, August 2-4, 2025, 10-6 Sat & Sun, 10-5 Mon, at Comox Marina Park, 127 Port Augusta St, Comox, BC.

What I’m reading

Or perhaps rereading. I picked up Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare, but I have the sneaky suspicion I’ve read it before. Regardless, I’ll keep reading because I don’t recall how it ends.

I’m also bingeing Louise Penny audiobooks set in Quebec and centred around her character, Chief Inspector Armand Gamache of the Sûreté du Québec. Penny has thoroughly hooked me, and so has the narrator, Robert Bathurst, who is masterful.

The Denman Island Readers and Writers Festival

Denman Island’s annual festival is taking place July 18th to 20th this year. The festival organizers have, once again, lined up an interesting mix of authors to present their work. I’ll be attending and volunteering. Looking forward to it, especially Caroline Adderson, A Way to Be Happy, and Timothy Taylor, The Rise and Fall of Magic Wolf.