JP McLean

Writing Addictive Fiction

The Never Witch is Finalized

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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:

The Never Witch bookmark featuring the cover and a tagline, author name, and a line of moons

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.

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JP McLean Author Headshot #4

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Until next time…

Margaret Atwood is coming to Denman Island!

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You read that right: Margaret Atwood is coming to Denman Island! The Denman Island Readers and Writers Festival Committee has enticed Ms. Atwood to our island. She’ll be attending a fund-raising meet-and-greet event on the evening of May 31, and the following day, June 1st, she’ll give two presentations. The morning event is a talk sprinkled with readings, and the evening event is a moderated discussion with Ms. Atwood and Des Kennedy.

Audiobook Progress

The audio recording for Blood Mark is DONE! I’m now recording the second Dark Dreams book, Ghost Mark. The sneak peek recording of Blood Mark remains available here.

In-person Event Update

My next in-person event is a book signing for my newest release, Scorch Mark, on May 18th from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Blue Heron Books, 1775 Comox Avenue in Comox, BC. If you’re in the neighbourhood, drop by and say hello. If you can’t make it on the 18th, drop in anytime to visit with Dirk Meckert, the owner of Blue Heron. He’s an interesting man with eclectic tastes and a love of art and old books.

Blue Heron Bookshops's logo featured a blue line drawing of a blue heron

Author Chat with Book Club Mom

I had a great chat with Barbara Vitelli. She interviewed me for her Book Club Mom Author Chat which is posted on YouTube. We talked about living on a small island, my two series, and how I arrived at this point in my writing and publishing career. Barb is a joy to speak with. She's open, curious, and supportive. I've interacted with Barb many times over the years, liking and sharing her posts, but this is the first time we've "met." I apologize ahead of viewing for my gimpy right eye. I had a bad reaction to some bug bites (the dangers of gardening!).

 

Feature in May 2024 Issue of SAM Magazine

Joanna Vander Vlugt interviewed me in connection with Scorch Mark. She asked great questions about my story inspiration, writing process, and the research I conducted. Most interesting, she asked how my life experiences intersect with my characters and their stories. The May issue also features
PJ Donison, Kate Gateley, donalee Moulton, Steven Raaymakers, Amy Tector, and Penny Astley.

What I’m Reading

You won’t be surprised to see that I’m reading Margaret Atwood. Aside from the fact that she’s coming to Denman, her writing is a lesson in storytelling craft, which is instructive to me as an author.

It’s been a few years since I read Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale. The Testaments is a follow-up novel, fifteen years after the events in The Handmaid's Tale.

It's about a dystopian future where the USA is run by corrupt male religious zealots, society is strictly segregated into social classes, and women who aren’t sterile are treated as faceless breeders or servants for the upper classes. Some aspects of Atwood’s story hit a little too close to home given the news cycles of late. The Handmaid’s Tale was published in 1985, which makes me wonder if Atwood has a crystal ball on her desk (maybe I’ll have the opportunity to ask her!).

In Other News

I’ve written previously about how many hats I wear as an indie author in the publishing business. As much as I love it, it’s been a struggle to keep up. My writing and personal life are falling off the edge of my desk. So, I’m making some changes that I hope will free up a little more time for the things I love most.

Over the coming months, I’ll be transitioning this blog into a much shorter news and upcoming events post. If you wish to continue receiving my author-life updates and behind-the-scenes scoop, then please sign up for my monthly VIP Reader Newsletter. As a bonus, you'll get free and exclusive short stories. I’ll never sell or trade your email address and you can unsubscribe at any time.

I’ll also be streamlining my Facebook accounts. I currently have two pages, a personal page, and a business page. Facebook has throttled traffic to the business page. Probably because I’m not advertising there, but who knows. Maybe it’s an algorithm. The end result is the same. Even when I post identical content on each page, my personal page has ten times the engagement I get on the business page. The dual effort is not productive and not a good use of my time.

If you’ve “liked” or are “following” me on my business page, please consider “friending” me on my personal page instead. I’ll post my intent on Facebook. But most of the people who have liked or followed me there won’t likely see that post.

Until next time,

XO Jo-Anne

Big Island Book Fest

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sun shining through fog and fir branchesAutumn is rolling onto Denman Island in foggy waves, which is the perfect atmosphere for tomorrow’s Big Island Book Fest in Courtenay. There will be 50 local authors attending, book signings, book readings, children’s face painting, and live music.

JP Bailey (another JP!) is the main driver behind the event, and she’s done a stellar job promoting the event, including a terrific article in the Comox Valley Record and coverage in Compass Magazine.

Big Island Book Fest is tomorrow, Saturday October 14, from 10 to 4 at the Florence Filberg Centre (the one in Courtenay, not Comox). The address is 411 Anderton Ave, Courtenay, BC. There’s lots of parking outside on both levels of the building. We’ll be on the top floor.

Canadian News Ban

I ran up against the social media ban on sharing Canadian news when I tried to share the Comox Valley Record link on social media. Facebook prevented me from sharing it. It’s really too bad that issue can’t be sorted out equitably so we can get back to sharing these events.

Dark Dreams news

Scorch Mark has a wonderful new review:

Scorch Mark is glamor and grit, spliced with a magical sense of the macabre. —W.L. Hawkin, award-winning author of Lure and the Hollystone Mysteries.

If you are interested in joining my early review street team, reply to this newsletter and let me know. I’m looking for readers who can review Scorch Mark on book retailer sites and help me get the word out. Speaking of which, don’t forget, Scorch Mark is available for preorder right now from your favourite retailer.

What I’m reading

I just finished reading The First Time I Died (Garnet McGee) by Jo Macgregor. The title drew me in, and the description sealed the deal. It’s a murder mystery with a touch of the supernatural. That’s exactly the type of book I’m devouring right now. And Macgregor did a fine job of creating memorable characters and a story that made it easy to suspend disbelief. Five stars.

I’m off to pack the car for tomorrow’s Big Island Book Fest. With ten+ books now, it’s quite a load. I’ll be at booth 4 against the back wall. Stop by and say hello!

Until next time . . .

XO

 

A New Book Award and a Huge Festival Event!

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A New Book Award:

B.R.A.G. Award MedallionThis just in: Ghost Mark has won an Indie B.R.A.G. award! I’m very proud to join B.R.A.G.’s list of honorees. The news is so fresh that (last I checked) Ghost Mark wasn’t yet listed on their website. The B.R.A.G. president advised me they will make an announcement and add the title to their online honorees in the coming days.

My Next Festival Event is a Big One:

I’ll also be signing books at the biggest festival I’ve ever attempted. Comox Nautical Days runs from Saturday, August 5th through to Monday, August 7th, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Monday. The festival is held annually in conjunction with the Filberg Festival. This is its 63rd year. Stop by and say hello. I’ll be at booth #63 in the Comox Marina Park at the foot of Port Augusta Road. (It feels like an excellent omen to have booth 63 on the 63rd anniversary!)

Dark Dreams Update:

Scorch Mark has a release date! November 14. The manuscript has been through its story edit and is now in the hands of the copy editor. After the copy edit is done, the book will move on to proofreading and formatting. I can’t wait to share Scorch Mark’s cover with you, after which I’ll put the book up for preorder.

The Gift Legacy Update:

I’m removing The Gift Legacy books from Kindle Unlimited/Kindle Select effective September 2nd. The final countdown deal will run from August 17 through 20th and will include 99c sales on the three original books in what was once a trilogy, Secret Sky, Hidden Enemy, and Burning Lies, (Books 1-3). If you’re in the Kindle Unlimited program, download the books to your Kindle before they disappear. After September 2nd, the books will once again be available to buy from all retailers.

What I’m Reading:

The All Souls Trilogy Book CoverI’m rereading Deborah Harkness’s All Souls Trilogy. It was great the first time, and I’m loving it all over again. I’m also watching the mini-series based on it, which is available on Prime. It’s fascinating to see which scenes made it to the screen, and which were altered. As much as it’s entertaining, it’s also research and educational: research for my next book, which will be about witches, and educational because I’m plucking away on a screen play for The Gift Legacy series.

Both of those projects are a long way off. In the meantime, I’ll be heading to Ontario for my annual trip to visit my family.

Until next time, XO