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

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!

Would you help me choose a book title? 🤔

April 30, 2025 By JPMcLean Leave a Comment

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.)

The Runed Witch
The Never Witch
The Warlock’s Witch/The Warlock Witch
Adeline Thorne, the Runed Witch
The Magic of Thorne
The Nevermore Witch

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

The Runeglyph Series/A Runeglyph Novel
The Warlock Witch Series/ A Warlock Witch Novel
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

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…

Fall is in the air

September 1, 2024 By JPMcLean 4 Comments

September’s in-person events:

Though fall is in the air, summer’s not over yet! My final summer in-person event will be September 8th, where I’ll be signing books and chatting with visitors at the Union Bay Fall Craft Fair and Luncheon. It will take place from 10:00 am until 3:00 pm PST at the Union Bay Community Club, 5401 South Island Highway in Union Bay. What I like most about this annual event is that it feels like a block party with lots of laughs and fabulous food.

My last event, Nautical Days in Comox over the August long weekend, was a huge success. Thank you to everyone who stopped by my booth. For those of you who picked up the first books in the series, I’ll have all the other books in both series available at the Union Bay Fair. I’ll also have the popular three- and seven-book gift packages of The Gift Legacy with me.

In other news, I’m still in Ontario visiting family. I’m relaxing and spending quality time with my mom and dad, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, and neighbours. Our family’s history goes back several generations in this small community, so there’s lots to catch up on. This is a photo of where I’m staying, taken from a boat on the tea water of the Manitouwabing River. It’s a gorgeous spot.

I do hope you’re enjoying your summer. If you’d like to see more photos, please join my VIP Reader newsletter list. I send out a monthly newsletter with FREE short stories, insider scoop, new release news, and writing/audiobook updates. You can unsubscribe at any time, and I never share your contact details.