Author Events Archives - Page 13 of 15

Penance: Now available for pre-order!

April 22, 2015 By JPMcLean 11 Comments

I feel like a hungry bear emerging from its cave, blinking up into the light after a long brutal winter, bewildered and clutching a newborn cub. That cub is the fourth book in The Gift Legacy series. Penance is now available for pre-order on Amazon and Kobo. Placing a pre-order puts you at the front of the queue. Pre-orders are delivered immediately upon release, May 30th.

After release, Penance* will be available in print and ebook formats at all the usual outlets.

The process of bringing Penance into the light of day has challenged me to the core, and the last two months in particular have tested my sanity. So I’m taking a break to recharge my batteries. First up is a visit to Vancouver to attend the Creative Ink Festival on April 25.

When I return, I’m packing my bags for a trip to Spain. I’ve never been and can’t wait. Sight-seeing and people-watching are rich fodder for the imagination, and I’ll be taking notes along with plenty of photos. Mmm, I can almost taste the sangria.

Don’t forget to mark the date: May 30th! Penance is now available for pre-order on Amazon and Kobo.

If you’d rather stay home, you can visit the West Coast through Emelynn’s eyes in Secret Sky, available with one click right here. And if ebooks or Amazon aren’t your preference, click the Bookstore Tab for more purchasing options.

*Update: Penance is now titled Lethal Waters

On the Manitouwabing

September 9, 2014 By JPMcLean 10 Comments

Growing up, I spent most weekends and summers on the Manitouwabing River in Ontario’s cottage country. Even now, living on the west coast, I find myself back there visiting most summers. In fact, I’ve just returned after two relaxing weeks in that quiet countryside surrounded by family and good friends.

McKellar Library

This visit was marked by two very special occasions. The first was a reading I was invited to do at the McKellar Library. The second was the wedding of our very good friend’s daughter, which we were delighted to attend.

This was my second reading at the McKellar Library, and once again, Maxine and Joan did a tremendous job of hosting the event. Not only was my reading announced on the Township’s roadside billboard, but they also advertised it in the local paper and even announced it on 103.3, Moose FM.

They served coffee with muffins, doughnuts and fishing poles. Yes, fishing poles. I mentioned it last year and I’m going to say it again. This has to be the only library in the world where you can check out a fishing pole with your book and go down to the lake in their backyard to throw a line in. Pretty special. You’ll want to get your library card for this one.

McKellar Library was the first library to carry my books and the staff and area residents have been wonderfully supportive, so I was thrilled to treat them to the very first reading from my fourth book, tentatively titled The Gift: Penance. It’s not even published yet, and they’ve already ordered a copy! Many thanks to Joan, Maxine, Jackie and Debbie for their outstanding hospitality.

The Wedding

The wedding came off with only the one (expected) hitch. The bride was stunning, her groom handsome. Vows were spoken, cake was eaten, toasts were made, but it was the first time I’d seen a drone taking photographs.

During the second week, we managed to get out fishing, which afforded a slow tour of our childhood haunts along the river we swam in and knew so well. The ‘hood’s changed considerably and is no longer a sleepy riverbed with acres between simple homes, summer cottages and farm houses.

My grandfather’s house has been beautifully re-built and his property subdivided. Where he once tilled potatoes, a gorgeous home now stands. Across the way, in what used to be cow pasture, another cottage, reputed to be 8K square feet, has been built. Lovely cottage as are the other mansions that now call the Manitouwabing home. I wish they’d offer tours.

When we were kids, we’d see maybe one boat go by each day, and when it did, it was an event. It didn’t matter that the boats were almost always canoes or small aluminum fishing boats. We’d run to the shore to see who it was and shout out, “Having any luck?” Sometimes they’d hold up their catch and we’d wave. Because of the falls, the river’s a dead end, so the boaters would all have to come back our way. We’d wave again and call out “Good luck,” and they’d disappear around the bend. Today, over the course of a day, a dozen pontoon boats or PWCs might motor past.

Change is inevitable

It was bound to happen; the only surprise is that this beautiful, sleepy river wasn’t discovered by the masses many years ago.

But not everything changes; we still wave when a boat goes by, even if we do it from the porch and don’t know who’s behind the wheel; the deer flies still have me wind-milling my arms like a lunatic; and I still indulge the mosquitoes in far too many free meals.

Every year it’s a joy to come home and see the changes, and each year it gets more difficult to say goodbye. Until next year, McKellar…

Another thing that hasn’t changed…you can still buy Secret Sky with one click right here. And if ebooks or Amazon aren’t your preference, you can find other options in JP’s Bookstore.

10 Tips to Improve your Book Reading

July 22, 2014 By JPMcLean 9 Comments

JP-McLean-at-podium-DIRWF-2014 — Photo credit I.Gay-Elgueta

Another Denman Island Readers’ and Writers’ Festival has come and gone. This was the third year I braved the stage to do a book reading. Why this particular feat should unnerve me, when in my working life I had no trouble rattling on in front of an auditorium full of people, I have no idea. But I have learned ten tips to improve your book reading.

Well, I suppose I have one idea. These readings are timed. I have twelve precious minutes in which to hook my audience; twelve minutes to make a positive impression; twelve short minutes to turn listeners into readers, and I’m loath to waste a single moment of my allotted time.

As a result, I trim my reading to come in just shy of the twelve-minute mark. Trouble is, it’s only shy of twelve minutes if I read on stage at the same pace at which I’ve practiced.

I know what you’re thinking. Why not choose something shorter? Something that runs, say . . . ten minutes? Save myself a boatload of stress. Yeah, I should do that, but did I mention I’m loath to waste a single moment?

I may never get over my jitters, but regardless of whether the readings are timed, I have learned a few things that you might find helpful if you find yourself on stage with your book in your hands.

Ten Tips to Improve Your Book Reading

Choose a selection that not only represents your work, but ends on a note that leaves your audience curious to know more.
Avoid or remove spoilers.
Replace the names of minor characters who aren’t pivotal. E.g. “Dr. Emery Coulter,” becomes “my doctor.”
Delete references to events that occur either before or following the selection, but which aren’t explained or relevant within the passage. They will only add confusion to a short piece.
Practice your reading standing up and speaking out loud. It makes a difference to the timbre of your voice and the timing, trust me.
Give a brief introduction to the book and, if necessary, its genre. It will give your audience a basis from which to listen.
Set up the scene and introduce the characters who are in the selection you’ve chosen. It will help your audience come out of the gate with you instead of struggling to keep up.
Pause at the end of quotes. “My name is Emelynn,” (pause) she said.
Use your voice to colour the words. Cold should be a short, hard slap. Warm should be a soft caress, drawn out to melt on your tongue.
Know the passage well enough to be able to glance away for a moment and engage the audience.

Listening to other authors read at festivals is a great way to pick up tips on what works and what doesn’t. My favourite readings are from those authors who are able to step into an actor’s role and animate their reading. I’m not there yet with my own readings, but I’m working on it. This is a link to my first video recording of a reading combined with a discussion.

Have you read your work in public? What tips would you add to the list?

If twelve minutes isn’t enough for you either, you can download Secret Sky in its entirety with one click right here. For more purchase options, check out my Bookstore tab.

Writing Process Blog Hop

July 14, 2014 By JPMcLean 6 Comments

If you’re curious about what goes on in the mind of a writer, and how they get those thoughts down on paper, you’ve come to the right Blog Hop. This is the Writing Process Blog Hop. Writing processes are as varied and interesting as the authors themselves.

The blog hop is much like a relay race, and Diana Stevan has just passed me the baton. (Ooh, maybe not such a good analogy – now I have visions of tripping, or … horrors … dropping it.) At the end of this post, I’ll introduce Mike Grant and George Henry, two fabulous authors who’ve agreed to carry the baton onward.

I met Diana and her writing critique group over lunch in Campbell River, British Columbia, a year ago. What a treat to meet this lively group of writers who so generously shared their collective experiences of writing and publishing in Canada. And the generosity continues today. Thank you, Diana, for inviting me to the Writing Process Blog Hop. You can read about Diana’s writing process here.

Diana’s support and enthusiasm have been infectious. As a writer, she has a wealth of experience to draw on. She’s been a clinical social worker, a freelance writer/broadcaster, an actress and an online TV host. Diana has written three screen plays and is now on the verge of publishing her debut novel, A Cry From The Deep. It comes out in October 2014 and I can’t wait to read it.

And without further ado…

What am I working on?

I’m working on an as-yet untitled book featuring some of the characters introduced in The Gift Trilogy. It’s another contemporary thriller with a twist of fantasy. This one is set on and around Granville Island in Vancouver, British Columbia.

How does my work differ from others of its genre?

My work falls into both the thriller and the fantasy genres. Most people know what a thriller is, but the fantasy label means different things to different people.

I think it’s because the fantasy genre casts a wide net. It includes the high fantasy of JRR Tolkien’s the Lord of the Rings, the urban fantasy of Charlaine Harris’s Sookie Stackhouse Series and the low fantasy of JK Rowling’s Harry Potter series. The genre can include trolls, fairies, werewolves and wizards or none of them. In fact, any genre can become fantasy with a dash of magic.

And it’s my particular dash of magic that makes my work different. There are no vampires, witches or dragons, just people like you and me. My characters could be your colleagues or neighbours. They teach your children and take your order at the lunch counter. You’ll never know they’re different, because even if you catch them in action, you won’t believe your eyes.

Why do I write what I do?

Because I love the genre. Though I read a variety of work, from the classics to humour and everything in between, it’s the fantasy genre that grabs and holds my attention. I’m intrigued by the idea that phenomena exist in this world that science hasn’t figured out yet. It’s the mystery and the thrill of not knowing. It keeps the possibility alive, like holding on to unchecked lottery tickets.

How does my writing process work?

Most days, I simply sit down and write. Mornings are best and coffee is a must. I have a comfy chair, a laptop computer and a beautiful view. MS Word is my software, and I keep three documents open when I’m writing: the manuscript, a detailed description of characters and places, and a timeline of events. My deadlines are my own as I don’t have an agent and I indie publish.

With my first book, I started with one scene then built the story around it. Now I do a lot more planning when I write. I have a general outline of the story and my goal each day is to write a scene. I don’t worry about word counts or days that I spend researching and planning instead of writing. It’s all part of the process and some of those planning days are gold mines in terms of plot twists and sequencing. I carry a notebook around everywhere I go and jot down ideas, descriptions, phrases and any other interesting tidbits that come my way. The other day I wrote, “Where dreams take flight.” I think I’ll use that as a tag line.

And now I’d like to introduce you to Mike Grant and George Henry . They will be answering the Writing Process Blog Hop questions on their respective blogs on July 21, 2014. Please do check them out.

MIKE GRANT

I met Mike Grant in 2012 when we were both in the process of learning the indie partner-publisher ropes. I’ve followed his career and his blog with interest ever since. The video trailer for his debut novel, White Wolf Moon, remains one of my favourites. You can find him on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/mikegrantwwm

Here’s a little more about Mike in his own words:

I was born at Fort George, Scotland, in 1947, moving to Canada with my family in 1955. As an army brat I spent a decade in various locations across the country finally settling in Edmonton, Alberta, in 1964. With careers in radio broadcasting, advertising, and photography under my belt I moved to Kamloops, British Columbia, in 1994.

I’m an organized hoarder with a roomful of toys/collectibles, music/movies, and books…lots of books. I watch, read, and listen to most genres, depending on my mood.

I’m married with three children, six grandchildren, two cats, and a rabbit.

Visit Mike’s blog at http://grafixpblog.wordpress.com/

GEORGE HENRY

Another author you’re sure to want to connect with is George Henry. George was one of the first authors I met on Twitter and his witty sense of humour brightens my day. For a self-professed Luddite, he does pretty well in the Twitterverse (Follow him @georgehenry47). He also has not one, but two video trailers for his debut novel, Love and Death in Trieste. (Now titled Blood Rain in Trieste) This is the first, and this is the second.

George is a well-travelled educator who loves the thrill of visiting foreign countries (about forty so far) and experiencing their cultures. Besides history, cuisine and architecture, he is particularly fascinated by language and religion. (Nowhere will he not try to speak the language with the locals, whether they like it or not.) These are facets of human civilisation he likes to bring to his fast-paced thrillers, with a dash of the romance that is at the core of our existence thrown in.

George was born in England and after university moved to Los Angeles, California, USA, and to Toronto, Canada. He ended up living and working for almost thirty years as a college instructor in the biological sciences on Vancouver Island, British Columbia before he was put out to pasture—and had the freedom to travel.

He is currently completing a second thriller-romance novel, tentatively titled Recycled Love, based upon a trip with his wife and fellow author, Serena Janes, across the fabulous mayhem of India to the calm of the sherpas in Nepal. Love and Death in Trieste is his first novel and was written after an exciting trip through Slovenia, Croatia, Italy and Bosnia.