JP McLean

Writing Addictive Fiction

August events and a quick update

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August’s in-person events include two of my favourites:

cartoon pirate parrot logo for Comox Nautical DaysThe first event is Comox Nautical Days in Marina Park. It takes place over the August long weekend, August 3, 4, and 5. Nautical Days is a three-day family-orientated party, and it’s the biggest event on my calendar. There’s live music, children’s entertainment, food trucks, a beer tent, a splash park, a parade and vintage car show, and more than a hundred juried vendors! I’ll be signing books at booth #63.

If you’ve never been to Nautical Days, you’re in for a treat. Marina Park has spectacular views of the harbour, boats, and the glacier. You’ll also appreciate the clean washrooms, and that this event is organized and well-run.

The second event is my annual trip to Ontario to visit my family. Though I hate the travel portion of the trip, I look forward to lazy hazy days sipping coffee and wine on my sister’s porch, or my parent’s deck, and cooling off in the Manitouwabing River. I’ve posted photos on previous visits here and here (scroll down to see the photos).

And finally, thank you to everyone who came out to the Christmas in July event last Saturday at the Lighthouse Community Hall in Qualicum Bay. I donated a copy of Blood Mark to the door prizes and hope whoever won it enjoys the story.

To receive FREE short stories, insider scoop, and new release news, please join my VIP Reader newsletter list. I send out a monthly newsletter with photos, news, and writing/audiobook updates.

JP’s July Events

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JP's July events include:

She'll be signing books at the Maker’s Market hosted by THE OLD FARM MARKET in downtown Courtenay

Date: July 13, 2024, 10:00 am - 2:30 pm PST
Location: The Old Farm Market (across from the courthouse)
Address: 660 England Ave, Courtenay, BC V9N 2N4
poster for Comox Valley Makers Market July 13, 2024, from 10-2:30 pm. Black lettering on pastel pink background

She'll also be attending the Lighthouse Christmas in July Market ~ Qualicum Bay

Date: July 27, 2024
Time: 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Location: Lighthouse Community Centre, 240 Lions Way, Qualicum Bay, BC
A pink cartoon flamingo with Christmas wreath and red and white Santa's cap

And though not one of JP's July events, she's excited to be a part of Comox Nautical Days over the August long weekend.

Festival Dates: August 3-5, 2024, 10-6 Sa & Su, 10-5 Mo
Location: Comox Marina Park, 127 Port Augusta St, Comox, BC
Note: Transportation is free on BC Day, August 5th.
Admission is free
Look for JP at Booth #63, where she will be signing books.

Margaret Atwood visits Denman Island

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Margaret Atwood with JP McLean on Denman Island

Margaret Atwood’s visit to Denman Island was a huge success. Not only did she lend her name to a charity fundraising cocktail party that benefited many Denman charities, but she was generous with her time and attention, chatting with many of us, and allowing her photo to be taken with anyone who asked. She's small in stature, so I scooched down for this photo.

She told me she’d visited our local bookshop, Abraxas, and had been keen to learn about what locals call Denman’s Green Cemetery, though it's official name is Denman Island Natural Burial Cemetery.

The following day, she attended two events. In the morning, she read a short story from her latest release, Old Babes in the Wood: Stories, after which she took audience questions. Her answers were thoughtful and often included humourous or poignant anecdotes from her life.

And in the evening, she and Des Kennedy—a cherished local author and seasoned interviewer—sat down to talk about her life and work. Again, she answered audience questions and often had the audience in stitches—she’s got a great sense of humour and has lived an interesting life.

Upcoming In-person Events

Comox Valley Makers' Market

On Saturday, June 22, 2024, from 10:00 am - 2:30 pm, I’ll be at the Comox Valley Makers’ Market at the Old Farm Market, 660 England Ave, Courtenay, BC (across from the courthouse). I’ll have my newest release with me, along with all my other books. Stop by and say hello.

Denman Island Saturday Market

On Saturday, June 29, 2024 (July 1st long weekend), from: 9:30-12:30 pm, I’ll be at the Denman Saturday Market at the Marcus Isbister Old School Site, 5901 Denman Road, Denman Island, BC. I’ll have all my books along and fingers crossed, it won’t rain.

Denman Island Farmers Market Logo. Drawing of fruit, eggs, & veggies in a basket

Upcoming Social Media Changes

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 getting my author-life updates and behind-the-scenes scoop, then please sign up for my monthly VIP Reader Newsletter. I’ll never sell or trade your email address and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Over the coming months, I’ll also be streamlining my Facebook accounts. I currently have two pages, a personal page, and a business page. The dual effort to maintain both pages, when the business page gets minimal traffic, is not a productive 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 month . . .

XO

Jo-Anne

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