Author Events Archives - Page 5 of 13

June Update

June 17, 2023 By JPMcLean 14 Comments

I’ve been splitting my time between the gardens and indulgent reading.

I can’t remember when last it was I’ve spent this much time with soil under my fingernails. It’s incredibly gratifying to see the neat edges and weed-free soil. Though we have had little rain, and the gardens are dry, we’re fortunate to have rainwater stored and have been using that to perk up the plants. It’s mostly flowers and shrubs now, though we still grow garlic and a few other veggies in two raised beds.

Here are some more garden pics:

Reading

And I’ve been devouring books. I finished Colleen Hoover’s It Ends With Us. Though I’m not a huge romance reader, I wanted to see what all the fuss was about. I wasn’t expecting to like it, and I LOVED it. I then read Hoover’s follow-up book, It Starts With Us. It wasn’t as urgent or earth shattering, but I’m glad I read it and know the rest of the story.

I’m also doing a beta read of a book that's expected to come out this fall. It’s by W.L. Hawkin and it’s fabulous. I’ll share more about it when I’m able.

When I’m not reading or gardening, I’m preparing for the indie-publishing workshop I’m presenting at this year’s Denman Island Readers and Writers Festival. There’s still room if you want to learn if indie publishing is a good fit for you, and what’s involved in the process. It’s scheduled for July 20th from 10:00-1:00 at the Denman Island Community School.

Kindle Unlimited

You might remember I told you recently I'd put my Gift Legacy books into the Kindle subscription program. Well, I'm happy to report that my first Kindle Countdown Deal was a tremendous success. By the time the dust settled, 2,650 readers had taken advantage of the sale. And two months on, I’m seeing follow-up interest in other books in the series, including read throughs in the Kindle subscription program. This makes me very happy! I'm thrilled to share the books with those of you who subscribe to Kindle Unlimited. But it’s a limited engagement, ending on September 2. Download the books, or the boxed sets while they’re still in the program.

Saturday Markets

And finally, if you’re in the Black Creek neighbourhood on Vancouver Island on June 24th, I’ll be at the McLarey Avenue Spring/Summer Market. Drop by and say hello. I’m happy to inscribe a book to you or a friend.

Can't wait to share Scorch Mark's cover with you. Happy Father's Day to all the father's out there. (I'll chat with you tomorrow, Dad!)

Until next time, XO

Spring has Sprung on Denman Island

March 29, 2023 By JPMcLean 5 Comments

Spring has sprung on Denman Island, though you’d never know it from the colder than normal temps. But new lambs and calves are making their appearances at farms across the island—and the calendar confirms it—so it’s official: spring has sprung.

This morning I bundled up and joined another dozen volunteer gardeners at our Denman Activity Centre to help dig up some overgrown gardens to prepare for a new, and much needed, revamp. After the soil is amended, new plantings will be put in place. I can’t wait to see the results. I’ll share some photos next month.

My ~~weed patches~~ gardens are also a bit of a mess, which is what happens when I neglect them. Balancing my writing and chores is always a challenge, but seeing the sorry state of my gardens is a reminder that I can’t do it all. I’m removing two of the smaller garden beds, which will lighten the load a little, and I’m slowly replacing plantings that require a lot of work with low-maintenance shrubs. Gone are the days when I rushed the season hunting for brightly coloured additions. It’s been almost ten years since I wrote about my bout with spring fever when I went a bit crazy in the garden centre way too early.

On the Writing Front

I’ve been busy indoors as well. I’m about halfway through my first re-read/edit of the new Dark Dreams novel, Scorch Mark. It’s shaping up nicely and I should have it ready for the editor in the next few weeks.

Gift Legacy News

As I mentioned in my February blog post, I’ve now moved the Gift Legacy books into the Kindle Unlimited program. They remain available to purchase on Amazon, but if you’re a Kindle Unlimited (KU) or Kindle Select customer with a monthly Amazon subscription, you can now binge the books for free. I hope you enjoy them.

A New Review

Reviews are SO important. Not only do they help new readers discover the books, but they keep me motivated. Here’s one that recently came in:

“Ghost Mark” is the second installment of the Dark Dreams Series by JP McLean and continues to showcase her natural flair for originality, memorable characters, and deftly crafted plots replete with unexpected twists and turns in the kind of narrative driven storytelling style that keeps the reader’s rapt attention from first page to last.

—Midwest Book Review

Upcoming Events

On April 2nd, I’ll be at the Union Bay Spring Craft Fair from 10 am to 3 pm. The address is 5401 South Island Highway in Union Bay, BC. I’ll be signing books and I’m happy to write an inscription for you or someone special. Pop by and say hello.

In Other News

Next month, I’m travelling to Vancouver for research. I’ll be attending the Vancouver Law Courts to witness a criminal trial. I won’t know which trial until I get there, but I’m hoping to find something similar to the one I’m writing about in Scorch Mark. It’s the small details that add authenticity to a book; what does it feel like? Smell like? Sound like? Are the seats comfortable? Etc. I’ll be taking lots of notes. And also, it’s Vancouver—one of my favourite cities—so there I’ll be lots of walking and shopping and eating out! Can’t wait.

I hope spring has sprung in your corner of the world. Happy Easter.

Until next time, XO

Ghost Mark Launch Events

November 30, 2022 By JPMcLean 8 Comments

Ghost Mark Book Launch Events

Ghost Mark is out in the world and meeting new readers. I’m thrilled to be doing two book launches for the new release, one at Blue Heron in Comox at 1775 Comox Avenue on Saturday, December 3rd from 10 am to 2 pm, and another at Abraxas Books in downtown Denman Island on Saturday December 10th from 10 am to 2 pm. I hope you can join me at one of them and pick up a signed copy of my new release. I’m happy to inscribe them to a favourite reader on your Christmas list. If you can’t make one of the launches, you can purchase Ghost Mark here from your favourite retailer.

And a shout out to all those who came to visit me at the Campbell River Toy and Craft Sale last weekend. It was fun to chat, whether introducing you to my books for the first time, or hearing how you connected with one of them and had come back for more. I love when my stories resonate with you and never tire of hearing about it!

Ghost Mark’s Reviews

This is what a few reviewers have to say:

McLean’s writing is as ingenious as her protagonist, ranging from grunge to repartee to sophistication to laugh-out-loud snarks. Ghost Mark is gripping. You won’t put it down till it’s done. —Ottawa Review of Books

A captivating nail-biter that will leave readers thirsting for more! —InD’tale Magazine

Will keep you on the edge of your seat . . . an intense, riveting, and fast-paced novel. —Literary Titan

The reviews are all very encouraging and they energize me.

Writing News

I’m getting back into the writing groove and enjoying how the next Dark Dreams novel is developing. It’s still very early days, but it feels good, like putty warming in the palm of my hand.

And as exciting as it is to talk about the new book, I have to confess, it’s difficult to extract my thoughts from the next book I’m writing. That’s the writer’s dilemma: by the time the new book is launched, we’re busy writing the next one. As far as problems go, it’s a pretty good one to have.

Christmas is Fast Approaching

It seems unimaginable that Christmas is only a month away. I swear 2022 sprouted rockets and blew by. I’m assured by my elders that it’s a trend that will only speed up with age. I’d curse them, but my wand sputtered and fizzled out. Overuse, I suppose as there’s no shortage of things to curse these days (inflation, Putin, Twitter, I could go on…).

What I’m Reading

But I don’t want to dwell in the murky depths of the glass. A lot of things are going really well. On the reading front, I finished Charissa Weaks’ The Witch Collector. Loved it! I also binged the second in that series, City of Ruin, but I wasn’t as taken with the second novel, mostly because I’m not fond of cliffhangers. (When I buy a book, I want the whole story, not a partial) but I’m curious and may read the next one.

My laugh-out-loud meme this week was “I dusted once. It came back. I’m not falling for that again.”

Until next time, XO

Someone’s Having a Birthday!

October 27, 2022 By JPMcLean 10 Comments

Blood Mark is Turning One!

It seems like it was just yesterday I was sweating over the release of Blood Mark. Hard to believe it’s already been a year. Blood Mark is turning one this month. Blood Mark was the first book in a brand new series, and I worried it would flounder in the shadow of the Gift Legacy books. I shouldn’t have. Blood Mark found its feet and has earned ten awards (TEN!). The cover is now shortlisted in the Page Turner Awards with all the credit going to JD&J Book Cover Design.

To mark the one-year birthday occasion, I’m putting Blood Mark on sale. Until November first, you can pick up the multi-award-winning Blood Mark for just $0.99. (Tell your friends!) It’s available from all your favourite retailers here.

Ghost Mark Launches This Coming Tuesday!

Ghost Mark is also at a special price of just $2.99 during the pre-order period, which ends with its release on November 1st. It will go up to its regular $4.99 price on launch day. You can pre-order from all the usual suspects here.

Watch the book trailer here.

Ghost Mark’s Latest Buzz

A number of retailers don’t allow posting of reviews ahead of the publication date, but Goodreads and BookBub are two happy exceptions. This is the latest review from a BookBub reviewer:

As a paranormal fantasy junkie this book was just my cup of tea. In short it is an intense and emotional paranormal story that will keep you on your toes till the very end. —DiKetcup, Bookbub reviewer

Upcoming In-person Events

I’ll be in Campbell River haunting Coho Books with W.L. Hawkin this Friday, October 28. We’ll be reading from our books and hanging out by the caldron. Come on by for some fun.

Date: October 28, 2022
Time: 6:00-8:00 pm PT
Location: Coho Books, 2092-I South Island Hwy, Campbell River BC

In other news:

The inaugural Big Island Book Fest in Courtenay this past weekend was a wonderful event. Forty authors offered books in a multitude of genres, and throughout the day, a number of us read from our books. The organizer, JP Bailey, left no detail to chance. I doubt she’s slept for the past six months.

A bonus meet and greet at the Courtenay Museum on the evening ahead of the festival was such fun! It provided an opportunity to mingle with the other authors and enjoy some appies and 40 Knots wine. We were allowed to stroll through the museum and JP even organized for a photographer to be there to take headshots for those who wanted them.

It was such a well-organized event! I hope it returns again next year, and if it does, I’ll be there.

As this is the final week leading up to Ghost Mark’s release, I’m unbelievably busy, so I’ll end here.

Until next time . . .

Jo-Anne

JP McLean

Writing addictive fiction