Author Events Archives - Page 5 of 12

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

Ghost Mark’s Trailer Debut

October 5, 2022 By JPMcLean 9 Comments

It’s one thing to pick up a book with a compelling cover, turn it over in your hands, and read the description. Maybe you’ll check out the book’s endorsements or editorial reviews, but book trailers offer a unique glimpse inside the story. They capture the mood of a book. Maybe one day I’ll see a movie trailer for Ghost Mark—wouldn’t that be something!

Meantime, Ghost Mark’s pre-release buzz is building, and I’m so pumped about it that I’m spreading the joy. I’ve lowered the price of the pre-order to $2.99. On release day, November first, the price will go back up to its regular price of $4.99. Get the deal here:

Kindle ~ Kobo ~ Apple ~ Nook ~ Elsewhere

Ghost Mark’s Latest Buzz:

A New Editorial Review

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

The full review will be out in the November edition of InD'tale Magazine.

A New Endorsement

This mind-bending, supernatural thriller is a riveting romp through the dark streets of obsession and murder. A story that tugs at your heartstrings and lingers in the mind long after The End. Un-putdownable!
—Sue Coletta, award-winning author of the Mayhem Series

Sue Coletta is an author whose writing and research I admire. She takes research to the nth degree. In an effort to make her mysteries as realistic as possible, she visited a body farm. Yup. It’s a real thing. She wrote about it here. I’ve been hooked on her unflinching mysteries ever since reading that article.

Debra Purdy Kong is Back!

September 22, 2022 By JPMcLean 8 Comments

Debra Purdy Kong has a new book out! A Gold Satin Murder is the seventh in her Casey Holland Mystery series. You might remember she wrote a guest post here in July 2020. Debra and I set our books in Vancouver, a city we both love. She’s kindly answered some interview questions that will give you a peek inside her writer’s world. Please welcome Debra Purdy Kong.

Where do you call home, and how did you end up there?

I live in Port Moody, British Columbia, which is a half-hour’s drive east of Vancouver. Back in the 80s, my fiancé (now husband) and I both rented small apartments in the city but couldn’t afford a house in Vancouver. So, we continued east until we found what we could afford. I knew little about Port Moody back then, but over the past 35 years, I’ve grown to love this arts-focused community. There are mountains, parks, lots of hills, public transit everywhere, and a vibrant community of creative folks.

How did you make the decision to set your Casey Holland mysteries in Vancouver, British Columbia?

My decision was mainly based on practicality. I knew the city and most of the surrounding municipalities. When I began writing novels, I stuck to the “write what you know” advice. Also, few authors in the late 90s were writing fiction set in Vancouver, so it seemed a good idea to showcase this beautiful city. Over time, several terrific crime fiction authors have set their books in Vancouver. What’s interesting and understandable is that each author chooses specific locations within the city.

Vancouver is diverse and constantly changing, so it’s difficult to capture the ambiance, scents, and lifestyles of the entire city in one novel. A Gold Satin Murder takes place in Vancouver’s West End, which is where my sister lives. As stated in the book, the West End features diverse lifestyle choices, income levels, and age groups. It was once touted as the hub for the gay community and is still the heart of the annual Vancouver Pride Parade, however, like so much of Vancouver, the area’s evolving all the time and labelling any area of Vancouver doesn’t do it justice.

This new release is the seventh in the Casey Holland Mystery series. How do you keep the writing fresh?

One strategy is to work on different writing projects to keep from dwelling on the Casey series. Still, ideas spring up now and then, so I quickly jot down notes and move on. Sometimes I’m away from the series for weeks or even months at a time, depending on how the other projects are developing. When I do return, I look at Casey with fresh eyes and hopefully new ideas.

Customer feedback’s also inspiring. I sell my books at craft fairs and am always grateful for the positive feedback. Once in a while, a customer gives me a great idea for a new book, which motivates me to open the Casey files again.

Vancouver’s real-life crime stories also provide plenty of inspiration. Sometimes, I’m shocked or angered by the crime and injustices that make news headlines. Strong emotional responses are often a catalyst for starting a new book.

Do you have a writing routine? Special place to write?

For many years, my routine revolved around day jobs and parenting. Pivoting and multi-tasking are second nature to writers with jobs, families, health challenges, or other commitments. After I retired from my day job in June 2020, I eventually settled into a routine of writing and editing from after breakfast until noon. Afternoons involve a bit more editing, then a switch to blogs, reviews, and marketing tasks. For about ninety minutes after dinner, I use the time to either catch up on what I haven’t finished that day or read the blogs and newsletters I subscribe to.

What do you enjoy doing to relax in your downtime?

I love to go for walks, do light workouts, read fiction and nonfiction, try new recipes, and weed the garden. I especially love hanging out with my grandkids. I’m also a hockey fan, so when the season starts, I try to watch as many Vancouver Canuck games as possible.

What are you working on next?

I like to challenge myself creatively, so I’ve been working on a lengthy multi-generational urban fantasy that features the Wiccan faith, a family of witches, and different forms of magic. The story’s about coming to terms with flaws and mistakes, learning self-acceptance and, of course, battling evil. Beyond that, I hope to work on a paranormal series that combines both mystery and fantasy elements. My greatest challenge is making time to do all this, but I have a plan, more or less. Pivoting will always be necessary, I expect.

The Blurb:

Transit cop Casey Holland has never met a bus passenger like the charming artist and exotic dancer, Eduardo. The bus driver Lily has certainly befriended him. But when Eduardo’s charged with murder, Lily’s caught in the middle of his legal trouble. Afraid of losing her job and custody of her son, she begs Casey for help in proving Eduardo’s innocence.

Casey’s search for answers takes her and her best friend Kendal to a troupe of strippers known as Man Cave. While the men are busy peeling off their clothes, Casey’s peeling back layers of secrets and betrayal. Nuttier than her usual adventures, the risk is just as deadly in this seventh installment of the Casey Holland transit mysteries.

Click here to download a pdf of the first chapter, and read it at your leisure.

Debra’s Bio:

Debra Purdy Kong’s volunteer experiences, criminology diploma, and various jobs inspired her to write mysteries set in BC’s Lower Mainland. Her employment as a campus security patrol and communications officer provided the background for her Casey Holland transit security novels.

Debra has published short stories in a variety of genres as well as personal essays, and articles for publications such as Chicken Soup for the Bride’s Soul, B.C. Parent Magazine, and The Vancouver Sun. She is a facilitator for the Creative Writing Program through Port Moody Recreation and a long-time member of Crime Writers of Canada. She lives in British Columbia, Canada.

Order at:

Connect with Debra:

Blog

Newsletter

Thanks, Debra! It’s been fun hanging out with you. Here’s to a fall rich in autumn colour and imaginative story ideas!

Until next time, XO

Jo-Anne

Bus Station Photo by CHUTTERSNAP on Unsplash

Author Interview With Colleen M. Story

August 18, 2022 By JPMcLean 6 Comments

Colleen M. Story and I met on Twitter in early 2015, and though we’ve never met in person, we’ve kept in touch online. I got to know her through her Writing and Wellness blog, which is a useful resource for all things health-related in the writing realm. Sadly, it was my unhealthy writing habits that prompted her to ask me to contribute to her blog in 2016. I’d blown out my back, which made me reevaluate my habits.

I first came to know Colleen through her non-fiction writing, so it’s been fun to interview her and get to know more about the fiction side of her career. She’s a talented writer with a keen business sense. I invite you to settle in and get to know Colleen M. Story.

**Tell us about your new novel, The Beached Ones.**

The Beached Ones is a heartfelt supernatural story about the bond between two brothers who grow up in difficult circumstances. With an empathetic approach, it explores subjects like child abuse, suicide, and loss, and how love can get us through even the most traumatic experiences.

The back cover copy:

HE CAME BACK, DETERMINED TO KEEP HIS PROMISE.

Daniel and his younger brother grew up in an abusive home. Daniel escaped. Now an established stunt rider, he intends to go back to rescue his brother. But then one jump goes horribly wrong . . .

He recovers to find himself in Iowa, unscathed, yet his life has drastically changed. His best friend won’t answer his calls. Even his girlfriend is hiding something. Increasingly terrified, he clings to the one thing he knows: He must pick up his brother in San Francisco. In five days.

From the isolating fields of Iowa to the crowded streets of San Francisco, Daniel must fight his way through a fog of disjointed memories and supernatural encounters to face the truth and pay a debt he didn’t know he owed.

What or who was the inspiration behind it?

The idea for this book came to me after watching the movie, Sarah’s Key, which was based on the book of the same title by Tatiana de Rosnay.

The movie had a profound effect on me. The main character is haunted by the death of her little brother, for which she blames herself. At the end of the movie (spoiler alert), unable to shake her guilt, she commits suicide. Close curtain.

That movie haunted me for months. It seemed so unfair, what happened to the main character. And I kept feeling like her story was left unfinished. What happened after the suicide? The Beached Ones gave me a chance to explore that general question, although of course, within an entirely different story.

Of all the characters, which one do you relate to the most, and why?

I relate most to my main character in this story, Daniel Shepard, because I too have younger brothers. I helped raise them while I was growing up and felt very protective of them. I can understand the lengths to which Daniel goes to make sure that Tony is safe. Of course, I can also understand how Tony sometimes irritates his older brother!

You’ve had a long career as a successful writer and blogger; what made you want to write a supernatural fantasy?

Writing fiction actually came first for me. My first novel (Rise of the Sidenah) was traditionally published in 2015, and that was categorized as epic fantasy or general fantasy. Then my second novel, Loreena’s Gift, came out with Dzanc publishing in 2016. I feel that I found my voice with that story, and it was also a supernatural fantasy or cross-genre novel, sometimes called a literary paranormal.

The Beached Ones is categorized by my publisher, CamCat Books, as a supernatural thriller, which I think fits it best, though it’s also been called a literary ghost story.

I have always enjoyed having some sort of fantasy element in my stories, as that allows me to explore themes and topics in a more exciting or thrilling way than I could if I were to stick to strict reality.

My blogging career (mainly with WritingandWellness.com) didn’t get going until after Loreena’s Gift came out. At that time, I was looking for a way to establish an author platform and my previous blog hadn’t attracted much attention. Fortunately, Writing and Wellness took off and gave me a whole new facet of writing (non-fiction) to pursue and enjoy.

How is researching fiction different from researching non-fiction?

I see researching fiction as a fun activity that inspires my imagination. It allows me to take that deep dive into another world that is so important when writing any type of fantasy.

I was lucky enough to be able to travel to research The Beached Ones—I took the same journey the characters take from Harlan, Iowa, to San Francisco, California. I had researched and written the book beforehand, but taking the trip myself helped me improve the story in countless ways.

The Golden Gate Bridge — **The Golden Gate — the final destination for my characters**

Researching nonfiction, on the other hand, satisfies my never-ending curiosity and desire to learn. I love researching nonfiction topics, then sharing what I discover with others in ways that I hope will benefit them.

Where do you call home, and how did you end up there?

I live in southeast Idaho, which is an agricultural community nestled a short distance from Jackson Hole, Wyoming (and the Grand Tetons), with the West Entrance to Yellowstone National Park only about 90 minutes away.

Idaho Farm Fields being watered at sunset — **Idaho farm irrigation at sunset**

We also have the beautiful Snake River running right through the town, and a surprisingly robust commitment to the arts and music considering the smaller size of the area. I’m a French horn player and frequently participate in the symphony and pit orchestras, so I greatly appreciate that.

I grew up in Colorado surrounded by mountains and made the move north when I graduated college. I still get back to Colorado as frequently as I can, but I love Idaho not only for its natural beauty but for the strength and values of the community.

What are you working on next?

I’m excited about my next project, which is a retelling of the old Midas myth. There was a real King Midas who ruled Phrygia around 700 BC, so I’m having fun mixing elements of the historical figure with the mythological legend.

Find a FREE excerpt of The Beached Ones here!

Author bio: Colleen M. Story is a novelist, freelance writer, writing coach, and speaker with over 20 years in the creative writing industry. Her latest novel, The Beached Ones, was released with CamCat Books on July 26^th, 2022. Her previous novel, Loreena’s Gift, was a Foreword Reviews INDIES Book of the Year Awards winner, among others.

Colleen M. Story at Book Signing — Colleen M. Story book signing

Colleen has written three books to help writers succeed. Your Writing Matters is the most recent and was a bronze medal winner in the Reader Views Literary Awards (2022). Other titles include Writer Get Noticed and Overwhelmed Writer Rescue. You can find free chapters of these books here.

Find more at her author website (colleenmstory.com) or connect with her on Twitter (@colleen_m_story), LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube.