JP McLean

Writing Addictive Fiction

Slow but Steady Progress

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The second book in the Blood Mark series is coming along with slow but steady progress. I discovered the outline wasn’t as strong as it needed to be, so I’m beefing it up, adding scenes, increasing the tension. A popular saying repeated in writing circles is that the writer’s job is to get the main character up a tree, and then once they are up there, throw rocks at them. At this stage, I’m throwing rocks at them.

I considered adding references to the pandemic but decided not to. Figured we’re all getting enough of that stress in our day-to-day real lives and don’t need more of it in our downtime. Besides, having the characters masked, socially distant, and staying home feels a little (a lot) boring.

Working Title

I’m still uncertain about a title. The working title is Ghost Mark, but I’m open to suggestions. If you’ve got one, jot it down in the comments below. If I use it, you’ll get credit in the book.

Amazon best selling author badgeLast month I told you about becoming a bestselling author in three Amazon categories: New Adult and College Fantasy (Books), Ghost Suspense, and Occult Horror. The novelty of calling myself a bestselling author hasn’t worn off.

Now there are two more achievements to add to Blood Mark’s success. On January 12, it was short listed for the 2021 Chanticleer Paranormal Book Awards for Supernatural Fiction. And on January 5, Blood Mark placed 3rd on Go Indie Now’s 2021 books of the year.

Hidden Enemy

Hidden Enemy Book CoverAnd if you haven’t yet, you’ve got to read the review for Hidden Enemy on Scribble’s Worth Book Reviews. I’ve read it a dozen times and it still makes me laugh. Julio Carlos’ enthusiasm is over the top. You can read more about Hidden Enemy here, where you’ll also find buy links and a downloadable PDF of the first chapter.

Successes like those keep me motivated. I can’t say it often enough: Thank you for your part in supporting my books, whether it’s recommending them to a friend, asking your local library to shelve them, or writing a review. Your support means the world to me.

What I’m Reading

On the reading front, I’ve just started Three Mages and a Margarita by Annette Marie. It was a recommendation from someone in the “Fans Of Urban Fantasy!” Facebook group.

I’m always on the hunt for books like mine, commonly referred to as comps (as in comparables) in the book world. If you’ve read a book that would fit on the bookshop shelf alongside mine, I’d love to know about it. Put the title/author in the comments below.

Until next time . . .

XO Jo-Anne

 

Throwing Stones Photo by Benjamin Davies on Unsplash

In the Spirit of the Season

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Has there been a more dreadful year? On the west coast of Canada, the combination of pandemic, fires, smoke, and floods have packed a punch that’ll take a while to overcome. And though I can’t do much to help with all that mess, in the spirit of the season, I can provide an inexpensive escape.

I’ve never discounted a newly released book, but I’m doing it this year.

For a few days only, you can get Blood Mark for just 99c. Whether you want to read it yourself or gift it to a friend, it’ll provide a reprieve, an escape, an all-encompassing thrill ride that’ll leave no room for thoughts of Mother Nature’s recent rampage(s!).

Amazon US
Amazon Canada
Amazon UK
Kobo
Nook
Payhip
Elsewhere

But act quickly, the price returns to it’s regular $4.99 in just a few days.

Enjoy!

Here’s the latest review for Blood Mark in the Dec/Jan edition of InD’Tale Magazine:

5/5 stars with Crowned Heart for Excellence

SUSPENSE/THRILLER: Wrapped from head to toe by unusual and unique red patterns, Jane lives her life trying to keep her markings hidden and her secret safe. Abandoned at birth, Jane’s life has been one tragedy after another from a car accident, a deadly house fire, and the debilitating narcolepsy that results in dream visions from the past where she witnesses horrific events. When visions of Rebecca in a psych ward start encompassing her dreams, she finds herself on a mission to find out who this lady is who can also see the past. As Jane dreams of her more often, she starts to notice something amiss with the doctor treating Rebecca and her concern grows all the while she starts noticing that her very own marks are disappearing. Unsure of what is happening or who she can trust, Jane must let go of some of her secrets in order to find the answer she needs to stay safe.

The answer to this year’s boredom, JP McLean’s novel is a fresh and original mystery thriller with a side of budding romance. The movement between the past and the present is captivating and adds an intriguing aspect to the storyline. Jane’s backstory slowly unfolds throughout, allowing the reader to understand her and connect with her on a deeper level. The development of all the characters during the course of the tale was superb, with each of them showing some type of growth. The twists and turns will keep the reader in suspense until the very end when all is shockingly revealed. This gripping tale should be on every bookshelf this year!

An Award, A Book Trailer, and Publicity News

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I'm thrilled to announce that Blood Mark has received a Gold Literary Titan award. The Literary Titan also interviewed me, and you can read the interview here.

And if that wasn't exciting enough, here's your first look at the new book trailer for Blood Mark.

On the publicity front:

Mark your calendar! On October 23rd from 11 am to 2 pm PST, I’ll be at Blue Heron Books in Comox, BC (1775 Comox Avenue) signing copies of Blood Mark. I’d love to see you there. Stop by for a chat.

On November 1st, from 1 to 2 pm PST, I’ll be live with Beth Worsdell on The Witty Writers Show. It’s a Facebook live event (https://fb.me/e/1AEuXW5bC). We’ll be talking about writing and Blood Mark, you’ll have a chance to ask questions, and I’ll be giving away a paperback copy of Blood Mark. Click the Facebook Event's  "Going" button and share to be entered for the draw. So please join us—it’ll be fun.

Blood Mark is available for pre-order from Amazon
And Kobo

Here is Literary Titan's Review of Blood Mark.

Blood Mark, by J.P. McLean, is set in Vancouver and tells the story of Jane Walker who was abandoned at birth and thrown into the system after a series of tragedies. She meets Sadie, a troubled teen who sticks with her as they make their way in life. Jane’s past is mysterious and this mystery is driven by what she believes are red birthmarks snaking around her body. Jane would do anything to get rid of these unsightly marks and has a stable job at a garden center to earn the money to have them removed. Sadie, who lives with Jane, works as a waitress while still caught up with the seedier side of Vancouver. We learn that Jane also suffers from vivid dreams where, while in a deep sleep, she visits people known to her in the past and sees things happening – often terrible and frightening events. Jane meets Ethan and things start to change when her birthmarks start disappearing and her dreams take a disturbing and deadly turn.

Blood Mark is an action packed thriller and Jane’s character reminded me of Lisbeth from The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets’ Nest. All the characters are gritty and flawed, which I enjoyed because they all felt authentic.

This story has one of the most unique twists to the crime fiction genre I’ve seen this year. Is it a crime thriller or a paranormal romance novel? It is a fantastic blend of both. This is pulled off by the meticulous writing of JP McLean, who has created a detailed backstory to both the protagonists and the world, making them both captivating and alluring.

The story flowed well and the plot developments were easy to follow. This is key to ensuring readers know exactly what is happening in a novel that has wild twists and terrifying nightmares that bleed into reality.

Blood Mark is an enthralling dark fantasy novel with captivating characters that will appeal to anyone looking for a crime thriller with a unique supernatural setup.

You can download an excerpt and read more about Blood Mark here.

Sizzling Hot Blurbs!

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Blood Mark cover collageI’m humbled and honoured to share with you the sizzling hot blurbs Blood Mark has received from authors whose work I admire so much.

“Featuring a fearless, badass heroine and plot twists that will leave readers breathless, J.P. McLean’s Blood Mark is a gritty, sexy, fast-paced thrill ride from start to finish.”

—E.E. Holmes, award-winning and best-selling author of The Gateway Trilogy, The Gateway Trackers, and The Riftmagic Saga, with over 4,400 reviews for Spirit Legacy. You can find her here on Amazon.

“A deliciously addictive fever dream of a mystery with a surreal beauty akin to a David Lynch film. I loved it!”

—Jennifer Anne Gordon, author of Beautiful, Frightening, and Silent, winner of the Kindle Award for Best Horror/Suspense 2020. You can find her here on Goodreads.

“An explosive new series that combines mystery and magic into a can’t-put-down thriller.”

—Eileen Cook, award-winning author of You Owe Me a Murder and With Malice. Eileen is also a speaker, editor, and mentor. You can find her here on Amazon.

“This edgy, intelligent, psychological thriller has tantalizing touches of Inca myth and will capture your soul from beginning to end.”

—W. L. Hawkin, award-winning author of The Hollystone Mysteries. You can find her here on Amazon.

I feel very lucky to belong to this supportive community of talented writers. Please check out their books. If you enjoy my style of writing, I’m sure you’ll enjoy theirs, and you can never have enough books!

Advance Reader Team Reviews

With less than a month to go until the release of Blood Mark, the advance reader team has been busy! Their reviews are popping up on Goodreads and BookBub. I am so grateful for each one. Reviews are the lifeblood of indie writers; each one is gold—another piece of social proof that Blood Mark is worth a reader’s time. Thank you so much.

What I’m Reading

I recently read and reviewed W.L. Hawkin’s award-winning novel To Charm a Killer. The title of my review sums it how much I loved it: A deliciously sensuous dive into Wicca. This is the first in a series, so there’s lots more to enjoy from W.L. Hawkin. Highly recommended.

Publicity

Mickey Mikkelson continues to keep me busy with interviews, features, podcasts, VLOGs, and reviews. You can find links to all of my media appearances on the Featured On drop-down menu item under my Media tab, or just click here.

Blood MarkBlood Mark is available for pre-order from Amazon

And Kobo