December update

December 2, 2024 By JPMcLean 8 Comments

Audio Book December Update

It’s almost done! The third book, Scorch Mark, is +60% finished. I thought with this December update, I’d be further along. And I may have been if not for Mother Nature and the wind storm she unleashed that knocked out power and then the internet for a four-day stretch. I’ll continue plugging away and keep my fingers crossed for a 2024 release.

In-Person Events

My final event of the year will be Comox Valley Makers’ Market Decorates Christmas. It’s a two-day event, December 7th and 8th, at the Comox Legion. I love attending Makers’ Market events. There’s a warm sense of camaraderie among the vendors and loads of laughs. I hope you’re able to make it, and if you do, please come by and say hello.

Date: December 7 and 8, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Location: Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 160
Address: 1825 Comox Avenue, Comox, BC
More Event Info

Happy Holidays

Thank you all for your continued support of my books. Merry Christmas and happy holidays with all my best wishes from my home to yours.

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Holiday News

December 16, 2023 By JPMcLean 10 Comments

It seems impossible that Scorch Mark has been out for a month already, but it has. Among the flurry of release events, one of the most entertaining was my interview with Al Warren for NBC’s House of Mystery Radio show. Also high on the entertaining release events list was hearing my words read by Joanna Vandervlugt on SAM Magazine’s Podcast. She reads a teaser from Scorch Mark, in addition to a short story I wrote titled Scaredy Cat. (I keep a full listing of all the publicity on my website https://jpmcleanauthor.com/media/jpmclean-featured-on/)

Other exciting news

Ghost Mark has been long listed for the 2023 Paranormal Awards for Supernatural Fiction, a division of the Chanticleer International Book Awards (The CIBAs).

To celebrate, I’m offering Ghost Mark for 99 cents this weekend. You can get it from your favourite retailer here. And because I don’t want to leave out the Gift Legacy from all the fun, I’m also offering Secret Sky for 99 cents.

And here’s a thought . . . if you need a hostess gift this holiday season, why not take advantage of the sales and give them something unique and unexpected: the gift of an ebook?

New First-In-Series Collection

A Double-header this weekend

November 17, 2023 By JPMcLean 4 Comments

Two Christmas Craft Fairs

I’m excited to be attending a double-header this weekend. On Saturday, November 18, from 10:00 am until 4:00 pm, I’ll be at the Qualicum Bay Christmas Market. Then, on Sunday, November 19, from 10:00 am until 3:00 pm, I’ll be at the Union Bay Christmas Craft Fair. There’s plenty of parking at both venues. I love these Christmas markets. It’s my first real taste of the holidays and for me, there’s no better way to ease into the Christmas season. I hope they’re playing Christmas carols!

And speaking of double-headers!

All is Quiet on Christmas Eve

December 24, 2022 By JPMcLean 7 Comments

Ah, Christmas Eve . . .

My favorite day of the holidays. It’s the day that’s still pregnant with possibility. It’s the day my ultra-organized self can relax because all the prep is either done or I’m resigned to it not getting done. I can put my feet up, sip a hot toddy, and enjoy a crackling fire with zero pressure. That’s what I wish for you, too, this holiday season. Zero pressure. I know the holidays aren’t easy for everyone, but I hope you can all find that quiet place where there are no expectations.

On the Writing Front

I continue to pluck away at the next Dark Dreams novel, though I’m making slower progress than I’d like. Some books are like that, making me work harder for the story, but I don’t mind. It’ll be all the sweeter for the effort when it’s done. In many ways, this is the best stage of writing. It’s where the outline is still fluid, and anything can happen.

Ghost Mark News

Though it feels longer, can you believe it’s only been six weeks since Ghost Mark was released? My publicist, (Shout out to Mickey Mikkelson!) has kept me super busy with interviews, podcasts, Vlogs, signings, and even a CTV Saskatoon interview with host Jeff Rogstad. All my media events are available to watch or read on my Media tab here.

Thanks to everyone who braved the unseasonable cold and snow to chat with me and get signed copies of my books at Blue Heron Books in Comox and Abraxas Books on Denman Island. If you got stuck in the snow, they still have signed copies available. Signed copies of my books are also available at Coho Books in Campbell River.

What I’m Reading

On the recommendation of Dirk, the owner of Blue Heron Books, I read Carmilla by Sheridan Le Fanu. Carmilla is the book that inspired Bram Stoker’s Dracula, and is considered the original vampire story. Written 26 years before Dracula, Carmilla has become a cult classic, “steeped in sexual tension and gothic romance.” Given all that, how could I not read it?

What’s Next

The frantic pace of Ghost Mark’s book-release promotion is slowing down, and I’m settling into a quiet lull. I spend my days writing, and most evenings we have a fire going. It feels like heaven.

Next week will be full of “looking back at 2022” from all the usual news and entertainment outlets. When I look back, I see a year of unexpected surprises. Blood Mark has earned ten awards and high praise from reviewers. Ghost Mark is just starting out, but has already earned a Gold Literary Titan award, a glowing review from the Ottawa Review of Books, and a RONE crowned heart review published in InD’Tale Magazine.

Thank you for your kind support this past year. Your reviews, comments, and word-of-mouth recommendations for my books warms my heart. May 2023 be a year filled with joy and health for you and your families.

With much love, from my house to yours, Merry Christmas.

Photo by Waldemar Brandt on Unsplash