JP McLean

Writing Addictive Fiction

Christmas Travel Challenges

By 9 Comments

Back in March, when my husband and I planned a Christmas trip to Ontario, we never imagined the Christmas travel challenges we’d face.

Photo of a white candle atop wooden spindle on a stone fireplace mantleLike a lot of you, I’ve been in a whirlwind of cleaning, wrapping, cooking, baking, entertaining, and being entertained :). I’ve also been packing for a winter road trip back east to spend a rare Christmas with my family in Ontario. And also like a lot of you, rare is the morning when you wake up with a leisurely stretch and wonder how you’re going to fill your day. Especially this year. Leisure doesn’t even have a seat at the kiddie table.

Most years we parcel-up Christmas in boxes and mail them in early December. What a treat it’s been this year to pack with abandon, free of the usual worry of breakage, and the expense of excess weight. Being a writer with a new book out, I even included a few boxes of books. We bought new snow tires, cleaned the car inside and out, and loaded the bulkier items. All that was left to load were our suitcases.

Photo of a boot castScreeching Halt

And then our long awaited cross-country winter wonderland Christmas trek came to a screeching halt with a last-minute boot-cast (cave master, not me) and a scramble for airline tickets.

Happily, we found suitable flights, but I had to add re-packing to my to-do list, and sadly, some of the treasures we’d originally packed didn’t make the re-pack.

Photo of a red knit Christmas hat with white pompom and trimBut on the bright side, we’ll still have a white Christmas with my family, and we’ll still be able to visit with friends along the way. For us, it’s the people who make Christmas special, and the rest of it though nice, is simply glitter on the tree. Not critical, nor necessary, and easily done without.

With that in mind, from our house to yours, all the best to you and yours this holiday season. Glitter or not, enjoy the special people in your life. I’ll see you next year …

And if you’re looking for a last-minute present for someone special, you can gift them Secret Sky from your favourite retailer right here! Or click on the image for more purchase options.
3D Cover collection for all formats of Secret Sky

Happy Hot Toddies!

By 6 Comments

JP McLean with her dog, Molly, sitting on the hearth of a blazing fireplace
JP McLean and Miss Molly

Happy hot toddies. Another Christmas Eve has arrived. The tree is up, the wreath is hung, and the shopping is done. December 24th is my favourite day of the holidays. For me, it’s the calm before the storm; a quiet day to enjoy with a warm toddy, a soft dog and fluffy blanket in front of the fire.

And as the seasonal gatherings roll on, and we exchange holiday cheer with our friends and family, I’m reminded how very fortunate I am, and for that, I am grateful.

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank you for your encouragement, laughter and support over this past year.

From our home to yours, here’s wishing you and your family a very merry Christmas, and a healthy and happy 2016, and many hot toddies.

If you’re looking for a book to enjoy during the calm before the storm, you can gift yourself Secret sky with one click right here. And if ebooks or Amazon aren’t your preference, other purchasing options are available under the Bookstore tab.

Christmas and Odds & Sods

By 18 Comments

Christmas tree & Fireplace in JP's home on Denman IslandChristmas and Odds & Sods. Miraculously, five days before Christmas, I find myself in the position of having some free time. Not sure how that happened. Somehow the parcels got wrapped, mailed, bagged, and tagged; the vacuum and dust mitt performed a slap and dash; the decorations made it out of the crawl space; and the meals planned themselves.

So I’m sitting here on my duff with a glass of wine in hand and the computer in my lap, and it occurred to me that I probably owe you all an update!

But before I get to that, I’d like to take a moment to say thank you. Your enthusiasm for these characters and this story is heartwarming. Writing is often a solitary venture and every time I hear from one of you, it makes my day. Truly. Thanks for that.

Odds & Sods

And so…Book IV, titled Penance*, has been through the first round of beta readers and is now in the capable hands of intrepid story editor, Nina Munteanu. When she sends it back, I’ll incorporate her comments, and then send it out to the second wave of beta readers. After their comments are folded in, it’ll go to the copy editor. Finally, another beta read and then off to the proof-reader. When those tweaks are done, it’ll be ready to publish. It may seem like an arduous journey but believe me, all those extra eyes will make for a much better story!

Meantime, Viona Halim, has been working on the cover art, which will, once again, originate with a photo. This time the photo was taken on Granville Island, where pivotal scenes in Book IV take place. Viona will edit the photo and then paint it to achieve the same ominous “feel” to it that the others have.

At the same time, I’m working on the back cover blurb, summaries, tag lines, book marks and other promotional material. I’m writing press releases for the spring launch and seeking pre-release reviews (wink, nudge, hint-hint). If you are interested in receiving an e-copy of Penance for review, please let me know. Reviews that are posted to coincide with the book’s release are better than balloon rides, rum in your egg nog and snow on Christmas!

Coming Soon . . . Boxed Sets

Also, I decided to offer the first three books of the Gift Legacy in a “boxed set” format for the eBook market. Viona Halim has prepared a phenomenal cover for the boxed set, which I can’t wait to share with you. For the first time, I’m trying my hand at formatting this edition myself. I’m not the most tech-savvy person, so wish me luck. If the challenge proves too much, I’ll have to hire the expertise.

And then, because apparently I should be offering a nugget to entice readers to sign up for my newsletter (which, sadly, I’ve been neglecting), I’ve been writing a give-away short story.

Of course, I’m still jotting down ideas for the continuation of Emelynn’s story in yet another adventure with Sam Jordan, James Moss and hmm, well…not sure who else might make an appearance in Book V, but it’s sure to be exciting. If you have any ideas, I’d love to hear them.

All the best, from our house to yours, over this holiday season. Cheers!

If you have no idea what I’m going on about, you need to get a copy of Secret Sky right now! You can order the ebook with one click right here. And if ebooks or Amazon aren’t your preference, you can find other options under the Bookstore Tab.

*Penance is now Lethal Waters

Home for Christmas

By Leave a Comment

Mundane chores are dumping all over my home-for-Christmas holiday spirit. Roaming dust bunnies, dead Halloween plants, overflowing compost bins, and so many more small jobs need attending to. But they’re in stiff competition for my time. I’ve also got to promote my first book, nudge the second book along to publication, and complete the third all-important final installment in the trilogy.

Christmas ElvesYikes.  I could use an elf or three.

I’m surrounded by far more meaningfully employed and less time-challenged friends. They’re chuffed with delight at the sight of their finely decorated trees and homes.  These friends have already dispatched their Christmas gifts to faraway places.  Their Christmas baking is neatly packed in pretty tins. Their turkeys are already on ice.  Receiving their perky Christmas cards makes me want to throw up my hands in defeat.

I’m insanely envious.

This will be the third Christmas since I embarked on the project that has become the all-consuming Gift Trilogy.  In 2010 it was still a fresh endeavour and I busted my butt to make the holidays happen without a glitch.  2011 saw the new, and decidedly not improved me, beg off of all but fireplace mantel decorations and a plug-in pre-decorated tree.

This year I’ll endeavour to find a better balance. 

I’ve laid out the gifts that need to be mailed and found boxes that fit (I’ll post them this week).  I’ll schedule a day late in the week to clean the house then decorate al la Martha.  I’ll groom the dogs and write out the Christmas dinner shopping list.  But Christmas cards won’t happen and neither will Christmas baking. Molly-maid will do a drive-by, not the usual dust the ceiling fan-type of job. Those compromises are the path to sanity for me this Christmas.

Eventually the dust bunnies will be corralled, the compost will give up its gold, and Christmas will happen with all the tinsel and turkey trimmings.  But the new me includes writing, so somewhere along the way a twitter or blog post will roll out. The second book’s cover art or a catchy tag line will be born, and the third book will continue its journey to completion.

So, here’s to enjoying the holidays with friends and family, good food, some nog and a laugh or two while keeping the mundane to a dull roar.  I’ll still write – it seems to be a part of me now – but I’ll also decorate and cook and wrap and drink to the good health and happiness of all my better-organized friends.

Cheers!

Photo by erin mckenna on Unsplash