Gratitude Archives - Page 3 of 11

Hello 2022

December 30, 2021 By JPMcLean 10 Comments

Hello, and welcome 2022. I hope you enjoy a magnificent year. Your predecessor, 2021, had a rough go of it. Made a bit of a name for himself, and not in the good way. To help you avoid 2021’s mistakes, I’ve prepared a cheat sheet (pay close attention to the legend):

✔ = Good | X = Bad

X Heat Domes

X Atmospheric Rivers

X Landslides

X Flooding

X Wildfires

X Droughts

X COVID variants

Happily, 2021, got some things right:

✔ +79% of British Columbians are now fully vaccinated

✔ Adele released her new album “30”

✔ the Perseverance Rover landed on Mars.

On a personal note, Blood Mark launched in 2021 ✔. Not only has Blood Mark won a Gold Literary Titan award ✔, it’s been long listed for a Chanticleer award ✔, and, on December 16, it became an official Amazon Best Seller! ✔✔✔

And 2021 was my first year in partnership with Creative Edge Publicity, and what a year it’s been. Thank you Mickey Mikkelson! For the complete list of what I’ve been up to (with links) see the Media/Featured On page. And if you’ve not seen it yet, the Media/Fast Facts page contains my publishing career highlights.

So thank you, 2021!

I hope you, too, can find some some successes to celebrate from 2021.

May 2022 be the best year yet with health, happiness, and abundance for all of us.

Cheers!

Jo-Anne XO

Fireworks Photo by Trust “Tru” Katsande on Unsplash

Sizzling Hot Blurbs!

September 24, 2021 By JPMcLean 8 Comments

I’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 Mark is available for pre-order from Amazon

And Kobo

A Look Back

June 25, 2021 By JPMcLean 16 Comments

Finding this old photo of me signing my first novel reminded me how far my writing career has come.

This photo was taken at Abraxas Books on Denman Island in October 2012. I was signing copies of Secret Sky with its original cover and title. Abraxas has sold more Gift Legacy trade paperbacks than any other indie bookstore! (Thanks, Abraxas!)

Since then, there have been a few big milestones . . .

1. I’ve completed SEVEN books in the Gift Legacy, an urban fantasy series about Emelynn Taylor and a secret society of Fliers who live among us and have the gift of flight.

2. The books have received over 225 reviews like this recent one from Midwest Book Review:

“A deftly crafted, impressively original and inherently compelling read from first page to last, Secret Sky launches a new The Gift Legacy series by J. P. McLean. A fully entertaining, plot twisting novel that will leave its readers looking eagerly toward the next thrilling installment, Secret Sky is especially and unreservedly recommended for community library action/adventure, romance, and metaphysical fiction collections.”

Season’s Greetings from Denman Island

December 24, 2020 By JPMcLean 12 Comments

Season’s Greetings from my home to yours

Are you getting your Santa on? Our tree is up and decorated, as is the wreath above the fireplace. The outdoor lights are strung and mostly turn on/off at the designated times; rain plays havoc with the timers and some days they need a little coaxing.

This year, more than ever, we need the cheerful lights. I love it when darkness falls, and the twinkling lights take over. We spark a fire, pour a glass of wine, and soak up the comforting Christmas glow.

Quieter this year

The days leading up to Christmas will be quieter this year, but we’ll Zoom with far-flung family and enjoy their company long distance, along with fond reminiscences of Christmases past. For Christmas dinner, I’m preparing beef Wellington with a side of Rumpledethumps (mashed spuds with cabbage, onion, and cheese – SO good), and something green. Beans? Not sure yet.

We’re very lucky here on Denman Island to be able to source locally so much of what goes on our table. Corlan Vineyards produces award-winning wines. Fresh duck and chicken eggs are available all over the island. Neighbouring farms raise chickens, pork, beef, and lamb. Two Roads Farm grows a cornucopia of vegetables, and our general store carries pretty much everything else you might need.

Shop Local

Shopping local is more important than ever. The pandemic has hit artisans particularly hard with the lack of tourists and trade fairs. Many of their wares can be purchased at Abraxas Books and Gifts and the Denman Craft Shop. Each offers a wide selection of thoughtful gifts for everyone on your not-naughty list (and even some for the naughty crew).

Eggnog is a must, and I think I’ll dig out a puzzle and set it up on the card table. And we can’t forget Christmas carols. Following are some YouTube renditions I found for you. Enjoy the season, however you celebrate it. Stay safe and let’s hope 2021 kicks COVID to the curb.

Jo-Anne

And if you’re looking for an escape this holiday season, the gift legacy is available in a boxed set at an exceptional price for a limited time. Season’s greetings.

Everybody wishes they could fly – until it happens.