Gift Legacy 99¢ Book Sale, JP McLean Author Reading, and Hexborn Preorder News.

May 29, 2026 By JPMcLean Leave a Comment

The books make a great summer binge read—or gift them to a friend who could use some quality escapism.

YouTube News

While I'm taking a bit of a break, I’ve recorded a reading from Secret Sky and another from Hidden Enemy, the first two books in The Gift Legacy. Over the summer, I’ll be recording excerpts for all seven books in the series. You can find them on my YouTube channel and on this website under the red "hear an excerpt" button: Secret Sky and Hidden Enemy. Your feedback is always welcome.

Hexborn Update

Hexborn is now widely available for preorder at all the usual outlets, and its cover is very close to being finalized. The design is on-brand with The Never Witch, featuring vivid depth of colour. I’ll share it with my VIP newsletter subscribers first, then post it here.

A New Title in The Thorne Witch Series

January 22, 2026 By JPMcLean 2 Comments

A New Title in The Thorne Witch Series

January has blasted out of the starting gate. I hit the keyboard running at the start of the year and I’m making great headway with the second Thorne Witch novel. I’ll update this blog as I hit new milestones. But in the meantime, I can already tell you the title:

HEXBORN

The Hexborn are children born under a curse. The storyline continues where The Never Witch left off. Adeline Thorne is back in the main character role, and the warlock, Luke Churchwell returns as well.

Upcoming Events

I’m excited to bring The Never Witch to Nanaimo on Friday the 13^th of February. Not only is Friday the thirteenth a perfectly witchy day for a book signing, but it’s just in time for Valentine’s.

I’ll be signing books at the Chapters store in Nanaimo, at the north end of the Woodgrove Centre, 6670 Mary Ellen Drive, Nanaimo, BC (250)390-0380. I’ll be set up by noon and stay until three p.m. I’d be delighted to inscribe a book for your valentine.

1.1 Million Words in Print

When The Never Witch came out, it pushed me over the 1.1-million-words-in-print mark. It’s a shocking reminder of how far I’ve come. When I wrote my first novel, Secret Sky, I never imagined this would become my full-time gig. I also never imagined I’d still love the craft of writing, the actual putting together of these books that are akin to word puzzles. And I’m blessed and lucky to have the time and space to do it.

In Other News

I’m making a big change with my website. I’m moving to a new hosting platform. There will be kinks to work out, I’m sure, but I have confidence in the experts who are doing the transfer. The moving pieces include my email addresses, blog, and this newsletter, so keep you fingers crossed for a smooth transition.

Sign up for my VIP newsletter

If you’d like to know more about me, my writing life, and my home on Denman Island, sign up for my monthly newsletter, where I share photos, updates, FREE short stories, and insider scoop. I never share your email address, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Until next time…

Jo-Anne

A Book Award for The Never Witch

December 18, 2025 By JPMcLean Leave a Comment

A Book Award for The Never Witch!

The Never Witch is perfect for readers who like their fantasy grounded in emotion and their magic served with a side of grit.

—Literary Titan

The Never Witch is now a Literary Titan Award Winner. At the end of October, the judges notified me that it had earned a 5-star review, and early this month, I learned that it had won a gold Literary Titan medal.

What also helps new readers find the books are reviews. Here are two I’m very proud of:

McLean’s writing has never been more stylish and powerful—this book raises the bar on craft.

—Ottawa Review of Books

Original, unique, clever, deftly crafted, and a simply riveting and fun read from start to finish.

—Midwest Book Review

Last In-person Event of 2025

My last in-person event of the year is at the Queneesh Holiday Market this Sunday, December 21, at the Florence Filberg Centre in Courtenay. I’ll be manning a table of books written by local authors . Stop by and peruse the wide assortment of books available.

Saturday, December 20, 10 am – 5 pm
Sunday, December 21, 10 am – 5 pm
411 Anderton Avenue, Courtenay, BC.

On the Home Front

For the past couple of years my husband and I have enjoyed prime rib, beef Wellington, and even chicken for the main event, but this year we’re going traditional with turkey, stuffing, mashed spuds, and all the fixings. Except dessert. I don’t know about you, but when my plate’s empty, I’m always too full to stuff in another bite, even if it’s a whipped light-as-a-feather slice of pumpkin pie, a sticky Christmas pudding, or a spicy yule log. Nope. Can’t do it. (But that’s not to say those desserts won’t be welcome after leftovers in the coming days.)

What I’m Reading

I’m currently reading Aeterna by Kim Bannerman. Kim and I often bump into one another at local author events. Her covers, which her husband designs, are beautiful, and Aeterna’s storyline intrigued me. It’s a dystopian story of vampires that live in a luxurious underground world they’ve created for their kind after they wiped out humans. But an opportunity to return to the old human cities during the vampires’ Bloodlet Right threatens to unravel their utopia.

I’m also listening to Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros. It’s the third book in her Empyrean series. The first book was Fourth Wing, followed by Iron Flame. They’re lengthy books, and though I’m into the third in the series, I still haven’t figured out the landscape. What I love about the books is the flying and the relationships between the riders and the riders and their dragons. And because they’re audiobooks, they’re keeping me company while I prep meals, wrap gifts, and get ready for company.

And just in case you think my head’s always in the clouds, I’m also reading War Resisters by Joline Martin, which tells the story of Vietnam war resisters who settled in Canada, including some who settled right here on Denman Island.

Happy Christmas

And finally, from my home to yours this festive season, may your celebrations be filled with love and all your favourite things, and your New Year be happy, healthy, and peaceful.

Sign up for my VIP newsletter

Until next time…

Jo-Anne

Witches and Warlocks and Magic, Oh My!

October 24, 2025 By JPMcLean 2 Comments

Happy Halloween

Are you stocked up for the trick or treaters? I wonder what the most popular costume will be this year? When I heard on the news that the cost of costumes has increased by a shocking amount, it got me reminiscing about the years before costumes were bought, to a time in my childhood when costumes were cobbled together.

I don’t think buying costumes was even an option when I was young. But if it were, with four of us kids in the family, I imagine forking out money for costumes would have been out of the question. But we had a secret weapon: our mom could sew. I remember a devil’s costume and an iridescent black and purple satin witch’s skirt. There was also a memorable paper horse’s head attached to a fabric costume body made for two. I seem to recall my older sister was the head and I was the horse’s behind. Haha! A classic. I’ll have to look for photos of those costumes next time I visit my folks.

This year, Halloween holds a special place for me with The Never Witch out and about in the local shops. The launch events have been hauntingly good and I’ve enjoyed meeting readers and lovers of witches and warlocks and magic, oh my!

My next in-person events are:

Saturday, October 25, 4-9 pm, Witchy Market at the Crow’s Nest Artists’ Collective, Campbell River
Saturday, November 15, 10 am – 4 pm & Sunday, November 16, 10 am – 3 pm, Lighthouse Christmas Market, Qualicum Bay
Sunday, November 23, Union Bay Christmas Craft Fair, 10 am – 3 pm

Editorial Reviews

I’m thrilled to share three BIG editorial reviews that have come in for The Never Witch:

McLean’s writing has never been more stylish and powerful—this book raises the bar on craft.

—Ottawa Review of Books

Original, unique, clever, deftly crafted, and a simply riveting and fun read from start to finish.

—Midwest Book Review

Action-packed, thrilling, and entertaining, author JP McLean’s “The Never Witch” is a must-read occult suspense and urban fantasy.

—Anthony Avina, Book Blogger and Reviewer

My interview with Peter McCully

As promised, here is a link to my interview with Peter McCully on The PULSE Community Podcast in Parksville. Peter and I had an interesting chat about my writing process and the inspiration behind my books. Peter is personable and curious, which makes for an entertaining conversation. I really enjoyed speaking with him and had the pleasure of meeting him in person at The Never Witch book launch at Fireside Books in Parksville.

Retailer News

I’m also pleased to announce that Laughing Oyster Bookshop and Coles in the Driftwood Mall in Courtenay are now carrying The Never Witch. It is also available from my website and at these independent bookshops:

Elsewhere, you can order The Never Witch by title or its ISBN number (978-1-988125-72-5) from your favourite bookshop.

And finally, I wanted to share this stunning video sunrise with you. Enjoy!