Hexborn Cover Reveal

June 18, 2026 By JPMcLean Leave a Comment

The designers at 100 covers have nailed the branding of The Thorne Witch novels. Not only is the colour exquisite, but the use of poisonous belladonna, aka nightshade, hints at the story’s dark side.

Witch by birth, warlock by trade.

Adeline Thorne is a witch. The magic inside her is not.

The warlock magic coursing through her veins is volatile, incompatible with her witch blood, and growing more unstable by the day. When Luke Churchwell, a powerful runecaster, returns and sees how far her magic has spiralled, he steps in to train her—but every lesson is a gamble, and his desire for her may take them both down.

Far across the country, the hexborn are tracking a killer whose trail leads straight to Adeline.

The hunter is closing in. And the secret that created him is deadlier than the man himself.

Download the Hexborn excerpt here.

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.