Book Promotion Event Archives - Page 5 of 10

Celebrating a New Release with a Sale!

November 9, 2023 By JPMcLean 14 Comments

My Next In-person Event

Before I mention upcoming events, I want to thank everyone who came out to the Big Island Book Fest in Courtenay. It was a terrific success. I had a great time visiting with readers and writers alike and picked up some marketing tips from the wealth of writers in attendance.

My author’s supply of Scorch Mark has arrived! So I’ll have copies available at two upcoming events:

On Saturday, November 18^th, I’ll be at the Lighthouse Christmas Market from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Lighthouse Community Centre, 240 Lions Way, Qualicum Bay, BC. My table will be in the Le’Hereux room, which is off the main hall.

On Sunday, November 19^th, I’ll be at the Union Bay Christmas Craft Fair from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Union Bay Hall, 5401 South Island Highway in Union Bay. My table will be in the main hall on the top floor.

Scorch Mark Sneak Peek

And speaking of the new release, Scorch Mark, a sneak peek is available as a pdf download. Here’s a snippet to whet your appetite…

Now that Jane Walker knew where her mother had been laid to rest, she felt drawn there. It wasn’t out of respect or duty—she’d never met her mother in the flesh—it was simply the only thing she could do as the daughter she was never allowed to be. The visceral loathing she felt for Rick Kristan, the man who’d taken her mother away from her, grew deeper as the day of his trial approached.

Heat rippled off the asphalt parking lot. It had already been a long, hot ride, and they had two hours yet to go. Jane dismounted her Honda Rebel, glad for the opportunity to stretch her legs. Ethan Bryce pulled in beside her and killed the ignition of his Fat Boy. Across a swath of summer-scorched lawn, Windermere Lake sparkled like a cool oasis. This was their last stop before the final leg to the cemetery on the outskirts of Canmore, Alberta.

She removed her helmet, shook out her dark, cropped hair, and brushed the road dust from her jeans. Ahead, just before the path to Kinsmen Beach, a tailgate party had taken root, spilling onto the lawn behind a row of pickup trucks. The tailgaters, mostly young men flaunting their abs and red Solo cups, had confiscated a collection of the park’s picnic tables. Music pounded out of speakers, and the scent of barbecue made Jane’s mouth water.

After the helmets were locked, Ethan pulled their towel rolls from one of the saddlebags. He stretched his neck and raked his fingers through his comically flattened hair. “Ready?”

Jane let a saucy smile cross her lips.

Jane let a saucy smile cross her lips. She’d happily watch Ethan Bryce’s backside all day long. “Lead the way.”

Ethan came to stand toe-to-toe with her, his light brown eyes sparkling with mischief. He leaned down and kissed her. “I love it when your mind’s in the bedroom.”

He started across the parking lot and Jane held back a moment, admiring his swagger and the broad shoulders under his leather jacket. She quickly caught up and matched his stride, looking ahead to the lake, anticipating the splash of relief from the cool water.

Her focus was on the lake, so she wasn’t paying attention to the tailgaters as she and Ethan passed. But when Ethan took her hand—an unusual gesture for him—she glanced at him, and then at the men who had stopped their partying. One by one, they nudged each other and, in turn, stared at her. Startled, Jane looked away.

“You know them?” Ethan asked.

“No.” Goosebumps skated across her arms. Jane surreptitiously checked her boots and jacket, smoothed her hair, searching for something—anything—to explain their attention. Anything other than the one thing the goosebumps foretold.

Preorder Scorch Mark from your favourite retailer here.

Big Island Book Fest

October 13, 2023 By JPMcLean 4 Comments

Autumn is rolling onto Denman Island in foggy waves, which is the perfect atmosphere for tomorrow’s Big Island Book Fest in Courtenay. There will be 50 local authors attending, book signings, book readings, children’s face painting, and live music.

JP Bailey (another JP!) is the main driver behind the event, and she’s done a stellar job promoting the event, including a terrific article in the Comox Valley Record and coverage in Compass Magazine.

Big Island Book Fest is tomorrow, Saturday October 14, from 10 to 4 at the Florence Filberg Centre (the one in Courtenay, not Comox). The address is 411 Anderton Ave, Courtenay, BC. There’s lots of parking outside on both levels of the building. We’ll be on the top floor.

Canadian News Ban

I ran up against the social media ban on sharing Canadian news when I tried to share the Comox Valley Record link on social media. Facebook prevented me from sharing it. It’s really too bad that issue can’t be sorted out equitably so we can get back to sharing these events.

Dark Dreams news

Scorch Mark has a wonderful new review:

Scorch Mark is glamor and grit, spliced with a magical sense of the macabre. —W.L. Hawkin, award-winning author of Lure and the Hollystone Mysteries.

If you are interested in joining my early review street team, reply to this newsletter and let me know. I’m looking for readers who can review Scorch Mark on book retailer sites and help me get the word out. Speaking of which, don’t forget, Scorch Mark is available for preorder right now from your favourite retailer.

What I’m reading

I just finished reading The First Time I Died (Garnet McGee) by Jo Macgregor. The title drew me in, and the description sealed the deal. It’s a murder mystery with a touch of the supernatural. That’s exactly the type of book I’m devouring right now. And Macgregor did a fine job of creating memorable characters and a story that made it easy to suspend disbelief. Five stars.

I’m off to pack the car for tomorrow’s Big Island Book Fest. With ten+ books now, it’s quite a load. I’ll be at booth 4 against the back wall. Stop by and say hello!

Until next time . . .

June Update

June 17, 2023 By JPMcLean 14 Comments

I’ve been splitting my time between the gardens and indulgent reading.

I can’t remember when last it was I’ve spent this much time with soil under my fingernails. It’s incredibly gratifying to see the neat edges and weed-free soil. Though we have had little rain, and the gardens are dry, we’re fortunate to have rainwater stored and have been using that to perk up the plants. It’s mostly flowers and shrubs now, though we still grow garlic and a few other veggies in two raised beds.

Here are some more garden pics:

Reading

And I’ve been devouring books. I finished Colleen Hoover’s It Ends With Us. Though I’m not a huge romance reader, I wanted to see what all the fuss was about. I wasn’t expecting to like it, and I LOVED it. I then read Hoover’s follow-up book, It Starts With Us. It wasn’t as urgent or earth shattering, but I’m glad I read it and know the rest of the story.

I’m also doing a beta read of a book that's expected to come out this fall. It’s by W.L. Hawkin and it’s fabulous. I’ll share more about it when I’m able.

When I’m not reading or gardening, I’m preparing for the indie-publishing workshop I’m presenting at this year’s Denman Island Readers and Writers Festival. There’s still room if you want to learn if indie publishing is a good fit for you, and what’s involved in the process. It’s scheduled for July 20th from 10:00-1:00 at the Denman Island Community School.

Kindle Unlimited

You might remember I told you recently I'd put my Gift Legacy books into the Kindle subscription program. Well, I'm happy to report that my first Kindle Countdown Deal was a tremendous success. By the time the dust settled, 2,650 readers had taken advantage of the sale. And two months on, I’m seeing follow-up interest in other books in the series, including read throughs in the Kindle subscription program. This makes me very happy! I'm thrilled to share the books with those of you who subscribe to Kindle Unlimited. But it’s a limited engagement, ending on September 2. Download the books, or the boxed sets while they’re still in the program.

Saturday Markets

And finally, if you’re in the Black Creek neighbourhood on Vancouver Island on June 24th, I’ll be at the McLarey Avenue Spring/Summer Market. Drop by and say hello. I’m happy to inscribe a book to you or a friend.

Can't wait to share Scorch Mark's cover with you. Happy Father's Day to all the father's out there. (I'll chat with you tomorrow, Dad!)

Until next time, XO

A Kindle Unlimited Surprise

April 27, 2023 By JPMcLean 7 Comments

Writing Research

Earlier this month, I travelled to Vancouver for research on the court case that takes place in Scorch Mark. Over the course of two short days, I attended several trials at the Law Courts Building, including a murder, a sexual assault, a major fraud, a contract dispute, and a custody battle.

The most surprising aspect of my visit was the ease with which I could sit in on these trials. Though armed sheriffs are present throughout the building, I was free to walk into any of the open courtrooms. In all the time I lived in Vancouver, I’d never ventured inside the lofty building. I imagined I’d be searched or have to go through metal detectors, maybe even questioned. None of that happened. Though there were metal detectors available, they weren’t in use at the courtrooms I attended.

Another interesting aspect of some courtrooms is the bulletproof glass that protects the defendants. I also peeked in through the windows of Court 20, which is the courtroom in the basement that was built for the Air India bombing trial, and most recently used for the hearings around Huawei’s chief financial officer. It’s the largest courtroom in the building, and the most secure.

Activity Centre Garden Bed update

In my last post, I mentioned that a group of volunteers had dug out the overgrown garden beds at the Activity Centre here on Denman in preparation for a much needed revitalization. I found some photos of what it used to look like, and I’m happy to share the results of our labours to replant the beds. Thanks so much to the Denman Garden Club for their financial help and the slate of volunteers who put in the sweat equity that saw this worthwhile project completed.