JP McLean

Writing Addictive Fiction

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Someone’s Having a Birthday!

October 27, 2022 By JPMcLean 10 Comments

Blood Mark Cover with Global Book MedalBlood Mark is Turning One!

It seems like it was just yesterday I was sweating over the release of Blood Mark. Hard to believe it’s already been a year. Blood Mark is turning one this month. Blood Mark was the first book in a brand new series, and I worried it would flounder in the shadow of the Gift Legacy books. I shouldn’t have. Blood Mark found its feet and has earned ten awards (TEN!). The cover is now shortlisted in the Page Turner Awards with all the credit going to JD&J Book Cover Design.

To mark the one-year birthday occasion, I’m putting Blood Mark on sale. Until November first, you can pick up the multi-award-winning Blood Mark for just $0.99. (Tell your friends!) It’s available from all your favourite retailers here.

Ghost Mark e-Book coverGhost Mark Launches This Coming Tuesday!

Ghost Mark is also at a special price of just $2.99 during the pre-order period, which ends with its release on November 1st. It will go up to its regular $4.99 price on launch day. You can pre-order from all the usual suspects here.

Watch the book trailer here.

Ghost Mark’s Latest Buzz

A number of retailers don’t allow posting of reviews ahead of the publication date, but Goodreads and BookBub are two happy exceptions. This is the latest review from a BookBub reviewer:

As a paranormal fantasy junkie this book was just my cup of tea. In short it is an intense and emotional paranormal story that will keep you on your toes till the very end.              —DiKetcup, Bookbub reviewer

Upcoming In-person Events

Myth, Magic, and Dark Dreams PosterI’ll be in Campbell River haunting Coho Books with W.L. Hawkin this Friday, October 28. We’ll be reading from our books and hanging out by the caldron. Come on by for some fun.

Date: October 28, 2022
Time: 6:00-8:00 pm PT
Location: Coho Books, 2092-I South Island Hwy, Campbell River BC

In other news:

The inaugural Big Island Book Fest in Courtenay this past weekend was a wonderful event. Forty authors offered books in a multitude of genres, and throughout the day, a number of us read from our books. The organizer, JP Bailey, left no detail to chance. I doubt she’s slept for the past six months.

A bonus meet and greet at the Courtenay Museum on the evening ahead of the festival was such fun! It provided an opportunity to mingle with the other authors and enjoy some appies and 40 Knots wine. We were allowed to stroll through the museum and JP even organized for a photographer to be there to take headshots for those who wanted them.

It was such a well-organized event! I hope it returns again next year, and if it does, I’ll be there.

As this is the final week leading up to Ghost Mark’s release, I’m unbelievably busy, so I’ll end here.

Until next time . . .

XO

Jo-Anne

JP McLean

Writing addictive fiction

Ghost Mark’s Trailer Debut

October 5, 2022 By JPMcLean 9 Comments

Ghost Mark’s trailer debut is here!

It’s one thing to pick up a book with a compelling cover, turn it over in your hands, and read the description. Maybe you’ll check out the book’s endorsements or editorial reviews, but book trailers offer a unique glimpse inside the story. They capture the mood of a book. Maybe one day I’ll see a movie trailer for Ghost Mark—wouldn’t that be something!

Meantime, Ghost Mark’s pre-release buzz is building, and I’m so pumped about it that I’m spreading the joy. I’ve lowered the price of the pre-order to $2.99. On release day, November first, the price will go back up to its regular price of $4.99. Get the deal here:

Kindle   ~   Kobo   ~   Apple   ~   Nook   ~   Elsewhere

Ghost Mark’s Latest Buzz:

A New Editorial Review

A captivating nail-biter that will leave readers thirsting for more!
—InD'tale Magazine

The full review will be out in the November edition of InD'tale Magazine.

A New Endorsement

This mind-bending, supernatural thriller is a riveting romp through the dark streets of obsession and murder. A story that tugs at your heartstrings and lingers in the mind long after The End. Un-putdownable!
—Sue Coletta, award-winning author of the Mayhem Series

Sue Coletta is an author whose writing and research I admire. She takes research to the nth degree. In an effort to make her mysteries as realistic as possible, she visited a body farm. Yup. It’s a real thing. She wrote about it here. I’ve been hooked on her unflinching mysteries ever since reading that article.

In other news:

Book Shepherd image of JP McLean's book picksI’m now on Book Shepherd. Book Shepherd is an alternative to Goodreads. They’re developing a different way to find books. The more ways folks can find books is all right by me, so when they asked me to create and curate a list of my choosing, I put together a list of the Best Urban Fantasy Series With Kickass Heroines, featuring Ann Charles, EE Holmes, Annette Marie, Charlaine Harris, and Victoria Aveyard. Find great book selections on the Book Shepherd’s Heros list.

If you find yourself in Courtenay or Campbell River, I'll be at the following local events: (Drop by and say hello.)

Big Island Book Fest Promo ImageDate: October 22, 2022
Time: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm PT
Location: Filberg Centre, 411 Anderton Ave, Courtenay, BC V9N 6C6

I’ll be reading from Blood Mark and available for book signings and Q&A

Myth, Magic, and Dark Dreams PosterDate: October 28, 2022
Time: 6:00-8:00 pm PT
Location: Coho Books, 2092-I South Island Hwy, Campbell River BC, V9W 1C1

I’ll be joining W.L. Hawkin in a prelude to Halloween at Coho Books. We’ll be reading from our addictively dark and mysterious books and be available to answer questions and sign books.

Until next time, XO

Jo-Anne

Blood Mark has a New Award

June 2, 2022 By JPMcLean 10 Comments

Blood Mark has a new award. This one from the Eric Hoffer Awards, and I couldn’t be more proud.

Eric Hoffer Winner Medal

When I submitted Blood Mark to a handful of contests, it was a leap of faith. Seeing how well it’s done, I’m so glad I put the book into the ring. It’s now earned seven awards! And it’s not over yet—Blood Mark is still in the running for a few awards that won’t be decided until later in the year. I’ll keep you posted.

New Book Title

First, thank you for your thoughts on the new book’s title. After much discussion, research, and consideration of your input, I’ve named the new book Ghost Mark. As you know, this has been its working title, but it also came up as one of your favourites in the feedback. And because it’s a good fit with Blood Mark and a good match for the book’s subject, I think we’ve nailed it. So, again, thank you!

Ghost Mark Update

I’m thrilled to tell you that the first draft is finished, the first run-through edit is done, and Ghost Mark is now out for the big-picture edit. Whew! When I get that feedback, I’ll incorporate it, and then it’s off to betas. Next up will be the copy editor.

And now that Ghost Mark is on its way, I’m considering a series title. Originally, I planned to use Blood Mark Series, but I’ve been told that repeating the first book’s title is a wasted opportunity to include additional search words to help readers find the books. My first choice for a series name is one Roxy Boroughs suggested (Thanks Roxy!): Dark Dreams. Each of the books would be A Dark Dreams Novel and/or part of the Dark Dreams Series. What do you think?

I’ve now turned my attention to the other pieces of the writing puzzle that make up a book: writing the acknowledgements, teasing out the back-of-the-book description, working with the cover designer, planning the release with publicist extraordinaire, Mickey Mikkelson of Creative Edge Publicity, etc.

One Last Thing

Today, June 2nd, Hidden Enemy is on sale for 99c. It’s the second standalone book in the Gift Legacy Series. You can get it from Amazon, Kobo, Nook, and everywhere else books are sold. Scribble’s Worth Reviews says: the second book starts off with a thrilling scene and heart-pumping narration! OHHHHH YEEEEEAHHHH! JP McLean knows how to grip us at once and make us curious in the first scenes. Awesome!

Until next time . . .

In the Spirit of the Season

December 14, 2021 By JPMcLean 7 Comments

Has there been a more dreadful year? On the west coast of Canada, the combination of pandemic, fires, smoke, and floods have packed a punch that’ll take a while to overcome. And though I can’t do much to help with all that mess, in the spirit of the season, I can provide an inexpensive escape.

I’ve never discounted a newly released book, but I’m doing it this year.

For a few days only, you can get Blood Mark for just 99c. Whether you want to read it yourself or gift it to a friend, it’ll provide a reprieve, an escape, an all-encompassing thrill ride that’ll leave no room for thoughts of Mother Nature’s recent rampage(s!).

Amazon US
Amazon Canada
Amazon UK
Kobo
Nook
Payhip
Elsewhere

But act quickly, the price returns to it’s regular $4.99 in just a few days.

Enjoy!

Here’s the latest review for Blood Mark in the Dec/Jan edition of InD’Tale Magazine:

5/5 stars with Crowned Heart for Excellence

SUSPENSE/THRILLER: Wrapped from head to toe by unusual and unique red patterns, Jane lives her life trying to keep her markings hidden and her secret safe. Abandoned at birth, Jane’s life has been one tragedy after another from a car accident, a deadly house fire, and the debilitating narcolepsy that results in dream visions from the past where she witnesses horrific events. When visions of Rebecca in a psych ward start encompassing her dreams, she finds herself on a mission to find out who this lady is who can also see the past. As Jane dreams of her more often, she starts to notice something amiss with the doctor treating Rebecca and her concern grows all the while she starts noticing that her very own marks are disappearing. Unsure of what is happening or who she can trust, Jane must let go of some of her secrets in order to find the answer she needs to stay safe.

The answer to this year’s boredom, JP McLean’s novel is a fresh and original mystery thriller with a side of budding romance. The movement between the past and the present is captivating and adds an intriguing aspect to the storyline. Jane’s backstory slowly unfolds throughout, allowing the reader to understand her and connect with her on a deeper level. The development of all the characters during the course of the tale was superb, with each of them showing some type of growth. The twists and turns will keep the reader in suspense until the very end when all is shockingly revealed. This gripping tale should be on every bookshelf this year!

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