JP McLean

Writing Addictive Fiction

Susan Toy Turns Two!

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Well … maybe not Susan Toy herself, but her Reading Recommendations site is celebrating two fabulous years!

One of a writer’s most difficult jobs comes after the writing is done. It doesn’t seem to matter which publishing path you choose, discoverability is the next step, and it’s a tough slog.

When I was new to the publishing world, I floundered around the Internet looking for information on how to get the word out about my book and find readers. It seemed an insurmountable task, and as a newbie, sorting the wheat from the chaff proved taxing on my time and my sanity.

Susan Toy

Happily, I stumbled upon Susan Toy and her Reading Recommendations site. It was such a refreshing change to the naysaying negativity that can run rampant on the Internet. Here I found a woman with a long history in the publishing industry, and a writer herself, making the time and effort to support other writers.

But I am not just a writer, I’m also a reader, as most writers are. Through Reading Recommendations, I’ve discovered many new writers and continue to do so. These are books I may never have found if I hadn’t read about them on Susan’s site.

And that is discoverability, the very thing all writers strive for.

Reading Recommendations works, and better still, I’ve met a network of writers who are supportive, approachable, and readily share their knowledge.

November 18th is the second anniversary of Reading Recommendations. I am grateful and proud to be a part of this supportive network of readers and writers.

Congratulations, Susan, on your second year anniversary, and thank you for being at the helm.

Home in Bequia

On Festivals and Readings

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On Festivals and Readings . . . When you don’t hear from me for ages, you can assume the writing is going well, but even so, where did August go?

JP's luggage inside the Vancouver airportI’m at the Vancouver airport on an extremely long **yawn** layover to Toronto, and thought I’d take the opportunity to catch up with you.

In July, at the Denman Island Reader and Writer Festival (DIRWF) I had the great pleasure of introducing award-winning author, Eliza Robertson. She read three short stories from her book, Wallflowers. I also had the opportunity to introduce eight of Denman Island’s local writers to the stage, and I then shared a reading from Penance (now titled Lethal Waters).

I also attended the DIRWF writer-in-residence program with Steven Price. You might remember that I’ve got a few writing projects on the go. One of them is a companion piece to Secret Sky. It’s the story told from Jackson’s perspective with the working title Sins of the Father. I took Sins to Steven Price’s workshop and the participants’ feedback improved and inspired the story. Can’t wait to finish it.

A New Story is in the works

Dinosaur hanging inside the Comox airportI also have a new work in progress tentatively titled Witness. I’ve worked out most of the outline and even written a number of chapters. Interestingly, because I’m writing Witness from the third person point of view and Sins from the first person point of view, I’m finding it a challenge to work on both at the same time.

Last week I attended When Words Collide in Calgary and had the opportunity to meet the extremely personable Diana Gabaldon and hear her read from the as yet unpublished ninth book in her Outlander series. What a treat.

Which brings me to now . . . waiting to board a plane to Toronto and from there, points north. In addition to visiting family, I’ll be doing a reading at McKellar Public Library on Monday, August 24th at 1:30. If you’re in the neighbourhood, please stop by (701 Highway 124, McKellar, Ontario). I’ll be reading from Lethal Waters and offering a few other surprises. Come and check it out, and then check out a fishing rod and head down to the river to catch your dinner.

See you there.

The Gift Legacy books are available to borrow from the McKellar library, but if you’d like your own copy, you can pick up Lethal Waters for Kindle with one click right here. And if ebooks or Amazon aren’t your preference, other purchase options are available under the Bookstore tab.

Playing Whack-A-Mole with a Trilogy

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Selection of hammers

Every time I sit down to write this post, another trilogy mole pops up and I race off in search of my mallet. I’m playing Whack-a-Mole with a trilogy. Those “moles” are hidden in more cubby holes than I’d imagined, though I shouldn’t be surprised, after all, I put them there.

I’m referring to the “trilogy” descriptor I used liberally to describe The Gift books when they were, in fact, a trilogy. Now that the fourth book, The Gift: Penance (now titled Lethal Waters), is approaching the starting blocks, the terminology is decidedly inaccurate. Hence, I’ve started the process of switching out “trilogy” for “legacy.”

I thought about all the places I’d used “trilogy,” and made a list. There were the obvious spots, like this blog, the website and Goodreads. Then I looked at Twitter, Facebook and Google+. Mustn’t forget Wattpad and Library Thing. Oh, and LinkedIn.

Okay, I thought … I can do this.

Oops, forgot about my author page on Amazon, which sent me scurrying back to look at my author page on Goodreads. And wait, I’d made a note to change the wording in Facebook, but what about the header picture—that had to change. Do I even remember how to do that? Then I noticed the tagline in my email signature, which lead to the realization that my business cards are now outdated. Along with the posters I use at book signings. And the back-of-the-book blurbs.

Oh crap! Pretty much all of the promo material I’ve ever prepared has to be changed. This is going to take a lot longer than I thought.

I suppose the silver lining in all of this is that the Gift’s book information has spread as far and wide as it has. The not-so-silver lining is that I’ll be whacking moles for a long time yet.

With that in mind, I’d appreciate it if you’d tell me if you come across any of my “trilogy” lingo on your cyber travels. I just know I’m going to miss something. (Anyone who misses a fourth book sneaking into a trilogy is going to miss something—and it’ll probably be big.)

I’ve got a spare mallet. If you’d like to take a whack, and want to know what started this whole trilogy mess, you can get Secret Sky with one click right here. And if ebooks or Amazon aren’t your preference, other options are available under the Bookstore Tab.

Hammer Photo by Adam Sherez on Unsplash

10 Tips to Improve your Book Reading

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JP-McLean-at-podium-DIRWF-2014
Photo credit I.Gay-Elgueta

Another Denman Island Readers’ and Writers’ Festival has come and gone. This was the third year I braved the stage to do a book reading. Why this particular feat should unnerve me, when in my working life I had no trouble rattling on in front of an auditorium full of people, I have no idea. But I have learned ten tips to improve your book reading.

Well, I suppose I have one idea. These readings are timed. I have twelve precious minutes in which to hook my audience; twelve minutes to make a positive impression; twelve short minutes to turn listeners into readers, and I’m loath to waste a single moment of my allotted time.

As a result, I trim my reading to come in just shy of the twelve-minute mark. Trouble is, it’s only shy of twelve minutes if I read on stage at the same pace at which I’ve practiced.

I know what you’re thinking. Why not choose something shorter? Something that runs, say . . . ten minutes? Save myself a boatload of stress. Yeah, I should do that, but did I mention I’m loath to waste a single moment?

I may never get over my jitters, but regardless of whether the readings are timed, I have learned a few things that you might find helpful if you find yourself on stage with your book in your hands.

Ten Tips to Improve Your Book Reading

  1. Choose a selection that not only represents your work, but ends on a note that leaves your audience curious to know more.
  2. Avoid or remove spoilers.
  3. Replace the names of minor characters who aren’t pivotal. E.g. “Dr. Emery Coulter,” becomes “my doctor.”
  4. Delete references to events that occur either before or following the selection, but which aren’t explained or relevant within the passage. They will only add confusion to a short piece.
  5. Practice your reading standing up and speaking out loud. It makes a difference to the timbre of your voice and the timing, trust me.
  6. Give a brief introduction to the book and, if necessary, its genre. It will give your audience a basis from which to listen.
  7. Set up the scene and introduce the characters who are in the selection you’ve chosen. It will help your audience come out of the gate with you instead of struggling to keep up.
  8. Pause at the end of quotes. “My name is Emelynn,” (pause) she said.
  9. Use your voice to colour the words. Cold should be a short, hard slap. Warm should be a soft caress, drawn out to melt on your tongue.
  10. Know the passage well enough to be able to glance away for a moment and engage the audience.

Listening to other authors read at festivals is a great way to pick up tips on what works and what doesn’t. My favourite readings are from those authors who are able to step into an actor’s role and animate their reading. I’m not there yet with my own readings, but I’m working on it. This is a link to my first video recording of a reading combined with a discussion.

Have you read your work in public? What tips would you add to the list?

If twelve minutes isn’t enough for you either, you can download Secret Sky in its entirety with one click right here. For more purchase options, check out my Bookstore tab.