JP McLean

Writing Addictive Fiction

June Update

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Ah, June. It’s a perfect month to be at loose ends, which is where I find myself. My in-depth self-edit of Scorch Mark is done, and the manuscript is in the capable hands of the developmental editor. Which means I get to play!

Gardening

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.

And I’m almost finished This Broken Memory (Cold as Iron Book 1) by Kayla McGrath which I am enjoying. It’s about Seelie and Unseelie faery realms and includes tons of action, high stakes, hidden agendas, and mistaken identities. I’ve also finished Dreams of a Dragon Girl by Bonnie Jacoby, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Must remember to post some reviews!

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

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There’s a Big Sale Underway

I have a Kindle Unlimited surprise for you. There’s a big sale underway! I’m super excited to announce that Secret Sky, the first book in the Gift Legacy, is FREE right now. I’ve also deeply discounted books two through five! The deals are only on for a few days, so load your Kindle or gift them to a friend before the special pricing disappears.

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.

JP McLean standing outside the Vancouver Law Courts Building
Inside the atrium of the Vancouver Law Courts Building

Update on Scorch Mark

My first run-through edit of Scorch Mark is chugging along. Some days I shake my head at what I’ve written. What was I thinking? What the heck was I trying to say? Other days, I find opportunities for a new scene, or additional details that add depth or tension to the story. With each tweak, the story improves. It won’t be long now until Scorch Mark is ready for its first professional edit.

Canadian Independent Bookstore Day

Canadian Independent Bookstore Day is April 29th. This year, anyone who buys a book from a Canadian indie bookstore has an opportunity to win $1000, $500, or $250. (NOTE: The contest is now closed)

What I’m Reading

I just finished, We Measure the Earth With Our Bodies, by Tsering Yangzom Lama. A finalist in the Scotiabank Giller Prize, it’s a beautifully written story of home, told through the lens of three generations of a Tibetan village in the wake of China’s invasion and occupation. I will have the pleasure of introducing Tsering Yangzom Lama at this year’s Denman Island Readers' and Writers' Festival. I’m looking forward to meeting her.

 

We Measure the Earth With Our Bodies book cover with two hands

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.

Before photo of the Denman Activity Centre walkway gardens

DAC walkway garden BEFORE

Before photo of the Denman Activity Centre front garden

DAC front garden BEFORE

After photo of the Denman Activity Centre walkway gardens

DAC walkway garden AFTER

After photo of the Denman Activity Centre front garden

DAC walkway garden AFTER

Don't forget to take advantage of the Gift Legacy books while the Kindle Unlimited promotion is on. Whether it's for yourself or a gift for a friend, you can't go wrong. Get the books here.

Until next time, XO

Ghost Mark Launch Events

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Ghost Mark Book Launch Events

Woman gazing over her shoulderGhost Mark is out in the world and meeting new readers. I’m thrilled to be doing two book launches for the new release, one at Blue Heron in Comox at 1775 Comox Avenue on Saturday, December 3rd from 10 am to 2 pm, and another at Abraxas Books in downtown Denman Island on Saturday December 10th from 10 am to 2 pm. I hope you can join me at one of them and pick up a signed copy of my new release. I’m happy to inscribe them to a favourite reader on your Christmas list. If you can’t make one of the launches, you can purchase Ghost Mark here from your favourite retailer.

And a shout out to all those who came to visit me at the Campbell River Toy and Craft Sale last weekend. It was fun to chat, whether introducing you to my books for the first time, or hearing how you connected with one of them and had come back for more. I love when my stories resonate with you and never tire of hearing about it!

Ghost Mark’s Reviews

This is what a few reviewers have to say:

McLean’s writing is as ingenious as her protagonist, ranging from grunge to repartee to sophistication to laugh-out-loud snarks. Ghost Mark is gripping. You won’t put it down till it’s done. —Ottawa Review of Books

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

Will keep you on the edge of your seat . . . an intense, riveting, and fast-paced novel. —Literary Titan

The reviews are all very encouraging and they energize me.

Writing News

I’m getting back into the writing groove and enjoying how the next Dark Dreams novel is developing. It’s still very early days, but it feels good, like putty warming in the palm of my hand.

And as exciting as it is to talk about the new book, I have to confess, it’s difficult to extract my thoughts from the next book I’m writing. That’s the writer’s dilemma: by the time the new book is launched, we’re busy writing the next one. As far as problems go, it’s a pretty good one to have.

Christmas is Fast Approaching

It seems unimaginable that Christmas is only a month away. I swear 2022 sprouted rockets and blew by. I’m assured by my elders that it’s a trend that will only speed up with age. I’d curse them, but my wand sputtered and fizzled out. Overuse, I suppose as there’s no shortage of things to curse these days (inflation, Putin, Twitter, I could go on…).

What I’m Reading

But I don’t want to dwell in the murky depths of the glass. A lot of things are going really well. On the reading front, I finished Charissa Weaks’ The Witch Collector. Loved it! I also binged the second in that series, City of Ruin, but I wasn’t as taken with the second novel, mostly because I’m not fond of cliffhangers. (When I buy a book, I want the whole story, not a partial) but I’m curious and may read the next one.

My laugh-out-loud meme this week was “I dusted once. It came back. I’m not falling for that again.”

Until next time, XO

Someone’s Having a Birthday!

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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