We Have a Title!

May 10, 2025 By JPMcLean 6 Comments

I’m thrilled to share with you that we have a title for the new book. Thanks to everyone who submitted their choices, added new ideas, and shared their opinions. It was a nail-biting decision, but it’s done. The new title is—drum roll please . . .

The Never Witch, A Thorne Witch Novel

The wheels are now in motion to get the publishing ball rolling. I’ve received the ISBN numbers, the copyright certificate, and I’ve engaged a cover designer. I’ve finished writing the front- and back-end material, and I’m also familiarizing myself with new software, Affinity Publisher, which should make laying out the interior of the book much easier.

While I wait for the manuscript to be put through its paces, I’ll get caught up with the weeding (is anyone ever caught up with weeding?) and when the sun goes down in the evenings, I’ll pick away at creating marketing material. With a glass of wine.

What I’m reading

The Nature of Witches by Rachel Griffin Loved this book. Griffin gives us a new take on magic and witches with a strong tie-in to the environment. Lovely language and writing. Romance and magic in perfect balance. I also love the book cover. Highly recommend.

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab. Another excellent book. It’s about a woman who makes a deal with the devil to escape an unwanted marriage . But the devil is in the details, and the deal she thought she’d made isn’t what she’s dealt. Though mildly repetitive, I’d still recommend it.

If you’d like to know more about me, my writing life, and my home on Denman Island, please 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.

Happy Mother’s Day.

Until next time . . .

Audiobook Update: It’s DONE!

January 1, 2025 By JPMcLean 2 Comments

Audiobook Update

After fourteen months and countless hours, I’m beyond thrilled to announce that the audiobooks for the Dark Dreams novels are D O N E. Finally! And I’m delighted with how the recordings turned out.

The process has challenged me, tested my patience, and convinced me that I’d rather spend my time writing. And though I may not record another audiobook, I’m proud of the quality of work I was able to achieve with these books.

The next step is a stamp of approval from Audible, Kobo, Spotify, and other retailers. When (hopefully not if) the audiobooks are approved, they’ll show up on the retail sites. I’ll be posting links on my Bookshop page as soon as the audiobooks are available.

Blood Mark Audiobook Sample

Ghost Mark Audiobook Sample

Scorch Mark Audiobook Sample

In-Person Events

My next in-person event will be the 2025 North Island Writers Conference, where I’ll be presenting a workshop on writing deeper dialogue.

Many writers have a love/hate relationship with dialogue. But dialogue is a key element in most fiction writing. It’s a heavy lifter in a writer’s toolbox. When done well, dialogue can reveal character, heighten emotion, define subtext, and advance the plot. If you want to take a deeper dive into writing dialogue, join me. Registration is now open.

Date: January 19, 2025

Time: 9:00 am to 12:00 pm

Location: North Island College Comox Valley Campus

Tyee Hall, Room 204

2300 Ryan Road, Courtenay, BC, V9N 8N6

Witch Book Progress

I’m back in my happy place, writing again. Though the outline is a mess, I couldn’t help myself. I popped the cork on all the creativity that I’d bottled-up while I finished the audiobooks. I’ll indulge in writing a little while longer, then go back and tune up the outline. I won’t even mind if I have to rewrite what I’ve written; it just feels SO good to be back to writing.

That’s all my news this final month of 2024. Have a wonderful New Year. Sending all my best wishes for a healthy, happy, 2025. If you’d like to know more about me, my writing life, and my home on Denman Island, please 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.

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 . . .