February Has Lost its Mind

February 18, 2017 By JPMcLean 12 Comments

Last month when I wrote An Uncommon Winter, I had no idea that February would charge in and dump a 20-year record snowfall on us. Clearly, February has lost its mind, or at least its bearings.

One of our ornamental trees fell over and couldn’t get up (below is a photo of it in better days, and after the tumble). Many large fir branches waved their final adieu, and at least one of the neighbourhood boathouses is out of business.

On the plus side, the extreme weather gave me all the excuse I needed to stay home and spend some quality time indoors. I’ll happily write by the fire all day. I’m well into the next book in the Gift Legacy series, as yet untitled, which will continue on from Lethal Waters (formerly Penance), and I’m continuing to make notes on the new Dark Dreams project.

Being in creative mode is nirvana for me. I carry a notebook around like a security blanket when I’m away from the laptop. I love the surprise of the story going off script with a new plot twist!

If you had snow this February, I hope you were better equipped for it than we were! Hang in there, spring is just around the corner.

Until next time . . .

And if you find yourself snowbound, curl up with a good book. It takes just a minute to download Secret Sky from your favourite retailer right here! Or click on the image for more purchase options.

You know that feeling?

May 27, 2016 By JPMcLean 18 Comments

Do you know that feeling? Like you’ve just crossed the finish line of a gruelling marathon, but you’re the only one in the race. Hands on hips, you catch your breath as you look about and wonder, “What now?”

Yeah, that feeling.

I’ve been working on another book in the Gift Legacy series for a year and a half (had to go look that up), and on Tuesday, I wrote the final scene. Since then, I’ve been fumbling around not quite sure what I’m supposed to be doing.

Don’t get me wrong – there’s no shortage of editing, re-writing, and catch-up marketing to do, and let’s not get started on house cleaning, weeding, laundry, etc. (no really – let’s not get started!), but after eighteen months of concentrating on this one project, having it done feels . . . I don’t know . . . airy.

Each time I finish writing a book, it feels different. I wrote about it here. I feel good about this one. Optimistic. Excited.

I think I’ll take a week off and play in the garden. I might even clean the windows so I can see the garden when I get back to writing.

The next book is called Lover Betrayed. It’s Jackson Delaney’s story. I’ll tell you all about it next time. If you’ll excuse me, I hear the garden calling …

And what better way to enjoy your garden, than from a hammock reading your own copy of Secret Sky, the book that started it all? Get it from your favourite retailer right here!

Dandelion Photo by Jason Long on Unsplash

Under the Monster Storm

January 23, 2016 By JPMcLean 8 Comments

A white bush honeysuckle bloom — Bush Honeysuckle

A winter weather emergency is blasting the east, and I’m with you in spirit here on the wet, muddy West Coast, buried deep in down comforters and keeping toasty warm. Like spring, I’m hiding under the monster storm.

It hardly seems possible that underneath all that winter white, Spring is stirring, but it is. Days are getting longer and Spring is only eight weeks away. In my neck of the woods, signs of life are popping out and up everywhere, even if they’re only at the contemplation stage. (Except for the dandelion – that bloom means business.)

An early spring dandelion — Dastardly Dandelion

I feel like I’ve been in limbo for a month, dabbling in bits and bobs of writing, reconnecting with Facebook and Twitter friends, and catching up on publishing news.

It’s been fun. Relaxing. And I’ve enjoyed my wee reprieve immensely. But, as usual, the characters in my head are tapping their pencils on the desk. They’re telling me enough is enough – get back to weaving our worlds!

Dangling hazelnut catkins — Hazelnut Catkins

It’s time. The editorial review is finished and the entire Gift Legacy Series is now back in print and online. I’m excited to dig back in where I left off, with Jackson’s version of Awakening.

And just to keep things interesting, I’m learning how to make a voice recording, or the basics anyway, so look for audio excerpts from the books to come to a link near you!

You can get all of the The Gift Legacy books with one click right here. And if ebooks or amazon aren’t your preference, you can find other options under the Bookstore tab.

A New Cover for Redemption

January 5, 2016 By JPMcLean 15 Comments

It gives me tremendous pleasure, on behalf of WindStorm Press, to reveal the new cover for The Gift: Redemption. The Gift Legacy covers are now complete, and I couldn’t be happier with the results.

A big thank you goes to Viona Halim, the digital artist who created the original covers, then patiently tweaked the artwork and re-designed the title treatments, spines, and back covers to produce this new cover. Viona has been part of The Gift Legacy project from the start.

Early on, she captured the dramatic coastal setting and the ominous mood of the books, and she’s been a joy to work with through all the back and forth that such a detailed project entails.

Redemption will return to print and ebook formats in mid-January.

With the editorial review behind me, and The Gift Legacy fresh in my mind, I thought I’d rummage through my notes and start dreaming up story ideas for the next book in the series. This part of the writing process is such fun! Feel free to add your two cents in the comments below. I have a feeling Sebastian will continue to be a thorn in Em’s side, the Tribunal will face new challenges under Mason’s leadership. And I believe Emelynn had some critical decisions to make.

(*Update: Redemption is now Burning Lies)

A dishonourable legacy. A powerful enemy. A future threatened.

While recovering from a psychopath’s savage attack, Emelynn Taylor learns the ugly truth: deceit spawned her gift of flight, and ruthless brutality safeguards it.

But knowing the truth doesn’t prepare Emelynn for the terrorist who rips her world apart. And when the escalating violence spreads to the inner circle of her covert community, Emelynn uncovers a conspiracy that threatens to expose the gift and all those who share it.

Emelynn joins forces with a man she doesn’t trust and a family she doesn’t know to fight a menace that cloaks itself in lies. And when she lands at the feet of a dangerous enemy, Emelynn must face her worst fears to save the people she loves—and she must do it alone.

The third book in The Gift Legacy series, Burning Lies is a thriller that skirts the edges of reality in a world within our own. Step inside and escape the ordinary: take flight with Emelynn Taylor.