Testimonial for The Gift: Betrayal

November 3, 2016 By JPMcLean 9 Comments

I’ve received the first testimonial for The Gift: Betrayal, and I’m excited to share it with you.

JP McLean has a style and immediacy of detail that pulls the reader into a complex tale set with all-too-human characters ruled by their extraordinary capabilities. Exciting action and conflict of loyalties make this a fantastic page-turner.

– Kristina Stanley, Bestselling Author of the Stone Mountain Mystery Series.

When an author has a new book coming out, they often ask another author they respect and admire for a testimonial. It’s a small stamp of approval that gives readers confidence that the book is worth their time. Watch this space for another testimonial for the Gift: Betrayal.

Kristina Stanley

Not only is Kristina Stanley a bestselling author, but she and her partners are currently developing software called Feedback (now called Fictionary) that will help authors write better books.

“We’re developing Feedback to help writers create the best possible novel. You’ll be able to use Feedback in several phases of your writing.”– Kristina Stanley

November 15 is the release date for The Gift: Betrayal. It’s available now for preorder in paperback and ebook at all the usual outlets.

Coming November 15!

The bones for Lover Betrayed are buried in book I, Secret Sky. Pick up 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

A Spring Update … and Bleating Lambs

March 31, 2016 By JPMcLean 7 Comments

A spring update: Warm days with the kiss of summer test my resolve to keep my butt in the writer’s chair. Across the road, the bleat of new lambs draws me to the fence to try to catch a glimpse of their antics. Today I walked over and had a visit with John and Linda Mather and took these photos of the new lambs and the yearling calves.

Yellow primroses and glass fishing floats in a garden — Primroses & fishing floats

Wandering back to the house, I stroll by the flower gardens and can’t help but pull a weed and pick a bloom.

It’s probably a good thing I have some deadlines to keep me focused. With that in mind, I thought I’d share an update.

The Gift Betrayal

I’m very close to finishing the companion piece to Awakening, which is Jackson’s story. The title is The Gift: Betrayal. I’m starting to think about covers and need to line up editors and beta readers. It’ll be a push, but I’ll try to have it published this fall.

One black and one brown yearling cow — Cows in the ‘Hood

I’m also excited to be presenting a workshop on indie publishing which I’ll be delivering in a fifty-minute format at the Creative Ink Festival in May, and in a three-hour format at the Denman Island Readers and Writers Festival in July. My goal with both workshops is to provide participants with a better understanding of what to expect before, during and after publication.

More Spring Updates

On the audio front, the excerpts for the first three books are now done and live. You can find them here: Awakening Revelation Redemption. (*Update: I’ve rebranded the books. Awakening is now Secret Sky, Revelation is now Hidden Enemy, and Redemption is now Burning Lies. But I haven’t yet rerecorded the excerpts). There have been mixed reviews, and making them is far more time consuming than I imagined, but it’s a lot of fun.

Our neighbour, John Mather on his tractor — Gentleman Farmer John Mather

My other writing projects aren’t getting a lot of writing time, but they’re never far from my thoughts and percolate on the back burner while I clear the deadlines.

Meantime, boxes of books are arriving as I stock up for the year.

Enjoy the warming weather. Until next time . . .

The Gift Legacy is enjoying some fabulous 5-star reviews. See what the fuss is about. Get your own copy of Secret Sky with one click right here. And if ebooks or Amazon aren’t your preference, other options are available under the Bookstore tab.

Writing and Wellness Features J.P. McLean

February 25, 2016 By JPMcLean 3 Comments

If you’ve a writer or other creative person, and have not yet discovered Colleen M. Story and her blog Writing and Wellness then you’re missing an interesting and valuable resource.

Her site’s mission statement is “Writers and other creatives need to stay well to keep producing the work they were meant to do.”

Pretty good fit, I’d say. And today, Colleen is featuring me on Writers on Wellness.

“When I think of physically challenging jobs, I imagine professional athletes, construction workers, or firefighters. Writers? not so much.”

But when back pain sidelined my writing, my gardening, and even my ability to sit comfortably, I revised my thinking. Writing and wellness go hand in hand.

So, though writing may not fit into an expected definition of physically challenging work, sitting for long periods of time, no matter how fit you are, is asking for trouble . . .

To continue reading, go on over to Writers on Wellness and check out!