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Spring has Sprung on Denman Island

March 29, 2023 By JPMcLean 5 Comments

Spring has sprung on Denman Island, though you’d never know it from the colder than normal temps. But new lambs and calves are making their appearances at farms across the island—and the calendar confirms it—so it’s official: spring has sprung.

This morning I bundled up and joined another dozen volunteer gardeners at our Denman Activity Centre to help dig up some overgrown gardens to prepare for a new, and much needed, revamp. After the soil is amended, new plantings will be put in place. I can’t wait to see the results. I’ll share some photos next month.

My ~~weed patches~~ gardens are also a bit of a mess, which is what happens when I neglect them. Balancing my writing and chores is always a challenge, but seeing the sorry state of my gardens is a reminder that I can’t do it all. I’m removing two of the smaller garden beds, which will lighten the load a little, and I’m slowly replacing plantings that require a lot of work with low-maintenance shrubs. Gone are the days when I rushed the season hunting for brightly coloured additions. It’s been almost ten years since I wrote about my bout with spring fever when I went a bit crazy in the garden centre way too early.

On the Writing Front

I’ve been busy indoors as well. I’m about halfway through my first re-read/edit of the new Dark Dreams novel, Scorch Mark. It’s shaping up nicely and I should have it ready for the editor in the next few weeks.

Gift Legacy News

As I mentioned in my February blog post, I’ve now moved the Gift Legacy books into the Kindle Unlimited program. They remain available to purchase on Amazon, but if you’re a Kindle Unlimited (KU) or Kindle Select customer with a monthly Amazon subscription, you can now binge the books for free. I hope you enjoy them.

A New Review

Reviews are SO important. Not only do they help new readers discover the books, but they keep me motivated. Here’s one that recently came in:

“Ghost Mark” is the second installment of the Dark Dreams Series by JP McLean and continues to showcase her natural flair for originality, memorable characters, and deftly crafted plots replete with unexpected twists and turns in the kind of narrative driven storytelling style that keeps the reader’s rapt attention from first page to last.

—Midwest Book Review

Upcoming Events

On April 2nd, I’ll be at the Union Bay Spring Craft Fair from 10 am to 3 pm. The address is 5401 South Island Highway in Union Bay, BC. I’ll be signing books and I’m happy to write an inscription for you or someone special. Pop by and say hello.

In Other News

Next month, I’m travelling to Vancouver for research. I’ll be attending the Vancouver Law Courts to witness a criminal trial. I won’t know which trial until I get there, but I’m hoping to find something similar to the one I’m writing about in Scorch Mark. It’s the small details that add authenticity to a book; what does it feel like? Smell like? Sound like? Are the seats comfortable? Etc. I’ll be taking lots of notes. And also, it’s Vancouver—one of my favourite cities—so there I’ll be lots of walking and shopping and eating out! Can’t wait.

I hope spring has sprung in your corner of the world. Happy Easter.

Until next time, XO

The First Draft of Scorch Mark is Done!

February 22, 2023 By JPMcLean 12 Comments

First Draft of Scorch Mark

As much as I grumble about winter’s short, soggy days, the cold, damp weather keeps me indoors and focused on writing. My December thru February hibernation has been a productive one. I popped the champagne last Friday to celebrate completing the first draft of Scorch Mark, the next Dark Dreams Novel! You’ll understand the why behind the title when you read it.

A first draft always needs to steep, and then a whole lot of editing to make it suitable for public consumption, but I’ve already contacted the cover designer (JD&J), and the editor to request a place in their queues.

The Gift Legacy E-Books

In the coming weeks, I’ll be enrolling The Gift Legacy e-books into Amazon’s KDP Select program. This is great news for KDP Select subscribers because they will be able to download the books for free. But Amazon requires exclusivity while the e-books are enrolled in the program, which means I’ll be removing those e-books from all other retail sites. If you haven’t downloaded them yet from Kobo, Apple, Nook, or the other e-book retailers, you should do so now.

A New Award

I’m thrilled to announce that Ghost Mark is a Finalist in The Wishing Shelf Book Awards. Ghost Mark has now received three awards, the other two being a Gold Literary Titan, and a RONE crowned heart. Seeing it do so well is a welcome boost for my confidence. If you haven’t yet read Ghost Mark, you can pick it up here from your favourite retailer.

In Other News

No one would describe me as an early adopter or as having an Einstein-like grip on technology, but I recently surprised myself! I figured out how to supplement my blog posts with audio. There “should” be a link above the title to listen to this post, but if the recording hasn’t yet materialized, you can check out a sample from my Christmas post. Let me know what you think.

Implementation of anything techy for me usually crashes and burns the moment my computer screen looks different from the step-by-step instructions. But not this time! I followed the directions for BeyondWords. The only glitch I ran into was that BeyondWords provided audio for my entire website, and not just the blog posts. This is the article by David Tvrdon that sparked my interest.

A New Endorsement for Ghost Mark

A sexy noir crime novel starring a bold, intelligent superhero who seeks justice for past transgressions in a gritty Vancouver landscape. McLean’s writing is as ingenious as her protagonist, ranging from grunge to repartee to sophistication to laugh-out-loud snarks. You won’t put it down till it’s done.

—W. L. Hawkin, author of The Hollystone Mysteries

I hope the days are getting longer in your neck of the woods. Can’t wait to get out for a walk today. Take care.

Until next time . . .

All is Quiet on Christmas Eve

December 24, 2022 By JPMcLean 7 Comments

Ah, Christmas Eve . . .

My favorite day of the holidays. It’s the day that’s still pregnant with possibility. It’s the day my ultra-organized self can relax because all the prep is either done or I’m resigned to it not getting done. I can put my feet up, sip a hot toddy, and enjoy a crackling fire with zero pressure. That’s what I wish for you, too, this holiday season. Zero pressure. I know the holidays aren’t easy for everyone, but I hope you can all find that quiet place where there are no expectations.

On the Writing Front

I continue to pluck away at the next Dark Dreams novel, though I’m making slower progress than I’d like. Some books are like that, making me work harder for the story, but I don’t mind. It’ll be all the sweeter for the effort when it’s done. In many ways, this is the best stage of writing. It’s where the outline is still fluid, and anything can happen.

Ghost Mark News

Though it feels longer, can you believe it’s only been six weeks since Ghost Mark was released? My publicist, (Shout out to Mickey Mikkelson!) has kept me super busy with interviews, podcasts, Vlogs, signings, and even a CTV Saskatoon interview with host Jeff Rogstad. All my media events are available to watch or read on my Media tab here.

Thanks to everyone who braved the unseasonable cold and snow to chat with me and get signed copies of my books at Blue Heron Books in Comox and Abraxas Books on Denman Island. If you got stuck in the snow, they still have signed copies available. Signed copies of my books are also available at Coho Books in Campbell River.

What I’m Reading

On the recommendation of Dirk, the owner of Blue Heron Books, I read Carmilla by Sheridan Le Fanu. Carmilla is the book that inspired Bram Stoker’s Dracula, and is considered the original vampire story. Written 26 years before Dracula, Carmilla has become a cult classic, “steeped in sexual tension and gothic romance.” Given all that, how could I not read it?

What’s Next

The frantic pace of Ghost Mark’s book-release promotion is slowing down, and I’m settling into a quiet lull. I spend my days writing, and most evenings we have a fire going. It feels like heaven.

Next week will be full of “looking back at 2022” from all the usual news and entertainment outlets. When I look back, I see a year of unexpected surprises. Blood Mark has earned ten awards and high praise from reviewers. Ghost Mark is just starting out, but has already earned a Gold Literary Titan award, a glowing review from the Ottawa Review of Books, and a RONE crowned heart review published in InD’Tale Magazine.

Thank you for your kind support this past year. Your reviews, comments, and word-of-mouth recommendations for my books warms my heart. May 2023 be a year filled with joy and health for you and your families.

With much love, from my house to yours, Merry Christmas.

Photo by Waldemar Brandt on Unsplash

Ghost Mark Launch Events

November 30, 2022 By JPMcLean 8 Comments

Ghost Mark Book Launch Events

Ghost 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