On Writing Archives - Page 21 of 30

Dishing up Frustration

January 19, 2014 By JPMcLean 2 Comments

Moments ago I signed out of Twitter in a fit of frustration. Not with Twitter—with our Internet connection, which is dishing up frustration. I couldn’t open a link to save my life. As much as I love living on a small island, it has its drawbacks.

We live in one of those rare pockets of civilization not serviced by high-speed land lines. Satellite service is the next best thing, and the dish is usually sufficient, but every once in a while…urghhh!

Just a few days ago, the adjacent neighbours and I had a discussion about how far we’d all come since the dial-up days. Remember that? The phone line was tied up all the time and it took all night to download your email. Large attachments were a nightmare and forget about streaming anything.

I don’t know how it happened, but sometime between dial-up and the dish, access to the Internet became indispensable. Like appliances and power tools, it’s become a time-saving device that makes short work of chores. Especially research—remember card catalogues? I miss those about as much as I miss dial-up.

There are talented artisans who eschew modern technologies and still manage to create masterpieces; sadly, I’m not one of them. I’m not that writer who could turn out a book on an old Underwood or even a Selectric. Without my word processor, I’d be a tree’s worst nightmare.

My apologies for whining and moaning about our Internet service. I’m just venting. I couldn’t manage with it and I wouldn’t trade our worst day of service here for better service elsewhere. So I’ll shut up now and go see if the dish is behaving yet.

If your Internet service is working, you can order Secret Sky on Amazon with one simple click here.

For other retailers click here.

Your adventure awaits…buckle up.

Would you like some Redemption with your Mulled Wine?

January 7, 2014 By JPMcLean 2 Comments

Where else but Denman Island would people gather to sample warm libations and tasty nibbles alongside a touch of Redemption? It happened this past weekend and I’m happy to report that the book release party for The Gift: Redemption was a laughter-filled and resounding success.

My heartfelt thanks go to Elizabeth Chapman and Stephen Malthouse who hosted the event in their beautiful home. They’ve been stalwart supporters of my writing habit from the start and I’m so very grateful to call them friends.

Guests with JP at Redemption Book Release — Capt’n Mike, JP & The Cavemaster

Beyond Redemption

I wish we’d managed to get a photo, but we were having so much fun, the opportunity slipped right by. Therefore, this photo is neither Elizabeth nor Stephen, but two other gents who dropped in to sample a libation or two and are, reportedly, beyond Redemption.

Thanks also to the other wonderful friends and neighbours who joined us to celebrate the release of this third book of The Gift Trilogy. Your support and encouragement mean the world to me.

And speaking of support and encouragement, I’m thrilled to announce that both the Vancouver Island Regional Library and the Vancouver Public Library have purchased The Gift Trilogy for their collections. My thanks and gratitude to their respective acquisitions personnel.

2014 is off to a roaring start!

You can order Book I, Secret Sky from Kindle with one click right here. And if kindle or ebooks aren’t your preference, click on the bookstore tab for other purchase options (or just click on the covers below).

Musical Serenade

December 13, 2013 By JPMcLean 9 Comments

Do you listen to music when you write? Do you sing a musical serenade? I’ve read about authors who have favourite bands they listen to while they’re writing and I’ve seen writing music playlists on YouTube.

I was thinking about that yesterday while I prepared dinner. I’d put on Some Nights by Fun. and was cheerily mangling the lyrics as I sang along with Nate Ruess. Sadly, I didn’t inherit a single musical gene, and apologies to Nate aside, I couldn’t possibly listen to that CD and write. It’s simply too distracting. My favourite music charges me up, inspires me, sparks my imagination – but I can’t write while it’s playing. In fact, I stop what I’m doing to listen (maybe bop or even sing if no one’s around).

I remember when I wrote the first book, before I’d set up my writing corner, I managed to tune out an entire season of NHL while I wrote. I even managed to tune out F1 racing, house-cleaning guilt and, apparently, a number of conversations with my better half.

I suppose, being able to tune out and write is a blessing, but it doesn’t always work. Some things, like a ringing phone, I’m never able to tune out. Other days, my mood, the subject of my writing or sleep deprivation dictates my distraction threshold. I don’t know about you, but when I’m on a roll, like I was yesterday, even the most pleasant of distractions pulls me out of my writing cocoon, leaving me feeling like someone’s yanked the warm blankets off.

How about you? Do you listen to music while you write?

You can order The Gift: Awakening* with one simple click here. Your adventure awaits…buckle up.

Image courtesy of coward_lion/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

*Awakening is now Secret Sky.

Out of Sync

December 4, 2013 By JPMcLean Leave a Comment

Out of sync

Recently, I paid a visit to the dental hygienist, a lovely woman named Tracy. I’ve been her patient for more years than I care to remember. We chat during those short spurts of time between her scraping my teeth and her sighing with exasperation as she goes in search of more menacing tools.

During one of these short respites, I tell her, “The third book of my series is coming out this week.” I then take the opportunity to lick my lips and soften the stinging cracks that tend to develop when fingers and tools are crammed into my mouth.

That was fast

“Already,” she said. “That was fast.” And then she dove back in with both hands to the musical accompaniment of a Dremel, leaving me to my thoughts.

Already? I wondered. Fast? Those words didn’t fit. It feels like a lifetime ago that I typed The End. I remember how good it felt to finish writing that first draft of the third book. In fact, I wrote a blog post about it, though the memory is fuzzy…possibly because a delicious bottle of Amarone was involved.

And now that I’m into a new writing project, “The End” seems even further back there, so “already” and “fast” are a little disorienting. I’m reminded of the first time you see the spring fashions in the shop windows on store mannequins. You shake your head and shiver thinking of the frost you just stamped off your boots.

I feel like one of those mannequins. I’m out of sync.

If only I could have said “already,” and “that was fast,” when she finally holstered her scary hygienist’s tools. Are you out of sync? Tell me all about it while I go grab some lip balm.

You can order The Gift: Awakening* with one simple click here. Your adventure awaits…buckle up.

*Awakening is now titled Secret Sky

Photo by Clem Onojeghuo on Unsplash