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The Social Media Gamble

May 23, 2014 By JPMcLean 13 Comments

Like most authors, I’ve taken the social media gamble. I’m connecting with readers, writers and industry experts via social media on a daily basis. Some days, especially when I’m on the learning curve (or procrastinating), I spend more time on social media than I do writing.

A few days ago, in the midst of a marathon Twitter session, someone asked me what I would do if Twitter collapsed tomorrow.

It was a fair question. My heart sank as I blinked away visions of Myspace.

How would the demise of Twitter or Facebook impact me?

If I’m honest with myself, I would be devastated. I’ve spent countless hours there, learning the ropes, getting to know people, contributing as best I can. It frightens me to think how easily this social network that I’ve built could be forfeited. But it could.

Worst of all, most of the people I connect with on social media aren’t on my independent mailing list, so I’d lose touch with them entirely. That would be a tremendous loss.

It reminds me of the adage about not gambling more than you’re willing to lose. If time is my currency, then I’ve gambled plenty on Twitter and Facebook and it’s more than I’m comfortable losing.

It’s perhaps a timely reminder that the writing needs to be the priority. It’s what makes my world go round. Social media may be fun and it’s an important component of an author’s platform, but it’s the side dish, not the main course. So if I’m AWOL from social media from time to time, forgive me and rest assured that I’m spending the time writing (okay, maybe a little gardening, but mostly writing).

I’d hate to lose our connection

If you feel the same, please sign up for my VIP Lounge. I’ll send you free short stories, insider scoop, and new release news. You can unsubscribe at any time.

The writing I’ve prioritized is the Gift Legacy series. You can download Secret Sky, the book that started it all, with one click right here. And if ebooks or Amazon aren’t your preference, my Bookstore tab has links to other retailers. You can also click on the covers below:

Social Media Photo by Merakist on Unsplash

Something’s Gotta Give

February 4, 2014 By JPMcLean 4 Comments

I’ve never been pulled in as many directions as I have in the past year and a half. They are all good and worthy directions—there are just so many of them! Something’s gotta give.

Writing and publishing the Gift Trilogy set me on the steepest learning curve I’ve ever tackled. Some days, it feels like I’m on the Grouse Grind. I know the exercise is good for me and I’ll feel better when I’m done, but damn if it isn’t a tough climb.

And writing is only part of it. Developing and maintaining an author platform is also important. In fact, it’s critical if you want to connect with readers, which I do. It also helps me connect with other writers and keep apprised of new tools and services in the industry. The downside to wanting it all is finding the time to do it all.

Hence, something’s gotta give

When I started writing, I fit it into the crevices of my life. Soon there were no more crevices and I had to start carving out space. Television was the first thing to go followed by leisurely flips through magazines.

When I decided to publish, meticulous garden grooming hit the curb and home canning was replaced by Trader Joe’s.

Now I’m building my author platform and the cuts continue. I used to be a news junky…not now. I used to have lengthy telephone conversations with my friends…now I send them short emails.

I’m even cutting my precious writing time to make room. I’ve read that the ideal mix is 70/30 with 70% of your time spent writing. Perhaps before I die I’ll get there, but right now, it’s a struggle.

Yesterday I tackled a stack of books that I’d read, but had neglected to put into Goodreads. In fact, I’d been absent on Goodreads for about two months. (My apologies to my Goodreads friends who are getting that dump right now.) Other components in my author platform have suffered a similar fate from time to time. And my platform isn’t huge; there’s my blog, Twitter, Facebook and Goodreads. That’s it.

So bear with me if this blog takes a hit from time to time. I’ll get better at the other stuff and I have faith that it will all make sense one day (hopefully before I die). I’ll be okay as long as I don’t have to carve eating out of my day. Well maybe I can cut that back a bit. After all, I’d like to figure out Google+ one of these days.

If you’ve carved out some time, you can order Secret Sky with one simple click here.

Your adventure awaits…buckle up.

The Next Big Thing

January 18, 2013 By JPMcLean Leave a Comment

Mike Grant, author of White Wolf Moon graciously nominated me for The Next Big Thing Writer and Blogger Award. It’s an opportunity for fellow writers to give a shout-out to those who inspire, educate and entertain. Thanks, Mike, I’m flattered and happy to participate.

I’ll direct my answers to the second book in The Gift Legacy, Revelation which will be published in late spring, 2013. Here goes…

What is the working title of your book?

Revelation. (Now titled Hidden Enemy)

What genre does your book fall under?

Urban fantasy. The genre discussion is an interesting one. Urban fantasy describes stories set in an urban environment. But fantasy covers a wide range from low-fantasy (Charmaine Harris’ Blue Bloods) to high-fantasy (JRR Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings). The Gift Legacy fits into the low-end of the fantasy scale.

What is the one sentence synopsis of your book?

It’s best summarized by a Tennyson quote from The Ancient Sage, 1885, “The shell must break before the bird can fly.”

Revelation continues the story of Emelynn Taylor, whose life is inexorably shaped by an unbidden gift. In Revelation, Emelynn is pursued by dark forces that lurk in the underbelly of a world she never wanted a part of. Her only escape is one which will scar her for life.

Where did you get the idea for your book?

This second book is a natural extension of the story arc from the first book. There are many facets of Emelynn Taylor’s life and her gift that had potential for exploration and development.

Who or what inspired you to write this book?

The who was Stephenie Meyer who wrote the Twilight books. When I came across her bio and learned that her books sprung from a single scene, it inspired me to start small and build out. It worked.

The what, was a cool, rainy, west coast winter. The dreary hockey-season weather approached on the heels of three sunny winters spent in Tucson, AZ. Daydreaming chased the chill away.

How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?

Six months, but many additional hours were spent contemplating the project before I started writing in earnest. Another important qualifier is that I’m fortunate to not have to divide my time with a day-job, children or ailing parents.

What other books would you compare this story with in your genre?

Answering this question makes me feel like a poser because the comparisons juxtapose my writing with other more highly-sought-after work. Keeping that in mind, here are the comparisons I’ve heard. First was J.M. Barrie’s Peter Pan. It’s not the one I would have picked, but I understand the comparison. Next was Stephen King’s Carrie.

When I wrote the books, I aimed for realism: a story that made the reader believe that they could be living next door to the characters. From that perspective The Gift Legacy books compare to Charlaine Harris’ Sookie Stackhouse books or Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight books, but without the vampires and werewolves.

Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?

I haven’t a clue, but I’d be very interested in readers’ opinions. When I was writing the characters, I’d often flip through magazines to look for a face I thought fit my imaginary character. The clipped image would help me visualize the characters as I wrote. I still have those clippings, including images I selected for Emelynn, Jackson and Sandra, but unfortunately, I don’t know the names of the models.

Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?

I will once again indie publish with the help of FriesenPress. Guy Kawasaki, co-author of A.P.E. (Author, Publisher, Entrepreneur) in his book How to Publish a Book defined self-publishing as Artisanal Publishing. He explained that, like micro breweries, the artisanal author prefers to maintain tight controls over all aspects of their work, thereby producing a superior product.

Absent deep pockets, this artisanal author doesn’t really have much of a choice in the matter, but I like the definition.

What else about your book might pique your reader’s interest?

As one of The Gift Legacy’s reviewers commented, the book has a wide appeal. “It’s got something for everyone – a little romance, humour, drama, sex, suspense. A completely satisfactory read.” It’s a story that will sweep you up and make you ponder the impossible, maybe even make you believe that the unbelievable is happening right now, all around you. It’s a great escape.

The final step to this Next Big Thing nomination is to pay it forward. I have selected five writers and bloggers who inspire, motivate, entertain and educate. Not everyone I nominated is working on a book, but who knows what the future holds! It’s my pleasure to nominate the following writers for The Next Big Thing Writer and Blogger Award:

Linda Poitevin, author of the Grigori Legacy Series

Nina Munteanu, writing coach and author of The Last Summoner and many others

James J. Murray, author of Prescription for Murder

Cristian Mihai, author and creative force behind Irevuo Magazine

Lisa Voisin, author of The Watcher saga

Thanks for hanging in right to the end. And thanks, Mike for the Writer and Blogger Award. The Next Best Thing nomination is an innovative idea and I’m happy to support it and pass it along.

Final Proof Sign-off

August 15, 2012 By JPMcLean 2 Comments

I signed off on my final proof with Friesenpress today. The significance of the moment had my stomach in a knot. I felt excited and nervous at the same time.

Final proof. Check.

It’s an accomplishment months in the making and worthy of a perfectly prepared martini (which was delicious, BTW, with fresh figs soaked in gin).

For better or worse, Awakening is now out of my hands and on its way to publication.

So what’s next?

Writing Awakening was exciting, deciding to self-publish was exhilarating, but the marketing and promotion is testing my sanity. And now my head is spinning—not from the gin’s effects—but with all the new and intimidating things that have crawled onto my TTD list.

My Exploding Things-To-Do List

I’ve got to figure out what an author platform is, and what bits and pieces I want on it (Facebook? Twitter? Pinterest?). What’s my author brand, and how do I develop it? I’ve only got my tippy toes in the social media waters right now. Facebook confounds me; Twitter is a mystery; and how does anyone manage the number of passwords and logins required online? (Please. I’m begging you. Figure it out and let me in on the secret.)

And to complicate matters, I’m off to visit family for two weeks—family with worse Internet service than I have here, which is to say, one small step away from dial-up. Trying to connect my laptop to the Internet in untested and remote locales could cause my spinning head to explode.

I’m feeling completely overwhelmed and out of my depth. Testing my sadly lacking techie skills on the cusp of my first book release should prove interesting (read excruciating).

Wish me luck!

Update

Photo by Steve Smith on Unsplash

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