JP McLean

Writing Addictive Fiction

We Have a Title!

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I’m thrilled to share with you that we have a title for the new book. Thanks to everyone who submitted their choices, added new ideas, and shared their opinions. It was a nail-biting decision, but it’s done. The new title is—drum roll please . . .

The Never Witch, A Thorne Witch Novel

The wheels are now in motion to get the publishing ball rolling. I’ve received the ISBN numbers, the copyright certificate, and I’ve engaged a cover designer. I’ve finished writing the front- and back-end material, and I’m also familiarizing myself with new software, Affinity Publisher, which should make laying out the interior of the book much easier.

While I wait for the manuscript to be put through its paces, I’ll get caught up with the weeding (is anyone ever caught up with weeding?) and when the sun goes down in the evenings, I’ll pick away at creating marketing material. With a glass of wine.

What I’m reading

Book Cover for The Nature of Witches by Rachel Griffin featuring a girl in a field with her long brown hair blowing straight up.The Nature of Witches by Rachel Griffin Loved this book. Griffin gives us a new take on magic and witches with a strong tie-in to the environment. Lovely language and writing. Romance and magic in perfect balance. I also love the book cover. Highly recommend.

Book cover orange writing on black, The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab. Another excellent book. It’s about a woman who makes a deal with the devil to escape an unwanted marriage . But the devil is in the details, and the deal she thought she’d made isn’t what she’s dealt. Though mildly repetitive, I’d still recommend it.

If you’d like to know more about me, my writing life, and my home on Denman Island, please sign up for my monthly newsletter, where I share photos, updates, FREE short stories, and insider scoop. I never share your email address, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Happy Mother’s Day.

Until next time . . .

 

Margaret Atwood is coming to Denman Island!

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You read that right: Margaret Atwood is coming to Denman Island! The Denman Island Readers and Writers Festival Committee has enticed Ms. Atwood to our island. She’ll be attending a fund-raising meet-and-greet event on the evening of May 31, and the following day, June 1st, she’ll give two presentations. The morning event is a talk sprinkled with readings, and the evening event is a moderated discussion with Ms. Atwood and Des Kennedy.

Audiobook Progress

The audio recording for Blood Mark is DONE! I’m now recording the second Dark Dreams book, Ghost Mark. The sneak peek recording of Blood Mark remains available here.

In-person Event Update

My next in-person event is a book signing for my newest release, Scorch Mark, on May 18th from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Blue Heron Books, 1775 Comox Avenue in Comox, BC. If you’re in the neighbourhood, drop by and say hello. If you can’t make it on the 18th, drop in anytime to visit with Dirk Meckert, the owner of Blue Heron. He’s an interesting man with eclectic tastes and a love of art and old books.

Blue Heron Bookshops's logo featured a blue line drawing of a blue heron

Author Chat with Book Club Mom

I had a great chat with Barbara Vitelli. She interviewed me for her Book Club Mom Author Chat which is posted on YouTube. We talked about living on a small island, my two series, and how I arrived at this point in my writing and publishing career. Barb is a joy to speak with. She's open, curious, and supportive. I've interacted with Barb many times over the years, liking and sharing her posts, but this is the first time we've "met." I apologize ahead of viewing for my gimpy right eye. I had a bad reaction to some bug bites (the dangers of gardening!).

 

Feature in May 2024 Issue of SAM Magazine

Joanna Vander Vlugt interviewed me in connection with Scorch Mark. She asked great questions about my story inspiration, writing process, and the research I conducted. Most interesting, she asked how my life experiences intersect with my characters and their stories. The May issue also features
PJ Donison, Kate Gateley, donalee Moulton, Steven Raaymakers, Amy Tector, and Penny Astley.

What I’m Reading

You won’t be surprised to see that I’m reading Margaret Atwood. Aside from the fact that she’s coming to Denman, her writing is a lesson in storytelling craft, which is instructive to me as an author.

It’s been a few years since I read Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale. The Testaments is a follow-up novel, fifteen years after the events in The Handmaid's Tale.

It's about a dystopian future where the USA is run by corrupt male religious zealots, society is strictly segregated into social classes, and women who aren’t sterile are treated as faceless breeders or servants for the upper classes. Some aspects of Atwood’s story hit a little too close to home given the news cycles of late. The Handmaid’s Tale was published in 1985, which makes me wonder if Atwood has a crystal ball on her desk (maybe I’ll have the opportunity to ask her!).

In Other News

I’ve written previously about how many hats I wear as an indie author in the publishing business. As much as I love it, it’s been a struggle to keep up. My writing and personal life are falling off the edge of my desk. So, I’m making some changes that I hope will free up a little more time for the things I love most.

Over the coming months, I’ll be transitioning this blog into a much shorter news and upcoming events post. If you wish to continue receiving my author-life updates and behind-the-scenes scoop, then please sign up for my monthly VIP Reader Newsletter. As a bonus, you'll get free and exclusive short stories. I’ll never sell or trade your email address and you can unsubscribe at any time.

I’ll also be streamlining my Facebook accounts. I currently have two pages, a personal page, and a business page. Facebook has throttled traffic to the business page. Probably because I’m not advertising there, but who knows. Maybe it’s an algorithm. The end result is the same. Even when I post identical content on each page, my personal page has ten times the engagement I get on the business page. The dual effort is not productive and not a good use of my time.

If you’ve “liked” or are “following” me on my business page, please consider “friending” me on my personal page instead. I’ll post my intent on Facebook. But most of the people who have liked or followed me there won’t likely see that post.

Until next time,

XO Jo-Anne

Author Interview With Colleen M. Story

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Colleen M. Story

Colleen M. Story and I met on Twitter in early 2015, and though we’ve never met in person, we’ve kept in touch online. I got to know her through her Writing and Wellness blog, which is a useful resource for all things health-related in the writing realm. Sadly, it was my unhealthy writing habits that prompted her to ask me to contribute to her blog in 2016. I’d blown out my back, which made me reevaluate my habits.

I first came to know Colleen through her non-fiction writing, so it’s been fun to interview her and get to know more about the fiction side of her career. She’s a talented writer with a keen business sense. I invite you to settle in and get to know Colleen M. Story.

Tell us about your new novel, The Beached Ones.

The Beached Ones is a heartfelt supernatural story about the bond between two brothers who grow up in difficult circumstances. With an empathetic approach, it explores subjects like child abuse, suicide, and loss, and how love can get us through even the most traumatic experiences.

The back cover copy:

HE CAME BACK, DETERMINED TO KEEP HIS PROMISE.

Daniel and his younger brother grew up in an abusive home. Daniel escaped. Now an established stunt rider, he intends to go back to rescue his brother. But then one jump goes horribly wrong . . .

He recovers to find himself in Iowa, unscathed, yet his life has drastically changed. His best friend won’t answer his calls. Even his girlfriend is hiding something. Increasingly terrified, he clings to the one thing he knows: He must pick up his brother in San Francisco. In five days.

From the isolating fields of Iowa to the crowded streets of San Francisco, Daniel must fight his way through a fog of disjointed memories and supernatural encounters to face the truth and pay a debt he didn’t know he owed.

What or who was the inspiration behind it?

The idea for this book came to me after watching the movie, Sarah’s Key, which was based on the book of the same title by Tatiana de Rosnay.

The movie had a profound effect on me. The main character is haunted by the death of her little brother, for which she blames herself. At the end of the movie (spoiler alert), unable to shake her guilt, she commits suicide. Close curtain.

That movie haunted me for months. It seemed so unfair, what happened to the main character. And I kept feeling like her story was left unfinished. What happened after the suicide? The Beached Ones gave me a chance to explore that general question, although of course, within an entirely different story.

Of all the characters, which one do you relate to the most, and why?

I relate most to my main character in this story, Daniel Shepard, because I too have younger brothers. I helped raise them while I was growing up and felt very protective of them. I can understand the lengths to which Daniel goes to make sure that Tony is safe. Of course, I can also understand how Tony sometimes irritates his older brother!

You’ve had a long career as a successful writer and blogger; what made you want to write a supernatural fantasy?

Writing fiction actually came first for me. My first novel (Rise of the Sidenah) was traditionally published in 2015, and that was categorized as epic fantasy or general fantasy. Then my second novel, Loreena’s Gift, came out with Dzanc publishing in 2016. I feel that I found my voice with that story, and it was also a supernatural fantasy or cross-genre novel, sometimes called a literary paranormal.

The Beached Ones is categorized by my publisher, CamCat Books, as a supernatural thriller, which I think fits it best, though it’s also been called a literary ghost story.

I have always enjoyed having some sort of fantasy element in my stories, as that allows me to explore themes and topics in a more exciting or thrilling way than I could if I were to stick to strict reality.

My blogging career (mainly with WritingandWellness.com) didn’t get going until after Loreena’s Gift came out. At that time, I was looking for a way to establish an author platform and my previous blog hadn’t attracted much attention. Fortunately, Writing and Wellness took off and gave me a whole new facet of writing (non-fiction) to pursue and enjoy.

How is researching fiction different from researching non-fiction?

I see researching fiction as a fun activity that inspires my imagination. It allows me to take that deep dive into another world that is so important when writing any type of fantasy.

I was lucky enough to be able to travel to research The Beached Ones—I took the same journey the characters take from Harlan, Iowa, to San Francisco, California. I had researched and written the book beforehand, but taking the trip myself helped me improve the story in countless ways.

The Golden Gate Bridge
The Golden Gate — the final destination for my characters

Researching nonfiction, on the other hand, satisfies my never-ending curiosity and desire to learn. I love researching nonfiction topics, then sharing what I discover with others in ways that I hope will benefit them.

Where do you call home, and how did you end up there?

I live in southeast Idaho, which is an agricultural community nestled a short distance from Jackson Hole, Wyoming (and the Grand Tetons), with the West Entrance to Yellowstone National Park only about 90 minutes away.

Idaho Farm Fields being watered at sunset
Idaho farm irrigation at sunset

We also have the beautiful Snake River running right through the town, and a surprisingly robust commitment to the arts and music considering the smaller size of the area. I’m a French horn player and frequently participate in the symphony and pit orchestras, so I greatly appreciate that.

I grew up in Colorado surrounded by mountains and made the move north when I graduated college. I still get back to Colorado as frequently as I can, but I love Idaho not only for its natural beauty but for the strength and values of the community.

Idaho Park in the Fall
Idaho Park in the Fall

What are you working on next?

I’m excited about my next project, which is a retelling of the old Midas myth. There was a real King Midas who ruled Phrygia around 700 BC, so I’m having fun mixing elements of the historical figure with the mythological legend.

Find a FREE excerpt of The Beached Ones here!

Author bio:  Colleen M. Story is a novelist, freelance writer, writing coach, and speaker with over 20 years in the creative writing industry. Her latest novel, The Beached Ones, was released with CamCat Books on July 26th, 2022. Her previous novel, Loreena’s Gift, was a Foreword Reviews INDIES Book of the Year Awards winner, among others.

Colleen M. Story at Book Signing
Colleen M. Story book signing

Colleen has written three books to help writers succeed. Your Writing Matters is the most recent and was a bronze medal winner in the Reader Views Literary Awards (2022). Other titles include Writer Get Noticed and Overwhelmed Writer Rescue. You can find free chapters of these books here.

Find more at her author website (colleenmstory.com) or connect with her on Twitter (@colleen_m_story), LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube.

 

Blood Mark has a New Award

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Blood Mark has a new award. This one from the Eric Hoffer Awards, and I couldn’t be more proud.

Eric Hoffer Winner Medal

When I submitted Blood Mark to a handful of contests, it was a leap of faith. Seeing how well it’s done, I’m so glad I put the book into the ring. It’s now earned seven awards! And it’s not over yet—Blood Mark is still in the running for a few awards that won’t be decided until later in the year. I’ll keep you posted.

New Book Title

First, thank you for your thoughts on the new book’s title. After much discussion, research, and consideration of your input, I’ve named the new book Ghost Mark. As you know, this has been its working title, but it also came up as one of your favourites in the feedback. And because it’s a good fit with Blood Mark and a good match for the book’s subject, I think we’ve nailed it. So, again, thank you!

Ghost Mark Update

I’m thrilled to tell you that the first draft is finished, the first run-through edit is done, and Ghost Mark is now out for the big-picture edit. Whew! When I get that feedback, I’ll incorporate it, and then it’s off to betas. Next up will be the copy editor.

And now that Ghost Mark is on its way, I’m considering a series title. Originally, I planned to use Blood Mark Series, but I’ve been told that repeating the first book’s title is a wasted opportunity to include additional search words to help readers find the books. My first choice for a series name is one Roxy Boroughs suggested (Thanks Roxy!): Dark Dreams. Each of the books would be A Dark Dreams Novel and/or part of the Dark Dreams Series. What do you think?

I’ve now turned my attention to the other pieces of the writing puzzle that make up a book: writing the acknowledgements, teasing out the back-of-the-book description, working with the cover designer, planning the release with publicist extraordinaire, Mickey Mikkelson of Creative Edge Publicity, etc.

One Last Thing

Today, June 2nd, Hidden Enemy is on sale for 99c. It’s the second standalone book in the Gift Legacy Series. You can get it from Amazon, Kobo, Nook, and everywhere else books are sold. Scribble’s Worth Reviews says: the second book starts off with a thrilling scene and heart-pumping narration! OHHHHH YEEEEEAHHHH! JP McLean knows how to grip us at once and make us curious in the first scenes. Awesome!

Until next time . . .