JP McLean

Writing Addictive Fiction

June Update

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Ah, June. It’s a perfect month to be at loose ends, which is where I find myself. My in-depth self-edit of Scorch Mark is done, and the manuscript is in the capable hands of the developmental editor. Which means I get to play!

Gardening

I’ve been splitting my time between the gardens and indulgent reading.

I can’t remember when last it was I’ve spent this much time with soil under my fingernails. It’s incredibly gratifying to see the neat edges and weed-free soil. Though we have had little rain, and the gardens are dry, we’re fortunate to have rainwater stored and have been using that to perk up the plants. It’s mostly flowers and shrubs now, though we still grow garlic and a few other veggies in two raised beds.

Here are some more garden pics:

 

Reading

And I’ve been devouring books. I finished Colleen Hoover’s It Ends With Us. Though I’m not a huge romance reader, I wanted to see what all the fuss was about. I wasn’t expecting to like it, and I LOVED it. I then read Hoover’s follow-up book, It Starts With Us. It wasn’t as urgent or earth shattering, but I’m glad I read it and know the rest of the story.

I’m also doing a beta read of a book that's expected to come out this fall. It’s by W.L. Hawkin and it’s fabulous. I’ll share more about it when I’m able.

And I’m almost finished This Broken Memory (Cold as Iron Book 1) by Kayla McGrath which I am enjoying. It’s about Seelie and Unseelie faery realms and includes tons of action, high stakes, hidden agendas, and mistaken identities. I’ve also finished Dreams of a Dragon Girl by Bonnie Jacoby, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Must remember to post some reviews!

When I’m not reading or gardening, I’m preparing for the indie-publishing workshop I’m presenting at this year’s Denman Island Readers and Writers Festival. There’s still room if you want to learn if indie publishing is a good fit for you, and what’s involved in the process. It’s scheduled for July 20th from 10:00-1:00 at the Denman Island Community School.

Kindle Unlimited

You might remember I told you recently I'd put my Gift Legacy books into the Kindle subscription program. Well, I'm happy to report that my first Kindle Countdown Deal was a tremendous success. By the time the dust settled, 2,650 readers had taken advantage of the sale. And two months on, I’m seeing follow-up interest in other books in the series, including read throughs in the Kindle subscription program. This makes me very happy! I'm thrilled to share the books with those of you who subscribe to Kindle Unlimited. But it’s a limited engagement, ending on September 2. Download the books, or the boxed sets while they’re still in the program.

Saturday Markets

And finally, if you’re in the Black Creek neighbourhood on Vancouver Island on June 24th, I’ll be at the McLarey Avenue Spring/Summer Market. Drop by and say hello. I’m happy to inscribe a book to you or a friend.

Can't wait to share Scorch Mark's cover with you. Happy Father's Day to all the father's out there. (I'll chat with you tomorrow, Dad!)

Until next time, XO

Spring has Sprung on Denman Island

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New spring lamb in green field

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

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 . . .

Slow but Steady Progress

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The second book in the Blood Mark series is coming along with slow but steady progress. I discovered the outline wasn’t as strong as it needed to be, so I’m beefing it up, adding scenes, increasing the tension. A popular saying repeated in writing circles is that the writer’s job is to get the main character up a tree, and then once they are up there, throw rocks at them. At this stage, I’m throwing rocks at them.

I considered adding references to the pandemic but decided not to. Figured we’re all getting enough of that stress in our day-to-day real lives and don’t need more of it in our downtime. Besides, having the characters masked, socially distant, and staying home feels a little (a lot) boring.

Working Title

I’m still uncertain about a title. The working title is Ghost Mark, but I’m open to suggestions. If you’ve got one, jot it down in the comments below. If I use it, you’ll get credit in the book.

Amazon best selling author badgeLast month I told you about becoming a bestselling author in three Amazon categories: New Adult and College Fantasy (Books), Ghost Suspense, and Occult Horror. The novelty of calling myself a bestselling author hasn’t worn off.

Now there are two more achievements to add to Blood Mark’s success. On January 12, it was short listed for the 2021 Chanticleer Paranormal Book Awards for Supernatural Fiction. And on January 5, Blood Mark placed 3rd on Go Indie Now’s 2021 books of the year.

Hidden Enemy

Hidden Enemy Book CoverAnd if you haven’t yet, you’ve got to read the review for Hidden Enemy on Scribble’s Worth Book Reviews. I’ve read it a dozen times and it still makes me laugh. Julio Carlos’ enthusiasm is over the top. You can read more about Hidden Enemy here, where you’ll also find buy links and a downloadable PDF of the first chapter.

Successes like those keep me motivated. I can’t say it often enough: Thank you for your part in supporting my books, whether it’s recommending them to a friend, asking your local library to shelve them, or writing a review. Your support means the world to me.

What I’m Reading

On the reading front, I’ve just started Three Mages and a Margarita by Annette Marie. It was a recommendation from someone in the “Fans Of Urban Fantasy!” Facebook group.

I’m always on the hunt for books like mine, commonly referred to as comps (as in comparables) in the book world. If you’ve read a book that would fit on the bookshop shelf alongside mine, I’d love to know about it. Put the title/author in the comments below.

Until next time . . .

XO Jo-Anne

 

Throwing Stones Photo by Benjamin Davies on Unsplash