Silver Medal Winners, Hexborn Update & a 70th Anniversary

May 8, 2026 By JPMcLean 2 Comments

Silver Medal Winners

I’m thrilled to announce that The Never Witch and the audio edition of Blood Mark have each won silver medals from the Wishing Shelf Book Awards. It’s gratifying to see these books doing so well, and to know that the writing and packaging are resonating with readers and judges alike! The medals are en route from Britain and haven’t arrived yet. I’ll include a photo next month.

Hexborn Progress

The second book in The Thorne Witch Novels, Hexborn, will be released on August 4, 2026. It has now completed the editing process and I’ll soon be handing it off to my intrepid team of beta readers. You can already pre-order it here from your favourite retailer.

Next up … the cover. This time, the folks at 100 Covers are handling the design. I can’t wait to see what they come up with.

A Special Anniversary

My husband and I travelled to Ontario’s cottage country in April to celebrate my dad’s ninetieth birthday and my parents’ seventieth wedding anniversary. They married on a Friday the 13^th —brave of them, I thought. I wrote about it ten years ago on their 60^th. You can find that post here: https://jpmcleanauthor.com/would-you-get-married-on-friday-the-13th/ This is a photo from this year.

April weather in Ontario is unpredictable—sometimes warm and dry, other times wet and windy. This year was wet and wet. Here is a photo of the flooding of the Manitouwabing River at my sister’s place. Happily, the water didn’t cause any major damage.

Next In-Person Events

On May 9^th from 11 am to 4 pm, I’ve been invited back to Coles in the Driftwood Mall on Cliff Avenue for an encore book signing of The Never Witch. That’s the Saturday before Mother’s Day, so if your mom prefers books over flowers, swing by and get a signed copy. Better still, get her a book AND flowers.

What I’m Reading/Listening To

I’m listening to the audiobook of Wrong Place Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister—a paranormal mystery about a woman stuck in a time loop trying to prevent a murder. I’m finding it quite interesting, especially the mechanics of waking up one day earlier each morning. My novel Blood Mark has some time slip in it, so I know firsthand how tricky that can be to write.

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Until next time…

Jo-Anne

On First Drafts, New Awards, and a Special Anniversary

March 18, 2026 By JPMcLean 6 Comments

The Never Witch is now a Finalist in the Wishing Shelf Book Awards. The winners will be announced at the beginning of April, so keep your fingers crossed. Three of my other books have reached the Finalist stage, but none have gone on to win. At least I'm consistant. Maybe the fourth time’s a charm??

I’m also thrilled to announce that my narration for Blood Mark (book one of the Dark Dreams Novels) is likewise a Wishing Shelf Finalist! Submitting for the audiobook was a leap of faith, as I truly didn’t know if my performance reached the calibre expected by listeners. I'm pleased to say it has surpassed my expectations.

Next In-person Events

My first market of 2026 will be at the Union Bay Community Hall. Normally, I’d also attend the Union Bay Fall and Christmas events, but I’m double-booked on both occasions. Darn! If you’re a Union Bay reader looking for an inscribed book, check my events schedule here, or catch me in Union Bay:

Date: Sunday, March 29, 2026, 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
Location: Union Bay Community Club
Address: 5401 South Island Highway, Union Bay, BC

I’m excited to say I’ve been invited back to Coles and Chapters for encore book signing events. I’d be delighted to inscribe a book for you at either location:

COLES in Courtenay
Date: Saturday, May 9, 2026, 11:00 am - 4:00 pm
Location: Driftwood Mall, Courtenay
Address: 2751 Cliffe Avenue

CHAPTERS in Nanaimo
Date: Saturday, July 18, 2026, Noon - 3:00 pm
Location: Woodgrove Centre, Nanaimo
Address: 6670 Mary Ellen Drive

What I’m Reading/Listening to

Queen of Air and Darkness (The Dark Artifices, Book Three) by Cassandra Clare. This is the third tome/brick in the series. Though I've thoroughly enjoyed Clare's imagination and the characters, I’m ready for something new.

Chatterley (A Corrupted Classics Novel) by Cara Clare. I listen to a weekly podcast about indie publishing, and she was one of the hosts for a time, so I was curious about her work. This book isn’t for everyone, but if you’ve ever imagined Lady Chatterley’s Lover, but with vampires, chains, and risque lust, you might enjoy it.

The Black Wolf by Louise Penny, the latest in her mystery series set in fictional Three Pines and centred around Chief Inspector Armand Gamache of the Sûreté du Québec. Her characters have found a home in my heart. Books in this series will always be on the top of my TBR list.

In Other News

The switch of host for my website went smoothly thanks to Shawn Wernig of Eggplant Studios. Can’t say enough good things about how on top of everything he was during the transition. The few glitches I had were minor and ironed out quickly. Whew!

On the Home Front

My parents were married on a Friday the 13^th in April, way back in 1956. This April is their 70^th wedding anniversary, and my husband and I will be travelling to Ontario to help them celebrate.

Sign up for my VIP newsletter

If you’d like to know more about me, my writing life, and my home on Denman Island, 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.

Until next time…

Jo-Anne

August events and a quick update

August 1, 2024 By JPMcLean 2 Comments

August’s in-person events include two of my favourites:

cartoon pirate parrot logo for Comox Nautical Days The first event is Comox Nautical Days in Marina Park. It takes place over the August long weekend, August 3, 4, and 5. Nautical Days is a three-day family-orientated party, and it’s the biggest event on my calendar. There’s live music, children’s entertainment, food trucks, a beer tent, a splash park, a parade and vintage car show, and more than a hundred juried vendors! I’ll be signing books at booth #63.

If you’ve never been to Nautical Days, you’re in for a treat. Marina Park has spectacular views of the harbour, boats, and the glacier. You’ll also appreciate the clean washrooms, and that this event is organized and well-run.

The second event is my annual trip to Ontario to visit my family. Though I hate the travel portion of the trip, I look forward to lazy hazy days sipping coffee and wine on my sister’s porch, or my parent’s deck, and cooling off in the Manitouwabing River. I’ve posted photos on previous visits here and here (scroll down to see the photos).

And finally, thank you to everyone who came out to the Christmas in July event last Saturday at the Lighthouse Community Hall in Qualicum Bay. I donated a copy of Blood Mark to the door prizes and hope whoever won it enjoys the story.

To receive FREE short stories, insider scoop, and new release news, please join my VIP Reader newsletter list. I send out a monthly newsletter with photos, news, and writing/audiobook updates.

Scorch Mark Cover Reveal

September 20, 2023 By JPMcLean 12 Comments

Today, I’m excited to reveal the cover for Scorch Mark, the third Dark Dreams novel. JD&J Book Cover Designs has once again created a cover that hits all the right marks. This time, Jane is on the cover with the Rosetta-style dial she now bears on the back of her hand.

The cover captures the essence of the series with a hint of danger, covert mystery, and the grit of the inner city. Something dangerous lingers, and it’s evident in Jane’s expression. I love it! Let me know what you think in the comments.

An excerpt of the first three chapters is available in pdf form on my website. The book will be released on November 14 and is now available for preorder on Kindle, Kobo, and at all other retailers.

Pre-publication Award

Scorch Mark has already received a 5-star gold Literary Titan Award. This is what Titan had to say: “…Scorch Mark stands as a testament to McLean’s literary prowess. The book is a genuine page-turner, replete with action and masterfully crafted prose.” —Literary Titan

Read the full review here.

What I’m Reading

Temple by Robert Swartwood. Temple is a thriller with a supernatural twist. The genre combo is much like the Dark Dreams series, but with a male protagonist. It’s described as “Watchmen meets Jason Bourne,” which is an accurate description. It’s fast-paced with lots of fighting, gun action, and a twisty plot. (Thanks to Tom for the recommendation!)

The Gift Legacy Update

The digital editions of The Gift Legacy books are now out of the Kindle Unlimited subscription program and are once again available at all retailers. Those of you in the Kindle Unlimited program who downloaded the books will still be able to read them.

Upcoming Events

The GEM Readings

October 1^st from 2-3:30 pm

Denman Activity Centre, 1111 Northwest Road, Denman Island.

I’ll be joining two local Denman Island authors, Stewart Goodings, My Friend, My Enemy and Bill Engleson, The Life of Gronsky, to read from our latest releases, take audience questions, and sign books. Bring a mug. Coffee, tea, and sweets will be served.

On a Personal Note

I’m home from my trip to visit family in Ontario. The photos show us moving my parents’ dock, enjoying my cousin Steve strum his guitar, porch snacks, and beautiful McKellar vistas, including me in the hat on my sister’s pontoon boat on the Manitouwabing River. Three weeks felt like a nice long chunk of catch-up time when I set out, but it flew by in a flash.

Immediately following my return from Ontario, I left again for a catch up with a friend who was visiting Vancouver. We stayed at the Sylvia Hotel, which has become my very favourite Vancouver Hotel. It’s historic, right on the water, and walking distance to Stanley Park, Granville Island, and the downtown. The staff are super friendly and the restaurant is top-notch.

While the preparation for Scorch Mark’s November 14 release continues, I’ll be happily staying put on Denman Island.

Until next time . . .