Writers' Health Archives

Margaret Atwood is coming to Denman Island!

May 17, 2024 By JPMcLean 4 Comments

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!).

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

August 18, 2022 By JPMcLean 6 Comments

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.

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 26^th, 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.

Socially . . . . . . Distant

April 23, 2020 By JPMcLean 17 Comments

How are you holding up in these unsettling times? I hope you are well and your loved ones are safe. For those of you suffering from COVID-19, I wish you a speedy recovery. Socially . . . . . . distant

An Epic Sci-fi Film

These past few weeks have felt like being trapped in an epic sci-fi film. One where the actors wear facial shields and stand six feet apart. Where the bit players don homemade facial masks and loiter at a safe distance. A film the audience watches with their noses pressed up against windowpanes from the safety of their quarantine houses.

This film needs a new director, but I have a feeling we’re stuck with what we’ve got for a while yet.

Anxiety

I still wake in the night feeling anxious. Some mornings—in that fuzzy moment before I’m fully awake—life is the way it used to be. Sadly, the moment dissipates all too quickly and my thoughts turn to pandemic. If only I could socially distance myself from those thoughts.

It’s getting better though. I think the prolonged exposure to this state of uncertainty is desensitizing me somewhat.

But I don’t want to focus on the bad news – there’s plenty of that on the endless news loop. Instead, I want to concentrate on the good things that have come out of it.

Less Air and Noise Pollution

When this is over, I’m hopeful that businesses and schools will continue to work and teach remotely whenever possible. Less commuting saves money all around and means more time to spend with our families.

Appreciating the Quieter Moments

The songbirds sound sweeter. The bleating of new lambs across the road makes me smile. I feel like I can almost hear the grass growing.

Neighbours Checking In

It’s good to be reminded that we need one another even if we must stay socially distant. This pandemic has given us an opportunity to practice compassion and kindness. Neighbours are reaching out and delivering groceries, prescriptions, and parcels. If we didn’t see the need before, we sure do now. I’m equally sure we’ll continue to meet the need when the pandemic passes.

A Shrinking To-do List

With so many public buildings closed and author events postponed or cancelled, I’ve had less “to do” and fewer interruptions. It’s prompted me to investigate new ways of connecting and doing things. I’m using Zoom to stay in touch with distant family and I’m using a grocery shopping service. When this pandemic is beaten down, I may never go back to standing in a grocery store lineup.

I hope you are finding some good in this terrible situation. If you feel up to it, drop a comment below and share your thoughts. We could all use some good vibes right about now.

Stay connected, stay socially distant when you need to go out, and spend your energy on the positive side of this experience.

If you’re looking for an escape, download Secret Sky and spend some time relaxing on Emelynn’s beach. Get your copy 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.

Header photo by LOGAN WEAVER on Unsplash

Lamb photo by Matt Seymour on Unsplash

Addicted

April 11, 2019 By JPMcLean 17 Comments

Addicted

A wise person once said that if you want to make a difficult change in your life, like losing weight or quitting smoking, the best path to success is to tell someone. The idea is that by saying it out loud not only do you reaffirm your commitment to the change, but the people you tell will shame you into it hold you to it.

That advice is crap.

After I released the final book in The Gift Legacy, I told anyone who’d listen some friends I was making a big change: I was giving up half my treasured writing time to learn how to market the books.

Half because there’s a lot to learn and I’m afraid I won’t figure it out; tech isn’t my strong suit; the books aren’t going to market themselves; time is ticking to take advantage of the new releases, etc. I’ve put it off far too long and writing a book is only half the job. The other half is marketing it.

My plan was to spend the first half of my writing time—when I’m fresh and at my most creative—writing my next book. At the halfway point, I’d shut it down, take a break, eat, get outdoors, maybe get some exercise. When I returned for the second half of my writing time, I’d dig into the Ads for Authors online course I’m taking to learn the ins and outs of advertising, followed soon after with actual advertising.

How’s that big change going you ask?

Not so well.

Not only are my friends not naggers (and far too nice), but when the halfway mark arrives, more times than not, I have zero discipline to take a break, let alone move on to marketing. Case in point: at seven o’clock last night, I was still in my PJs (and that wasn’t the first time).

I’m addicted to writing . . . there, I’ve said it.

Writing is my crack. Words are the endorphins that flood my brain with happy juice and fire my imagination. Words are the gateway drug to sentences and paragraphs and then, egads! . . . scenes. Each scene I commit to digital bytes sends out tendrils of endorphins to the next scene and on it goes.

Why can’t marketing feel like that?

There are those who’ll tell you it should and it can, but that’s a lie I’m not there yet.

Truth be known, I have tried out a few new marketing ideas. The March cross-promotion was exciting, and I had a lot of fun as a sponsor with the Creative Ink Festival, but I’ve got to hunker down and make more progress with the online course.

On the plus side, the new book broke 43K, which is about halfway, and is still going strong.

Here’s my new plan: rather than try to quit writing at the halfway point, I’m going to concentrate on marketing one day and then reward myself with writing the next day. Let’s see how that works. If you have any helpful suggestions, I’d love to hear them. Just leave a comment or contact me via the social media buttons. Wish me luck.

Secret Sky is the book that started the addiction. Get your copy of Secret Sky from Kindle with one click right here. And if ebooks aren’t your preference, click on the bookstore tab for other purchase options, or just click on the covers below.

Chocolate photo: Charisse Kenion on Unsplash
Coffee mug photo: Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash