Crimson Frost (A Supernatural Noel)

I’m pleased to announce the release of my Christmas novella, Crimson Frost: A Supernatural Noel. It’s a story I’ve been working on for a while now. I found time to polish it in the calm between finishing Blood Mark and the storm of activity that marked its release.

Crimson Frost has an unusual origin story. It started with the book cover—which I won in April of 2020 in a prize draw from Rocking Book Covers—I’m a big fan and have their covers on a few of my short stories. I had my choice of cover, and since I’d been thinking about writing a Christmas story, I chose the cover you see.

But then I had to come up with a title because, well, it is a book cover. And you know how terrible I am at choosing book titles. So, a couple of writer friends got together, brainstormed, and came up with Crimson Frost. Which left me with this gorgeous cover, a title, even a sub-title, A Supernatural Noel, but I had yet to write one word of a story to go with it.

My first two attempts were woefully un-Christmassy—seems I have a dark streak that not even Santa Claus can erase. But my third attempt felt just right. It still has a dollop of angst in it, but what family Christmas doesn’t? This is the description:

A blood moon on Christmas Eve brings magic . . . and menace

After their mother dies on Christmas Eve, eighteen-year-old Charlotte struggles to raise her younger half-brother Oliver. Then Oliver’s abusive deadbeat dad shows up with a malicious agenda to tear the siblings apart. Although Charlotte has always denied her mother’s inherited magical talent, a special holiday ornament and a mysterious handwritten poem force Charlotte to admit the truth . . . and unleash some extraordinary magical powers of her own.

Crimson Frost is available for free through the Kindle Unlimited Subscription plan or for purchase on Amazon for $2.99 US. But watch for a sale closer to Christmas (Tip: put it on your Amazon wish list and you’ll be notified when it goes on sale!)

What’s next?

The build-up to the launch of Blood Mark was a gradual process. Day by day, my calendar filled with podcast recordings, VLOG appearances, and time set aside to answer written interview questions and guest blog posts. And then release day hit and I went full throttle; my calendar was crosshatched in black as far as I could see. It wasn’t until I flipped ahead into this week and saw a day on the calendar that was blindingly white—empty of commitments—that I realized how much I’d been doing. Launch activities are far from over, but how lovely it is to see more free time in my future.

Time to write! And I’m taking advantage of those breaks in my schedule to continue Jane’s story in a second book with the working title Ghost Mark. It’s such fun to get back to the writing—the quintessential, satisfying, soul-feeding nugget that makes this writing gig worthwhile.

On the Publicity Front

Blood Mark continues to collect rave reviews:

• “McLean’s writing is clear, gentle, relentless, and original.”—Ottawa Review of Books
• “Blood Mark is a fast-paced suspense with a heart-pounding plot and a compelling set of characters.”—The Red Cliffs Chronicles
• Blood Mark is holding a 4.8-star rating on Goodreads with 24 reviews and building.

Recent podcasts and VLOGs include:

• Dennis Rimmer and I had a fascinating chat about my backstory, and the backstory to Blood Mark and on his Talking Books and Stuff podcast.
• Sarah Meckler interviewed me on the GSMC Book Review Podcast. We laughed a lot, and I accidentally called her messy (oops!)
• And I had tons of fun with Beth Worsdell on The Witty Writers’ Show talking all about the ins and outs of writing.
• Peter Anthony Holder and I had an interesting chat on the Stuph Files (at the 28:28 mark)
• And I had a light-hearted conversation with Caramel Lucas on Keeping it Real

You can read the full list of publicity events under my Media/Featured on tab.

My next live event will be on November 27 and 28 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Campbell River Toy and Craft Fair in the Sportsplex at 1800 S Alder Street in Campbell River, BC. Come by and say hello. I’ll have copies of all my books, including Crimson Frost. I’d be happy to inscribe books for the readers on your Christmas shopping list.