JP McLean

Writing Addictive Fiction

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The Crazy Train has Left the Station

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The Crazy Train has Left the Station

It’s been a whirlwind around here amidst the launch of my second book, Revelation. I sent out my first newsletter; revealed the book cover; wrote and distributed a press release; prepared the “about” material for the website; uploaded Revelation‘s book details into Goodreads; prepared a media kit; updated my blog; and posted the new book cover to Facebook. Then I took a breath.

The Crazy Train called writing

The tornado of activity reminded me of the concept of balance. It’s a concept I’ve been working on since I hopped on the Crazy Train called writing. A train pushed by a caboose called publishing.

Balance is important, and though I have difficulty with it at times, deep in my heart I know it’s not just a concept. It feeds my sanity, grounds me. It’s why I made time to get into the garden last week and why I made the trip to Vancouver to help a friend celebrate her birthday on the weekend. It’s why I went to lunch with the girls the other day and enjoyed a super-sonic gin and tonic in the shade of the garden umbrella with my husband last night.

If I let it, this writing thing would consume every moment of my life. At times, it does. And because I’m an indie writer, all of the marketing and promo falls on my shoulders, so if I want to get the word out, it’s up to me…and it’s a lot of work.

Work/Life Balance

But the “work” has to be balanced with other things. Things that make me smile. Things that energize me and fire me up: like friends, family, fine food and great wine. And writing.

Writing you say? Isn’t that what got you in trouble in the first place? I know…you think I’m talking in circles. But I’m not.

The writing I refer to­­—the writing that energizes me—is creative writing. Not the sometimes tedious chore of writing promo material or editing manuscripts. Creative writing is what happens when I open the throttle on my imagination and run it on all cylinders. Suddenly new characters are running loose through new settings wreaking all kinds of havoc. Exercising my imagination is as important as physical exercise. It reminds me why I do all the other less-fun stuff. It makes the necessary, but tedious stuff, worthwhile.

It’s a crazy ride, and I need to keep injecting balance, but the circuit is oddly addictive: write, publish, promote, balance, fuel-up, rinse and repeat. Better than work-eat-sleep repeat. No?

Has your Crazy Train left the station?

Train Photo by Denis Chick on Unsplash

A Special Kind of Angst

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Publishing Angst

There’s a special kind of angst reserved just for writers. You get to experience it only after you push that “publish” button. Doesn’t matter if it’s a blog post or a book, you always wonder if you could have made it ____________. Fill in the blank—funnier, more concise, less formal—the list is endless.

Looking back over pieces I wrote last year feels a little like looking at old photos. It makes me question why I choose those pants or why I thought that haircut was a good idea.

When I have my writer’s hat on, I’m constantly rereading and refining my words. Sometimes I find a better verb, or a better way to structure a sentence to deliver more impact. There’s always some tweaking you can do to improve your blog post or novel or press release. Always.

How do you know when it’s good enough?

You can drive yourself crazy going back over words you’ve read so many times you know them by heart. That’s part of a writer’s dilemma. Eventually, you see letters and words that you expect instead of what’s actually on the page. It’s one of the reasons why writers need editors and proof readers.

Sometimes, incorporating your editor’s comments into your work is part of the circle of craziness. You introduce new errors when making the edits. It’s so easy to miss a word or mix up a plural or a tense. The process of rewriting and editing can turn into a vicious circle.  The trick to maintaining sanity is knowing when to stop the madness.

If you accept that you’re not perfect; if you believe that you’ve written to the best of your abilities as they exist right now; if you recognize that point when your edits are not improving your piece, merely making it different, then you’re ready to push that “publish” button.

Go on. Be brave. You’ll be a better writer tomorrow. It’s inevitable. And tomorrow you’ll find that perfect verb you wish you’d found before you published. It’s part of the deal. Don’t let it drive you nuts.

 

All of the Gift Legacy books are available from your favourite retailer on the Bookstore Tab.

Photo by Matthew T Rader on Unsplash

Cover Reveal for Revelation

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Cover Reveal for Revelation

It’s finally here! This is the cover for Book II of The Gift Trilogy, Revelation.*

Revelation Book Cover

The cover originates from a photo taken on the beach near my home. A graphic designer by the name of Viona Halim painted it. You might recognize her work from the first book, Awakening.

I think she’s outdone herself. Once again, she’s created a stunning cover that captures the beauty of the west coast setting and the ominous mood of the book. So why a lighthouse, you ask? You’ll have to read the book for that scrumptious detail.

Look for Revelation in mid-June. Once again, FriesenPress will publish it and Ingram will distribute it. The book is 328 pages and will be available in e-book, trade paperback and hardcover formats from your favourite retailers.

Having been through this process once before, I know that it takes time for a new release to make its way through the distribution chain. Therefore, I’ll wait until it hits the stores before I shout it to the heavens.

Meantime, check out the re-vamped website: https://jpmcleanauthor.com. Its facelift accommodates the new book and I’ve included an excerpt from Book III there as well.

As always, I’d love your feedback. Let me know your thoughts on the cover reveal for Revelation.

*Revelation is now titled Hidden Enemy.

Hidden Enemy rebranded cover replaces Revelation

What readers are saying about Hidden Enemy:

A superbly crafted fantasy thriller
—Diana Stevan, author of A Cry from the Deep

A guaranteed page turner
—Island Gals Magazine

Passionate and fun romp
—Bill Engleson, author of Like a Child to Home

Suspenseful . . . Kept me reading ’til dawn
—Sally Rae Dyck, author of For the Love of Food

Timing Woes

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Referee in black and white shirt

Timing Woes

This time around, I thought I’d be better at predicting the timing of certain events in the course of publishing a book.

Apparently not.

Today I thought I’d be revealing the cover for Book II, Revelation. And I would have, except I wasn’t happy with the way the title looked on the final proof. So I chose to have it re-done rather than settle, which is the cause of my timing woes and why I’m writing this post instead of the “ta-da” post I’d envisioned.

As disappointed as I am with the delay, I’m keeping it in perspective. The cover will be all the better for it and anticipation is a sweet seduction.

Keep your eyes peeled for that “ta-da” post next week (I think).

 

Meantime, this is what readers are saying about Book 1, Secret Sky:

A thoroughly enjoyable read
—Island Gals Magazine

Fun . . . sensual, full of adventure
—Bill Engleson, author of Like a Child to Home

Kept me turning the page
—Diana Stevan, author of A Cry from the Deep

It’s gentle and lyric, and it’s dark and hard
—J.F. Kaufmann, author of the Langaer Chronicles

 

A quick summery of each book is available here.

 

Photo by Nathan Shively on Unsplash