JP McLean

Writing Addictive Fiction

Margaret Atwood is coming to Denman Island!

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You read that right: Margaret Atwood is coming to Denman Island! The Denman Island Readers and Writers Festival Committee has enticed Ms. Atwood to our island. She’ll be attending a fund-raising meet-and-greet event on the evening of May 31, and the following day, June 1st, she’ll give two presentations. The morning event is a talk sprinkled with readings, and the evening event is a moderated discussion with Ms. Atwood and Des Kennedy.

Audiobook Progress

The audio recording for Blood Mark is DONE! I’m now recording the second Dark Dreams book, Ghost Mark. The sneak peek recording of Blood Mark remains available here.

In-person Event Update

My next in-person event is a book signing for my newest release, Scorch Mark, on May 18th from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Blue Heron Books, 1775 Comox Avenue in Comox, BC. If you’re in the neighbourhood, drop by and say hello. If you can’t make it on the 18th, drop in anytime to visit with Dirk Meckert, the owner of Blue Heron. He’s an interesting man with eclectic tastes and a love of art and old books.

Blue Heron Bookshops's logo featured a blue line drawing of a blue heron

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!).

 

Feature in May 2024 Issue of SAM Magazine

Joanna Vander Vlugt interviewed me in connection with Scorch Mark. She asked great questions about my story inspiration, writing process, and the research I conducted. Most interesting, she asked how my life experiences intersect with my characters and their stories. The May issue also features
PJ Donison, Kate Gateley, donalee Moulton, Steven Raaymakers, Amy Tector, and Penny Astley.

What I’m Reading

You won’t be surprised to see that I’m reading Margaret Atwood. Aside from the fact that she’s coming to Denman, her writing is a lesson in storytelling craft, which is instructive to me as an author.

It’s been a few years since I read Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale. The Testaments is a follow-up novel, fifteen years after the events in The Handmaid's Tale.

It's about a dystopian future where the USA is run by corrupt male religious zealots, society is strictly segregated into social classes, and women who aren’t sterile are treated as faceless breeders or servants for the upper classes. Some aspects of Atwood’s story hit a little too close to home given the news cycles of late. The Handmaid’s Tale was published in 1985, which makes me wonder if Atwood has a crystal ball on her desk (maybe I’ll have the opportunity to ask her!).

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

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

A Kindle Unlimited Surprise

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There’s a Big Sale Underway

I have a Kindle Unlimited surprise for you. There’s a big sale underway! I’m super excited to announce that Secret Sky, the first book in the Gift Legacy, is FREE right now. I’ve also deeply discounted books two through five! The deals are only on for a few days, so load your Kindle or gift them to a friend before the special pricing disappears.

Writing Research

Earlier this month, I travelled to Vancouver for research on the court case that takes place in Scorch Mark. Over the course of two short days, I attended several trials at the Law Courts Building, including a murder, a sexual assault, a major fraud, a contract dispute, and a custody battle.

The most surprising aspect of my visit was the ease with which I could sit in on these trials. Though armed sheriffs are present throughout the building, I was free to walk into any of the open courtrooms. In all the time I lived in Vancouver, I’d never ventured inside the lofty building. I imagined I’d be searched or have to go through metal detectors, maybe even questioned. None of that happened. Though there were metal detectors available, they weren’t in use at the courtrooms I attended.

Another interesting aspect of some courtrooms is the bulletproof glass that protects the defendants. I also peeked in through the windows of Court 20, which is the courtroom in the basement that was built for the Air India bombing trial, and most recently used for the hearings around Huawei’s chief financial officer. It’s the largest courtroom in the building, and the most secure.

JP McLean standing outside the Vancouver Law Courts Building
Inside the atrium of the Vancouver Law Courts Building

Update on Scorch Mark

My first run-through edit of Scorch Mark is chugging along. Some days I shake my head at what I’ve written. What was I thinking? What the heck was I trying to say? Other days, I find opportunities for a new scene, or additional details that add depth or tension to the story. With each tweak, the story improves. It won’t be long now until Scorch Mark is ready for its first professional edit.

Canadian Independent Bookstore Day

Canadian Independent Bookstore Day is April 29th. This year, anyone who buys a book from a Canadian indie bookstore has an opportunity to win $1000, $500, or $250. (NOTE: The contest is now closed)

What I’m Reading

I just finished, We Measure the Earth With Our Bodies, by Tsering Yangzom Lama. A finalist in the Scotiabank Giller Prize, it’s a beautifully written story of home, told through the lens of three generations of a Tibetan village in the wake of China’s invasion and occupation. I will have the pleasure of introducing Tsering Yangzom Lama at this year’s Denman Island Readers' and Writers' Festival. I’m looking forward to meeting her.

 

We Measure the Earth With Our Bodies book cover with two hands

Activity Centre Garden Bed update

In my last post, I mentioned that a group of volunteers had dug out the overgrown garden beds at the Activity Centre here on Denman in preparation for a much needed revitalization. I found some photos of what it used to look like, and I’m happy to share the results of our labours to replant the beds. Thanks so much to the Denman Garden Club for their financial help and the slate of volunteers who put in the sweat equity that saw this worthwhile project completed.

Before photo of the Denman Activity Centre walkway gardens

DAC walkway garden BEFORE

Before photo of the Denman Activity Centre front garden

DAC front garden BEFORE

After photo of the Denman Activity Centre walkway gardens

DAC walkway garden AFTER

After photo of the Denman Activity Centre front garden

DAC walkway garden AFTER

Don't forget to take advantage of the Gift Legacy books while the Kindle Unlimited promotion is on. Whether it's for yourself or a gift for a friend, you can't go wrong. Get the books here.

Until next time, XO

Readers and Writers Unite Online

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Readers and Writers Unite Online

Like many of this season’s literary events, the Denman Island Readers’ and Writers’ Festival (DIRWF) has gone virtual. I’m excited for this opportunity for readers and writers to unite online. The authors who would have attended the 2020 festival (see lineup below) have instead made videos. If you’ve ever been curious about literary festivals, these videos will give you a taste of what you might expect when we can again attend live events.Continue Reading