fiction Archives - Page 7 of 11

The Next Big Thing

January 18, 2013 By JPMcLean Leave a Comment

Mike Grant, author of White Wolf Moon graciously nominated me for The Next Big Thing Writer and Blogger Award. It’s an opportunity for fellow writers to give a shout-out to those who inspire, educate and entertain. Thanks, Mike, I’m flattered and happy to participate.

I’ll direct my answers to the second book in The Gift Legacy, Revelation which will be published in late spring, 2013. Here goes…

What is the working title of your book?

Revelation. (Now titled Hidden Enemy)

What genre does your book fall under?

Urban fantasy. The genre discussion is an interesting one. Urban fantasy describes stories set in an urban environment. But fantasy covers a wide range from low-fantasy (Charmaine Harris’ Blue Bloods) to high-fantasy (JRR Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings). The Gift Legacy fits into the low-end of the fantasy scale.

What is the one sentence synopsis of your book?

It’s best summarized by a Tennyson quote from The Ancient Sage, 1885, “The shell must break before the bird can fly.”

Revelation continues the story of Emelynn Taylor, whose life is inexorably shaped by an unbidden gift. In Revelation, Emelynn is pursued by dark forces that lurk in the underbelly of a world she never wanted a part of. Her only escape is one which will scar her for life.

Where did you get the idea for your book?

This second book is a natural extension of the story arc from the first book. There are many facets of Emelynn Taylor’s life and her gift that had potential for exploration and development.

Who or what inspired you to write this book?

The who was Stephenie Meyer who wrote the Twilight books. When I came across her bio and learned that her books sprung from a single scene, it inspired me to start small and build out. It worked.

The what, was a cool, rainy, west coast winter. The dreary hockey-season weather approached on the heels of three sunny winters spent in Tucson, AZ. Daydreaming chased the chill away.

How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?

Six months, but many additional hours were spent contemplating the project before I started writing in earnest. Another important qualifier is that I’m fortunate to not have to divide my time with a day-job, children or ailing parents.

What other books would you compare this story with in your genre?

Answering this question makes me feel like a poser because the comparisons juxtapose my writing with other more highly-sought-after work. Keeping that in mind, here are the comparisons I’ve heard. First was J.M. Barrie’s Peter Pan. It’s not the one I would have picked, but I understand the comparison. Next was Stephen King’s Carrie.

When I wrote the books, I aimed for realism: a story that made the reader believe that they could be living next door to the characters. From that perspective The Gift Legacy books compare to Charlaine Harris’ Sookie Stackhouse books or Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight books, but without the vampires and werewolves.

Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?

I haven’t a clue, but I’d be very interested in readers’ opinions. When I was writing the characters, I’d often flip through magazines to look for a face I thought fit my imaginary character. The clipped image would help me visualize the characters as I wrote. I still have those clippings, including images I selected for Emelynn, Jackson and Sandra, but unfortunately, I don’t know the names of the models.

Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?

I will once again indie publish with the help of FriesenPress. Guy Kawasaki, co-author of A.P.E. (Author, Publisher, Entrepreneur) in his book How to Publish a Book defined self-publishing as Artisanal Publishing. He explained that, like micro breweries, the artisanal author prefers to maintain tight controls over all aspects of their work, thereby producing a superior product.

Absent deep pockets, this artisanal author doesn’t really have much of a choice in the matter, but I like the definition.

What else about your book might pique your reader’s interest?

As one of The Gift Legacy’s reviewers commented, the book has a wide appeal. “It’s got something for everyone – a little romance, humour, drama, sex, suspense. A completely satisfactory read.” It’s a story that will sweep you up and make you ponder the impossible, maybe even make you believe that the unbelievable is happening right now, all around you. It’s a great escape.

The final step to this Next Big Thing nomination is to pay it forward. I have selected five writers and bloggers who inspire, motivate, entertain and educate. Not everyone I nominated is working on a book, but who knows what the future holds! It’s my pleasure to nominate the following writers for The Next Big Thing Writer and Blogger Award:

Linda Poitevin, author of the Grigori Legacy Series

Nina Munteanu, writing coach and author of The Last Summoner and many others

James J. Murray, author of Prescription for Murder

Cristian Mihai, author and creative force behind Irevuo Magazine

Lisa Voisin, author of The Watcher saga

Thanks for hanging in right to the end. And thanks, Mike for the Writer and Blogger Award. The Next Best Thing nomination is an innovative idea and I’m happy to support it and pass it along.

Amarone Celebration

January 8, 2013 By JPMcLean 9 Comments

JP McLean finishes third book of trilogy!

Just before Christmas I made a trip to the liquor store to pick up a few special gifts. While I stood in the fine wines section contemplating the choices, my attention drifted down to a bottle of Amarone.

I quickly averted my gaze.

This was the season of giving, I reminded myself, and I was pretty sure that didn’t mean giving to myself. I made my selections then moved to the single malts. Again, my gaze wandered to fine wines. Not today, I reminded myself, and continued my gift shopping.

When I arrived at the check out, I joined a long line. The entire time I waited, that damn bottle of Amarone called my name.

“You’re going to need me,” it taunted. I ignored it.

“Soon. You’ll see,” it chanted. I looked away.

“You’ll regret not having me on hand,” it said, humming Adele’s, Don’t you Remember.

I responded in kind, singing P!nk’s, Sober.

The Hairy Eyeball

The gentleman in front of me gave me the hairy eyeball (I really shouldn’t sing in public). His order filled a shopping cart. No one had that many friends, I thought, uncharitably. His bulk order gave me plenty of time to re-think my virtuous nature. Who was I trying to fool, I rationalized? And while he yanked out his credit card, I skeedattled back to fine wines, grabbed that bottle of Amarone and dragged it back to my cart.

It’s now a month since that fateful trip to the liquor store. The days have been filled with bouts of guilt knowing I’d hidden the Amarone in a closet just around the corner from the kitchen. Late in the evening when I’m plucking away at my computer, it taunts me from its cradle. Every morning for a month I’ve said, “not yet, Il mio amore. I’m not done,” and then another night of passionate typing ensues. I persevere at the computer, day after day, night after night, moving inexorably forward. It’s become a pilgrimage. JP McLean finishes third book of trilogy

But tonight is different.

Tonight something monumental happened. The clock struck six p.m. (nine p.m. Eastern Central Time) and I finally fessed up to my better half about the Amarone. He didn’t blink (he knows my nefarious nature well). He lassoed that plucky bottle of Amarone and uncorked it. “What’s the occasion?” he sang out, pulling two glasses from the cupboard.

“Soon,” I said.

He went back to the news. An hour later he returned, peering over my shoulder. “Ready?” he asked patiently. (I added patiently because he’s listening).

Another long fifteen minutes passed before I gave him the go ahead. “Pour,” I said, and he did.

And now, here we sit, enjoying a very fine glass of Amarone; a glass fine enough for a celebration. One the Amarone itself foretold before Christmas. “Congratulations,” it said, and we raised a glass in toast. Congratulations, indeed, I agreed, savouring the rich, thick notes of a perfect bottle of wine.

And that’s what it tastes like to type “the end,” at the bottom of the last page of the third book of a trilogy. What a ride!

Update: The Gift Legacy is now complete at seven books. You can read about all the book here.

Photo by chuttersnap on Unsplash

Grinding to a Standstill

January 4, 2013 By JPMcLean Leave a Comment

Last week as I sat at my computer sipping yet another bladder-challenging-sized mug of tea, I puzzled over why my writing had ground to a standstill. I have an outline. I know how the story ends. I know the characters as well as my own family. So why the listlessness, the disconnect? Grinding to a standstill

Word Jam

Previously when I hit a writing snag, I’d write another scene or define a new character or setting. That almost always worked to loosen the writing log jam. But I’m near the end of the last book in the trilogy so there aren’t new characters or settings to dream up.

I took a break, and the drone of the vacuum helped me figure out what was going on. I didn’t have clear enough directions for getting from where I was in the telling of the story to the end I had in mind. My outline was too rough. It lacked the detail I needed.

(More experienced writers would likely have figured that out sooner.)

Back to the Outline

I went back to the outline, re-read and printed the last few pages. I flipped through the notepad I carry around with me like a security blanket and tumbled ideas around in my head for another day or two. It was the jump-start my imagination needed. As I began filling in the outline, ideas took shape and grew into even better scenes than I’d initially imagined. The outline is now bursting at the seams and I can hardly wait to dig in and write the rest of Emelynn’s story.

God I love writing – why’d it take me so long to discover that part of me?

Photo by Cassie Boca on Unsplash Grinding to a standstill

Home for Christmas

December 12, 2012 By JPMcLean Leave a Comment

Mundane chores are dumping all over my home-for-Christmas holiday spirit. Roaming dust bunnies, dead Halloween plants, overflowing compost bins, and so many more small jobs need attending to. But they’re in stiff competition for my time. I’ve also got to promote my first book, nudge the second book along to publication, and complete the third all-important final installment in the trilogy.

Yikes. I could use an elf or three.

I’m surrounded by far more meaningfully employed and less time-challenged friends. They’re chuffed with delight at the sight of their finely decorated trees and homes. These friends have already dispatched their Christmas gifts to faraway places. Their Christmas baking is neatly packed in pretty tins. Their turkeys are already on ice. Receiving their perky Christmas cards makes me want to throw up my hands in defeat.

I’m insanely envious.

This will be the third Christmas since I embarked on the project that has become the all-consuming Gift Trilogy. In 2010 it was still a fresh endeavour and I busted my butt to make the holidays happen without a glitch. 2011 saw the new, and decidedly not improved me, beg off of all but fireplace mantel decorations and a plug-in pre-decorated tree.

This year I’ll endeavour to find a better balance.

I’ve laid out the gifts that need to be mailed and found boxes that fit (I’ll post them this week). I’ll schedule a day late in the week to clean the house then decorate al la Martha. I’ll groom the dogs and write out the Christmas dinner shopping list. But Christmas cards won’t happen and neither will Christmas baking. Molly-maid will do a drive-by, not the usual dust the ceiling fan-type of job. Those compromises are the path to sanity for me this Christmas.

Eventually the dust bunnies will be corralled, the compost will give up its gold, and Christmas will happen with all the tinsel and turkey trimmings. But the new me includes writing, so somewhere along the way a twitter or blog post will roll out. The second book’s cover art or a catchy tag line will be born, and the third book will continue its journey to completion.

So, here’s to enjoying the holidays with friends and family, good food, some nog and a laugh or two while keeping the mundane to a dull roar. I’ll still write – it seems to be a part of me now – but I’ll also decorate and cook and wrap and drink to the good health and happiness of all my better-organized friends.

Cheers!

Photo by erin mckenna on Unsplash