It’s Launch Day for The Never Witch

September 16, 2025 By JPMcLean 6 Comments

Today is Launch Day for The Never Witch

Local support for The Never Witch book launch has been wonderful. I am especially pleased that the launch’s press release was picked up by the Comox Valley Record and the Parksville – Qualicum Beach News. The media coverage led to Peter McCully contacting me for an interview, which we recorded yesterday. It will air on the PULSE Community Podcast in Parksville. I’ll share the link here and on social media as soon as I have it.

Thank you to everyone who purchased early review copies of The Never Witch at Nautical Days in Comox. I sold out of the few copies I had. Your early feedback and reviews are SO appreciated. Your keen eyes caught some typos I’d missed (and have since fixed), and the early reviews warmed my heart.

💖Thank you! 💞

Upcoming In-Person Events

Book launch events are now slated for:

Saturday, September 20, 10 am–2 pm, Abraxas Books and Café on Denman Island
Saturday, September 27, 10 am–2 pm, Blue Heron Books in Comox
Saturday, October 11, 1–3 pm, Fireside Books in Parksville
Friday, October 17, 10 am–2 pm, Mulberry Bush Books in Qualicum
Saturday, October 18, 10 am–2 pm, Coles in the Driftwood Mall, Courtenay

I hope you can make it out to one of the launch events. But if not, I also have markets scheduled:

Saturday, October 25, 4–9 pm, Witchy Market at the Crow’s Nest Artists’ Collective, Campbell River
Saturday and Sunday, November 15, 10 am–4 pm, & November 16, 10 am–3 pm, Lighthouse Christmas Market, Qualicum Bay
Sunday, November 23, Union Bay Christmas Craft Fair, 10 am–3 pm

There are a few other events I’m wait-listed for and will keep you posted.

On The Home Front

My time “home” with my family was lovely. We made two side trips, one to visit an aunt and cousin in Haliburton, and another to visit my nieces in their new home on a half acre close to the beach in Grand Bend on Lake Huron (Ontario’s west coast).

This photo is of the Manitouwabing River flowing past my sister’s house.

It’s always great to visit the family. There were lots of laughs and we got a few chores knocked off the to-do lists. We power-washed my parents’ house, reorganized their kitchen cupboards, (Mom dislocated her shoulder a few months back and couldn’t get items off the top shelves), and helped install some beautiful steps at my sister’s place.

A highlight was enjoying a girls’ night with some local gals and indulged in a Friday martini (mine was dirty, half gin/half vodka, with garlic-stuffed olives; hers was a vesper with vodka, no gin, Lillet, and a lemon twist).

What I’m Reading

Again, I’m primarily listening these days. I finished The Bittlemores, written and narrated by Jann Arden. It’s part mystery, part coming of age, sprinkled with humour, a few horrific events, and some touching moments. I’m a big fan of Jann Arden, so the best part for me was listening to her tell me a story.

I’m still making my way through Louise Penny’s mystery series set in Three Pines and centred around Chief Inspector Armand Gamache of the Sûreté du Québec. My favourite book in the series (so far) is How the Light Gets In. I highly recommend.

Following a recommendation, I’ve also started listening to The Alice Network by Kate Quinn.

And now I must get back to The Never Witch launch week activities. May your October be filled with brilliant fall colours, pumpkin-spiced anything, and a terrific new book!

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Until next time…

Jo-Anne

Out of the Smoke and Into the Steam

August 27, 2018 By JPMcLean 12 Comments

Out of the Smoke

It’s difficult to get away from BC’s wildfire smoke these days. If it’s not blowing in from the east, it’s coming down from the north or up from the States. My annual trip to Ontario promised a reprieve, but from 30,000 feet, the smoke swirled around the Rockies and was thick on the ground in the valleys. Sad to think this might be our new summer norm.

Into the Steam

Landing in Toronto didn’t provide as much relief as I anticipated—it felt like arriving in the tropics—stinking hot with humidity that sent my hair into alpaca territory.

Thankfully, a torrential downpour soon took care of the heat, and the cooler temperatures prompted my sister and me to venture out to the Canadian National Exhibition, fondly known as the CNE. Neither of us had been to the annual fall fair since our public school days when a CNE pass was tucked in with our year-end report cards.

Though much has changed at the CNE, so much remains the same. The Sky Ride chairlift still crosses high above the midway, carnival hawkers still draw in players with promised winnings, shouts still ring out from ride-goers, and the scent of corndogs and candy floss still rises above the masses. We even spotted a flag with the Conklin clown logo.

On to Haliburton

The following day, we drove to our cousin’s beautiful home on Paradise Lake in Haliburton. We enjoyed wine and appies on the dock, went for a swim in the lake, and talked for hours sharing memories of our grandparents, summer swims and marshmallow roasts in years gone by.

Family cottage on the Manitouwabing River in Broadbent, Ontario — Family Cottage

The next day we travelled north to McKellar to visit our parents and brother. Here the reminiscing continued, bringing back more memories that often sent us into fits of tear-inducing laughter.

I’m writing this post on a warm afternoon sitting on my sister’s deck and watching the river flow by. The heat and humidity comes and goes, as does the rain, and though I never know which friends and family I’ll end up seeing when I visit, I’m so glad this trip has turned into an annual event.

I’ll soon be on my way back to BC, but while I’m here, I continue to work with JD&J Design on the new and rebranded book covers. It’s taking longer than I anticipated, but we’re making steady progress.

Meantime, I’ll enjoy the peaches and cream corn which is in season and as sweet as it comes. I’ll swim when it’s hot and enjoy my family’s company. I hope you are able to carve out some quality summer time as well.

Have you done something exciting this carnival season?

If you’d like to spend some quality time on an adventure set on the west coast, pick up Secret Sky from your favourite retailer right here! Or click on the image for more purchase options.

Alpaca photo by Greg Lippert on Unsplash

Conklin clown logo used with permission.

Frog Whispering

September 5, 2015 By JPMcLean 4 Comments

Well, maybe not frog whispering so much as frog herding, but I’m adding it to my CV. The cute little critter hopped into my sister’s ground floor entry while I was unloading the car. I would have stopped to snap a photo, but my bedroom was just around the corner and as much as I like frogs, I really didn’t want to sleep with the fella.

Swim ladder off a point on the Manitouwabing River in Broadbent, Ontario — Herbie’s Point

After frog whispering failed to coax him on his way, I tried frog wrangling. He promptly peed on my hand and slipped out of my grip to hide behind a chest. That’s when I resorted to frog herding. I could have used my sister’s help, but she was busy laughing at me from up the stairs. Thankfully, with a gentle nudge, the frog eventually found its way back outside.

A sunset over the Manitouwabing River in Broadbent Ontario — Broadbent Sunset

And the frog was just the start of my Ontario holiday visit with family and friends in Muskoka’s cottage country. My time in Ontario is short, so we make the best of it. We roasted marshmallows over bonfires, cruised the river a time or two, and enjoyed a glass of wine with the sunsets.

And once again, I was honoured to be invited to read at the McKellar Public Library. Maxine, Joan, Jackie and Pat made me feel at home, and they’ll welcome you as well because this library is all about community.

JP McLean standing by the McKellar Library roadside billboard announcing her reading — JP McLean’s name on the big billboard

I’ve written about it twice before (2013 and 2014), so won’t repeat it here except to say you won’t find another library around where your library card will get you a book, a fishing rod and tackle! So if you find yourself on Highway #124 passing through McKellar, be sure to stop in for a visit.

Giant dock spider on Paradise Lake Haliburton Ontario — Paradise Lake Dock Spider

This year, I made a side trip to Halibuton to visit a cousin who’s building a home on Paradise Lake. What a beautiful spot! Their claim to fame may be the biggest dock spider on the planet – kind of reminded me of the disembodied hand named Thing from The Addams Family TV show.

Soon enough, my Ontario visit came to a close, and on my way home I dropped by Barrie for a visit with great friends, a garden tour and an impromptu porch reading. It was a fine way to end my holiday.

Bonfire on Paradise Lake shore in Haliburton, Ontario — Bonfire on Paradise Lake

As always, it’s good to get away and just as good to get home. I’m unpacked now and all caught up on laundry and emails. Best of all, I’m digging back into my writing projects. Yes . . . that’s an “s” on the end of projects, and I can hardly wait to share them with you.