indie author Archives - Page 3 of 14

Molly Gets Her Groom On

March 12, 2014 By JPMcLean 6 Comments

Molly Gets her Groom On

What do I do besides make up lies I call fiction?

One of the things I’ve gotten very good at since I started writing is prioritizing…also known around here as putting things off. I’d delegate, but for some reason that rarely works for me.

Take grooming the dog, for example. Molly was due for a clip at Christmas, but with all the company and cooking and such, well, I figured another week or two wouldn’t hurt. She got a brush and a bath and we made it through Christmas.

After Christmas we had more visitors and then I had to make a trip out of town. Those excuses worked wonders for a few more weeks. Then conveniently, the Cave Master himself had to go out of town. I managed to weasel another two weeks out of that one. Last month’s snowfall granted me another reprieve, despite the rolling eyeballs when I explained that it was just too cold for a clip.

But eventually, even I couldn’t ignore the whispers of, “You can’t see a thing, can you girl,” and the oft-repeated, “aren’t you a shaggy dog.”

So the ever-so-patient Good Golly Miss Molly Dalai Lama got her groom on.

Whether you’re prioritizing, procrastinating, or one of the lucky ones delegating, be sure to spend some of your new free time reading. You can order Secret Sky with one simple click here. Your adventure awaits… (And if ebooks aren’t for you, click the Bookstore tab for other purchase options, or just click the covers below:

Something’s Gotta Give

February 4, 2014 By JPMcLean 4 Comments

I’ve never been pulled in as many directions as I have in the past year and a half. They are all good and worthy directions—there are just so many of them! Something’s gotta give.

Writing and publishing the Gift Trilogy set me on the steepest learning curve I’ve ever tackled. Some days, it feels like I’m on the Grouse Grind. I know the exercise is good for me and I’ll feel better when I’m done, but damn if it isn’t a tough climb.

And writing is only part of it. Developing and maintaining an author platform is also important. In fact, it’s critical if you want to connect with readers, which I do. It also helps me connect with other writers and keep apprised of new tools and services in the industry. The downside to wanting it all is finding the time to do it all.

Hence, something’s gotta give

When I started writing, I fit it into the crevices of my life. Soon there were no more crevices and I had to start carving out space. Television was the first thing to go followed by leisurely flips through magazines.

When I decided to publish, meticulous garden grooming hit the curb and home canning was replaced by Trader Joe’s.

Now I’m building my author platform and the cuts continue. I used to be a news junky…not now. I used to have lengthy telephone conversations with my friends…now I send them short emails.

I’m even cutting my precious writing time to make room. I’ve read that the ideal mix is 70/30 with 70% of your time spent writing. Perhaps before I die I’ll get there, but right now, it’s a struggle.

Yesterday I tackled a stack of books that I’d read, but had neglected to put into Goodreads. In fact, I’d been absent on Goodreads for about two months. (My apologies to my Goodreads friends who are getting that dump right now.) Other components in my author platform have suffered a similar fate from time to time. And my platform isn’t huge; there’s my blog, Twitter, Facebook and Goodreads. That’s it.

So bear with me if this blog takes a hit from time to time. I’ll get better at the other stuff and I have faith that it will all make sense one day (hopefully before I die). I’ll be okay as long as I don’t have to carve eating out of my day. Well maybe I can cut that back a bit. After all, I’d like to figure out Google+ one of these days.

If you’ve carved out some time, you can order Secret Sky with one simple click here.

Your adventure awaits…buckle up.

Would you like some Redemption with your Mulled Wine?

January 7, 2014 By JPMcLean 2 Comments

Where else but Denman Island would people gather to sample warm libations and tasty nibbles alongside a touch of Redemption? It happened this past weekend and I’m happy to report that the book release party for The Gift: Redemption was a laughter-filled and resounding success.

My heartfelt thanks go to Elizabeth Chapman and Stephen Malthouse who hosted the event in their beautiful home. They’ve been stalwart supporters of my writing habit from the start and I’m so very grateful to call them friends.

Guests with JP at Redemption Book Release — Capt’n Mike, JP & The Cavemaster

Beyond Redemption

I wish we’d managed to get a photo, but we were having so much fun, the opportunity slipped right by. Therefore, this photo is neither Elizabeth nor Stephen, but two other gents who dropped in to sample a libation or two and are, reportedly, beyond Redemption.

Thanks also to the other wonderful friends and neighbours who joined us to celebrate the release of this third book of The Gift Trilogy. Your support and encouragement mean the world to me.

And speaking of support and encouragement, I’m thrilled to announce that both the Vancouver Island Regional Library and the Vancouver Public Library have purchased The Gift Trilogy for their collections. My thanks and gratitude to their respective acquisitions personnel.

2014 is off to a roaring start!

You can order Book I, Secret Sky from Kindle with one click right here. And if kindle or ebooks aren’t your preference, click on the bookstore tab for other purchase options (or just click on the covers below).

Musical Serenade

December 13, 2013 By JPMcLean 9 Comments

Do you listen to music when you write? Do you sing a musical serenade? I’ve read about authors who have favourite bands they listen to while they’re writing and I’ve seen writing music playlists on YouTube.

I was thinking about that yesterday while I prepared dinner. I’d put on Some Nights by Fun. and was cheerily mangling the lyrics as I sang along with Nate Ruess. Sadly, I didn’t inherit a single musical gene, and apologies to Nate aside, I couldn’t possibly listen to that CD and write. It’s simply too distracting. My favourite music charges me up, inspires me, sparks my imagination – but I can’t write while it’s playing. In fact, I stop what I’m doing to listen (maybe bop or even sing if no one’s around).

I remember when I wrote the first book, before I’d set up my writing corner, I managed to tune out an entire season of NHL while I wrote. I even managed to tune out F1 racing, house-cleaning guilt and, apparently, a number of conversations with my better half.

I suppose, being able to tune out and write is a blessing, but it doesn’t always work. Some things, like a ringing phone, I’m never able to tune out. Other days, my mood, the subject of my writing or sleep deprivation dictates my distraction threshold. I don’t know about you, but when I’m on a roll, like I was yesterday, even the most pleasant of distractions pulls me out of my writing cocoon, leaving me feeling like someone’s yanked the warm blankets off.

How about you? Do you listen to music while you write?

You can order The Gift: Awakening* with one simple click here. Your adventure awaits…buckle up.

Image courtesy of coward_lion/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

*Awakening is now Secret Sky.