thriller Archives - Page 2 of 11

It’s Not Over Yet

August 16, 2013 By JPMcLean Leave a Comment

View of West side of Hornby Island as seen from Denman Island — West Side of Hornby Island in the Summertime

Every year about this time, the tail end of summer, I hear a familiar lament, a harbinger of doom. All it takes are a few cool, drizzly days on the heels of endless weeks of hot sunshiny weather. The Ned Starks of the neighbourhood close their doors against the cool night breeze and whisper, “Winter is coming.”

Oh, good lord – really? Already? Yes, I know – the monsoons will be here, sure as gray hair and wrinkles, but let’s not rush them. There are plenty of warm sunny days still to come. They might even be hot enough to complain about!

I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear the “W” word and go sniff the bottle of sunscreen lotion. Maybe we’ll have a BBQ in the rain – just to keep the smells of summer in the air.

How do you keep a hold onto summer?

One of the ways to prolong summer is to pick up a late summer beach read. Get your copy of 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).

So You Think You Can Write?

August 8, 2013 By JPMcLean 4 Comments

Fish Out of Water

Some time ago I wrote a list post about lessons I learned in the process of writing my first book. The value of editors was one of the lessons. Editors see things writers don’t. (I can’t say for sure, but I suspect they have a third eye.) They see where the story drags, where the action is confusing, where the characters aren’t being true to themselves, where the setting falls short, or where description is excessive, and so much more.

The first time I went through this process, it was a shock to my system.

I thought I was prepared: I wasn’t. Instead, I was left wondering, “What the hell was I thinking? I can’t write.” I was a fish out of water. I had to set the manuscript aside and regroup.

After a few days, I picked up the editor’s notes again. This time, I was able to receive the feedback in the spirit it was given. I rewrote the entire manuscript—even started from a point further along in the story.

During that often frustrating and time-consuming process, the narrative improved immeasurably. Characters filled out, choreography improved, description got honed.

Next up? A Copy Editor

After I’d finished, a copy editor went through it examining every verb for proper fit and smoothing out rough spots I didn’t even know were there. The end product was worth every agonizing minute of rewrite. And because my name is on the cover, I’m very happy I invested the extra time and money for professional editors.

If you are considering publishing your work, I highly recommend you find professional editors to work with. You won’t regret it. I started with a Manuscript Evaluation through the Writers’ Union of Canada http://www.writersunion.ca/content/manuscript-evaluations. Another useful resource is the Editors’ Association of Canada https://editors.ca/hire/. Their website will guide your search.

How about you? Have you had a memorable editing experience?

A memorable reading experience is just a click away. Get your copy of 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).

Book Launched with Limoncello Bubbles

August 1, 2013 By JPMcLean Leave a Comment

Revelation Book Launch

Last Saturday promised and delivered a warm sunny afternoon—perfect for summer dresses, shade trees, long cool drinks, and a book launch. Our neighbour’s beautiful back garden came alive as enthusiastic friends dropped in, lured by whispers of refreshing Limoncello cocktails and tasty treats.

In the midst of engaging conversations and summer holiday reminiscing, Revelation was launched. The book took flight, flitting from hand to hand, blushing at the oohs and awes directed at its beautiful cover. Just wait until you read what’s inside, I thought, as copies got tucked under arms and stowed in purses.

All too soon, the afternoon soiree was over and the crowd melted away. The host/hostesses and a few sturdy souls remained as the sun set. We sipped a final Limoncello cocktail and unwound in the glow of a successful launch.

How did I ever get so lucky?

Thanks, from the bottom of my heart, to Elizabeth, Stephen, Colleen, Mark, Galen, Kabir, Griffin, and, as always, John. XO

Revelation Book Launch Limoncello Fizz:

Into the bottom of a frosty champagne flute

Pour half an ounce of thick-from-the-freezer Limoncello

Top with thoroughly chilled Cupcake Prosecco.

Enjoy.

Start the series with Secret Sky. It’s just a click away. Get your copy 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).

An Important Lesson About Public Readings

July 23, 2013 By JPMcLean 10 Comments

An Important Lesson About Public Readings

You might think I’ve been on holiday–some remote island without Internet service. Unfortunately, I have no such excuse. Life just got in the way of writing, which is a refreshing change from the other way around.

In the midst of a wave of visitors and a landmark birthday celebration, the 2013 Denman Island Readers and Writers Festival came and went. At last year’s festival, I read from Book I, Awakening. It was the first public reading I’d ever done. I spent weeks choosing, polishing and practicing the perfect piece. I had twelve precious minutes and wanted to make the best of them.

When the announcement came out for the 2013 Festival, I immediately signed up to read from Book II, Revelation. Once again, I spent weeks on my twelve-minute selection. I was feeling quite comfortable about it, but that was before I attended Terry Fallis’s Festival Workshop, “Building an Audience.”

Don’t misunderstand me; Terry Fallis presented a smorgasbord of useful and interesting tidbits, and his comfortable, humorous approach to the workshop and, I suspect, life in general, made the workshop whiz by. But something he said near the end made me anxious. He understood something I’d forgotten.

He reminded me that if a writer gets the opportunity to read from their work, they’d better choose something compelling and representative of both their writing style and their book.

Makes sense, right? Intuitive, don’t you think? No brainer?

Uh-huh…yeah, should have been.

Thank God I attended Terry’s workshop BEFORE my scheduled reading. You see, with Book II, it was difficult to find a passage that didn’t contain either a spoiler or some bit of “lore” that would require lengthy back story to explain. Also, I didn’t want to read from the first chapters, because they’re available on Amazon and elsewhere. Therefore, I chose a scene from chapter six. It was a minor, simple scene with easily described characters and self-explanatory setting.

I thought it was ideal; instead, it was boring.

I left Terry’s workshop in an anxious mess and headed home to scour the book for another passage.

After a tense evening, I decided to read from the first chapter after all, then spent the next morning refining and practicing the new selection to be sure I stayed within my twelve minutes. I read out loud and standing up (another Terry tidbit), and noted the places where I needed to pause or add emphasis.

At the appointed hour, I entered the auditorium and took my place. My nerves jangled and I fluffed a few lines, but I got through it. Most importantly, I read a piece that was representative of the story and in doing so, I left people curious and asking questions they might just have to read the book to learn the answers to. Which is the whole point.

Thanks, Terry Fallis‎. This is not a lesson I’ll forget again!