Renowned animal behaviorist and acclaimed non-fiction author Dr. Patricia B. McConnell is embarking on a new chapter of her storied career. After decades of shaping the landscape of animal behavior literature, McConnell is set to release her debut work of fiction, Away to Me, a mystery novel centered on the life of behaviorist Maddie McGown.
The novel, which explores the dark underbelly of a sheepdog trial where a beloved friend is murdered, is scheduled for a wide release on February 24, 2026. However, in an industry where pre-orders act as a vital barometer for publisher confidence, the book is already available for acquisition through major retailers including Bookshop, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble.
The Evolution of a Storyteller: From Facts to Fiction
For readers familiar with Dr. McConnell’s bibliography, this shift represents a significant professional evolution. Having built a reputation on the rigorous, evidence-based exploration of animal psychology, McConnell describes the transition to fiction as a process of "liberating challenge."
"Writing fiction is a whole other world," McConnell reflects. "On the one hand, what freedom! Anything can happen! You get to make it all up! On the other hand, how challenging! You have to make a decision at every moment about what is going to happen next."
This transition involved years of disciplined craft-building. While McConnell has long been a voracious reader of mysteries, the mechanical process of constructing a narrative arc—ensuring believable plots, maintaining character consistency, and crafting a unique voice—required a departure from her non-fiction roots.
The Anatomy of an Opening Sentence
McConnell’s commitment to the craft is best illustrated by the evolution of her opening line. In 2019, the draft began: “The woods stood dark and silent, an audience to the mist rising in an amphitheater of spring-green grass inside the forest.”
By the time the manuscript was finalized for publication, the sentence had been sharpened to serve the genre’s demands for tension and foreshadowing: “On that day, burned into my brain like a cattle brand, the woods stood dark and silent, an audience to the fog rising in an amphitheater of spring-green grass.”
This revision, according to McConnell, was essential to signal the stakes of the narrative immediately. By introducing the "cattle brand" metaphor, she effectively telegraphs the trauma that drives the protagonist’s journey, effectively anchoring the reader in the rural, suspenseful setting of the novel.
Chronology of a Manuscript: The "Host of Others" Approach
The path to publication for Away to Me was not a solitary journey. McConnell emphasizes that, much like her non-fiction work, the novel was the product of a collaborative ecosystem.
- 2019: Initial conceptualization and drafting of the plot and setting.
- 2020–2023: Engagement with writing coaches, specifically Susanna Daniel of the Madison Writer’s Studio, and participation in intensive workshops.
- 2024: Professional collaboration with industry veterans, including monthly critiques with New York Times best-selling author Cat Warren and editorial guidance from literary agent Jennifer Gates of Aevitas Creative.
- August 2024: Official acquisition of the manuscript by Kensington Books.
- 2025: Extensive line editing, including major structural revisions—such as the deletion of an entire chapter and the consolidation of others—under the guidance of editor Wendy McCurdy.
- February 24, 2026: Scheduled publication date.
McConnell notes that the "host of others" involved in the process—from friends offering early feedback to the meticulous line editors at Kensington—highlights the collaborative reality of the publishing industry, a contrast to the often perceived isolation of the novelist.
Navigating the Publishing Tsunami
One of the most significant aspects of McConnell’s journey is her decision to pursue a traditional publishing route despite the success she has already achieved as an independent and traditionally published non-fiction author.
The Hybrid vs. Traditional Debate
McConnell acknowledges that she was initially tempted by the efficiency of "hybrid" publishing—a model where authors pay for services but retain more control over timelines. However, when offered contracts by traditional publishers, she opted for the reputation and distribution power of Kensington Books.
The trade-off, however, is time. Traditional publishing cycles are notoriously long; the gap between the August 2024 acquisition and the February 2026 launch serves as a reminder of the patience required in the industry. As McConnell humorously noted to her agent, "Do they know I’m 75?" Nevertheless, she maintains that the prestige and reach provided by an established house like Kensington are invaluable in a market saturated by the "tsunami of new books" that launch daily.
Implications of Visual Branding
A critical, often overlooked element of the novel’s path to the shelf is the cover design process. In the publishing world, an author’s contract often grants them only "consultation rights" regarding cover art.
McConnell’s history with cover design has been fraught with challenges. She recounted a past experience where an initial draft for The Other End of the Leash was so unsatisfactory that she refused to be associated with it. For Away to Me, she approached the process with "no small amount of angst." Fortunately, the collaboration with Kensington’s design team resulted in a cover that resonated with her vision. The outcome underscores the necessity of trust between the author and the creative team, as the cover acts as the primary gatekeeper for reader interest.
A Balanced Life: Beyond the Manuscript
While the promotional machinery for Away to Me gears up, McConnell maintains a grounded life, deeply connected to the rural environment that informs her work.
Her recent activities highlight this balance:
- Community Engagement: Participation in fundraisers for Wisconsin Green Fire, including a collaborative presentation on canine and wolf behavior with Adrian Wydeven.
- Agricultural Roots: Active involvement in farm life, including the seasonal labor of hay delivery, which she credits to the help of neighbors and friends.
- Sheepdog Culture: Attending the Midwest Championship Sheepdog Trial, observing the very environment that serves as the backdrop for her mystery novel.
Conclusion: The Next Horizon
As the publication date of February 24, 2026, approaches, the industry watches with interest to see how Dr. McConnell’s dedicated non-fiction readership will embrace her shift into fiction. By applying the same level of intellectual rigor to her storytelling as she did to her behavioral science, she has crafted a narrative that promises to be as engaging as it is meticulously constructed.
For the author, the process is a reminder of the cyclical nature of creative work. While the launch of Away to Me marks the culmination of years of labor, it also sets the stage for the inevitable transition back to the desk. In the world of authorship, as McConnell observes, the best way to handle the end of one project is to begin the next.
