Renowned animal behaviorist and acclaimed non-fiction author Patricia B. McConnell has officially announced her debut foray into the world of fiction. Her upcoming mystery novel, Away to Me, is scheduled for a wide release on February 24, 2026. Published by the prestigious Kensington Books, the novel marks a significant pivot for an author whose career has been defined by seminal works on dog behavior and human-animal relationships.
The book is currently available for pre-order through major retailers, including Bookshop, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble. While the release date remains several months away, the anticipation surrounding this transition—from the empirical world of animal science to the imaginative landscape of suspense fiction—is palpable among her established readership.
The Genesis of a Mystery: From Fact to Fiction
For decades, McConnell has been a leading voice in non-fiction, translating complex behavioral science into accessible, life-changing literature for pet owners. Her shift to fiction, however, was not a sudden impulse but a long-gestating project that began in earnest in 2019.
The protagonist of Away to Me is Maddie McGown, a behaviorist who finds her life upended by the murder of one of her closest friends. The setting is deeply rooted in the rural, agricultural traditions that McConnell knows intimately: the world of sheepdog trials.
McConnell notes that the transition to fiction provided a unique paradox. “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 it all up!” she reflects. The discipline required to maintain consistent character development, plot pacing, and narrative voice proved to be a formidable exercise, one that required her to treat the act of writing as a rigorous scientific pursuit of its own.
Chronology of Craft: The Iterative Process
McConnell emphasizes that the quality of a manuscript is forged in the fires of revision. To illustrate her development as a novelist, she shared the evolution of her opening sentence.
The 2019 Draft:
“The woods stood dark and silent, an audience to the mist rising in an amphitheater of spring-green grass inside the forest.”
The Final Published Version:
“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 subtle but vital shift highlights the professional evolution of the author. By introducing visceral imagery—the “cattle brand”—McConnell establishes an immediate sense of trauma and foreshadowing, setting the stage for the murder mystery that follows. It is a masterclass in economy and atmosphere, signaling to the reader that the pastoral setting serves as a backdrop for a much darker narrative.
A Collaborative Endeavor: The Infrastructure of Success
McConnell is quick to dispel the myth of the solitary genius. She credits a vast network of experts, mentors, and peers for the successful realization of Away to Me. Her process involved working closely with writing coach Susanna Daniel of the Madison Writer’s Studio and participating in intensive workshops.
Furthermore, she engaged in a regular exchange of drafts and feedback with fellow author Cat Warren, known for What the Dog Knows. This collaborative environment allowed McConnell to pressure-test her plot points and refine her character arcs. She aptly summarizes the project as the work of “Patricia McConnell and a Host of Others,” acknowledging that the transition from a solitary writer of non-fiction to a professional novelist required a team-based approach to editing and structural refinement.
Industry Realities: The Path to Publication
The journey to publication for Away to Me offers a revealing look at the realities of the modern publishing industry. After weighing the pros and cons of hybrid publishing versus traditional models, McConnell secured an agent, Jennifer Gates of Aevitas Creative. This led to a competitive offer from Kensington Books.
The timeline for a traditional book release is notoriously long. While an independent or hybrid path might have seen the book in print within a year, the traditional route chosen by McConnell involves an 18-month lead time. This duration, while frustrating to the author, serves a vital purpose: it allows the publisher to curate a strategic marketing rollout, secure early reviews, and position the book within the competitive landscape of the global market.
The process also included an intense editorial phase. McConnell recounts how her editor, Wendy McCurdy, pushed her to sharpen the narrative by consolidating chapters and deepening character motivations. This editorial rigor, while demanding, is standard for top-tier publishers and essential for producing a polished, marketable product.
Implications of the "Cover Conundrum"
A significant portion of the publishing process involves the creation of the book’s visual identity. In the world of commercial publishing, authors often have only “consultation rights,” meaning the final decision on the cover rests with the publisher.
McConnell candidly shares her history with book covers, noting that she has fought hard to ensure the visual representation matches the tone of her writing. For Away to Me, she expressed initial anxiety regarding the design. However, the collaborative spirit of the team at Kensington Books allowed for a harmonious outcome. The final cover is a testament to the effectiveness of the publisher-author partnership, creating a visual hook that captures the mystery and rural tension inherent in the story.
Life Beyond the Manuscript: The Author’s Perspective
Despite the high-pressure environment of launching a novel, McConnell remains grounded in her daily life. The writing process, while all-consuming, is balanced by her ongoing commitment to conservation and animal advocacy.
Recent activities include a successful fundraiser for Wisconsin Green Fire, featuring a joint appearance with wolf expert Adrian Wydeven. She also continues to immerse herself in the world of competitive sheepdog trials—the very world that inspired her novel. These experiences serve as the "living laboratory" for her work, ensuring that while the story is fiction, the expertise and cultural nuances are rooted in authentic, real-world knowledge.
Looking Forward: The Final Countdown
As February 24, 2026, approaches, the focus for McConnell shifts from the drafting board to the promotional circuit. This involves coordinating advance review copies (ARCs), managing media appearances, and preparing for the inevitable public reception of her work.
McConnell acknowledges the inherent volatility of book launches. “Once the book’s time is past, it’s past,” she notes. “The freight train of new books never stops.” This realistic outlook underscores her transition into the high-stakes world of commercial fiction. However, for the author, the journey itself—the craft of learning, the challenge of the blank page, and the joy of creating a new world—has been the true reward.
For fans of McConnell’s non-fiction, Away to Me promises to be a compelling new chapter. It offers the same precision and depth that made her previous works bestsellers, now applied to the complex, shadowy, and endlessly engaging world of mystery. Whether she is analyzing the behavior of a Border Collie or crafting a scene of suspense in the Wisconsin woods, Patricia B. McConnell’s voice remains clear, resonant, and remarkably consistent.
The book is available for pre-order now, marking the beginning of what promises to be a significant addition to the genre of rural mystery.
