March 2016
On Sale: March 8, 2016
Featuring: Darlena
312 pages ISBN: 1942664869 EAN: 9781942664864 Kindle: B01BS9SZDU Paperback / e-Book Add to Wish List
Five years ago, I scribbled down a few pages about a teen witch who went up
against Hecate. The story took root in my brain, and before I really knew what
was happening, I’d drafted the book that would become DAUGHTER OF CHAOS, but I
didn’t stop there. I fell immediately into the second book, and then the third,
drafting the trilogy in under a year. Darlena and her world became almost
tangible for me the longer I was immersed in the story, and these characters
have been a constant part of my life for the last half a decade.
I’ve connected with my different stories and characters in different ways, but
whenever I came back to Darlena’s story to revise, both while I was still
looking for a publisher and after I’d sold the trilogy and had begun the
detailed editorial process, I was struck by the easy familiarity. It didn’t seem
to matter how long it had been since I’d worked on a draft, and it didn’t seem
to matter what other characters I’d inhabited in the intervening time; whenever
I came back to the Red
Magic series, I slipped effortlessly into Darlena’s head, her voice feeling
almost as natural as my own.
Like any mother, I love all my book children in different ways, but there’s a
special corner of my heart reserved for the chaotic world Darlena inhabits. Now
that the trilogy is entirely complete, polished, and published, it feels like
one phase of my writing life has come to an end. There will be other characters
and other series, but for five years, Lena has been my favorite, and now it’s
time to let her go. I’m so excited that you get to read the entire series now,
that you will see the resolution to Lena’s wild journey, but I’m feeling a
little bit wistful, too. As her quest wraps up, a part of mine does, as well,
I’m standing on another threshold and I don’t know exactly where my words will
take me next, but I can’t wait to find out.
Giveaway
How do you feel when a series ends? Tell us in the comments and three people
will an eBooks of TRIUMPH OF
CHAOS International.
Jen McConnel first began writing poetry as a child. Since then, her
words have appeared in a variety of magazines and journals, including Sagewoman,
PanGaia, and The Storyteller (where she won the people’s choice 3rd place award
for her poem, “Luna”).
She is also an active reviewer for Voices of Youth Advocates (VOYA), and
proud member of SCBWI, NCWN, and SCWW.
A Michigander by birth, she now lives and writes in the beautiful state of
North Carolina. When she isn't crafting worlds of fiction, she teaches writing
composition at a community college. Once upon a time, she was a middle school
teacher, a librarian, and a bookseller, but those are stories for another time.
After the disaster in Europe, Darlena is starting to get desperate. She knows
the only way to defeat Hecate and the other crazy Red Gods is by banding
together with other Witches, but is it any wonder she has a hard time trusting
them? With Izzy’s support, Darlena begins making fragile strides toward
repairing the mess she made, but she just can’t catch a break. As chaos runs
rampant around her, Darlena begins to think that things would be better if she’d
never become a Red Witch in the first place. But there’s no way to change the
past . . . is there? The final book in the Red Magic series brings Darlena face
to face with impossible odds and a terrifying choice.
It's always a bit bittersweet when a series I like ends. I love the fact that everything gets resolved and all my questions are answered (or at least usually) but I'm sad to let go of characters that I love. Thank goodness for re-reads! (Laura Scott 3:09pm March 10, 2016)
It's hard when a series you love ends. You get so attached to the characters, setting, etc that you want it to continue. (Jana B 5:20pm March 10, 2016)
Sometimes it is time for a series to end and I am happy. (Debra Guyette 8:11am March 12, 2016)
I like when a series ends with a closure, not when there is a sudden decision to end a series and there is no closure. (Mary Smith 2:18pm March 12, 2016)
I sorta like it when a series has ended , it's like when a job is done ,now you can go to the next . I don't have an e-reader so don't want an e-book . (Joan Thrasher 12:06pm March 15, 2016)
Usually mixed emotions. Sad that I am leaving the characters behind and happy with closure and being able to move on to a new series (Jolene Allcock 2:07pm March 15, 2016)
I am usually a little sad after a series ends. I can get very invested in the characters and have a hard time leaving them. (Carrie Edmunds 2:26pm March 15, 2016)