ANNOUNCING A NEW SERIES!
Announcement: 8/26/2025
I am excited to announce that I have finished a five book series for children that teaches kids to be friendly and brave, grateful and thankful, and to be curious and open to new experiences. I recently hired an illustrator who is working on the first book. Follow me on Instagram @jeff.karena for the latest info on release dates.
The series follows the adventures of Brad the Blue Jay, beginning when he flies into a boxcar that ultimately takes him to a small town by the ocean, where Brad decides to make his new home.
From there, Brad ventures back to his hometown of Bentonville, Arkansas, to visit the local sights, and he experiences the world-renowned mountain biking scene.
Brad also flies to the country, where he falls asleep in a cornfield and discovers that the dusty, farm life isn’t for him.
In the fourth book, Brad spends a day at the beach with his bird friends, catching fish, digging for seashells, and riding the Ferris wheel.
Finally, Brad ventures to a big city, New Orleans, where he immerses himself in the culture, takes a ride down the Mississippi River, and samples the local cuisine.
Throughout the series, we see Brad’s subtle humor mixed with his reflective nature, along with his playfulness and gratitude for life.
Young readers will love Brad’s imagination, mindset and spirit.
Parents will love Brad’s dry wit, independence and self-awareness.
About A Special Duck
One afternoon in October of 2010, as Jeff was driving along Duck Pond Lane on the Virginia Tech campus in Blacksburg, VA, he noticed a duck sitting alone in the grass near a pond, watching a group of ducks floating on the water.
Later that day, Jeff began writing a story about a duck who was born with a different head color than the other ducks, and how the duck just wanted to be like the other ducks. The duck felt outcast and spent his time sitting alone on the shore, gazing at the other ducks playing in the water.
​Jeff finished the story in 2012 and titled it, The Lone Duck. He intended on finding an illustrator, but became involved in other writing projects, switched careers and relocated several times.
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In February of 2022, Jeff revised the story, changed the title to A Duck Named Jack, (an homage to his nephew), and began searching for an illustrator. Elizabeth Konetz was chosen as the illustrator. Find her work here: http://www.lizziekonetzillustrates.com/.
In November of 2024, Jeff further revised the graphic design of the book and changed the title to A Special Duck. He selected Ian Bright to provide graphic support. Find his work here: http://www.ianbright.com.​
Jack is a duck who was born with a different colored head. He longs to be like the other ducks. A chance encounter with a friendly goose helps Jack realize that being different is special.
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Suitable for ages 2-10.
About Hey, Bossman!
From August 2001 to July 2003, Jeff worked as a Detention Officer at the Denton County Jail in Denton, Texas. He supervised 48 inmates in a direct supervision, dormitory-style housing unit called a Pod. Using two small notebooks, Jeff documented unusual occurrences at the jail, including medical emergencies and difficult inmate encounters.
Hey, Bossman! is the memoir of a Texas county jail detention officer. Nicknamed "The Terminator" by the inmates because of his resemblance to the movie villain the T-1000 from Terminator 2, Jeff sheds light on the world behind the walls that very few see. He recounts stories of human behavior, altercations and the mundane life of an officer. Jeff also shares his personal encounters with the notable inmates in the jail during that era.
E-Books and Soft Cover Books
No returns. All sales are final.
Where Else Can I Find Jeff’s Books?
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/author/jeffkarena
Barnes and Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/Jeff%20karena
Goodreads
https://www.goodreads.com/search?q=Jeff+karena&qid=
Lulu
https://www.lulu.com/spotlight/jeffkarena
Reader Reviews
About Jeff Karena
Jeff Karena was raised in the Midwest. He began writing at the age of ten, scribbling notes on the daily events of his life in a makeshift journal. His love of writing grew as a teenager, as did his love of mountain biking, exploration, independence and curiosity.
Jeff relocated to the Dallas, Texas area to work, attend college, explore, and experience life in a major metropolitan area. This also provided Jeff with stories of people and experiences to write about, including working as a detention officer.
Jeff has been fascinated by the East Coast since he was a child, seeing images of New York City, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. in newspapers and magazines. After college, he took a unique regulatory position that offered travel throughout Virginia. This provided Jeff with further exploratory opportunities, and more stories about people and experiences to write about.
Jeff returned to the Midwest in 2019, where he continues to mountain bike, explore and write stories of people and experiences.
Aside from mountain biking, Jeff loves going to art museums, listening to music, antiques, history, architecture, the Washington Nationals, the Las Vegas Raiders and classic cars.
Jeff has an undergraduate degree in Sociology from the University of North Texas.
