John Stephens received his MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Virginia in 1998. He then moved to Los Angeles, where he has worked as a writer-producer on Gilmore Girls and The O.C. He was most recently executive producer on Seasons 2 and 3 of Gossip Girl and has also directed episodes of The O.C. and Gossip Girl. John Stephens is taking leave from his television career to pursue his passion for writing for children. The Black Reckoning is the final novel in The Books of Beginning series.

"This fantasy trilogy closes with both satisfying finality and the realistic, requisite heartbreak that comes with saying goodbye." Kirkus Reviews "Heartbreaking sacrifices, joyous reunions, and poignant partings round out this rousing old-school fantasy adventure" The Horn Book