A couple of weeks ago I took a day trip to Pigeon Forge. It felt weird because I hadn’t been anywhere outside of town in almost two years. Like so many other people, the pandemic had shrunk my world to a triangle of home, work, and grocery store. But going over to Pigeon Forge reminded me there were still people out there trying to find their new “normal”. There were still “treasures” to uncover almost right in my backyard.
If you know where Patriot Park is near the outskirts of town, not far from the Mill stores is a little sign tucked away on a side street. Long Story Short is a locally owned store displaying an eclectic collection of books, wall art, and so much more. There I met two cool ladies, Katie and Lisa, who are eager to help people find just the right treasure to add to their home collection.
The first thing I noticed was this guy just chilling on a shelf.
If I had known about this shop before I remodeled my house with a coastal theme, I would have brought a lot of this home with me!
The mermaid on the top shelf and the octopus wall art were almost too tempting...
If you’re looking for a medieval theme or even a little Hogwarts’ flavor, Long Story Short is the store for you!
There is always money in my budget for a few more books to add to my collection…
For all you safari hunters out there, they had a cute collection of animal heads that didn’t involve actually killing anything!
This reminded me of Dr. Who, even though it wasn’t painted blue…
And look what I found tucked away on the children’s book shelf. One of Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen’s books!
I didn’t want to leave. So many treasure to uncover…so little time…
And for the steampunk lovers out there, they had this wonderfuldisplay of fascinating artifacts.
I’ve visited Pigeon Forge for almost thirty years and never uncovered this wonderful local treasure before, but you can bet I will be visiting Katie and Lisa at Long Story Short a lot in the future!
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Hybrid published author, Donna L Martin, has been writing since she was eight years old. She is a 4th Degree Black Belt in TaeKwonDo by day and a ‘ninja’ writer of flash fiction, children’s picture books, chapter books, young adult novels and inspirational essays by night. Donna offers occasional BOOK NOOK REVIEWS of great children’s books and offers WRITERLY WISDOM to new and established writers. She is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators and Children’s Book Insider. Donna loves dark chocolate, going to the beach and adding to her growing book collection.
I’m so glad to be able to announce we have a winner for the May PAY A BOOK FORWARD book bundle giveaway! Woot! Woot!
Word continues to get out about the hundreds of books I will be giving away for FREE throughout 2021 which makes THIS book lover very happy!
Put your hands together for May’s PAY A BOOK FORWARD winner…
SUE HEAVENRICH!
I’ll be sending Sue a FB message so I can get her books in the mail to her hopefully this upcoming week.
Thanks to everyone who participated in this month’s PAY A BOOK FORWARD event! Make sure to come back on June 10th to see what’s in store for the next big giveaway!
In the meantime, share a little book love with a child in your world. Give them the first step into a magical, life-long love of reading!
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Hybrid published author, Donna L Martin, has been writing since she was eight years old. She is a 4th Degree Black Belt in TaeKwonDo by day and a ‘ninja’ writer of flash fiction, children’s picture books, chapter books, young adult novels and inspirational essays by night. Donna offers occasional BOOK NOOK REVIEWS of great children’s books and offers WRITERLY WISDOM to new and established writers. She is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators and Children’s Book Insider. Donna loves dark chocolate, going to the beach and adding to her growing book collection.
Who doesn’t love a good book to read? Beginning today, May 10th and continuing until Thursday, May 20th, anyone who comments on this post, or the Facebook post, or Twitter tweet will have a chance to win this book bundle for their favorite school, local or home library! If you’ve already posted on previous months, keep posting for a chance to win! And the best part?
IT’S ALL FREE!!
Every month during 2021, I am giving away a bundle of newly purchased and gently-loved books to one lucky winner.
This month’s book bundle includes:
SOPHIE’S QUEST by Sonja Anderson
THE CLOSER by Cal Ripken, Jr
TRAINS by Emily Bone
THE YEOMAN’S DARING DAUGHTER AND THE PRINCES IN THE TOWER by Elaine Clayton
REDOUTE’ THE MAN WHO PAINTED FLOWERS by Carolyn Croll
THE WAGON by Tony Johnston
A RIVER RAN WILD by Lynne Cherry
THE USBORNE ART TREASURY by Rosie Dickins
THE GREAT WHITE HOUSE BREAKOUT by Helen Thomas & Chip Bok
GRANDMA LOVES YOU! by Helen Foster James
ADVICE FOR A FROG by Alice Schertle
ALEJANDRO’S GIFT by Richard E Albert
Help me get the word out about these FREE books! Tell your favorite teacher! Tell you favorite librarian! Let all your book-loving friends know to check out this month’s book bundle and leave a comment for a chance to win this book bundle!!
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KidLit Author, Donna L Martin, has been writing since she was eight years old. She is a 4th Degree Black Belt in TaeKwonDo by day and a ‘ninja’ writer of flash fiction, children’s picture books, chapter books, young adult novels and inspirational essays by night. Donna offers occasional BOOK NOOK REVIEWS of great children’s books and offers WRITERLY WISDOM to new and established writers. She is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators and Children’s Book Insider. Donna loves dark chocolate, going to the beach and adding to her growing book collection.
I’m so glad to be able to announce we have a winner for the April PAY A BOOK FORWARD book bundle giveaway! Woot! Woot!
Word continues to get out about the hundreds of books I will be giving away for FREE throughout 2021 which makes THIS book lover very happy!
Put your hands together for April’s PAY A BOOK FORWARD winner…
APRIL WILKERSON!
I’ll be sending April a FB message so I can get her books in the mail to her hopefully this upcoming week.
Thanks to everyone who participated in this month’s PAY A BOOK FORWARD event! Make sure to come back on May 10th to see what’s in store for the next big giveaway!
In the meantime, share a little book love with a child in your world. Give them the first step into a magical, life-long love of reading!
**************
Hybrid published author, Donna L Martin, has been writing since she was eight years old. She is a 4th Degree Black Belt in TaeKwonDo by day and a ‘ninja’ writer of flash fiction, children’s picture books, chapter books, young adult novels and inspirational essays by night. Donna offers occasional BOOK NOOK REVIEWS of great children’s books and offers WRITERLY WISDOM to new and established writers. She is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators and Children’s Book Insider. Donna loves dark chocolate, going to the beach and adding to her growing book collection.
I’m so glad to be able to announce we have a winner for the March PAY A BOOK FORWARD book bundle giveaway! Woot! Woot!
This month’s event saw a 200% jump in participants which makes this book lover’s heart very happy! Word is getting out about the hundreds of books I will be giving away for FREE throughout 2021.
But there is still one area that need’s work.
No one is loading a picture of a book THEY are sharing with someone else so they can be entered in the monthly BONUS PRIZE giveaway. Most of the time it will be an autographed book from one of my published author friends, but sometimes it will be a collection of interesting books or other prizes. I’m mulling around what I will do with those wonderful BONUS PRIZES not being given away each month and might do one MEGA PRIZE GIVEAWAY at the end of the year. I’ll figure something out.
For now, put your hands together for March’s PAY A BOOK FORWARD winner…
MICHAEL RAMSEY of JOPPA ELEMENTARY!
I’ll be sending Michael a FB message so I can get his books in the mail to him hopefully this upcoming week.
Thanks to everyone who participated in this month’s PAY A BOOK FORWARD event! Make sure to come back on April 10th to see what’s in store for the next big giveaway!
In the meantime, share a little book love with a child in your world. Give them the first step into a magical, life-long love of reading!
**************
Hybrid published author, Donna L Martin, has been writing since she was eight years old. She is a 4th Degree Black Belt in TaeKwonDo by day and a ‘ninja’ writer of flash fiction, children’s picture books, chapter books, young adult novels and inspirational essays by night. Donna offers occasional BOOK NOOK REVIEWS of great children’s books and offers WRITERLY WISDOM to new and established writers. She is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators and Children’s Book Insider. Donna loves dark chocolate, going to the beach and adding to her growing book collection.
Beginning Wednesday, February 10th and continuing until Saturday, February 20th, anyone who comments on this post, or the Facebook post, or Twitter tweet will have a chance to win this book bundle for their favorite school, local or home library! And the best part?
IT’S ALL FREE!!
Every month during 2021, I am giving away a bundle of newly purchased and gently-loved books to one lucky winner.
There is also a chance to win BONUS PRIZES, like this month’s “Travel Guide For Monsters”, autographed by my friend Lori Degman! To have a chance to win the BONUS PRIZE, all you have to do is take a picture of one book YOU are planning on sharing with someone else during this PAY A BOOK FORWARD year-long event and then share in the comments here, on the Facebook post or in a tweet on the Twitter post!
This month’s book bundle includes:
“Poptropica: Lunar Colony”…adapted by Patrick Kinney
“The Critter Club” (3 books in 1)…by Callie Barkley
“I’ve Seen Santa!”…by David Bedford
“I’m A Little Teapot”…by Iza Trapani
“Tanks”…by Geoff Cornish
“Inside a House That Is Haunted”…by Alyssa Satin Capucilli
“You Are My I Love You”…by Maryann Cusimano Love
“Panda Bear, Panda Bear, What Do You See?”…by Bill Martin Jr
“Alladin”…by Disney
“Skippyjon Jones”…by Judy Schachner
“Shark Lady: The True Story of How Eugenie Clar Became the Ocean’s Most Fearless Scientist…by Jess Keating
“The Pout-Pout Fish”…by Deborah Diesen
“Wild Animals!…illustrated by Michael Steward
Tell your favorite teacher! Tell you favorite librarian! Let all your book-loving friends know to check out this month’s book bundle and leave a comment or share a picture for a chance to win this book bundle or even the BONUS PRIZE!!
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Best-selling, award-winning author, Donna L Martin, has been writing since she was eight years old. She is a 4th Degree Black Belt in TaeKwonDo by day and a ‘ninja’ writer of flash fiction, children’s picture books, chapter books, young adult novels and inspirational essays by night. Donna offers occasional BOOK NOOK REVIEWS of great children’s books and offers WRITERLY WISDOM to new and established writers. She is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators and Children’s Book Insider. Donna loves dark chocolate, going to the beach and adding to her growing book collection.
I’m so excited to announce we have a winner for our January #PayABookForward FREE book bundle and BONUS PRIZE giveaway.
Well, sorta…
To have a chance to win the FREE bundle of children’s books, all people had to do was leave a comment on the original blog post, Facebook post, or Twitter tweet. People did that, and a winner was randomly drawn.
The winner of January’s book bundle is:
HOLLY MCCOY!
Holly, you will have until the 25th to accept your prize by providing a valid mailing address so I can send you your books. Congratulations and I hope you continue to share the love of books with others!
As for the BONUS PRIZE of Tammi Sauer’s signed book, people needed to leave a picture of a book they planned to “pay forward” to help spread the book love. Unfortunately, while I had many people TELL me they planned on doing that, no one actually left the picture so Tammi’s book will roll to another month.
I also need to clarify EXACTLY what I’m trying to do with this #PayABookForward year-long event. It seems some people didn’t understand all I want to do is give away books.
Many, many books.
Not to get more followers.
Not to add to my email list.
Not even to sell my OWN books.
I’ve been a voracious reader since I was four years old.
I LOVE BOOKS!
All books.
And my heart tells me I need to share that love of books with others. This isn’t the first time I’ve done it. I’ve given away over $175,000 worth of books to many, many people over the years.
Sometimes boldly.
Sometimes anonimously.
But NEVER for any other reason than to put GREAT STORIES in the hands of young readers.
So, hopefully, that clears up the confusion some people had. On February 10th, there will be another chance to win a different bundle of books for your school elementary library, local library, free libraries, homeschool group, or even your own home library. It’s my wish and prayer that word of mouth will help me get the word out about this #PayABookForward year-long event. Those free books are starting to pile up at my house and I want to shower the world with great stories all year long!!
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Best-selling, award-winning author, Donna L Martin, has been writing since she was eight years old. She is a 4th Degree Black Belt in TaeKwonDo by day and a ‘ninja’ writer of flash fiction, children’s picture books, chapter books, young adult novels and inspirational essays by night. Donna offers occasional BOOK NOOK REVIEWS of great children’s books and offers WRITERLY WISDOM to new and established writers. She is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators and Children’s Book Insider. Donna loves dark chocolate, going to the beach and adding to her growing book collection.
I feel a little like the good people of Whoville who are shouting at the top of their voices…WE ARE HERE! WE ARE HERE! WE ARE HERE!
It’s FINALLY here! My PAY A BOOK FORWARD year-long event! A chance to add to your local library or elementary school library, homeschool group library or even your own home library. This is something near and dear to my heart. For the past 18 years I’ve have bought, collected, bartered, and received tons of books. I’ve run book drives every summer for the past 15 years. I’ve visited every new bookstore, used book store, thrift store, and yard sale within a 20 mile radius of my home over the years.
Collecting books.
Giving away books.
Sharing my love of books with the world.
I’ve been blessed with the ability to donate over $175,000 worth of books over the years so far, but it’s not enough.
Never enough.
So, I decided to create this PAY A BOOK FORWARD year-long event so I can share books with more people all over the country. And even more importantly, hopefully inspire others to pay a book forward as well! Every month in 2021 I will offer a chance to win a bundle of books, along with special BONUS PRIZES as well. Keep reading to see just how easy it will be to win some books!
For a chance at each monthly book bundle, you need to come back any day between the 10th and the 20th to leave a comment on my official January PAY A BOOK FORWARD blog post, or the one I share on my Facebook page, or on my Twitter account. Tag someone one in your comment so they can have a chance to win. Or tell me about your favorite book. Or suggest something I need to include in this giveaway. Anything that connects you to this postany time between the 10th and 20th of each month.
A random winner will be announced on the 20th and they will have until the 25th to provide a valid mailing address so I can send them their FREE book bundle. If I don’t hear from the winner by then, I will select an alternative winner who will then have until the 30th to contact me. If no winner contacts me by the 30th, I will then donate that month’s bundle to a local school or library in my area.
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There is also the opportunity to win the BONUS PRIZE each month. This month’s BONUS PRIZE is a cute book signed by my author friend, the lovely Tammi Sauer! QUIET WYATT is near and dear to my heart because I was the quiet kid growing up. As an adult I have excelled in martial arts, just like Wyatt, because this type of training doesn’t require a loud voice to achieve your personal goals. Readers will LOVE going on a “quiet” adventure to discover new friendships on a school field trip.
For a chance at winning this signed book, all you need to do is post a picture of a book YOU are planning to share with others during this PAY A BOOK FORWARD event on my Facebook or Twitter post any time between the 10th and the 20th of this month. Of course I would love for it to be one of MY books you pay forward, but ANY book you share with a reader is a win-win for both of you!
Words can be magical. They can lift a reader up and help them soar to new heights or even discover new worlds. Writers are the magicians who pull those stories from deep in their imaginations to sprinkle the world with the gift of words!
************
Best-selling, award-winning author, Donna L Martin, has been writing since she was eight years old. She is a 4th Degree Black Belt in TaeKwonDo by day and a ‘ninja’ writer of flash fiction, children’s picture books, chapter books, young adult novels and inspirational essays by night. Donna offers occasional BOOK NOOK REVIEWS of great children’s books and offers WRITERLY WISDOM to new and established writers. She is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators and Children’s Book Insider. Donna loves dark chocolate, going to the beach and adding to her growing book collection.
Ten-year-old Margaret can hardly wait to see the largest ship ever built visit Southampton! Life is already hard for her family in the spring of 1912, but the coal workers’ strike could turn a bad situation into a deadly one. Margaret hopes to see the great Titanic leave on its maiden voyage, but will the strike prevent it from happening?
Nine-year-old Abigail thinks nothing exciting ever happens in Hamilton. But things change one stormy night when an airborne train and twenty tons of chocolate shower down on the sleepy village. Even local police and the FBI are puzzled over who caused the train to derail. Abigail and Billy team up to find out who’s behind the CHOCOLATE TRAIN WRECK, but will all they find is more questions? There’s a mystery hovering over Hamilton—and it smells like CHOCOLATE!
Eleven-year-old Emma misses her father who’s serving in Europe during World War II. He leaves behind a treasure box with six compartments to be opened during her birthday week. He also tells her to watch for the gris-gris while he is gone. Looking out for swamp creatures and dealing with wartime rationing is hard enough, but now there’s a British refugee staying at the house! How will Emma enjoy her birthday and keep her decision to hunt the gris-gris a secret with a stranger following her around?
Ruler by day, a reluctant pirate by night, 18-year-old Princess Ariana fights for her subjects in the waterfall city of Lunadar. In a kingdom surrounded by fairies and mermaids, and ravaged by deadly Drundles, only a chosen few are trusted to guard her daughter, Candra, as the secret heir to the throne.
But it only takes one ill-fated meeting for Ariana to suddenly be plunged into an escalating web of secrets found in her father’s journal, a deadly kidnapping, and an ever-weakening resolve to turn her back on the call of the merman’s song.
With Ariana’s world falling apart and the future of Lunadar at stake, how will she bring her father’s murderer to justice and fulfill a deathbed promise to protect Lunadar’s legacy?
I’m excited to share with you the books I will be giving away for the month of January. Here is the breakdown of January’s list:
Hop on Pop written and illustrated by Dr. Seuss
Bear Stands Up For Christmas written by Karma Wilson and illustrated by Janet Chapman
Crankenstein written by Samantha Berger and illustrated by Dan Santat
Incredible Ned written by Bill Maynard and illustrated by Frank Remkiewicz
The Very Special Valentine written by Christine Tagg and illustrated by Maggie Kneen
Little Critter Little Red Riding Hood written and illustrated by Mercer Mayer
I Love You Daddy written by Jillian Harker and illustrated by Kristina Stephenson
The Snuggliest Snuggle in the World written by Sarah Nash and illustrated by Daniel Howarth
Finding Nemo by Disney/Pixar
The Grouchy Ladybug written and illustrated by Eric Carle
Look and Find Disney Princesses by Disney
A Snowman Named Just Bob written by Mark Kimball Moulton and illustrated by Karen Hillard Crouch
A wide variety of books for young readers and a great addition to any library! I had the pleasure of reading all of these books…some of them old favorites. I grew up reading Mercer Mayer…actually one of the reasons I became a writer of children’s books myself…is because of great stories like these that encouraged me to dream.
If you are interested in possibly winning this bundle of books, you need to come back any day between the 10th and the 20th to leave a comment on my official January PAY A BOOK FORWARD blog post, or the one I share on my Facebook page, or on my Twitter account. A random winner will be announced on the 20th and they will have until the 25th to provide a valid mailing address so I can send them their FREE book bundle. If I don’t hear from the winner by then, I will select an alternative winner who will then have until the 30th to contact me. If no winner contacts me by the 30th, I will then donate that month’s bundle to a local school or library in my area.
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There is also the opportunity to win the BONUS PRIZE each month. This month the BONUS PRIZE is a cute book signed by my author friend, the lovely Tammi Sauer! QUIET WYATT is near and dear to my heart because I was the quiet kid growing up. As an adult I have excelled in martial arts, just like Wyatt, because this type of training doesn’t require a loud voice to achieve your personal goals. Readers will LOVE going on a “quiet” adventure to discover new friendships on a school field trip.
For a chance at winning this signed book, all you need to do is post a picture of a book YOU are planning to share with others during this PAY A BOOK FORWARD event on my Facebook or Twitter post any time between the 10th and the 20th of this month. Of course I would love for it to be one of MY books you pay forward, but ANY book you share with a reader is a win-win for both of you!
Words can be magical. They can lift a reader up and help them soar to new heights or even discover new worlds. Writers are the magicians who pull those stories from deep in their imaginations to sprinkle the world with the gift of words!
Come back on the tenth for your chance to win some FREE books!
*********
Best-selling, award-winning author, Donna L Martin, has been writing since she was eight years old. She is a 4th Degree Black Belt in TaeKwonDo by day and a ‘ninja’ writer of flash fiction, children’s picture books, chapter books, young adult novels and inspirational essays by night. Donna offers occasional BOOK NOOK REVIEWS of great children’s books and offers WRITERLY WISDOM to new and established writers. She is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators and Children’s Book Insider. Donna loves dark chocolate, going to the beach and adding to her growing book collection.
Ten-year-old Margaret can hardly wait to see the largest ship ever built visit Southampton! Life is already hard for her family in the spring of 1912, but the coal workers’ strike could turn a bad situation into a deadly one. Margaret hopes to see the great Titanic leave on its maiden voyage, but will the strike prevent it from happening?
Nine-year-old Abigail thinks nothing exciting ever happens in Hamilton. But things change one stormy night when an airborne train and twenty tons of chocolate shower down on the sleepy village. Even local police and the FBI are puzzled over who caused the train to derail. Abigail and Billy team up to find out who’s behind the CHOCOLATE TRAIN WRECK, but will all they find is more questions? There’s a mystery hovering over Hamilton—and it smells like CHOCOLATE!
Eleven-year-old Emma misses her father who’s serving in Europe during World War II. He leaves behind a treasure box with six compartments to be opened during her birthday week. He also tells her to watch for the gris-gris while he is gone. Looking out for swamp creatures and dealing with wartime rationing is hard enough, but now there’s a British refugee staying at the house! How will Emma enjoy her birthday and keep her decision to hunt the gris-gris a secret with a stranger following her around?
Ruler by day, a reluctant pirate by night, 18-year-old Princess Ariana fights for her subjects in the waterfall city of Lunadar. In a kingdom surrounded by fairies and mermaids, and ravaged by deadly Drundles, only a chosen few are trusted to guard her daughter, Candra, as the secret heir to the throne.
But it only takes one ill-fated meeting for Ariana to suddenly be plunged into an escalating web of secrets found in her father’s journal, a deadly kidnapping, and an ever-weakening resolve to turn her back on the call of the merman’s song.
With Ariana’s world falling apart and the future of Lunadar at stake, how will she bring her father’s murderer to justice and fulfill a deathbed promise to protect Lunadar’s legacy?
As promised, today I will tell you how you can participate in my PAY A BOOK FORWARD year-long FREE event!
It’s really simple and anyone, 18 or over in the United States, can participate for a chance to win a month’s worth of books for their school, local library, homeschool co-op, or even their own home library!
There are only two rules to add your name to one the drawings for a chance to win that month’s FREE book bundle or BONUS PRIZE:
On the 10th of each month, I will load a blog post on my Story Catcher Publishing website. To have your name added to that month’s drawing, all you have to do is post a comment either directly to my blog post, on my Facebook page post for that month, or on my Twitter announcement for that month. Posting a comment will add your name to the drawing. On the 20th of each month, I will draw a random winner for that month of FREE books. A message will be sent to the winner asking for a mailing address so I can forward that month’s books to them. If the winner doesn’t respond by the 25th of each month, I will select an alternate winner. If I get no response from the second selected winner by the 30th, I will donate that month’s book bundle to a local school or library in my area.
On the 10th of each month, there will also be an opportunity to win the BONUS PRIZE for that month. To have your name added to the BONUS PRIZE drawing, you will need to load a picture of a book (or two…or three) you plan to share with someone else. It can be your local library, homeschool group, child’s school library, etc. Leave a picture as a comment on my Facebook post, or Twitter announcement for that month of which books you plan on paying forward and your name will be added to the BONUS PRIZE drawing for that month. Of course, I’d love for you to pay one of MY books forward, but with so many great stories out there to share, whatever book you choose to pay forward is a win-win for the child who reads it!
Come back tomorrow to learn more about January’s books to be given away!
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Best-selling, award-winning author, Donna L Martin, has been writing since she was eight years old. She is a 4th Degree Black Belt in TaeKwonDo by day and a ‘ninja’ writer of flash fiction, children’s picture books, chapter books, young adult novels and inspirational essays by night. Donna offers occasional BOOK NOOK REVIEWS of great children’s books and offers WRITERLY WISDOM to new and established writers. She is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators and Children’s Book Insider. Donna loves dark chocolate, going to the beach and adding to her growing book collection.
