Today we’d like to introduce you to Donna Cramer.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I taught special education for over twenty years. I worked with preschool – first grade. In 2015, while working with a particularly challenging group of students, I was hit in the head three times in one week. I was directly headbutted, and the last hit was a fall to the concrete floor. I passed out briefly. I was diagnosed with a TBI – traumatic brain injury. I suffered from severe headaches, vision issues, balance issues, and speech issues, such as stuttering and transposing words. I felt cognitively foggy and also felt anxious and depressed. It took many months to get the treatment I needed. A speech therapist suggested that I try writing, as it was difficult for me to speak at that time. My first children’s book, Lester Lion Wants To Roar, flowed out of me once I started. It is about a lion who suffers a concussion after running into a tree. It is a hopeful story about recovering from illness or injury. It has a recurring line of ‘maybe tomorrow’. Since then, I have written two additional Lester books: Lester Lion Calls 911 and Lester Lion Loses Grandpa. I currently have one adult novel, Paul Is Missing, published, and my second adult novel, Vegas Goodbye, is in the process of being published. The themes of my adult novels revolve around recovering from tragedy and loss. My brand is hope.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Is life ever a smooth road? I presented the text for Lester Lion Wants To Roar to the Brain Injury Association. They gave me very positive feedback and urged me to get it published. I knew I needed illustrations before I could submit my work for publication, so I asked friends to illustrate it; then, I went through local art schools and artists’ clubs. Some drawings were simply poorly done. One of the art students submitted a draft that was simply beautiful, but she wanted $10,000 to start and half of my royalties! It was also challenging to find a reputable publishing company. Many felt like scams or pressured me to hire them right away. Years passed. I met someone who introduced me to Kirk House Publishers. I had a meeting and could immediately tell that they were a reputable company. They could also do the illustrations, which I must say are beautiful. They are colorful, and Lester looks exactly as I envisioned!
I wrote Lester Lion Wants To Roar in late 2015, and it was published in 2023. It was a long road!
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am an independent author. I have now written three children’s books: Lester Lion Wants to Roar, about a lion recovering from a concussion; Lester Lion Calls 911, which teaches young children about the correct use of the 911 system; and the latest, Lester Lion Loses Grandpa, a discussion of grief and loss for young children. My books are all picture books for children aged 3 -8, approximately.
My adult novels include Paul Is Missing, a book about two families and their interactions after their baby is abducted from a grocery store.
My second adult novel, Vegas Goodbye, is about two people who have experienced loss and grief. They have come to believe that suicide is their only answer until they come together, surprisingly.
Although my adult novels explore complex human interactions, they ultimately end on a hopeful note.
My brand is hope, and my novels will always have a hopeful ending. I firmly believe we need more hope and positivity in the world.
I am proud and thankful that I have been able to reinvent myself as an author after my own tragedy.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
I have a Facebook site: author Donna Cramer. My books and some blog posts are written here. You can like and comment on my posts.
I greatly appreciate reviews of my work. You can post a review on Amazon or Barnes and Noble.com.
My books are also available through Kirk House Publishers: kirkhousepublishers.com.
Pricing:
- Lester books : $15.00 each
- Adult novels: $19.00 each
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.authordonnamcramer.com/
- Instagram: Donna Cramer (@donca4)
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/donna.cramer.716
