As far back as I can remember, I’ve been a creative person. As a timid, quiet child, my introverted nature and tendency to observe people came naturally. I loved singing and writing in my diary. The childish songs I'd make up sounded silly to most, but to me, they took on a melodic dance that told a story in my mind's eye.
As I grew older, expressing myself through drawings led me to a career in art education. Aside from that, I am very fond of history. Over the years, my love of expression evolved into writing poetry and stories that I hoped to publish one day. I never gave it much thought until I got an idea about two mysterious spinsters. Still, the story never congealed into a cohesive narrative that I could tell with much authenticity. Besides, in 1988-ish, a demanding career distracted me from any creative focus.
However, in 2023, the social issues of 2020 compelled me to finish this story, which I titled Miss Virginia and the Sweet Sisters. At that time, I had something to say and was excited to get this work out into the world. I'm glad I did. I'm humbled that it resonates today and helps us understand the complexities that make us human.
In 2024, my poetry was compiled into a collection titled Looking In from Outside: Poetry & Prose. This came about in 2021, when my 2001 poem, "The Rain," caught the attention of a reader on Facebook. This led to its presentation to the 9/11 Memorial Museum commission. What a surprise and honor this was! Now, this poem, and another, "The Heir," can be read on the museum's website.
In 2025, it was fun to write the short stories in Pen Pals: A Novella and Other Stories, which vary from romance, mystery, thrills, ghost stories and suspense! As an author, I find that you never know where the writing journey will take you. It's always amazing!
Writing my fourth novel is just as thrilling as the time I sang as a child, or wrote in my diary at age eleven, and the introspection I achieve when observing others while striving to understand my place in the world. In this new book, the dance of life, mixed with mystery and history, is set against colorful characters that, I hope, make it an enjoyable read. www.donnamarielawrence.com