My mother knew I was going to be a writer in grade two. I was asked to write a sentence using a specific word, like “tree” or “house” and provided one line for each sentence. One line, apparently, would not do. My first sentence ran off the line, down the margin, along the bottom of the page, and over onto the next page. A story, after all, is as long as a story needs to be.

I don't know that there was one definitive moment, event, or experience that led me to conclude my life would be shaped by words. But if you look closely at my genetic code under a microscope I'm sure you would find these letters etched into my DNA: W*R*I*T*E*R. Writing has always been central to what I do and how I see myself.

As a communications professional, I work with words to shape messages for clients, wonderful people doing important work that matters. But it is their work, and ultimately their words. What you'll read here are my words. Words that came from my imagination, my need to speak, perhaps even my DNA.

What I've learned about writing is that while inspiration and ideas may be the spark, it is writing, rewriting, editing, hair pulling, and going back to the first page, again, that transforms ideas and inspiration into something that resonates with readers. And within yourself. I hope the words you find here will speak to you.

Her bio

In her own words

donalee is a professional writer and freelance journalist from Halifax, Nova Scotia. Her byline has appeared in over 100 publications across North America, including Canadian Business, Chatelaine, Equinox, Ford Times, Maclean’s, and The Globe and Mail. 

Her most recent mystery novel Melt is the second in the Lotus Detective Agency series. It's about what happens when three yogis with a penchant for solving crime are asked to help a 17-year-old boy who is facing life in prison for a crime he did not commit. The first in the series Bind takes us back to where it all started. When the yogis first joined forces with two cops to discover who stole a very expensive watch from a local gym.

Her other books include a historical mystery based in 1734 Montreal, a murder mystery based in Nova Scotia, and two non-fiction books: one about effective communications and another about organizational policy. 

donalee is also a longtime educator. She has taught communications and writing-related courses at several universities as well as for all levels of government, the private sector, and nonprofits in Canada and the United States. She currently offers a variety of editorial services and workshops to help authors hone their writing and get published.