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 from Halifax, Nova Scotia. She's had four books published: a mystery novel based in Nova Scotia, a historical mystery based in Montreal, a non-fiction book about effective communications, and one about celebrity court cases. Her latest book Conflagration! is a finalist in the 2024 Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense.

donalee is a freelance journalist. Her articles and short stories have appeared in over 100 publications across North America, including Canadian Business, Chatelaine, Maclean’s, The Globe and Mail, and The National Post. Her short story Troubled Water was shortlisted for a 2024 Derringer award and 2024 Crime Writers of Canada Award of Excellence. Her short story Swan Song was one of 21 selected for publication in Cold Canadian Crime, the Crime Writers of Canada’s 40th anniversary anthology.

donalee is a poet. Her work has been published in Arc Poetry Journal, Queen’s Quarterly, Prairie Fire, The Dalhousie Review, Atlantis, South Shore Review, Carousel, and Whetstone, among others.

donalee is a professional educator. She has taught communications and writing-related courses for all levels of government, the private sector, nonprofits, and universities.

donaee is a business owner. She has owned and operated Quantum Communications — a full-service public relations and communications agency — for over 25 years.