Author Bio:
I was raised in SW Philadelphia during the wonder years. We moved to its western suburbs just prior to H.S. where I met and married my lovely editor wife, Nancy. We raised our four children there and currently have five grandchildren who were the inspiration behind writing this book…’A Glimpse from Christmas Past”
I attended Catholic grade school (Most Blessed Sacrament through mid 7th grade graduating from St. Andrews in Drexel Hill, Pa). I attended and graduated from Upper Darby High School class of 74. We have some pretty notable alums e.g Tina Fey, Jim Croce, Todd Rundgren etc…
I met and married my editing wife Nancy and we still live a short drive in the same community. We married in 1976 just a few short months before I lost my dad/mentor Joseph L. Donahue. My mother Marian B. (Nee Cotterall) was also revered by all who came to know her.
I started attending St. Joseph’s Univ. in 1974 a few years before we were married but never finished my Business Admin. degree as we began raising a family.
However, my English Comp and Literature course was taught by a no nonsense professor. I guess under his guidance is where I got the will to try my hand at creative writing. So I hope you find it enjoyably entertaining from any different levels…as a parent, grandparent or just one who enjoys a good Christmas story.
What inspires you to write?
My inspiration was my family. Our children, grandchildren and the memory of Christmas time which was special in both our (my wife and editor Nancy Donahue Nee: Kmeco) families when we were growing up
Tell us about your writing process.
To be honest I have done both. I have used mainly Micro soft word to format , write and layout my text to illustration pages. It is something that I have to work at and revisit from time to time. The redeeming thing is I have yet to read hardly any book or literary work that doesn’t have some sort of grammatical errors, misspelling or uses and the like. For this I am extremely grateful as in the words by Alexander Pope…” to err is human but to forgive divine”.
For Fiction Writers: Do you listen (or talk to) to your characters?
Well in the case of this story, which was written in the first person , I try to think of how the situation will play out and capture thought in short descriptive sentences. To this I hope I have succeeded.
What advice would you give other writers?
Don’t get discouraged with the process of publishing and marketing your work. If you felt it was important enough to share with a particular audience when you started to develop your work; then for both your sake you need to see it through fruition.
How did you decide how to publish your books?
Two of my grandchildren Charlie & Kevin who were 9 and 7 respectively felt this was as story kids of all ages would enjoy. I could not only let myself down then but more importantly I couldn’t let them down. Besides what kind of educational message would that send to those I love the most.
What do you think about the future of book publishing?
In spite of me owning a Kindle? Well believe it or not or just call me old fashioned I still like the feel, smell, texture of the printed page. Especially with illustrated children’s books and the like. Besides what would authors sign in the event we had no books? As in the words of the professor teaching at Hogwarts by J. K. Rowling “Ridiculous!”
What do you use?
Professional Cover Designer
What genres do you write?
To date both children and adult fiction and non-fiction,
What formats are your books in?
Both eBook and Print
Website(s)
Dan Donahue Home Page Link
Link To Dan Donahue Page On Amazon
Link to Author Page on other site
Your Social Media Links
http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/22660044-dan-donahue
https://www.facebook.com/AGlimpseFromChristmasPast
http://twitter.com/DrexelHillDCD
http://www.pinterest.com/dannan98/pins
