Meet Donna DeForbes
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With a story entitled “Roger the Milkman,” I began my writing journey at age six and spent much of my Philadelphia childhood in my bedroom or my backyard involved in the lives of fictional characters.
My mom took my sisters and me weekly to the local library where I gobbled up fiction from Nancy Drew and Bobbsey Twin mysteries to Beverly Cleary, Judy Blume, Sweet Valley High and choose-your-own-adventure books. I still managed to make a few friends, including one who encouraged my dream of being an author (Thank you, Chris!).
With a story entitled “Roger the Milkman,” I began my writing journey at age six and spent much of my Philadelphia childhood in my bedroom or my backyard involved in the lives of fictional characters.
My mom took my sisters and me weekly to the local library where I gobbled up fiction from Nancy Drew and Bobbsey Twin mysteries to Beverly Cleary, Judy Blume, Sweet Valley High and choose-your-own-adventure books. I still managed to make a few friends, including one who encouraged my dream of being an author (Thank you, Chris!).
My life purpose is to create beautiful ART and clever WORDS.
When it came to college, however, I chose to pursue graphic design. Art was always another strong passion of mine, and graphic design seemed an exciting career.
After graduating from Drexel University, I worked as an in-house designer for Thomas Jefferson University Hospital and as an art director for a Philadelphia ad agency whose clients included Temple University, Philadelphia Gas Works and Maria Isaak Nevelson, the granddaughter of artist Louise Nevelson.
Fast forward to my mid-twenties where, amid the Illinois cornfields and a fit of emotional angst, I returned to writing. This time as a healing outlet through poetry. Working in a library added to my creative frenzy.
After graduating from Drexel University, I worked as an in-house designer for Thomas Jefferson University Hospital and as an art director for a Philadelphia ad agency whose clients included Temple University, Philadelphia Gas Works and Maria Isaak Nevelson, the granddaughter of artist Louise Nevelson.
Fast forward to my mid-twenties where, amid the Illinois cornfields and a fit of emotional angst, I returned to writing. This time as a healing outlet through poetry. Working in a library added to my creative frenzy.
I acquired some freelance design clients while I painted, wrote book reviews for an online magazine, published a few poems and performed the voiceover of Daisy the Pig for a children’s educational CD. (I would love to do more kid voiceovers in the future!) I sent my first pieces out to magazines and entered contests including one that resulted in a published—and paid—piece for Natural Health magazine.
From there I moved to Rhode Island (by way of Portland, Oregon) and the world of blogging. I started my eco-themed mommy blog before it was fashionable, while spending eight years as the Communications and Graphics Manager for Save The Bay, a position that also offered many opportunities for writing and playing outside.
After that, I returned to my love of writing and studied at the Institute for Children’s Literature.
After that, I returned to my love of writing and studied at the Institute for Children’s Literature.
WRITING feeds my soul. It’s more fun than cubicle calisthenics. And in the end, I really want to empower children, inspire adults and make everyone laugh.
I'm good at DESIGN. I love distilling content into simple and aesthetically pleasing forms. Much like the improper use of an apostrophe, bad design offends me. I like doing what I can to make the world a more beautiful place.
I live with my supportive husband and precocious daughter in Pawtuxet Village where we enjoy hiking, poetry, movies and long walks on a pollution-free beach.
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