Donna Bowman Bratton

Here's a little trivia (and  few odd quirks) about me.

* I have two sons who light up my world. They will always be my greatest achievements.

* I love the water. I once won a water treading competition after staying in the deep end for over an hour. Being twelve years old really helped.

* My favorite food is Tex-Mex though I could eat my weight in soups and salads, too. And thank goodness chocolate is a food group and jelly beans are vegetables.

*I don't like shrimp, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, cabbage, artichokes, or asparagus. Yuck! And don't even think about bringing organ meat near me.

* I used to really enjoy snow skiing, but I injured both knees (in separate ski accidents.) Despite two surgeries, I am determined to get back to the slopes one day.

*I would love to live in different countries in six month stints. I'm always interested in leaving tourist areas to see how the "real people" live.

* I was cast as an extra in four motion pictures that were partly filmed in central Texas; True Women (miniseries starring Angelina Jolie), Michael (w/John Travolta), Two Mothers for Zachary (Valerie Bertinelli and Vanessa Redgrave), and Where the Heart Is (Natalie Portman). Extras don't get paid well and they sit around waiting a lot. But, I loved the experiences and I cherish the memories.

* I acted in several community theater productions (not particularly well, I might add.) During one such murder mystery, the actor playing my husband strangled me to death. I was so smitten with my murderer that I married him in real life. He's an overall good guy and one of the last renaissance men.  I'm lucky.

* I wrote and directed four Victorian plays which were performed locally. I loved working with the many child actors and experienced thespians. And let me tell you, nothing's more fun than working with period costumes.

* I still love horses and all animals. I am a huge supporter of animal shelters and humane causes. I'm even writing a book on the subject.

*For some reason, I can't write when my hair is down. Don't ask why-it just distracts me. So, anytime I'm at my computer, my hair is up in a ponytail. Come to think of it, my hair was in braids when I wrote as a child perched on a tree limb. Was that a sign of times to come?

*When I edit or proofread my own work, I usually have my feet on my desk. Preferably, my toes are wiggling within cozy socks at the time. 

*I love talking to classrooms about the writing process and, specifically, about writing nonfiction. Children are sponges, just like me.

* April Fool's day is not safe in my household. I'm a big practical joker and my kids are my targets. I do innocent things like sew all of their socks and underwear together and rearrange their furniture during the night. I've replaced baseball gear with a pink, tassled bat on game day (my son's teammates enjoyed that one,) and I've discovered endless ways to use saran wrap, duct-tape, and other everyday options for my antics. My youngest son opens a "surprise" school lunch that might consist of a brick, or exploding balls. I clear school day pranks with teachers, of course, though they aren't immune to my evil plans either. My list of gags is loooong. One day I fear they will get me back.

With my husband after one of my Victorian plays was performed locally. Check out the Victorian regalia. 



 Yep, that's me somewhere off the coast of Cozumel. 



Miles into the Juneau ice field, hiking on pristine glaciers. Me and four other humans. Glacier blue is my new favorite color.

 Here I am as an extra on the set of the miniseries, True Women. 

 

Who wouldn't love to swim with dolphins?