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. 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 Bertenelli 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 alongside experienced thespians. And let me tell you, nothing's more fun than working with period costumes.

* April Fool's day is not safe in my household. I'm the biggest practical joker. My kids are targets. I do things like sew all of their socks and underwear together the night before and pack a brick for lunch. HA!  (One day I know they will get me back.)

* I still love horses and all animals though I haven't been able to save them all as I had hoped as a child.  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.

With my husband after one of my Victorian plays was performed during Christmas Bellfest. 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.

Below-- Haven't you always wished you could swim with dolphins?