Mission Statement - Guest Post!
- J.H. Jones
- May 15
- 3 min read
It's a joy to welcome you to a guest post by DonnaRae Menard, who has authored a variety of books and short stories, including mystery series, historical fiction, and fantasy. Consistently across all her work, she explores themes of love and friendship and writes characters who are "endearing" and "loveable", as her fans have raved. In her post below, DonnaRae explains she ramped up her professional author career only eleven years ago--and her writing community helped her along the way. Visit DonnaRae's author site and follow her latest updates on Facebook and BlueSky.
Eleven years ago, I decided to take my writing to a new level and identify myself as a writer as opposed to someone who likes to write. In keeping with that, I investigated how to market myself. I needed to find a place I could rub elbows with other like-minded individuals and signed up for my first big conference.
I arrived a day early to circumvent jetlag and found a seat in the lobby where I could writer-watch. A friendly and urban appearing woman sat down, introduced herself. We chatted for thirty or forty minutes. Her two friends joined her. This was my first exposure to multiple authors working on the same piece. I was intrigued. One friend asked what I had published. I was so excited, and greener than the grass comes. I said nothing yet, and bingo. It was like we were on zoom and the call got dropped. It took a few minutes for me to figure out I was being ghosted live-and-in-person. I left with my expectations for the conference shattered.
Fortunately, a Guppy Lady found me and I began to swim with the fishes. Did I learn anything in Wisconsin? Absolutely. First, go for the thorax every time. Second, not all writers are equal in the field of support, but some are huge! I signed up for Guppies and Sisters In Crime that first day. When the Guppy Lady asked me what I wanted to do, I knew exactly.
Mission Statement: To learn, to experience, to enjoy the process of writing and sharing what I create with others. And to not turn my back on anyone who reaches out.
It’s not always easy. I’m sort of over-the-top sometimes. But I do what I can, and direct if I
know. I’m a hybrid author. I often help when people are negotiating self-publishing. I take start-ups with me to book events. Introducing them to others who are like-minded. If I don’t know an answer, let’s see if we can figure out where.
I’ve also become adept at ignoring foolish pride, which allows me to ask questions, or to admit I don’t know. I’m still learning. I’m sure many are. This is an ever-changing business. If I can offer any advice, it would be to understand that growth is continual. Then too, when you know, share. I meet with seasoned writers, start-ups, school kids who want to know, and seniors who just want to scribble. It’s all good. We learn, we laugh, and we love what we do.
DonnaRae Menard began writing in junior high school and has been scribbling since. DonnaRae is a hybrid author with both self-published books and working with Level Best Books Publishing, as well as with Of Metal and Magic Publishing. She is the author of Murder in the Meadow, 1970 cozy mystery series; In the Shadow of Pharoah, historical fiction series; The Waif and The Warlord, and the Detective Carmine Mansuer series. New on her list are Beneath the Fountain, Dropped from the Sky, Murder on the Small Farm, The Morality Issue, and Snuffling Up Bones, Book 1, in The Pig & I Series. She splits her time between Vermont and New Hampshire, has an affinity for odd jobs, rescued cats, and talking about her 450-pound lap pig. Check out her website at donnaraemenardbooks.com. Find her on Facebook and Bluesky.
Get DonnaRae's latest book here:
Wow. Just wow, to DonnaRae's mission statement. Now that is a growth mindset in action ( ;