Local author Donna Patton signs first book

Local author Donna Patton signs first book

By Patty Kyrlach

Hillsboro author Donna Patton held her first book signing on May 21-22 at the Catholic Homeschool Convention, in Dayton. Donna was there to promote her new children’s mystery novel, The Search for the Madonna, released in May by Behold Publications (Ecce Homo Press.) Donna said that it was exciting to see all those big boxes of books with her name on them and to know that the long work of writing, editing, and revising had finally paid off. More than a hundred copies sold that weekend.

The Search for the Madonna is a Depression-era mystery for children, ages 8 to 12. In the story, 11-year-old Maggie Brandenburg finds that mysteries abound on a summer visit to Aunt Sophie’s farm. Strange lights in the haunted woods? A missing treasure of gold and jewels? And the biggest mystery of all: can Maggie and her twin sister Em find the treasure in time to save the family farm and Maggie’s dream of living in a real home?

In a recent interview, Patton said, “I certainly always knew I would be a writer – even before I knew what writers were! As a little girl, I always thought books were so special they must all come from Heaven. If anyone had asked me, I’d have said that right after God created the world and put all the churches in it, He created libraries!”

Readers always want to know where writers get their ideas. Donna says, “I like to daydream stories - usually when I should be doing something else! I knew I wanted to write a book about twins who lived during the 1930's and one of them had to have a Dionne Quintuplet scrapbook. Maggie and Em were both named after my favorite saint, Mary Magdalen, and their story just unfolded as I thought about what kind of treasure they could find.” Donna also draws on her own family history. In this book, her great-great grandfather, Matthias Brandenburg, makes an appearance. “Although some details of his story were changed, it was true that at one time he had a great fortune in gold and jewels.”

Donna also writes early grade curriculum, and her articles for adults have appeared in History Magazine, Reminisce, Mature Living, and Catholic Digest. She is a regular contributor to Cookies & Milk, a children’s page featured in several area newspapers. She is currently seeking representation for a series of children’s books about Jenny and Brose, two kids with a knack for getting into trouble in the Wild West.

The Search for the Madonna can be ordered from Behold Publishers at www.eccehomopress.com/EcceHomoPress.html. Or contact the author at earchformadonna@yahoo.com. 

By Patty Kyrlach

For The HCP

Hillsboro author Donna Patton held her first book signing on May 21-22 at the Catholic Homeschool Convention, in Dayton. Donna was there to promote her new children’s mystery novel, "The Search for the Madonna," released in May by Behold Publications (Ecce Homo Press.)
Donna said that it was exciting to see all those big boxes of books with her name on them and to know that the long work of writing, editing, and revising had finally paid off. More than a hundred copies sold that weekend.

The Search for the Madonna is a Depression-era mystery for children, ages 8 to 12. In the story, 11-year-old Maggie Brandenburg finds that mysteries abound on a summer visit to Aunt Sophie’s farm. Strange lights in the haunted woods? A missing treasure of gold and jewels? And the biggest mystery of all: can Maggie and her twin sister Em find the treasure in time to save the family farm and Maggie’s dream of living in a real home?

In a recent interview, Patton said, “I certainly always knew I would be a writer – even before I knew what writers were! As a little girl, I always thought books were so special they must all come from Heaven. If anyone had asked me, I’d have said that right after God created the world and put all the churches in it, He created libraries!”

Readers always want to know where writers get their ideas. Donna says, “I like to daydream stories - usually when I should be doing something else! I knew I wanted to write a book about twins who lived during the 1930's and one of them had to have a Dionne Quintuplet scrapbook. Maggie and Em were both named after my favorite saint, Mary Magdalen, and their story just unfolded as I thought about what kind of treasure they could find.” Donna also draws on her own family history. In this book, her great-great grandfather, Matthias Brandenburg, makes an appearance. “Although some details of his story were changed, it was true that at one time he had a great fortune in gold and jewels.”

Donna also writes early grade curriculum, and her articles for adults have appeared in History Magazine, Reminisce, Mature Living, and Catholic Digest. She is a regular contributor to Cookies & Milk, a children’s page featured in several area newspapers. She is currently seeking representation for a series of children’s books about Jenny and Brose, two kids with a knack for getting into trouble in the Wild West.

The Search for the Madonna can be ordered from Behold Publishers at www.eccehomopress.com/EcceHomoPress.html. Or contact the author at searchformadonna@yahoo.com.