Donna Galanti - Where heart and hope meet adventure!

The Secret Winners Club is out now for Autoimmune Awareness Month!

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Plus, we’ve got a book giveaway, eBook sale, Read Across America Week & lip synching! Thanks for celebrating with me this week as my new middle grade novel is out in the world, The Secret Winners Club! 

In the book, 13-year-old Sunny is tired of being known as the bald kid with alopecia. Determined to change how others see her, she forms a secret club with friends who also have autoimmune conditions to help each other win school competitions at any cost. But as success grows, secrets pile up, and others get hurt, Sunny must decide what winning—and friendship—really mean.

Publishing during Autoimmune Awareness Month, Midwest Book Review says it’s “a moving and insightful middle-grade novel that explores identity, perseverance, and the actual cost of success.”

The Secret Winners Club speaks to:

* Kids living with chronic illnesses like autoimmune and skin conditions
* Young readers navigating identity, visibility, and self-acceptance
* Fans of friendship-driven, coming-of-age stories with STEAM elements
* Those who love theater, swimming, technology, and school competitions

The Secret Winners Club is out today in paperback, hardcover, and eBook by Wild Trail Press. Read more about it and purchase from your favorite bookstore here.
PLUS, get the eBook ON SALE for $1.99 through 3/11!
Check out early reviews on Goodreads

Watch the book trailer here!

Do you know someone with autoimmune disease? This month, educate yourself about it to understand what they experience and what challenges they face. I have five autoimmune diseases. For me, my biggest challenge is fatigue. I call it the “fatigue flu” because it can just leave me exhausted all day long. I never know when it will strike.

As I get older, I’ve found that we can still struggle with identity like young people do. And our perception of who we are changes as we grow and evolve and experience life challenges, including mistakes made. Being adopted, I felt as a kid that I didn’t fit in. Because no one else I knew was adopted—no one in my family or my friends were adopted. I felt like an outsider.

And since being an adult and acquiring autoimmune diseases that make me look different—I thought: how hard would it be as a kid to have visible conditions and deal with them in middle school? And to also feel like an outsider in this way.

With that came the inspiration for writing a middle grade book that is about identity, friendship, and what it really means to win.

The Secret Winners Club released on March 3rd  and it was also my dad’s birthday. He passed away in 2023 and would be turning 91-years-old today. I had leftover apple pie this morning for breakfast—my tribute to him. He always loved apple pie for breakfast! He also loved green tomato pie that my mom would make, a way to carry on their southern Kentucky roots.

I’ve also included a tribute to my mom in The Secret Winners Club. My mom was a unique character with a unique name: Suneil. No middle name, just one cool name.

There wasn’t anyone who met Suneil who didn’t become her friend. She had a way of putting a little bit of sunshine in everyone’s heart by making them laugh. And my favorite saying was the one she would call out early in the morning, even on weekends, “Up and at em’!”

My mom died from cancer 17 years ago, but her spirit still lives on in me—and in The Secret Winners Club. I named my main character after her: Sunny. Short for her full name of “Suneil”. The name Neil means champion in Gaelic. Sun + Neil = Sun Champion. A sad combination really, as my mom died from malignant melanoma related to the sun.

But I’m going with just champion as that’s what my mom was for me.

I can never call my mom again early in the morning and hear “Up and at em’! What are you doing?” But I’ll keep her “Up and at em’!” spirit with me, always.

Thanks Mom.

THE SECRET WINNERS CLUB BLOG TOUR!

You can catch me this month at these wonderful book blogger sites with guest posts, reviews, interviews, and book giveaways!
February 23rd
Log Cabin Library: Review
February 24th
Mary Lanni Reads: Podcast Video Interview and Review
March 2nd
Literary Rambles: Guest Post “Writing Health Issues in Kidlit” plus a Book Giveaway
Reading in the Middle: Podcast Video Interview
Always in the Middle: Review
March 3rd
Fundinmental: Review plus a Book Giveaway
March 9th
The Secret Files of Fairday Morrow: Review

IT’S READ ACROSS AMERICA WEEK

National Read Across America Week was March 2nd-March 6th in the U.S., the nation’s largest annual reading celebration created by the National Education Association to motivate children of all ages to read!

As a children’s book author I love inspiring young people to read (and write!) and was honored to be doing that in person for Read Across America Week with hundreds of kids at two school assemblies!

Do you have young kids in your life and want to motivate them to read? Try these simple, fun tips:

📚 Let them choose. Kids are more excited to read when they pick books that match their interests.
⏰ Create a cozy reading routine. A regular reading time builds strong habits.
🎧 Mix up the formats. Graphic novels, audiobooks, and magazines all count as reading.
👨‍👩‍👧 Read together. Shared reading time makes books feel special and fun.
🎉 Celebrate progress. Praise effort, not just finished books.

When reading feels like a joy—not a chore—kids are more likely to become lifelong readers.

GETTING NOSTALGIC

My love of all entertainment from the 1940s and 1950s shines through in The Secret Winners Club. Along with including a production of the musical Grease in the book, I also feature one character’s love for Frank Sinatra (who I weirdly crushed on as a kid!).

Enjoy my lip-synching tribute to Frank Sinatra here. 🙂

Pick up a copy of The Secret Winners Club from your favorite bookstore in paperback, hardcover, and eBook for you or a special young person (eBook sale $1.99 through 3/11!). If you do, please consider leaving a brief, honest review online. Reviews are so important to authors as they help boost our book and be seen by other potential readers!

Happy Reading!

XXOO-Donna

10 Steps to Writing Adventures for Kids—Perfect for Halloween!

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Do you love thrills? I do, but only if it’s in a controlled environment. Haunted houses. Outdoor perils. Storm adventures. Historical prisons.

I got so scared once in a haunted house that I whacked the “ghosts” with my Halloween teddy bear prop from my costume. The management turned on all the lights and asked me to leave!

One Halloween my friend, Lisa, dared me to do Terror Behind the Walls at Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia. Here we are getting our scare on (and it was scary). I was immensely proud that I didn’t whack anyone this time!

A long hallway with lights AI-generated content may be incorrect.

Yes, I still get scared of real places as an adult. Of creepy cellars where there are sure to be bodies buried. Of taking the trash out at nighttime. Of being in the woods after dark. My heart pip-pops waiting for that creature or boogeyman to grab me. I know he could be! My imagination tells me so.

So it’s no wonder that I love to create stories that thrill—especially through the natural world with outdoor adventures like in my newest book, Loon Cove Summer. I started out writing thrilling adventures for grownups and along the way fell in love with writing for kids. But could I transition writing from adults to tweens?

Several authors have moved from writing for adults to writing for young readers. John Grisham moved into the children’s market by writing thrillers for kids and so have James Patterson, James Rollins, and David Baldacci.

And as my son became an avid and selective reader, I discovered that kids love to experience thrilling adventures not just in movies but in books, too. I began to see patterns in kid adventure tales—and I began applying what I learned to create my own stories.

Here are my 10 Steps to Writing Adventures for Kids:

  1. Put the kids in charge. Kids don’t want to read about grownups having adventures.
  2. Which leads into … have the kids figure out how to deal with challenging situations, not grownups. Kids want to see themselves as the hero, not Mom or Dad or their teacher.
  3. Whatever scary situations they find themselves in they must navigate their way out.
  4. Don’t dwell on the dark stuff. Make it happen fast but without gory details. Kids can use their imagination to fill in the blanks.
  5. Give them friends in their travels. Life is hard without friends! And kids needs friends to help them along their scary adventures.
  6. Through story events, push the kids to discover their own strength and courage to overcome bad things happening to them.
  7. Make all seem lost! End the chapters on cliffhangers to encourage young readers to keep turning the pages and find out what happens next.
  8. Have everything work out in the end, or at least partially, even if all seems doomed for a while.
  9. Add humor. Interjecting a dollop of funny can alleviate tension in the scariest of scenes and lighten the moment.
  10. Make it a series! Have a final resolution to the story but leave it open for more tales down the road for the characters. Kids love to follow their beloved characters into new adventures.

Speaking of Thrills, Here’s a Spooky Good Read!

Want a thrilling read for kids? Be sure to read Daybreak on Raven Island by Fleur Bradley. It’s the spooky season and time for a good scary, suspenseful story with chapter cliffhanger endings that will keep you turning the pages! This middle grade mystery novel was inspired by Alcatraz Prison (a fave prison to visit). Check out my 7 reasons why to love Fleur Bradley’s eerie and award-winning book for kids of all ages.

And since we’re still talking about adventures with young readers, I was so honored to be invited back to my son’s former elementary school as a visiting author. It’s been 10 years since I did my first ever school visit there (and was sooo nervous) when my first children’s book came out. And my son’s favorite teacher Mr. Waldron is still there! What a wonderful community. The students were so engaged and asked so many curious and interesting questions. This truly is one of the best parts about being a children’s book author.

One fascinating question I got asked: “Would you ever take two of your books and write a new book mixing the stories up together?” Hmm… 🙂

Since, we are talking about my son—many have asked me where I get my story ideas. Well, this is how my first children’s book started …

The idea for this series began when my son, Joshua, was three and we’d sit out on the front stoop in summertime under the stars and he’d say “Mommy, Mommy, tell me a story!”

So I did, night after night I spun this tale about a boy named Joshua who discovers a fantastic forest in another world full of talking creatures and ancient magic and there were beasts and bandits and battles and great adventures with new friends.

Over the years that story turned into my book, Joshua and the Lightning Road, that was first published in 2015. And by then my son was old enough to help me with plotting the series and characters whenever I got stuck.

Here’s to the real Joshua for whom it all began. He’s 22 now and running his own business and we’re celebrating 10 years since this book came out! So, thanks, buddy. P.S. Yes, we really did name you after the cat. 🙂

Fiction Writers—Book To Check Out:

Congratulations to my friend, editor, and author Kathryn Craft on the release of her powerful and insightful new non-fiction book for writers, Crafting Story Movement: Techniques to Engage Readers and Drive Your Story Forward. For you fiction writers seeking that next new craft book to inspire your storytelling, this is it!

Bookish Stuff!

What a fun snack-sized interview I had this week with Kid Lit Craft! I share writing and marketing advice for authors, what my “superpower” is, the book I think every kidlit author should read, and how I regain a sense of wonder to write for kids. Read the full interview at KidLit Craft.

Check out the cutest, most adorable book review I’ve ever received! Watch this magical video made by 10-year-old Megan with Read Read Hurray. She created wonderful imagery and shares her thoughts, feelings, and what she’s learned along this story’s journey. Rated 10/10! Thank you Megan!

A snippet: “Loon Cove Summer by Donna Galanti is a touching and inspiring story. During her summer, she uncovers family secrets, makes new friends, and learns to face her fears. I really enjoyed this book because it’s emotional and meaningful. I like how Sarah grows more confident and braver as she discovers who she really is.”

My next kid adventure is nearly here! You can pre-order The Secret Winners Club out 3/3/26.

Happy Fall!

XXOO Donna

Adopting A Learning Mindset and The Power It Can Deliver

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I consider myself a lifelong learner. When I feel stuck, I seek answers to help myself more forward. Often that means embracing stillness to grasp where I am in the moment. And often, the knowledge can be uncomfortable but always revealing.

It’s about taking the time to pause and understand what we’re spending our time on and ask…

  • Does it have meaning for me?
  • Do I connect with others who elevate me?
  • Does it give me purpose and joy?
  • Am I passionate about it?
  • Am I being of service to myself and others?
  • Is this something (or someone) I should let go of?

We can all benefit from taking a pause to reflect along our life journey and decide if we’re walking the right path or need to guide ourselves in a new direction. Wandering and a good redirect can often be the most fulfilling—and transformational—bits. Wandering in nature can also bring clarity.

This past year and a half I’ve truly learned how to give my energy to the things that matter most to me that bring me joy, peace, and purpose whether it’s with places, people, and projects.

Nelson Mandela, the late great leader and revolutionary once said this powerful statement: “I never lose. I either win or I learn.”

Don’t let fear of failure, uncertainty, or people’s reactions hold you back from stepping into your magnificent power and becoming your best self.

I’ve come to understand that I’ve adopted a learning mindset since I was a little girl, as you can see from my journal entry dated 45 years ago!

Grateful for friends …

In becoming an author, I delight in the ongoing learning of storytelling. Over the years I’ve filled my toolbox with skills in craft—and lessons from rejections—but most importantly I’ve discovered that as an author, we can write alone but we can’t get published alone. And I’ve been so grateful to have inspirational women elevate and support me on this rollercoaster ride—writers, editors, authors, agents, and artists.

Of course, there’s always time to celebrate our recent achievements as I did recently with my peers. We all need our tribe to lift us up and support us when we waver in our dreams. Cheers to keeping dreams alive! Whatever you strive in, I hope you have people to cheer you on, too, in your explorations. Never let doubt stop you from journeying.

Visit these accomplished, creative women and check out their books and services here:
Kate Brandes
Kathryn Craft
Tori Bond
Dianna Sinovic
Linda Wisniewski

Re-connecting with old friends can be a surprising, heart-expanding part of the learning experience—and so can letting friends go. When I ended a toxic, energy-draining longtime friendship last year, I discovered I wanted to bring more women into my life who enrich my energy. In opening this door, I serendipitously re-connected with four lovely soulful women. Here I am with three of the four!

Ahh, and I’m behind on bookish news!

I was excited to be on the School Library Journal blog Teen Librarian Toolbox! I share more here of the story behind the story of Loon Cove Summer and what I hope readers will take away from the book.

I was also thrilled to be a guest with Writer’s Digest for their children’s books section. I chat about my experience with going back in time to write a middle grade novel.

It was so much fun to sit down with Annisha on Reading in the Middle podcast to talk about my newest middle-grade book, Loon Cove Summer! On YouTube, Spotify, and Apple podcasts. We chat about loons, lakes, and big feelings. Grab your flashlight and join us at Loon Cove!

Loon Cove Summer also topped the list of 60 2025 Middle Grade Books For Your Summer Beach Bag! Check out all these fun summer books to escape into.

And finally, I just received the advanced reader copy of my next middle-grade book out, The Secret Winners Club! It will be released on March 3, 2026.

In the story, three kids with autoimmune issues create a secret club to be known for more than their conditions but discover that crossing the line and hurting others in doing so makes them even more visible—and even more an outsider.

This is a very personal story to me as I have several autoimmune conditions, some visible, like the characters in this story. I can relate to how it feels to look different with these conditions—and strive to stand out for something other than your appearance.

I’ll leave you with a photo of Ursa. She is the newest bird ambassador where I volunteer in educational programs with the National Audubon Society. Don’t you just love her sassy expression?

Ursa is a Harris’s hawk, a most magnificent raptor that thrives in the arid landscapes of Texas, New Mexico, and Central America. She has bold markings of dark brown, chestnut red, and white; long yellow legs; and yellow face markings. I am so lucky to know her, especially with living in Pennsylvania.

These Harris’s hawks live in desert lowlands—often among mesquite, paloverde, saguaro, and organ pipe cactus. They are known for standing atop one another on cactus trees to provide shade to each other. Even more amazing is that they hunt in groups up to 6 at a time while most raptors hunt alone.

Now go. Embrace your own sassy!

XXOO

Donna

My MG Book Loon Cove Summer is Out Today, Blog Tour + $50 B&N GC Giveaway!

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What Makes a Raptor, Dissecting Owl Pellets & Indie Bookstore Day

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I love raptors! So much so that I included a raptor rehabilitation center in my book coming out May 6th, Loon Cove Summer. I also volunteer with the Audubon Society and assist in education programs with bird ambassadors.

You might be wondering what exactly a raptor is …

  • Raptors are birds of prey and have hooked beaks and taloned feet.
  • They have keen eyesight and a carnivorous diet.
  • Raptors have three eyelids!
  • Peregrine falcons are the fastest creatures on earth. They can dive over 200 mph!
  • The American kestrel is the smallest raptor in America, about the size and shape of a mourning dove, but one of the most colorful raptors.
  • The word “raptor” is based on the Latin word rapere referring to seizing or plundering, which relates to the predatory lifestyle of raptors.

Now … it does get a bit complex because other kinds of birds also have hooked beaks and are predatory. To understand more about raptors, read this article by a birding expert. And here’s more about their nests, eggs, and different raptor types.

Are you interested in birding? Visit Audubon here and learn how to get started!

This month in my Audubon volunteer role we had fun with one raptor: Mortimer the eastern screech owl. Despite the name, screech-owls do not screech. They have lovely whinnies and trills. Listen to them here!

Poor Mortimer lost an eye in a car accident and can’t be released in the wild so is cared for by the Audubon Center where I volunteer. In this program with Mortimer, we educated kids about owl pellets plus we dissected owl pellets collected from all the owls on site to discover what they ate!

Here are fun facts about owl pellets you might not know:

  • Owls hunt mainly mice, voles, and moles.
  • They swallow their prey whole and the food passes to a gizzard.
  • The gizzard digests all but the teeth, claws, bones, and fur.
  • These indigestible parts became compacted into an owl pellet.
  • The pellet is stored and regurgitated within a day.
  • The pellet must be ejected before the owl can eat again.
  • It’s fun to find remnants of their meals in pellets!

I did quite a bit of raptor research in writing Loon Cove Summer. Did I mention it publishes next week on May 6th? I love hearing thoughts from early reviewers on the book. Here is one below.

INDEPENDENT BOOKSTORE DAY EVENT

I was so honored to be the guest author with my Unicorn Island series at my local bookstore in Peddlers Village, The Lahaska Bookshop, for Independent Bookstore Day on Saturday, April 26th!

My friend Tiffany the Unicorn was there and it was so fun to meet young readers who get so excited about books. Get out there and support your indie bookstore every chance you can!

IT’S THE LAST WEEK FOR LOON COVE SUMMER PRE-ORDER GIVEAWAY!

Do you love SWAG? It’s the last week to take advantage of pre-ordering my new middle-grade novel, Loon Cove Summer, and get these fun book quote stickers, bookmarks, AND a personalized signed book plate label from me for your book! PLUS, you’ll be entered to win my $50 Barnes & Noble gift card giveaway (so you can buy more books of course ). ENDS 5/5/25. U.S. only please. See details below and pre-order here.

Happy reading!
XXOO Donna