Author Archives: Donna W. Hill

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About Donna W. Hill

Donna W. Hill is a writer, speaker, animal lover and avid knitter from Pennsylvania's Endless Mountains. Her first novel, The Heart of Applebutter Hill, is an adventure-mystery with excursions into fantasy for general audiences. Professionals in the fields of education and the arts have endorsed it as a diversity, inclusion and anti-bullying resource for junior high through college. A songwriter with three albums, Hill provided educational and motivational programs in the Greater Philadelphia area for fifteen years before moving to the mountains. Her essay, "Satori Green" appears in Richard Singer's Now, Embracing the Present Moment (2010, O-Books), and her cancer-survivor story is in Dawn Colclasure’s On the Wings of Pink Angels (2012). From 2009 through 2013, Hill was an online journalist for numerous publications, covering topics ranging from nature, health care and accessibility to music, knitting and chocolate. She is an experienced talk show guest and guest blogger and presents workshops about writing and her novel for school, university, community and business groups. The Heart of Applebutter Hill is available in print and e-versions at Amazon, B&N, Apple, Sony, Smashwords, Create Space and other outlets. It is also available through Bookshare for readers with print disabilities.

Writer’s Gazebo: Tips to Improve Your Writing Through Empathetic Thought & Precision Editing

After several decades of observing and writing about my fellow inhabitants of Planet Earth, I can’t recall ever thinking that anyone didn’t have a story to tell. Whether it is the true account of your life’s journey, your perspectives on … Continue reading

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knitting a Pie for Pi Day

The round dish cloth I am knitting not only resembles a pie, with its eight wedges and peaked edging; it also follows the revered number Pi in several ways. First, anything circular, including my cotton dishcloth, already has a connection … Continue reading

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Equal Rights for Blind Americans? Author Says We’re not There Yet

As a member of various blindness, advocacy and guide dog organizations, it’s not uncommon to come across a request from a college student to take a survey on blindness, and I’m always happy to participate. Rarely, however, (in fact, never) … Continue reading

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The Changing Behavior Network: Teaching Diversity Through Fiction, Freebies & More 

Win an autographed copy of The Heart of Applebutter Hill; download a free MP3 of “The Rules of the Game;” take a quiz and listen to the best interview I’ve ever done. I never thought I’d say that about just … Continue reading

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Authors, Advocates & the Press: Humiliation, Angst & Recovery

Hurray! I can finally scratch “getting humiliated by a national law journal” off of my bucket list. Oh, wait, it wasn’t on there to begin with. Nonetheless, it happened. I hope sharing the experience will enlighten my fellow authors and … Continue reading

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Quiz & Fact Sheet on Blindness

After inviting me to be on his radio show on the Changing Behavior Network, psychologist Dr. James Sutton asked me if I had a quiz or fact sheet about blindness that he could make available through: http://www.thechangingbehaviornetwork.com/ I didn’t, so … Continue reading

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Police Protection for Elderly Rural Pennsylvanians with Disabilities: an Alarming Story

In late December, an elderly, rural Pennsylvania couple, with medical and disability issues, were awakened at 2:00am by the sounds of thumping and clanging on their back porch. From the peep hole in the door, the husband spotted a large … Continue reading

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Symbolism of the Locks on the Erie Canal & an Author’s Dog Fighting IBD

Do you take comfort in certain manmade structures? Two of my top three – lighthouses and covered bridges – have virtually universal appeal. Lighthouses are beacons of hope, turning unforeseen disasters into visible rock formations, skirted with a flick of … Continue reading

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Is Literacy Really for Everyone? – the Numbers Tell a Different Story 

“They’re right! It is nice to snuggle up with a good book.” – photo by Rich Hill Which minority has the greatest disparity between literacy, unemployment and income on the one hand and intellect, talent and willingness to work on … Continue reading

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Under the Persimmon Tree by Suzanne Fisher Staples: a Book Review

Under the Persimmon Tree by Suzanne Fisher Staples My rating: 5 of 5 stars Afghanistan is a land of war and poverty in which there are rarely any happy endings. How can you tell its story with honesty, sensitivity and … Continue reading

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