I’m thrilled to celebrate the Winter Wonders season with Donna Marx, the author of Good Luck, Puck!, which will be published next month.
Welcome, Donna, and congratulations on your debut picture book! It’s so exciting that your book will be published during the time of the 2026 Winter Olympics! Thank you for taking the time to chat with me about your writing journey.
Me: Do you have any special plans for the winter? Or are there any activities that you participate in related to the season? Do you have a favorite season?
Donna: Our winter season is spent watching our grandsons play ice hockey. I live in Missouri, and winter can be brutal at times. However, we are sometimes blessed by a run of unseasonably warm days. My favorite season is summer. I love being outside in the sunshine and going on family vacations to the beach.
Me: How long have you been writing?
Donna: I started writing picture books in 2021. However, my career as a teacher involved writing curriculum and grading essays, so I think that counts too! After I retired, I spent a lot of time reading picture books to my grandsons. One day, I thought, “This can’t be THAT hard.” So I started keeping track of ideas from my interactions with the boys. I admit that my early stories were more tell than show – the first lesson many aspiring authors learn.
Me: What, or who inspired you to write this book?
Donna: My grandsons and I were playing hockey in the driveway. The puck kept getting away from us and rolling down the street. So every time that happened, we would shout, “Runaway Puck!” It reminded me of a book we read called The Runaway Pea by Kjartan Poskitt. It’s a story about a pea that rolls off the plate and into some adventures. So I started writing the story – with a similar pattern – that turned into my debut book, Good Luck, Puck!.
Me: Tell me a little bit about this book’s journey to publication, were there any bumps and bruises along the way, obstacles you had to overcome, aha-moments? You can share the good, bad, ugly lol, or not.
Donna: I had been working on this story over the course of three years. During that time, I joined Rate Your Story, worked with Lynne Marie (owner of Rate Your Story) as a mentor, and joined a couple of critique groups. Of course, since this was very early in the process of learning and investing in my craft, the number of revisions got frustrating at times. However, each one was essential for adding the “missing” elements: stronger stakes, the right combination of adventures, a better setting, more layers, a catchier title, more kid-friendly language, etc. Finally, the critiques became more focused on choosing the right words and less about the essential elements in a marketable picture book. I took advantage of a First Pages opportunity at the Girl Power Conference (hosted by The Little Press). After receiving some glowing feedback, I submitted it to them, which resulted in an offer. I do think one of the most challenging aspects of getting published is that your solo vision becomes the collective vision of others, i.e. publisher, editor, illustrator, and even the distributor (they suggested we make the hockey players more generic – as opposed to Team USA – for a broader appeal). Just like Puck, I had to be a team player and have confidence that the changes they were making were in the best interest of the book.
Me: What is one piece of advice you can give to writers who are just starting out, or who are still in the query trenches?
Donna: This blog is reaching many other talented writers. I feel fortunate about my accelerated path to publication. The key to that unexpected success was having the right idea, at the right time, in front of the right person. Today’s publishing market is very crowded. Therefore, writers should always be thinking about ideas and concepts that are unique. Never stop learning and persevere through those critiques and numerous revisions. One comment or suggestion could be what your story needs to get the attention of a publisher.
Me: What are your plans for the future? Writing or otherwise, traveling, hobbies, etc.
Donna: I plan to polish other stories I’m working on and make an effort to write more new manuscripts. I have lots of ideas, as well as some great manuscripts that need more revising. Finding and making the time to write is my biggest challenge. We have plans to travel to London and cruise the Mediterranean within the next two years. And, of course, attending our grandsons’ sports events is always a top priority!
Me: I’d love for you to share a recipe with me, I have a collection of recipes from friends and family that goes back many years. I would love to include yours, as well as share it with my readers.
Donna: I am sharing a super simple appetizer dip.
Cheddar Cheese Dip
1⁄4 cup roasted pecans (broken into small pieces)
4 slices bacon, cooked, crumbled, and cooled
1 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese
green onion, sliced thinly
1⁄2 cup mayonnaise
salt, to taste
In a serving bowl, combine roasted pecans, bacon crumbles, cheddar, green onion, and mayonnaise. Season with salt. Serve with your favorite crackers or apple slices. Enjoy!
Thank you for allowing me to participate in your spotlight of debut authors and sharing my journey with your kidlit community!
Me: You’re very welcome. It’s always fun getting to know kidlit friends, and I love the way your grandchildren have inspired you. I can’t wait to read Good Luck, Puck! I’m sure you and your family will celebrate on publication day! And thank you for the cheese dip recipe; I can’t wait to try it. 🙂
You can connect with Donna here:
Pat Brown Books 