Today I’m honored to interview a lovely person and extraordinarily talented author: Donna L. Martin. Donna has had a story accepted by Chicken Soup for the Soul and she shares with us her sage advice – some might say the “ingredients” you’ll need to craft a story to send to this popular personal story anthology series.



Donna’s story appeared in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Angels Among Us: 101 Inspirational Stories of Miracles, Faith, and Answered Prayers   Her story is "Shortcut to Peace."

Donna L. Martin is an internationally best-selling award-winning author. She has been writing since she was eight years old. Donna is a 4th Degree Black Belt in Taekwondo by day and a ‘ninja’ writer of children’s picture books, chapter books, young adult novels and inspirational essays by night. Donna is a BOOK NOOK REVIEWS host providing the latest book reviews on all genres of children’s books, and the host of WRITERLY WISDOM, a resource series for writers. Donna is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators and Children’s Book Insider. She is a lover of dark chocolate, going to the beach and adding to her growing book collection.

Here are some ways you can connect with Donna L. Martin and learn more about her latest writing projects:

Goodreads: Donna L Martin

Email: donasdays @ gmail dot com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/donasdays

Twitter: www.twitter.com/donasdays

LinkedIn: Donna L Martin/StoryCatcher Publishing

Abigail: You've written for Chicken Soup for the Soul, a book about Angel experiences. What inspired your story?

Donna L. Martin: My story is based on an angel encounter when I was 14 years old and contemplating suicide. I have always been a spiritual person and believe in angels. Fortunately, on that particular dark day, my guardian angel believed in me as well and prevented a tragic event from happening.

Abigail: What do you like most about writing for Chicken Soup for the Soul?

Donna L. Martin: Chicken Soup for the Soul books allow strangers across the universe to reach out and touch each other’s souls in some way. Whether through funny stories, heart wrenching ones, or inspirational ones…this book series connects us all in a way most other books can’t. I was able to take one very lonely moment in my adolescent life and through my pain, reach out to others who somehow felt a connection. It helped remind me that NO ONE on this planet is truly alone.

Abigail: How quickly did you hear that your story was accepted? Can you tell us a bit about that process, from when your story was submitted to getting it accepted?

Donna L. Martin: The acquisitions department of Chicken Soup for the Soul is like any other larger publishing company. I imagine they receive hundreds, if not thousands of submissions for each topic they create. It was months before I received an email from them stating they were interested in publishing my story. Sometimes they ask for revisions before they add it to their latest release. I was fortunate because they changed nothing in my story before publishing it.

 Abigail: The pay rate for writing for Chicken Soup for the Soul is $200 for a personal story and 10 complimentary copies of your book. Who did you give complimentary copies of your book to?

Donna L. Martin: Some went to family & friends while others were given away at book fairs. I was also able to purchase more at a great discount, so I continue to share the book with people who might find it inspirational.

Abigail: Chicken Soup for the Soul is a competitive writing market, a lot of writers submit to them. What is your advice to send them a great story?

Donna L. Martin: Pay close attention to the THEME of their topic. For my story, they wanted angel encounters so if that wasn’t woven into the entire story, it wouldn’t have captured their interest. Make sure your story then follows the theme of your story title. My own story theme was how an angel prevented my own suicide attempt so any backstory or random discussion about my life in general would just be fluff and distracts the reader from the true story I was trying to tell. Edit your finished story to tighten the overall plot and make the publisher’s job easier to accept your submission.

Abigail: Have you thought about writing another Chicken Soup for the Soul story?

Donna L. Martin: I submitted another story for their EMPOWERED WOMAN topic. I’m crossing my fingers that it is a proper fit for what they are looking for in this book.

Abigail: What has been a fun experience as the result of writing for Chicken Soup for the Soul? Have you done a book signing or a speaking event?

Donna L. Martin: I wouldn’t exactly call it a “fun” experience writing for Chicken Soup for the Soul, but it was my stepping off piece to start my publishing journey. And the emails I have received from different people who felt some level of connection to me through that story has touched my heart more than they will ever know.

Abigail: Writers are always writing. Can we ask what you are working on now?

Donna L. Martin: My last book, Are YOU The Missing Piece?, was released last October by Expert Insights Publishing and went on to become a #1 International best-seller. I’m now exploring the world of indie publishing and preparing to release my young adult novel, Lunadar: Homeward Bound, in the spring of 2019. There is so much to learn about the publishing side of
things, but I am taking my time to create the best quality book that I can.

Abigail: What is next for your career as an author?

Donna L. Martin: To help support my journey into indie publishing, I have set up my own publishing company called STORY CATCHER PUBLISHING. You can find out more at the following link, including links to my book. I’ve also started a new blog series called “An
Indie Author’s Journey” which comes out every Monday where I talk about all the
steps involved to create a quality book as well as all the tips, tricks, and
costs along the way. If your readers decide to follow me on my blog, they will
get a chance early next year to read the first few chapters for free before
LUNADAR’s formal release.