Donna M. Zadunajsky started out writing children’s books before she published her first novel, Broken Promises, in June 2012. Since then, she has written several more novels, and her first novella: HELP ME!, that is centered around teen suicide and bullying.
Awards:
HELP ME!
The Great Northwest Book Festival
Global Ebook Awards- Gold Medal
The Great Southeast Book Festival
IPA Award- Grief Category
Reader Views Awards- In 3 different categories:
*Children-Teen 12-16 year olds
*Children-Young Adult 16-18 years old
*Best Teen/YA Book of the Year
eLit Awards- Silver Winner
Talk To Me
Finalist in the 'Author U' unpublished contest, 2016.
IPA Award- Death and Dying Category
Awards:
HELP ME!
The Great Northwest Book Festival
Global Ebook Awards- Gold Medal
The Great Southeast Book Festival
IPA Award- Grief Category
Reader Views Awards- In 3 different categories:
*Children-Teen 12-16 year olds
*Children-Young Adult 16-18 years old
*Best Teen/YA Book of the Year
eLit Awards- Silver Winner
Talk To Me
Finalist in the 'Author U' unpublished contest, 2016.
IPA Award- Death and Dying Category
Family Secrets 'Secrets and Second Chances'
Book 1
Book 1
2016 Florida Book Festival- Honorable Mentions
Hidden Secrets 'Secrets and Second Chances'
Book 2
Book 2
2016 The Great Northwest Book Festival- Honorable Mentions
2016 great Southeast Book Festival- Honorable Mentions
2016 Pinnacle Book Achievement Award- Winner in Novel Category
2016 great Southeast Book Festival- Honorable Mentions
2016 Pinnacle Book Achievement Award- Winner in Novel Category
Twisted Secrets 'Secrets and Second Chances'
Book 3
Book 3
Lockport, Illinois author becomes semifinalist in state competition.
Zadunajsky is one of ten semifinalists in the Adult Fiction category to gain recognition through the project. Her book “Twisted Secrets” is her third in a series of adult fiction novels that include previous works “Family Secrets” and “Hidden Secrets.” The winner has not yet been announced for the competition, but Zadunajsky is hopeful.
“I was so surprised to hear the news,” said Zadunajsky. “It felt great! If I do end up winning, which would be really nice, I’ll fly back up to Illinois.”
Though Zadunajsky has now taken up residence in Naples, Fl., to focus on writing, her home library is still listed as Lockport Public Library. Even though one of the requirements of the competition is to be an Illinois resident, Zadunajsky still qualifies, as she was a resident when she submitted her work.
Should Zadunajsky win the competition, she will be awarded a cash prize, increased recognition, the opportunity to compete in the national Indie Author Project competition and more opportunities to work with traditional publishers. In addition, participating libraries would give her the opportunity to promote her book and dispense print copies.
The winner will be announced in late October. Zadunajsky continues to keep busy with writing in anticipation of the October announcement.
“Now that I’ve been writing for 10 years, I have a rhythm,” said Zadunajsky. “I wake up at 5 a.m. to write before I go to my full-time job. I try to write 10,000 words in a week.”
Zadunajsky's writing history long precedes her work with the Soon to Be Famous Illinois Authors Project. In total, she has written 15 works: seven children’s books and eight adult novels. In addition, she has recently finished three novels as part of a new series, for which she is trying to get traditionally published.
Authors like Zadunajsky are exactly what libraries participating in the project are looking for.
As the demand for self-published books and e-books has increased, librarians who developed the STBF project have taken it upon themselves to seek out untapped writing potential and get authors published through their own means.
According to a press release from the Clarendon Hills Public Library, to date, 32 percent of bestselling books on Amazon are self-published. By winning the competition, Zadunajsky will put herself in a position to join those coveted ranks.
Zadunajsky is one of ten semifinalists in the Adult Fiction category to gain recognition through the project. Her book “Twisted Secrets” is her third in a series of adult fiction novels that include previous works “Family Secrets” and “Hidden Secrets.” The winner has not yet been announced for the competition, but Zadunajsky is hopeful.
“I was so surprised to hear the news,” said Zadunajsky. “It felt great! If I do end up winning, which would be really nice, I’ll fly back up to Illinois.”
Though Zadunajsky has now taken up residence in Naples, Fl., to focus on writing, her home library is still listed as Lockport Public Library. Even though one of the requirements of the competition is to be an Illinois resident, Zadunajsky still qualifies, as she was a resident when she submitted her work.
Should Zadunajsky win the competition, she will be awarded a cash prize, increased recognition, the opportunity to compete in the national Indie Author Project competition and more opportunities to work with traditional publishers. In addition, participating libraries would give her the opportunity to promote her book and dispense print copies.
The winner will be announced in late October. Zadunajsky continues to keep busy with writing in anticipation of the October announcement.
“Now that I’ve been writing for 10 years, I have a rhythm,” said Zadunajsky. “I wake up at 5 a.m. to write before I go to my full-time job. I try to write 10,000 words in a week.”
Zadunajsky's writing history long precedes her work with the Soon to Be Famous Illinois Authors Project. In total, she has written 15 works: seven children’s books and eight adult novels. In addition, she has recently finished three novels as part of a new series, for which she is trying to get traditionally published.
Authors like Zadunajsky are exactly what libraries participating in the project are looking for.
As the demand for self-published books and e-books has increased, librarians who developed the STBF project have taken it upon themselves to seek out untapped writing potential and get authors published through their own means.
According to a press release from the Clarendon Hills Public Library, to date, 32 percent of bestselling books on Amazon are self-published. By winning the competition, Zadunajsky will put herself in a position to join those coveted ranks.
2019 Bronze winner for Best Book Trailer