Donna Russell began her writing career at seven years old by publishing a weekly, penny-a-copy neighborhood newspaper. She also wrote, produced and starred in cut-out finger puppet plays which were performed in “Punch and Judy” style on a stage of cardboard and cellophane coffee cake boxes.

After graduate studies in Instructional Technology, Donna taught elementary school children. She then spent a decade negotiating and writing copyright contracts with authors and publishers to adapt college textbooks for deaf students. Her interest in world affairs led to writing opinion letters and drawing political cartoons which were published in Gannett newspapers.

Donna earned a Juris Doctor degree and contributed legal research to the Columbia Human Rights Law Review. She was also the Editor-in-Chief, cartoonist and poet of “The Brief”, the law school comedy and complaint-filled law school newspaper.  She used her legal education to assist women in prison obtain skills, including reading and writing, to enhance their lives when returning to civic life.

Donna writes poetry and paints whimsical furniture, often on commission. She also writes and illustrates picture books for children.