Author Interview with Donna Galanti!

 

The DMS was lucky enough to interview Donna Galanti. We reviewed her new book release Loon Cover Summer on Monday, and it was great to share our thoughts about it and hear yours! We're excited to learn a little more about her story. So, without further ado... take it away, Donna!

What inspired you to write Loon Cove Summer?

A childhood home full of sweet memories, shared grief between a father and daughter, an uncle who thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail, and many firsts … like my first fish caught, my first time snowmobiling, my first dog, my first time taking care of chickens and hogs. In the 1970s, my dad’s dream was to own and operate a campground—and so we did. We bought Bethel Woods Campground in Holderness, New Hampshire, by Squam Lake (where they filmed the movie On Golden Pond).

Growing up as an only-child, a campground by a lake was a magical place to live where I always had other kids to play with. Loon Cove Summer is a love letter to my childhood there—and rich with my love of loons, lakes, kayaking, raptors, and hiking! It’s been a nostalgic journey for me as my parents died before I could finish this book, but they are both honored in the book.

Also, my Great Uncle Elmer was my inspiration for adding in an Appalachian Trail scenario. In 1968 when he was in his 60s, Uncle Elmer solo thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail from April to October—hiking 2,200+ miles from Georgia to Maine. On his thru-hike, an October snowstorm prevented Uncle Elmer from climbing Mount Katahdin in Maine and reaching the end of the trail at this mighty peak—just like Sarah’s mother in Loon Cove Summer. Unlike Sarah’s mother, he returned the next year to complete the final five miles.

 How long did it take you to write Loon Cove Summer?

I started Loon Cove Summer back in 2013. After years of stalling on it, changing it from a young adult to a middle grade, publishing other books, revising it with my former agent and many editors, and revising some more, I finished the story in 2024. It was on submission multiple times and I was lucky to work with some amazing editors to help polish it. It’s also changed significantly since I began writing it. I’ve added in more bird conservation, a conservationist, a raptor rehab center— and of course more loons!

What is your writing process like? Do you listen to music? Write in a special place? Edit as you go or write and then edit?

I’ve learned not to edit as I go as that hinders me from finishing a book. Most of my story ideas originate from walks in the woods. I’m a huge nature lover and it’s where visions come to life. Then I draft an outline, world build, develop the characters, and begin writing. I don’t listen to music but do listen to binaural beats to help my concentration. And I love to sequester myself on retreats in a cabin to immerse myself in the magic of story.

And writing Loon Cove Summer prompted me to go back in time to my old campground home in 2015 for a book research trip. I rented a cottage on the lake for a week and lost myself in memories—and mourned my childhood a bit.

When I drove up to the campground, I was zapped back to being nine-years-old again. A place where I swam all summer, romped through the woods, collected dead butterflies and shotgun shells, whizzed about on strap-on roller skates, played pinball machines, and spun 45 records on the jukebox.

The story sprinkles in lots of information about loons. What was your research process like? Was there anything specific that stood out to you or something interesting you’d like to share?

I did a lot of loon research online and from books, especially The Common Loon: Spirit of Northern Lakes by Judith W. McIntyre. Each year I’m lucky to stay at a friend’s lake house in northern New York, a rich loon habitat. Their haunting tremolos call to me as I glide in my kayak to visit with them. And since the Appalachian Trail, campground life, and a raptor rehabilitation center are also featured in Loon Cove Summer, I did quite a bit of research for all those as well.

In your letter to readers at the end of the book, you mention that when you were growing up, your family owned a campground and you lived there, like Sarah. That sounds so interesting! Did you live there year-round? What was the best part of that experience?

Yes, we lived at Bethel Woods Campground year-round (it’s since been renovated and still there under a different name). The property had about 75 campsites, a large main house that we lived in, a pool, a recreation hall, and a camp store. For an only child it was super fun to always have new kids to play with. I even used the original campground map to create the setting in the story.

But one of my favorite things to do was to collect the trash and take it to the dump, just like Sarah does in Loon Cove Summer! We had an old 1965 Ford truck that was open in the back with wood paneled sides. After my dad and I collected the trash from every campsite, I got to stand in the back of the truck and hang on for dear life as we cruised down Route 3 to the dump—which was on Ta Da Dump Road (and still is!) 😀

 If you could befriend any of the characters from your books, who would you befriend? Why?

Such a hard question as I love them all! I’m especially torn between Sarah’s Buddhist Uncle JuJu who spouts off words of wisdom and insight (I could use a wise guide in my life!) or Theo, the boy Sarah meets who also loves loons, plays the banjo, and photographs things that are disappearing. I’ll go with Theo. He is enthusiastic, heartfelt, and kind—a true friend for life.

Is there anything you’ve learned along your path to publication that you would like to share with new writers?

Oh, so much! It’s been a wild ride of learning the craft and industry, rejections and acceptances, and having collaborated with multiple literary agents, editors, and publishers. I would say the key thing to my success (and what helped me survive the rollercoaster parts!) has been surrounding myself with people who elevate me: peers, authors, teachers, editors. When I finished my first book, I didn’t know any writers at all, so I attended writer conferences and joined writing organizations—and volunteered with both. This opened doors to amazing opportunities!

I like to say that we can write alone but we can’t get published alone. Surround yourself with positive people on your level or higher who can inspire and advise you. Create your own writer’s group if you have none. I meet once a week with a small group of authors to write beside each other at a café. We are a brain collective of shared information—and being open to advice, criticism, and revisions will lead to success.

Where can we purchase your books?

You can order Loon Cove Summer here in hardcover, paperback, or eBook from your favorite bookstore: https://www.donnagalanti.com/loon-cove-summer/

Or visit one of these:
Bookshop

Barnes & Noble

Amazon

Walmart

Books-A-Million

Apple