Welcome to the literary and speaking home of Donna Siggers!
‘…that until you’ve almost lost it all, you
don’t truly appreciate what you have in life…’
"one of the creepiest stories about a serial killer I have ever read"
NOW COMPLETE
To date Donna has published The Warwick Cooper Thrillers trilogy, Broken Betrayal and Bound. Her recovery story, Lost Soul has was first released in early 2019 but has recently been revised. The second edition gives a far more in-depth insight into her recovery journey and also into her life before injury. Masks, her second poetry book was published in December 2019 but has since been withdrawn as Donna decided to offer the poems within this book for free, which you can access from her 'Poetry Corner'. Free Spirit, Donna's mental health book was written in order that she could help the many people that reach out to her assuming that she is still registered as a therapist. This book is a combination of her past studies, work and also a reflection on the techniques she has personally used during her own recovery from life-changing injuries that have enabled her to overcome disability.
COMING SOON
Donna is working on two novels this year. At Risk: The Colour Of Fear will be the most difficult project that she undertakes. Although a work of fiction, she will be drawing on her own experiences for her main character, Sofia. Everyone has a backstory and Donna's led her into a job that had such a tragic impact on her life, which was thought to be temporary, initially. Alongside this project Donna will also be working on Institution.
Again a crime novel. Institution is based on historic fact using characters from Donna's own imagination. The story line is harrowing and draws on the area of expertise that Donna specialised in during her research. Therefore, to lighten the mood she will also be writing something a little different to usual and will see how that goes before announcing if it will get published or not.
Donna uses writing to retrieve her lost memory, turning it into poetry and prose or chilling crime thrillers. Its become the epicenter of Donna's working day and she considers herself unaccomplished if her mind hasn't created. Finding solace in the quietness that her job allows, Donna also enjoys the connectivity with others that it provides which gives a perfect balance for the unique position that she finds herself in.
Seems strange to think the last book signing event I did was back in February but because of lockdown large events have been on hold. This one in Southend-on-Sea was awesome and resulted in reflection and the production of the second edition of LOST SOUL. Thanks to Mark Flewitt, pictured middle row far right, and the conversation they had, Donna decided it was time to share deeper.
A LITTLE BACKGROUND
Born in rural Essex, United Kingdom Donna Siggers grew up surrounded by beautiful countryside and some very interesting characters. Add to that the stories she could share from her time around horses and stable yards she could seriously have chosen a completely different genre. A life with horses gave Donna an advantage, it taught her to fly and that when you fell you had to stand back up again. It was a good life lesson and one that she leans on regularly.
Having experienced a series of life events that exposed her to the harsh reality of survival, Donna set out to learn what it took to take back control of her life. Qualifying as a psychotherapist she was able to help many others do the same and by 2013 was working within an environment that changed her life in a way that shocked her entire family to the core: an assault at work resulted in a serious head injury, personality changes and complexities that are detailed on her mental health page. Not many people understand the notion that because she experienced such extreme head trauma, she has become the person she is today: that her ability changed from scientist to creative and that she is thankful for who she has become.
Donna can't just speak outright about the situations or people that she has helped or the sights that she's witnessed. Not only are they too harsh for most people to comprehend but there's the confidentiality factor to take into consideration. For a long time a lot of what she experienced were all she had to fall back on because she had lost her memory but had physical records detailing them and when they are all a person can recall its quite a burden.
Claiming she’s become a better version of herself Donna believes that because of the opportunities she's created through her writing and the new people in her life, that (now she's come to terms with it) her head injury was, in part a blessing. That said, not every aspect is easy to live with as it takes her a few days to recover if she has a seizure.
Donna is mum to four amazing children and also to her son-in-law (who's actually been a part of her family since 2011) and grandmother to an amazing little lady. The older four are grown up and at work or university and her youngest is at college studying A-levels. As a single parent for most of their lives they've certainly kept her on her toes over the years. They provide Donna with such joy, inspiration, motivation and support and she couldn't be prouder of everything they have become and are working towards.
The photographs below are from Donna's younger years, when horses were her life.
