Donna-Claire - Author
@donnacwrites.com
Bestselling music book author of BOOK OF MAC (2021) and CRYBABY (2025).
SHOULDN'T WE DANCE?, a novelette, is out now.
Writes about sad things and board games.
SHOULDN'T WE DANCE?, a novelette, is out now.
Writes about sad things and board games.
Pinned
Leaving the Bad Place in favor of something new to talk about writing, my forthcoming books, and the real star of my life: Khan.
In the background of this photo of my kitten trying to crawl as close to me as possible is the laptop I intended to write my book on today.
October 26, 2025 at 6:20 PM
In the background of this photo of my kitten trying to crawl as close to me as possible is the laptop I intended to write my book on today.
I'm promising myself I'll make a big writing and editing push tomorrow. The only way to draft a manuscript is to draft it, sadly.
October 26, 2025 at 12:53 AM
I'm promising myself I'll make a big writing and editing push tomorrow. The only way to draft a manuscript is to draft it, sadly.
Tis the Halloween season for Dreadful Meadows. I lost to my wife by nearly 30 points. She had a wonderful engine humming along.
October 25, 2025 at 7:11 PM
Tis the Halloween season for Dreadful Meadows. I lost to my wife by nearly 30 points. She had a wonderful engine humming along.
Cat helping me read this morning.
October 25, 2025 at 1:55 PM
Cat helping me read this morning.
First game of Dicemancy: I won on the final turn.
This game has a nice skill curve and I definitely feel like spell placement mastery will be a nice adventure. I felt very, very clever placing my final spell card in a way that let me defeat the final titan. Happy I backed it.
#boardgames
This game has a nice skill curve and I definitely feel like spell placement mastery will be a nice adventure. I felt very, very clever placing my final spell card in a way that let me defeat the final titan. Happy I backed it.
#boardgames
October 24, 2025 at 1:06 AM
First game of Dicemancy: I won on the final turn.
This game has a nice skill curve and I definitely feel like spell placement mastery will be a nice adventure. I felt very, very clever placing my final spell card in a way that let me defeat the final titan. Happy I backed it.
#boardgames
This game has a nice skill curve and I definitely feel like spell placement mastery will be a nice adventure. I felt very, very clever placing my final spell card in a way that let me defeat the final titan. Happy I backed it.
#boardgames
View from my writing desk this morning.
October 23, 2025 at 12:18 PM
View from my writing desk this morning.
Added 333 words to my book about board games this morning. I'm working tirelessly on an essay about the "spheres of play" that all collide to give games a lasting impact well beyond being packed away. Play is a full ecosystem and I'm trying to capture that as best I can.
October 23, 2025 at 11:09 AM
Added 333 words to my book about board games this morning. I'm working tirelessly on an essay about the "spheres of play" that all collide to give games a lasting impact well beyond being packed away. Play is a full ecosystem and I'm trying to capture that as best I can.
Me: I must write every day to count as an author, a human, a valuable member of society.
Also me: I should have a little glass of juice in the yard and pretend my manuscript doesn’t exist.
Also me: I should have a little glass of juice in the yard and pretend my manuscript doesn’t exist.
October 23, 2025 at 12:31 AM
Me: I must write every day to count as an author, a human, a valuable member of society.
Also me: I should have a little glass of juice in the yard and pretend my manuscript doesn’t exist.
Also me: I should have a little glass of juice in the yard and pretend my manuscript doesn’t exist.
View from my writing desk.
October 22, 2025 at 2:14 PM
View from my writing desk.
On a 90-day reading streak and absolutely delighted by the benefits of making daily reading a morning and evening ritual again.
October 22, 2025 at 1:03 AM
On a 90-day reading streak and absolutely delighted by the benefits of making daily reading a morning and evening ritual again.
Tis the season for Witchcraft!
Suffered a Minor Loss here. I had that 5 on Putnam revealed early and poured all my energy in bumping him up. I figured 7 had to be enough for our other friends, right? Right?! Alas.
I love this tense game even if I've never convinced all 3 jurors.
#boardgames
Suffered a Minor Loss here. I had that 5 on Putnam revealed early and poured all my energy in bumping him up. I figured 7 had to be enough for our other friends, right? Right?! Alas.
I love this tense game even if I've never convinced all 3 jurors.
#boardgames
October 22, 2025 at 12:29 AM
Tis the season for Witchcraft!
Suffered a Minor Loss here. I had that 5 on Putnam revealed early and poured all my energy in bumping him up. I figured 7 had to be enough for our other friends, right? Right?! Alas.
I love this tense game even if I've never convinced all 3 jurors.
#boardgames
Suffered a Minor Loss here. I had that 5 on Putnam revealed early and poured all my energy in bumping him up. I figured 7 had to be enough for our other friends, right? Right?! Alas.
I love this tense game even if I've never convinced all 3 jurors.
#boardgames
Added 374 words to my board games book project this morning. This essay about relearning how to play in three parts is trying to eat me alive, but I'll figure it out. Overall, writing about board games and their impact on my mental health has been an awesome exercise.
October 21, 2025 at 11:20 AM
Added 374 words to my board games book project this morning. This essay about relearning how to play in three parts is trying to eat me alive, but I'll figure it out. Overall, writing about board games and their impact on my mental health has been an awesome exercise.
Played The Four Doors with my wife tonight. Narrowly won on standard difficulty! I so appreciate how big this game feels for a deck of cards and some pawns. There's a good 40 minutes of crunch and collaboration here.
#boardgames
#boardgames
October 21, 2025 at 12:56 AM
Played The Four Doors with my wife tonight. Narrowly won on standard difficulty! I so appreciate how big this game feels for a deck of cards and some pawns. There's a good 40 minutes of crunch and collaboration here.
#boardgames
#boardgames
I added 381 words to my book project about playing board games and mental health. I've done some big structural changes to the manuscript over the weekend.
Namely, I'm focusing the text on my 1,000 plays of Spirit Island and how they've shaped my life.
Namely, I'm focusing the text on my 1,000 plays of Spirit Island and how they've shaped my life.
October 20, 2025 at 11:24 AM
I added 381 words to my book project about playing board games and mental health. I've done some big structural changes to the manuscript over the weekend.
Namely, I'm focusing the text on my 1,000 plays of Spirit Island and how they've shaped my life.
Namely, I'm focusing the text on my 1,000 plays of Spirit Island and how they've shaped my life.
Fantastic Factories: dice placement, resource management, and satisfying combos. This game is very smooth and intuitive to learn. The solo is one of the simplest bots I've ever played against. Great game, even though I lost by a measly 2 points.
#boardgames
#boardgames
October 17, 2025 at 4:17 PM
Fantastic Factories: dice placement, resource management, and satisfying combos. This game is very smooth and intuitive to learn. The solo is one of the simplest bots I've ever played against. Great game, even though I lost by a measly 2 points.
#boardgames
#boardgames
First solo play of Gardlings!
This is a great combination of tile laying and push your luck. Get gems, but not too many gnomes. As someone who loves Quacks, having these mechanisms in a neat solo package is awesome.
#boardgames
This is a great combination of tile laying and push your luck. Get gems, but not too many gnomes. As someone who loves Quacks, having these mechanisms in a neat solo package is awesome.
#boardgames
October 17, 2025 at 2:59 PM
First solo play of Gardlings!
This is a great combination of tile laying and push your luck. Get gems, but not too many gnomes. As someone who loves Quacks, having these mechanisms in a neat solo package is awesome.
#boardgames
This is a great combination of tile laying and push your luck. Get gems, but not too many gnomes. As someone who loves Quacks, having these mechanisms in a neat solo package is awesome.
#boardgames
Reposted by Donna-Claire - Author
You really should read Shouldn't We Dance? to experience male friendship, grief and love in a way you never have before. It's elegant, masterful and deserves a spot in your library and life.
Tip of the cap to author @donnacwrites.com for this tender novellette
www.stanchionzine.com/product-page...
Tip of the cap to author @donnacwrites.com for this tender novellette
www.stanchionzine.com/product-page...
October 16, 2025 at 12:13 PM
You really should read Shouldn't We Dance? to experience male friendship, grief and love in a way you never have before. It's elegant, masterful and deserves a spot in your library and life.
Tip of the cap to author @donnacwrites.com for this tender novellette
www.stanchionzine.com/product-page...
Tip of the cap to author @donnacwrites.com for this tender novellette
www.stanchionzine.com/product-page...
I've had a handful of people send me really sweet messages about my fiction debut, SHOULDN'T WE DANCE?
The prevailing comment has been, "what a beautiful way to write about grief." Grab a copy from @stanchion.bsky.social and see for yourself.
www.stanchionzine.com/product-page...
The prevailing comment has been, "what a beautiful way to write about grief." Grab a copy from @stanchion.bsky.social and see for yourself.
www.stanchionzine.com/product-page...
Shouldn't We Dance? | Stanchion
The novelette Shouldn't We Dance? follows Hank, a 20-something coping with the sudden loss of his lifelong best friend, Doug. When Hank goes through Doug's old notebooks, he finds a sense of purpose i...
www.stanchionzine.com
October 16, 2025 at 11:12 AM
I've had a handful of people send me really sweet messages about my fiction debut, SHOULDN'T WE DANCE?
The prevailing comment has been, "what a beautiful way to write about grief." Grab a copy from @stanchion.bsky.social and see for yourself.
www.stanchionzine.com/product-page...
The prevailing comment has been, "what a beautiful way to write about grief." Grab a copy from @stanchion.bsky.social and see for yourself.
www.stanchionzine.com/product-page...
I only added 12 words in an hour of writing this morning. I did, however, think very deeply about the structure and scope of this manuscript about board games and mental health. I realized I need to impose more limitations on my MS if I have any chance of drafting something enjoyable to read.
October 16, 2025 at 11:08 AM
I only added 12 words in an hour of writing this morning. I did, however, think very deeply about the structure and scope of this manuscript about board games and mental health. I realized I need to impose more limitations on my MS if I have any chance of drafting something enjoyable to read.
My fiction DEBUT has been out for one week. When I started this novelette on my typewriter in 2023, I never thought I'd be holding SHOULDN'T WE DANCE? in my hands.
You can get a copy and support my Philly small press @stanchion.bsky.social at the ol' link.
www.stanchionzine.com/product-page...
You can get a copy and support my Philly small press @stanchion.bsky.social at the ol' link.
www.stanchionzine.com/product-page...
October 14, 2025 at 11:13 AM
My fiction DEBUT has been out for one week. When I started this novelette on my typewriter in 2023, I never thought I'd be holding SHOULDN'T WE DANCE? in my hands.
You can get a copy and support my Philly small press @stanchion.bsky.social at the ol' link.
www.stanchionzine.com/product-page...
You can get a copy and support my Philly small press @stanchion.bsky.social at the ol' link.
www.stanchionzine.com/product-page...
I added 192 words and did a bunch of structural changes to my book project about living better by playing board games. I'm currently working on an essay about gaming as a safe space for learning how to take risks. It's awesome.
October 14, 2025 at 11:06 AM
I added 192 words and did a bunch of structural changes to my book project about living better by playing board games. I'm currently working on an essay about gaming as a safe space for learning how to take risks. It's awesome.
Quick game of Planted at 2p. I love this simple game of drafting and resource management. A total joy in terms of components as well. I won by 2!
#boardgames
#boardgames
October 12, 2025 at 7:13 PM
Quick game of Planted at 2p. I love this simple game of drafting and resource management. A total joy in terms of components as well. I won by 2!
#boardgames
#boardgames
Afternoon game of Décorum. This co-op game thrives in the meta narrative that comes up with each scenario and the funny ways you can and can't communicate. Very immersing!
#boardgames
#boardgames
October 12, 2025 at 6:35 PM
Afternoon game of Décorum. This co-op game thrives in the meta narrative that comes up with each scenario and the funny ways you can and can't communicate. Very immersing!
#boardgames
#boardgames
Yesterday evening I explained my two current book projects to a few friends in the mental health space and they both said they were "enthralled." As someone who writes to help others feel seen, that was the best compliment.
October 12, 2025 at 2:08 PM
Yesterday evening I explained my two current book projects to a few friends in the mental health space and they both said they were "enthralled." As someone who writes to help others feel seen, that was the best compliment.
Well, now that the Phillies season is sadly over I have more time to work on my latest book project about board games. It's a series of essays about better living through play.
October 10, 2025 at 11:14 AM
Well, now that the Phillies season is sadly over I have more time to work on my latest book project about board games. It's a series of essays about better living through play.