Deep in the Swamp

Born and raised in St. Louis, Donna Bateman is a former high school Spanish and French teacher. She received her Bachelor’s of Arts in Spanish and French from Ohio Wesleyan University and a Master’s in Secondary Education from the University of Missouri, St. Louis.Donna became enamored with children’s picture books shortly after the birth of her son in 1994. Though she had many ideas floating around in her head, Donna did not sit down to write down her stories until after the birth of her second child in 1997. She read every “How to Write For Children” in the county library system. She joined SCBWI, met writer friends, and began attending writing workshops and conference. Deep in the Swamp is her first book. When she’s not writing, Donna spends much of her time shuttling her children from activity to activity. In her spare time, she enjoys reading (of course), singing, playing the piano, doing needlework, hiking, and cycling.Donna lives in Bridgeton, Missouri, not far from the swampy bottomlands of the Missouri River.

Brian Lies has illustrated many children’s books and written several of his own, including Hamlet and the Magnificent Sandcastle. Brian also does editorial illustrations for magazines and newspapers. He lives in a seaside town in Massachusetts.