Donna Galanti
ALLi Author Member
Location: United States of America (the)
Genres: Thriller, Fantasy/SciFi/Speculative, Children's general
Skills: Performance/Spoken Word, Press/Media Interview, Reading/Literary Event, Speaking Engagement/Lecture, Writing Workshop
I wanted to be a writer ever since attending an English school, housed in a magical castle, where my wild imagination was held back only by my itchy uniform (bowler hat and tie included!). I’m the author of the illustrated middle-grade Unicorn Island series that School Library Journal says, “fans of unicorns and magic in the real world will enjoy”, and the middle-grade fantasy adventures Joshua and the Lightning Road and Joshua and the Arrow Realm. In addition, I write the bestselling paranormal suspense Element Trilogy for adults. I regularly present as a guest author at schools, teach at writing conferences on marketing and craft, and am the creator of several online Udemy courses for writers. I’ve lived in fun locations including England, my family-owned campground in the lakes region of New Hampshire, and in Hawaii where I served as a U.S. Navy photographer for Fleet Intelligence Pacific. When I’m not writing you can usually find me in the woods. Visit me at donnagalanti.com or elementtrilogy.com.
Donna Galanti's books
Unicorn Island
Beyond the mist lies a magical secret waiting to be discovered . . . From Epic! Originals, Unicorn Island is a middle-grade illustrated novel series about a young girl who discovers a mysterious island full of mythical beasts and darker dangers!
When Sam arrives in Foggy Harbor, population 3,230, all she can see is a small, boring town that’s way too far from home. And knowing that she’s stuck there all summer with her grumpy Uncle Mitch only makes things worse.
But when Sam discovers a hidden trapdoor leading to a room full of strange artifacts, she realizes Foggy Harbor isn’t as sleepy as it seems. With the help of a new friend, Sam discovers an extraordinary secret beyond the fog: an island of unicorns whose fates are intertwined with hers.
“Fans of unicorns and magic in the real world will enjoy this adventure.” – School Library Journal
“An accessible and fast-paced magical adventure.” – Kirkus Reviews
“An all-too-human, enchanting middle grade fantasy novel.” – Foreword Reviews
Unicorn Island: Secret Beneath the Sand
In Book 2 of the series, Sam and Tuck are on their way to becoming unicorn protectors when they discover new secrets about the island that threaten unicorns' existence! From Epic! Originals, Unicorn Island is a middle-grade illustrated novel series about a young girl who discovers a mysterious island full of mythical beasts.
Sam can’t believe how much her life and luck have changed since she came to Foggy Harbor: First, she discovered that unicorns are real, and now she’s on her way to becoming an actual unicorn protector! With her new friend, Tuck, by her side during Uncle Mitch’s lessons, Sam finally feels like she’s home.
But as the long-buried dangers of Unicorn Island begin to surface and a mysterious scourge spreads throughout the herd, Sam learns the truth behind Aunt Sylvie’s disappearance and her own connection to the island. With determination, courage, and fierce loyalty to one another—and to their code as unicorn protectors—the kids set out to protect the island’s secrecy and the unicorns’ very existence.
“A sweet but not overly sugary treat for unicorn devotees.” – Kirkus Reviews
Unicorn Island: Beyond the Portal
The secrets of Unicorn Island are all revealed in the final book in Epic’s middle-grade fantasy series! When Sam and Tuck discover a way to unlock the answers they’ve been seeking, they must set out to discover the truth…
For Sam, knowing a little about her mother’s disappearance through the portal is almost worse than knowing nothing at all. Determined to distract herself, she tries to learn everything possible about caring for the herd on Unicorn Island. But when she and her friend Tuck stumble on a coded verse in The Unicorn Protector Creed, they are faced with an even greater task.
With no way of knowing what’s beyond it, Sam, Tuck, and Barloc the unicorn step through the portal and find that not only is Sam’s mother no longer a unicorn protector, she also lives in a world plagued by its own problems—and convinced that the only solution to them rests in the horn on Barloc’s head.
With the portal closing at sundown on the third day, Sam and Tuck are in a race to rescue their friend, reunite their families, and save another world from a terrible fate of its own making!
“Once again, Donna Galanti pens an exciting tale sure to inspire young readers to keep turning the pages.” -- A Library Mama.
Joshua and the Arrow Realm
Get the next thrilling book in The Lightning Road Series!
Joshua never thought he’d be called back to the world of Nostos so soon. But when his friend King Apollo needs his help in the Arrow Realm, Joshua braves this dark world once more in order to save him. With Joshua’s loyalties divided between Nostos and Earth, he must rely on his courage and powers to restore magic to this desperate world and to free its people. Abandoned by his friends in his quest, unarmed, and facing great odds, can he survive on instincts alone and not only save those imprisoned—but himself?
“Fast-paced and endlessly inventive, Joshua and the Arrow Realm is a high-stakes romp through a wild world where descendants of the Greek gods walk beside you, beasts abound, and not everything—or everyone—is as it seems.” ~ Michael Northrop, New York Times bestselling author of the TombQuest series
Joshua and the Lightning Road
Twelve-year-old Joshua Cooper learns the hard way that lightning never strikes by chance when a bolt strikes his house and whisks away his best friend—possibly forever. Armed with only luck and his grandfather’s mysterious crystal, Joshua must save his friend by traveling the Lightning Road to a dark world that steals children for energy. New friends come to Joshua’s aid and while battling beasts and bandits and fending off the Child Collector, Joshua’s mission quickly becomes more than a search for his friend—it becomes the battle of his life.
“Vividly imagined characters in a gripping action fantasy that never lets you go until the very last page.” ~Jenny Nimmo, NY Times bestselling author of the Charlie Bone series
A Hidden Element
Evil lurks within…
When Caleb Madroc is used against his will as part of his father’s plan to breed a secret community and infiltrate society with their unique powers, he vows to save his oppressed people and the two children kept from him. Seven years later, Laura and Ben Fieldstone’s son is abducted, and they are forced to trust a madman’s son who puts his life on the line to save them all. The enemy’s desire to own them—or destroy them—leads to a survival showdown. Laura and Ben must risk everything to defeat a new nemesis that wants to rule the world with their son, and Caleb may be their only hope—if he survives. But must he sacrifice what he most desires to do so?
“Chilling and dark…a twisty journey into another world, where fathers and sons fight the ultimate battle.”—J.T. Ellison, New York Times bestselling author of When Shadows Fall
“Fascinating…a haunting story about just how far parents will go to protect, or destroy, their children in the name of love.”—Rebecca Cantrell, New York Times bestselling author of The World Beneath
“Expertly mixes genres, combining sci-fi with mystery, thriller and romance…a pulse-pounding read.”—Allan Leverone, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Final Vector
A Human Element
Evil comes in many forms…
One by one, Laura Armstrong’s friends and adoptive family members are being murdered, and despite her unique healing powers, she can do nothing to stop it. The savage killer haunts her dreams, tormenting her with the promise that she is next. Determined to find the killer, she follows her visions to the site of a crashed meteorite in her hometown. There, she meets Ben Fieldstone, who seeks answers about his parents’ death the night the meteorite struck. In a race to stop a madman, they unravel a frightening secret that binds them together. But the killer’s desire to destroy Laura face-to-face leads to a showdown that puts Laura and Ben’s emotional relationship and Laura’s pure spirit to the test. With the killer closing in, Laura discovers her destiny is linked to his, and she has two choices—redeem him or kill him.
“An elegant and haunting first novel. Unrelenting, devious but full of heart. Highly recommended.”—Jonathan Maberry, New York Times bestselling author of Code Zero
“Be afraid. Be very afraid. And be utterly absorbed by this riveting debut.”—M.J. Rose, International bestselling author of The Collector of Dying Breaths
“Tugs on our heartstrings and plucks the gut-strings of horror. A true storyteller, highly reminiscent of Dean Koontz.”—Dakota Banks, Award-winning author of Deliverance