Dawn P. has been an active member of Alcoholics Anonymous for thirty-four years. In her career she wrote professionally for a variety of publications including significant grant proposals and national journals.
Now retired, she has written several creative non-fiction short stories recognized by the Wisconsin Writer's Association including "The Arrogance of the Living", "Terror Management"., "The Island Bridegroom", and "Melissa Etheridge's Autograph". Her short story "The Obituary" was recognized by the Wisconsin People and Ideas Contest in partnership with the Wisconsin Book Festival. Her short story "The Ride Home" was awarded with the Jade Ring, the highest statewide honor. Her poetry has been published in the Agora in 2017 and 2019, a publication printed biannually in association with the University of Wisconsin Continuing Education program.
Dawn is also an amateur artist with several solo shows and as part of group exhibitions, including the Overture Center. She donates her work to benefit several charities including the Wisconsin Woman's Association, The Rape Crisis Center, the Goodman Community Center and the local LGBT support group. She created the cover art for Heartbreaking which is composed entirely of snippets of letters sent from prison by her son.
Dawn is a lifetime resident of Wisconsin and graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a bachelor's degree in horticulture and graduate work in Landscape Architecture.
This is her first non-fiction book. She has one son.