Many people have asked how I went about writing and self-publishing. It has been a process that cannot be explained in a short conversation, so I decided to write it down. I self-published my first book ten years ago and the journey continues.

This little book describes in detail how I went about writing and self-publishing. It includes a background of my writing experience and hopefully will encourage others to find their own voice and take the first step in their writing. Everyone has a story and when we die, our stories die, too, unless we write them down.

Dona Bakker began Pastime Publications in 2004 with her memoir of living in the Napa Valley as a child. "Run of the Mill: is in its third printing. In 2007, she cowrote and published "The Golden Road - French Wine or Moonshine?" and in 2008, the sequel, "The Golden Road Detour," with longtime friend Tami Riedeman. Also in 2008, Dona teamed up with Ralph Ingols to create St. Helena High School - Circa 1940-1972 - The Golden Years. Dona lives in the Napa Valley with her husband and they have two grown children. Dona has owned and operated her own secretarial service since 1976. In this capacity she has typed and edited numerous books for various authors. She recently completed "The Incredible Life of Chicki Downs," now available for free download at www.napavalleypastime.com.