Meet Donna Bloom
- 30 minutes ago
- 9 min read
Donna Bloom is a Board-Certified Hypnotist, founder of Wise Mind Hypnosis on Long Island, New York, and the debut author of Walk with Wisdom — a spiritual fiction novel for teens and adults. Drawing on years of experience helping clients find inner peace, Donna weaves emotional insight and spiritual reflection into an uplifting story that reminds readers that the calm and confidence they are searching for have been inside them all along.
When she is not writing or seeing clients, Donna can be found taking long walks in the woods, traveling the world with her adventurous husband, playing pickleball with friends, or spending time with Zoey, her beloved Havanese grand puppy — a daily reminder to play and love unconditionally.
Please share a brief synopsis of Walk with Wisdom: A Journey into the Sanctuary of Life.
The book follows Lark, a thoughtful teen whose inner world mirrors the struggles Donna has witnessed in her clients —and, in many ways, in herself. Lark’s mind rarely rests. Her friends think she has it all together. Inside, her thoughts spiral with worry and self-doubt. She’s caught glimpses of calm and clarity, but they never seem to last. Then one day, she wanders into the Sanctuary of Life — a lush, mystical place where time slows and the natural world speaks in whispers. There, she meets Wisdom, an intuitive guide who gently teaches her to listen within and find peace in the present moment. As Lark learns to quiet her overthinking, she begins to move through life with greater clarity and confidence, trusting herself in ways she never thought possible.
Readers of all ages are gently invited to slow down, look inward, and trust the quiet voice that has been there all along. Walk with Wisdom is an uplifting story of self-discovery and quiet transformation. It is a reminder that the peace we are searching for has been inside us all along.
What prompted you to create this novel? What role, if any, did your professional career play?
I love this question. I have been a Board Certified Hypnotist since 2013, and helping people overcome fear and worry truly feels like my life’s calling. When I was in training, we were asked to give our practices a name, and “Wise Mind Hypnosis” came to me immediately. I knew intuitively that real transformation happens when a person cultivates a healthy, ongoing relationship with their inner wisdom. Over the years, I found myself using metaphors in my sessions that were almost identical to the imagery that would later appear in the Sanctuary of Life. I frequently offer clients moments of stillness to listen to their own inner voice — and consistently, they treasure that time.
My life was turned upside down when my mother was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2023, and my father followed with his own diagnosis a year later. It was an extraordinarily stressful time, and I desperately needed something that was entirely my own. One day while meditating, a story began flowing through my mind. I grabbed a journal and wrote as fast as I could to keep up with it. Details about the plot and characters would arrive while I was driving, in quiet moments, whenever I was simply open and receptive. After filling three handwritten journals, I knew I had something worth sharing with the world. It was never my intention to write a book — but it seems my higher-self had other plans. Expressing what I know through the art of storytelling has been one of the greatest joys of my life, and my deepest hope is that through Lark’s journey, readers will learn to listen to their own wise mind.
As a debut author, please share what struggles you encountered while drafting your first novel.
Since I never considered myself a professional writer, I struggled with grammar, structure, and the ability to elaborate on details in a way that truly sets a scene. I knew I had a meaningful story to tell, but translating that inner knowing into polished prose was a genuine challenge. I deeply admire writers who can transport a reader to another time or place with seemingly effortless elegance.
As a hypnotist, I know firsthand that childhood wounds can follow us into adulthood. I carry a vivid memory of receiving a poor grade on a book report as a child, and I also struggled with reading comprehension. That ten-year-old girl held a core belief that she was not capable of creative writing — and she was also terrified of criticism, of the book not reaching its full potential. I have sat with her many times throughout this process to remind her that we are educated, intelligent, and capable of far more than she once believed. She now sits proudly in my professional office and feels a deep sense of satisfaction knowing we have dedicated our work to helping others overcome similar struggles.
I would encourage anyone to gently examine the core beliefs that may be holding them back from pursuing their own dreams.
Did you learn any lessons you can impart to aspiring authors?
Don’t get so caught up in the details that you stop moving forward. Write your story. Keep going. Get your words, your message, and your ideas onto the page. Listen to that still, small voice inside of you — your inner Wisdom. Editors exist to help refine and elevate your work, so you don’t have to get it perfect on the first pass.
I would also strongly encourage aspiring authors to find a writing course designed specifically for beginners. I completed a twelve-week book writing program with a trusted mentor, which guided me through everything from story development and cover design to formatting and publishing. The course was self-paced with videos and reference materials, which made it easy to work on my own timeline. Equally important was the community of fellow writers — the camaraderie was essential, because writing can feel like a very solitary endeavor.
Tell us about your writing routine. Do you write in a favorite spot? Listen to music? Write every day?
I did most of my writing in my office, nestled in the hypnosis recliner — which, I can confirm, is extraordinarily comfortable. There were also stretches where I wrote outdoors, which helped me feel more immersed in nature and connected to the story’s world. My writing was somewhat sporadic at first; when I found myself in a true flow state, the words would come more consistently and freely. I found the Save the Cat Beat Sheet enormously helpful for staying on track. As I began to see the finish line in the final stretch of the book, my commitment to writing daily deepened considerably.
Did you experience writer’s block while drafting your novel and if so, how did you push through it?
There were moments when I felt like a complete fraud — when nothing of substance would come and I questioned everything. During those times, I would return to the Save the Cat Beat Sheet for structure and inspiration. I also listened to Jessica Brody’s audiobook, Save the Cat Writes a Young Adult Novel. Her voice is so warm and encouraging that I would inevitably find myself wanting to write again almost immediately. And sometimes, the most productive thing I could do was simply give myself permission to feel blocked — to rest, step away, and trust that the story would be waiting for me when I returned.
Writers generally fall into three categories: plotters who use outlines, character worksheets, and storyboards, pantsers who let the story develop naturally from a premise, or plantsers who blend both. Which of these writing styles best describes your process?
I am, without a doubt, a natural pantser — the story was genuinely channeled to me by Wisdom herself! Once I discovered the Save the Cat Beat Sheet, I used its fifteen beats to help develop and shape the rest of the narrative. It is a brilliantly designed framework, and working with it gave me a profound appreciation for how professional storytellers craft their work. It was both a creative anchor and an education.
I love the character name, Lark. How did you choose that name?
I’m so glad you love her name! It came to me in the most unexpected way. I was out for a drive — for a little retail therapy — when I passed a street sign that read “Lark Drive.” In that instant, Wisdom whispered in my ear: that’s her name. She told me the character’s name was Lark because she is unique and free-spirited, just like the lark bird. I didn’t question it for a moment and it felt right!
If you could go back to day one of writing Walk with Wisdom: A Journey into the Sanctuary of Life, are there any elements such as pacing or balancing dialogue and prose that you would approach differently?
Absolutely. If I were starting again, I would approach the opening of the book with more intention — both in terms of tone and scene-setting. I love the story deeply, but I now recognize that richer, more detailed character history in those early chapters would draw the reader in more fully and establish a stronger emotional foundation. I would also work to weave dialogue in much earlier, as the balance between prose and conversation evolves significantly as the book progresses.
What surprised you most about the cover design process and trying to capture your book’s essence visually?
What surprised me most was how rewarding and fun the process turned out to be. I began by using AI to help bring the character of Wisdom to life visually — which required many, many iterations before I felt I had truly captured her essence. Once I had that image, I provided it along with a detailed creative brief to several professional book cover designers. When a particular version came back from a talented designer in Ukraine, I was moved to tears. She had captured the spirit of the book so perfectly that I knew immediately it was right. The cover design process ended up being one of the most creatively fulfilling parts of the entire journey.
What was your experience navigating the technical side of formatting the manuscript?
Honestly, it was smoother than I expected. My mentor provided clear formatting guidelines, and I simply needed to decide on the book’s trim size. I hired a formatter through Fiverr who was wonderfully easy to work with — responsive, efficient, and quick to make revisions. I would wholeheartedly recommend working with a professional formatter to any first-time author. It takes a genuinely technical task off your plate and ensures the final product looks polished and professional.
As a self-published author, what platform choices did you make for distribution, and what went into those
decisions?
I chose to publish on Amazon first, as it is the largest bookseller in the world and offers a print-on-demand model that requires no upfront inventory investment. I also made the book available through IngramSpark, which opens the door to bookstore and library distribution — an important channel for reaching readers beyond the Amazon ecosystem.
Would you advise aspiring authors to seek a developmental editor or beta readers for their projects?
Wholeheartedly, yes — to both. I am relatively new to this industry, and in hindsight, I wish I had sought developmental editing before publishing. The copy editor I worked with initially helped with grammar and some story consistency, but the deeper structural guidance that a developmental editor provides would have been instrumental. I was encouraged to publish quickly and, while I understand the reasoning behind that advice, I have some regret about moving forward without that layer of support. I have since hired a developmental editor — a former Senior Editor at Hachette Children’s Group — and I am planning a revised rerelease. If there is one piece of advice I would give any aspiring author, it is this: invest in a developmental editor before you publish. Your story deserves it.
Which authors or books have had the biggest influence on your personal writing style?
I deeply admire Jenny Han for her extraordinary ability to inhabit the inner world of teenage girls. Her imagination and gift for authentic emotional storytelling are something I aspire to. I would be absolutely thrilled to one day see Walk with Wisdom as a Disney film! I am also greatly inspired by Esther Hicks and the way she weaves mindfulness and law of attraction principles into accessible, story-driven content.
Do you have any other projects in the works? If so, can you share a quick snippet?
Yes! I plan to expand Walk with Wisdom into a trilogy. As the series unfolds, Lark will continue to grow, face new emotional challenges, and deepen her intuitive gifts. In the second book, she will encounter a new guide named Wonder, and in the third, she will meet Worthy. The names are intentional — each guide represents a quality that Lark — and all of us — are invited to cultivate within ourselves. I can’t wait to continue her journey, with more experience, confidence and editorial support.
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