Donna M. Cramer
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Donna M. Cramer is a retired teacher who lives in Massachusetts.
For more than 20 years, she worked with young children, helping them learn and grow. One day, Donna had a serious brain injury that changed her life. Talking became very hard for her. But during her recovery, she discovered something special—she loved to write! Writing helped her share her thoughts and feelings in a
new way.
Today, Donna stays busy writing stories, practicing
yoga, and walking along the beach. She lives with her husband and their two fluffy Maine Coon cats, who give her lots of love.
Donna hopes her story reminds you of something very important: There is always hope. Even when it feels far away, hope is always there.
You Can’t Play, Lucy! is the fourth book in the Lester
Lion Series.
Media Kit
Secrets of Survival
By Donna M. Cramer
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What is the secret to survival when life has tested you in ways you never expected?
In Secrets of Survival, the powerful sequel to Vegas Goodbye, Donna M. Cramer continues the journey of unforgettable characters as they face the lingering impact of trauma and the difficult path toward healing. Each character must confront their past, navigate their pain, and make choices that will shape who they become moving forward.
This is more than a story of hardship—it is a story of resilience, courage, and the quiet strength it takes to keep going when giving up feels easier. Through moments of struggle and breakthrough, Cramer reminds readers that healing is not a straight line, and survival is not just about enduring—but about learning to live again.
At the heart of every book Donna writes is a message she deeply believes: there is always hope. Even when it feels distant, even when it flickers faintly in the darkness—hope is still there, waiting to be found.
As the second book in the series, Secrets of Survival builds on the emotional foundation of Vegas Goodbye (published September 2025), drawing readers deeper into a world where pain and hope coexist—and where the human spirit proves, again and again, that it is stronger than we think.
Donna M. Cramer is also the author of the beloved Lester Lion children’s series, including Lester Lion Wants to Roar, Lester Lion Calls 911, Lester Lion Loses Grandpa, and her newest release, Lester Lion: You Can’t Play, Lucy!—stories that, like her adult fiction, carry meaningful messages of growth, understanding, and hope.
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Vegas Goodbye
By Donna M. Cramer
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Amid the glitz and glamour of Las Vegas, two broken souls collide in a powerful story of grief, connection, and redemption.
Debra, a grieving widow, is unable to move beyond the loss of her husband. John, a heartbroken father, is reeling from the overdose death of his son. Both arrive in Las Vegas with the same devastating purpose: to end their lives. After all, Las Vegas has a suicide rate 50% higher than the national average, earning it the grim nickname “the suicide capital of America.”
Their chance encounter sparks an unexpected connection, even as each keeps their pain carefully hidden.
But their path is soon shadowed by Jim, a mysterious and menacing figure who seems to haunt John. Is Jim a real threat, or a terrifying projection of John’s inner demons?
As Debra and John grow closer, they must confront not only their pasts and their guilt but also the darkness that follows them. Through each other, they begin to discover the possibility of healing—and the fragile, flickering light of hope.
In the city of illusions, Vegas Goodbye is a story that reminds us, even in our darkest moments, the chance for a new beginning may be just one heartbeat away.
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Two young families are on the brink of new beginnings. Brynn and Eric Branson, recently married, are overjoyed with their baby, Paul. Alison and Jared Jensen are equally excited to start their life together, with Alison eager to escape the influence of her overbearing father, Cecil. Both couples are filled with anticipation for their futures.
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However, life takes a dramatic turn when Jared is deployed to Afghanistan. In a misguided attempt to help Alison cope with a devastating loss, Cecil and Gail, Alison's parents, intervene in ways that profoundly affect both young couples.
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As they navigate through heartbreaks and some victories over the next twenty years, will these couples find their way back to happiness? Can they overcome loss and tragedy, and will hope ultimately triumph?
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