Her childhood growing up just outside Abingdon, Virginia in Washington County provided Donna with a rich cultural background from which much of her writing and interests stem. In fact, her family roots there can be traced back eight generations to the earliest settlers in the area. Even as a second grader, she penned stories about her dog, Sheppie, camping trips, and whales. In her opinion, her rural family background and family traditions of reading and interest in history provided a rich soil for her growth as a writer. She has published two books, and is currently working on compiling two collections of historic photographs and postcards for Boone and Blowing Rock, North Carolina, where she lives today.

Many say that what differentiates Appalachian writers from writers in other minority groups is a rich sense of place and connection to the land. "I've always loved the land in this region, the high, open places, the blue ridges floating like ocean waves, and the rounded hills. My grandparents' farm, just a mile from historic White's Mill, was a favorite childhood spot for me. It wasn't until a few years ago that I traced back the history and found it has been in our family since the early 1800s through the Jameson line. It 's so special to me that my parents now live on the land and continue that tradition."

Donna Gayle Akers was born April 27, 1966 in Abingdon, Virginia, a small town with a unique and significant history. Her parents, Nellie Hensley Akers and Kenneth D. Akers lived in a small brick ranch house on Chip Ridge Road. "Even the name of our road was a reference to the Native American arrowheads and chips found in the area," Donna says. How could I grow up not loving history and curious about my heritage?" Her mother Nellie is from Coeburn, Virginia and attended nursing school in Abingdon and became an RN at Johnston Memorial Hospital. Her father, whose family roots go back eight generations in Washington County, worked at Raytheon plant in Bristol until it closed recently and was a "sundown farmer," meaning he worked the farm after his regular job. "Both my parents have worked hard all their lives and provided me with opportunities to learn and go to college and achieve my dream of becoming a writer. I thank them for their sacrifices and support." She was the oldest child, and has a sister DeAnna and a brother, Kenny.

Donna admits that many of her relatives were "big talkers." A favorite past time was for the uncles, aunts, and cousins to gather at the family homeplace and tell stories. Donna relates hiding under the dinner table and listening to the grownups talk about things the children weren't supposed to hear. "I loved to read from an early age and make up stories about people that I would see out somewhere. I guess you could say I had a vivid imagination early on." As a child, she preferred to read fairy tales than play outdoors, considered "quare" in those parts. After being labeled as "too shy to speak in public" by a second grade teacher, Donna applied her stubborn streak and became involved in drama, public speaking and any activity that forced her to overcome a natural leaning toward bashfulness. She did well in high school and played French Horn in the band and lettered in academics as well. "I tried one season to run track, but I was a lost cause for the coaches," says Donna. Fortunately, many of her teachers encouraged excellence in writing and she credits Mrs. Roberts, Mrs. Jonas, and Mrs. Moore with her fascination with the written word. History held an attraction for her, so she decided to become an archeologist at an early age.

Donna attended James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia to pursue a BA in anthropology and archeology. College was a shock for a sheltered, quite, student from southwest Virginia. "I remember the shock of being ridiculed by students from urban areas like northern Virginia about my accent and Appalachian background. But, after taking Appalachian culture classes, I began to discover a pride in my culture. Understanding the Scottish, Irish, English, and German roots for much of Appalachian culture was eye opening for me." She worked in archeology part-time through college and worked a year full time with the research center at Madison, until deciding that it wasn't her God-given calling.

Unhappy in this career, she decided to attend the University of Virginia and earned a Masters in Urban Planning and Historic Preservation in 1991. She fondly remembers those two years as among some of her happiest and met her future husband, Greg Warmuth there in the business school. "I loved the campus and the whole Mr. Jefferson worship cult. I was so proud to win a writing competition and scholarship as a Thomas Jefferson Fellow from Monticello." While in graduate school, she had her first short story published in Appalachian Heritage, at Berea College. She worked as a cultural resource program manager at the Air Force Headquarters in the Pentagon for a year, before moving to a suburb of Detroit, Michigan to marry Greg who worked for General Motors.

The transplant of an Appalachian violet to Michigan's rugged winters was not successful, so just after getting married in 1993, they moved to Boone, North Carolina. Greg became Vice President of American Emergency Vehicles in Jefferson, and Donna worked for the Town of Boone as an urban planner. She was offered an adjunct position and taught urban planning at Appalachian State University for two years. Finally, a much anticipated baby came, Owen August, in November 1998. So many dreams fulfilled but Donna still had a yearning to write books.

It was like an unfilled hunger and became stronger as she aged into her 30s. She taught a freshman class at Appalachian just to keep her sanity at home with a very energetic, talkative toddler. Winning a few writing contests was encouraging and showed that others thought she had talent. Donna decided to write a children's book set in Abingdon, her hometown that taught the middle grade reader about the area's history and their Appalachian heritage and Plumb Full of History A Story of Abingdon, Virginia was born. Finding a publisher proved difficult because of the local focus until fellow members of the High Country Writers in Boone began a small publishing company and worked with her to edit the book and publish it. "I intuitively felt this book was meant to be born and getting support from Bob and Barbara Ingalls and Judy Geary was almost "karmic" and perfect timing for me" says Donna. "The book has been well received and sold to adults too. I'm so proud to educate folks about the history of my hometown."

Shortly after finishing the Abingdon book for juvenile readers, Donna's editor recommended she work with Arcadia Publishing on a book of photographs and postcards of Abingdon. Abingdon, Virginia Images of America (2003) was the result of that effort and involved many hours spent in the archives of the Washington County Historical Society.

Since then, Donna was won contracts to produce Images of America books for Boone and Blowing Rock, where she lives today. The books are fascinating and the research is rewarding. She plans another book featuring the same characters from Abingdon learning ghost stories of the town. Balancing life with a busy husband and active child sometimes is a challenge, but when the Muse finally comes to stay, you can't turn her out. Donna lives near Deep Gap (home of Doc Watson!) with her husband, Greg and son Owen.