Fall River journalist Donna Motta realizes a dream by becoming published author

FALL RIVER — After spending 30 years as a multimedia journalist, Donna Lorenz Motta went from writing “cut-and-dry” material to having “fun” with her writing. She has accomplished what she considers her “lifetime achievement”: becoming an author.

“It’s time to write a book,” she told herself. And she was off.

Starting a new chapter in January, Motta self-published a medical suspense novel, “First Do Harm,” and has more on the way.

Motta, who works for Fall River Community Media, says she was inspired by the books she has read throughout her life. Suspense novels always held a special place in her heart.

This is not only her first book but the first of a series, published through Kindle Direct Publishing. She says she wasn’t planning on a series until receiving positive feedback on the first story. Multiple readers reached out to ask when the next book would be done.

“I really have always wanted to do this since I was literally 6 years old, and so this is a very emotional moment to have the books just there saying, ‘Hey, I did this,’” Motta says. “I’m very humbled about it. I was lucky to be able to do it because it’s a lot of time and patience.”

Now Motta wants to share her success story to motivate others to achieve their dreams. “There’s so many people who are just not doing what they really want to do, and there’s no reason why not,” she says.

The new author hopes to inspire other dreamers Tuesday, May 21, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., with "How to Publish Online," a book-signing event in the Fall River Public Library meeting room, 146 North Main St. The event is for participants 18 and older. People interested in attending can register by writing to donna@kalmcommunications.com.

During the signing, Motta will share details of her experience and the challenges she faced. She will also suggest tips on how to go through the publishing process. More than anything, she will try to encourage everyone to reach their goals. “It’s really never too late,” she says.

Motta, who has a master’s degree in professional promotional writing from UMass Dartmouth and has worked in journalism for many years, says the writing process came easy to her. Understanding technology and its role in the self-publishing process proved to be a hurdle, but Motta “wanted it bad enough to make it a reality” so she reached out to others for help.

Putting a book out can be a nerve-wracking experience, one Motta compares to birth.

“When they say it's like giving birth, it is because you're giving birth to creativity. You're giving birth to almost a living, breathing form of entertainment for other people, who can embrace it or reject it. And so that's a scary feeling, and I think that that's what scares a lot of people from doing what they want.”

The“quick read,” as Motta describes it, is now available as an ebook, and in print and audiobook format. It’s available on Amazon, iTunes and Audible, for which Motta narrated her own book.

The story starts in the Great Depression, telling the story of how a young boy determined to escape poverty turns into a famous surgeon who discovers cures for seemingly incurable diseases — although, in doing so, he questions his medical ethics. The doctor may have escaped poverty, but he can’t escape the unfolding drama.

Motta says the book took on a life of its own as she was writing. She claims she didn’t know what was going to happen next.

“It’s kind of one of those books where you start reading it, and then you step out of reality and step into another world,” says Motta. “I actually got toward the end and I said, ‘I wonder how this is going to end.’”

Motta says the second book in the series, “House of the Broken Glass,” is scheduled for release in May. “Yes is the New You,” a self-help book, is scheduled for release in June.