Donna Mazzitelli believes that finding our voices is critical to living authentic lives. She helps writers connect to their unique, core voice so they can share a message that is crafted with heart. Donna’s life experiences, which included two cancer diagnoses and significant personal family loss, have helped grow her heart and compassion, as well as her intuition, which is what she offers her clients through the writing and editing process.

Donna’s gentle, clear guidance allows writers to explore those deeper places that can be difficult to navigate. She companions authors through the writing and editing process, helping them know when to pause and when to move forward. What comes forth is a book that is memorable, impactful, and masterfully created.

Donna recognizes that everyone has stories to tell. The more we share our stories from our hearts—whether fiction or nonfiction—the more our readers will connect with us and be transformed. This is how we heal ourselves and our world!

In 2013, Donna began her hybrid indie publishing company. Merry Dissonance Press is here to support works intended to make a little noise in our world—works that create a bit of a rub. Just like the formation of a pearl in the oyster shell, it’s that continuous chafing that creates the most brilliant and lustrous thoughts and ideas to bring more light into the world. Merry Dissonance Press is here to support (non)fiction, poetry, and tales of wonder.

Donna Mazzitelli, “The Word Heartiste,” is an award-winning writing coach, editor, and publisher. As of 2022, Merry Dissonance Press has published 22 books and accumulated more than 50 awards. Donna continues to work on her own writing. To date, she has written and published three children’s books, Warm Toes, The Great Stirring, and The Recycling Project. Donna’s first memoir, Mosaic Heart: Pieces of an Unfinished Life, was published on Valentine’s Day 2022, and she is already at work on her second memoir, Madonna Blue Heart.

Mosaic Heart

“…I knew this was no foe to be feared. This was no evil sorcerer to be battled. I looked into the eyes of Cancer. What was there was pure Divine Love. What emanated was compassion for all I’d experienced and for the many ways I’d hurt the most important person in my life—ME.”

Mosaic Heart is not a book solely about cancer, but cancer is an integral part of this story. As her teacher and guide, cancer provided Donna Mazzitelli with the ability to see that the world and her family would go on, with or without her. Yet, if she wanted to continue to be a part of life and living, she had to learn to care for herself first. As her companion, cancer revealed that it was time to take in this lesson of self-care, self-love, and self-compassion.

Donna’s story reflects a deep dive into the exploration of pieces of her life—most especially her marriage, family life, and the discovery of her life’s purpose beyond midlife. Above all else, this is a love story, as Donna began to rebuild her heart.

Cancer showed up in Donna’s fifties. Initially, she saw cancer as an unexpected, imposing intruder—something to be feared and fought against. Something to be excised. Something to be eradicated. Ultimately, cancer turned out to be Donna’s closest friend and her most honest and life-affirming ally.

Author:  Donna Mazzitelli
Publication Date:  February 14, 2022

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The Recycling Project

After being away for a month during the summer to visit his grandmother, Kenzi’s best friend Juan is finally home. The two friends are excited to see each other, but when Juan shares with Kenzi how sad he felt when he saw so much garbage lying around on the beach and floating in the ocean, the two friends decide that something needs to be done–and it needs to start in their own neighborhood. Determined to find a way to keep their garbage from making its way to the ocean, Juan and Kenzi come up with a plan to take action, showing us that each person really can make a difference.

LOOK FOR THE SPECIAL COLORING PAGES INSIDE.

Author:  Donna Mazzitelli
Illustrator:  Gail M. Nelson
Publication Date:  December 14, 2018

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The Great Stirring

With certainty, every animal knew the Great Stirring had begun.

As the giant sleeps, the great stirring begins. All of nature senses the need to respond. Even the winds carry Mother Earth’s message:

Awaken, arise, and gather together.
Spread peace and love forever and ever.

Soon the animals begin the journey that was foretold and passed down through each generation. “The stirring will lead to the Great Awakening,” their ancestors said. Journey with the Gentle Giant and the animals as they begin to remember Mother Earth’s message.

The Great Stirring is a timeless tale to inspire young minds to seek out a connection with nature and all it encompasses.

Author:  Donna Mazzitelli
Illustrator:  Franki Holidarling
Publication Date:  June 10, 2017

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Warm Toes

A fun day trip to the city brings Kenzi and her friend Valeria face-to-face with an issue that leaves the girls wondering what they can do to help. As the girls and their mothers drive through the city on a snowy day, they notice people who aren’t wearing coats or warm clothing. Before long, the girls figure out a way to get their whole school involved. However, a week before their community’s special event, it seems that their plan is not going to work out. What can the girls do and who can help them find a way to accomplish their dream?

LOOK FOR THE SPECIAL COLORING PAGE INSIDE.

Author:  Donna Mazzitelli
Illustrator:  Laura Peters
Publication Date:  November 16, 2016

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