Welcome. I'm Donny Bailey Seagraves, an Athens, Georgia author of books for children and adults. My latest book, Bee Battle: Spelling, Spiders and the Secrets of Like, is a children's middle grade novel for ages 8 to 12. Scroll down to find out more about my books. When I'm not writing, I work in my business, Junebug Books and Collectibles, where I sell used and rare books, many by Georgia authors. Got a question or comment? Contact me.
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Bee Battle: Spelling, Spiders and the Secrets of Like
Read more about Bee Battle"Fun story about two 5th graders who are determined to win their school's spelling bee. The story alternates between Emily and Josh, both energetic kids with big personalities..."-Gail Langer Karwoski, Author
"I absolutely adored this from start to finish. . . The story is full of rivalry, friendship, typical tween worries that kids will be able to relate to, and school cliques. Although there is a rivalry between Josh and Emily, neither really crosses any hard lines into hard bullying, although Josh was definitely trying to tease Emily when they first met. I loved how Emily handled that first meeting, and it wasn't how I expected it to go, and really set the tone for the rest of the book, which was light-hearted and fun. Overall, a fun read for younger middle grade readers!-Lilly Rose Shadowlyn, Library Thing, GoodReads, The Faerie Review
Josh Meyers, a fifth-grade student at Hartfield Elementary School, has dedicated his life to sports. A sudden injury on the soccer field sidelines him for the rest of the season. Emily Ash lives to win spelling bees. Last year, she placed fourth in the national bee. When her archaeologist parents and her younger brother fly to Egypt for a year to dig for artifacts, Emily stays behind in Hartfield with Uncle Max, a noted artist who is also a paraplegic.
Who will win Hartfield Elementary School's spelling bee? Emily Ash or Josh Meyers? Both kids are good spellers and both want to win. But there can only be one winner.
Read an excerpt from Bee Battle.
Order the ebook edition of Bee Battle here.
Order the print edition of Bee Battle here.
Order the Apple Books audio edition of Bee Battle here.
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Cooking With Annie D: Southern Recipes Seasoned With Seagraves and Pettyjohn Family History
Read more about Cooking With Annie D"This book weaves together authentic Southern recipes with family histories from North Georgia. In addition to being a treasure trove of Southern cuisine, including chicken mull, cobblers, cakes, hash, and sausage, the recipes include a few unconventional extras, such as Annie D's "Recipe for a Happy Marriage," which includes among its many ingredients, "2 cups flattery, carefully concealed," and "3 teaspoons pure extract of 'I'm sorry."-A Reader
"Anyone interested in classic Southern recipes or who researches their own family roots in early Georgia, North Carolina, Virginia and beyond will find 'Cooking With Annie D' a useful collection of food, history, and memories of good times, particularly in the areas of Clarke, Madison, Oglethorpe . . . counties."-Jude Cowell, Blogger
The South is known for delicious food. In this down-home cookbook, you will find plenty of Southern recipes, along with Seagraves and Pettyjohn family history. Annie D's Pettyjohn family moved from the North Georgia mountains to Athens, Georgia in 1933, eventually settling in a house in what we now call the Boulevard Historic District. Her husband, Nelson "Petie" Seagraves' grandfather and other family members moved to Eastside Athens from Madison County, Georgia in the 1860s. Chapters include profiles, memories, and numerous recipes including Seagraves barbecue sauce, hash and chicken mull recipes.
Order the ebook edition of Cooking With Annie D here.
Order the print edition of Cooking With Annie D here.
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Gone From These Woods
Read more about Gone From These Woods"There is a lot of complexity in this coming-of-age novel. Sensitive younger readers will be drawn in by Daniel's story, which can be likened to a more emotional twin of Gary Paulsen's Hatchet."-Booklist
"The dynamics of the Sartain family are well-developed and genuine as a result of Daniel's authentic first-person narration. Seagraves' debut should leave readers weighing death, guilt and forgiveness."-Publisher's Weekly
"This satisfactory debut novel depicts a realistic portrayal of grief from a youth's perspective. Middle-grade boys will take interest in Danny's internal superhero-vs.-villain battle."-Kirkus Reviews
"It's a dramatic story, and Seagraves sets it up effectively. Daniel's reluctance to hunt in the first place. . . adds to his guilt.-Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
Set in rural North Georgia, this children's middle-grade novel, tells the story of eleven-year-old Daniel Sartain, who accidentially shoots his beloved uncle while hunting rabbits in the woods. Daniel struggles with the fallout of his mistake and also faces the abuse of his alcoholic father. As Daniel learns to listen to the kind words of his uncle that replay in his mind and accepts help from a school guidance counselor, his story unfolds into a hopeful ending.
Read a Gone From These Woods excerpt from Chapter One.
GFTW discussion questions for teachers and librarians.
Young readers and writers, go here.
Order the ebook edition of Gone From These Woods here.
Order the print edition of Gone From These Woods here.
New Bee Battle Audiobook
The Bee Battle audiobook is now available on Apple Books. To listen to a sample and/or buy the Bee Battle audiobook, click the red button below.
Celebrating 100 Years of the National Spelling Bee in 2025!
In 2025, spellers past and present are celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the very first National Spelling Bee. Only nine spellers participated in the first bee. Today, their legacy lives on in the millions of students who compete at all levels of the program. For more information about the Bee, visit spellingbee.com. You might also want to read the book, Bee Battle: Spelling, Spiders and the Secrets of Like to see if Josh Meyers or Emily Ash wins the Hartfield, Georgia school bee.