Kim Doner was left by Gypsies on the front porch of Betty and Otto Doner on July 21, 1955. As a small child, she planned to grow up and be a Ballerina Veterinarian Artist. Kim would save animal lives by day, dance on stage at night, and vacation in Africa each summer to wear leopard skins, face paints, and fancy beads (she had gaudy tastes as a small child). She would live in a treehouse like Tarzan's (and if Johnny Weissmuller didn't show up, maybe Cheetah would). There, she would draw fabulous animals and retire a World Famous Artist.
She dropped the ballerina idea when she encountered the agony of toe shoes and canned the veterinarian route upon landing the job of scooping up puppy poop for a first pet.
BUT! The Tarzan idea is alive and well and...she IS an artist.
Imagine that.
But how did she get there?
Oh, rats! You want the facts....ohhhhh, okay.

The Facts

Born in Tulsa, OK., and a Tulsa University graduate: B.S. in art, no less! As a medical illustrator, first jobs entailed chances to draw arrowheads, snake fangs, tumors, and embryos (it wasn't pretty). Artistic growth slowed when Kim became a Supreme Domestic Engineer (also known as "wife and mother") but things picked up between babynaps and diapers when she began painting portraits. She painted for galleries and collections, won awards, had a commissioned list, began graduate programs...and landed a contract for her first children's book. Wow! The Perfect Fit for Kim Doner! Since her first book, Kim discovered she is no longer aging. She is younging. This process occurred during early sketches, when her inner child leapt forth and started running the show; within the next few years, she will probably get to go trick-or- treating again. She already plays lots of video games...
Besides writing/illustrating children's books/magazines, learning computer graphics, single-handedly inventing games, puzzles, clip art, bookbags, bookmarks, posters, manuals, and stickers for Oklahoma's libraries; besides developing art classes for children and adults; besides designing professional development/in-service workshops for teachers; besides being a member of the Oklahoma Center for Poets and Writers, Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, Graphic Artist's Guild, Oklahoma Center for the Book, International Reading Association, and the Society for Creative Anachronism, one might ask what Kim Doner does do.
Ah! We're so glad you want to know.
She makes School Visits.