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Beverly Donofrio
Beverly Donofrio
01:37

Beverly Donofrio

Long Island, NY US

"Life is difficult. Bad happens. What are you going to do? You just have to make the best of everything. Trust that the universe is leading you along. It's all a process."

Career Roadmap

Beverly's work combines: Education, Writing, and Communicating / Sharing Stories

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Day In The Life

Writer

Writer, memoirist, and teacher. No longer Riding in Cars with Boys. I upgraded to riding with my dog.

Skills & Education

Here's the path I took:

  • High School

  • Bachelor's Degree

    English Language and Literature, General

    Wesleyan University

  • Graduate Degree

    Creative Writing

    Columbia University in the City of New York

Life & Career Milestones

My path in life has been direct

  • 1.

    Grew up working class; started ditching high school, got pregnant before she graduated.

  • 2.

    Enrolled in community college and struggled: didn't have a car, couldn't mind babysitters.

  • 3.

    Got an "F" on her English thesis; later became her autobiography, Riding in Cars with Boys.

  • 4.

    Was offered film rights for her book, held out on huge amounts of money until she found a deal that kept her involved.

  • 5.

    "Just say "yes": never wanted to write for magazines but found some amazing opportunities, loved it.

  • 6.

    Found financial success, critical acclaim, but still struggled with depression.

  • 7.

    Moved into a monastery for four years to "heal" after experiencing a major trauma.

  • 8.

    Says even the worst experiences in her life worked out in the end, led her to the person and writer she is today.