Debbie's Bio

Writing is in my blood–literally. My mother is a published children's book author and has been writing ever since I was born. I have warm memories of gathering with my siblings around my mother as she read to us the latest chapter of a novel she was working on, or her latest picture book story. Sometimes she'd ask our opinions as to what should happen next or what a character's name should be. At a very young age, words like manuscript, editor, contract, and Dutton were part of my everyday vocabulary, and…part of me. 

Although I had wanted a career in writing children's books, I was aware that making a living from writing books was a long shot. So I chose a career in special education. But, as fate would have it, I was summoned back to the writing world. After working in special education for a few years, I was presented with the opportunity to create online educational animations, and I took it. This led to freelance writing gigs with educational publishers, and then finally, to a full-time writing and editing positions at McGraw-Hill Education, Edusoft Learning/ETS, and Benchmark Education.  

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Today, like my mother, I am a published children's book author. I have published seven books so far. You can watch Emmy-Award-winning actress Allison Janney read my picture book Carla's Sandwich on the Screen Actors Guild's Storyline Online website. ​Today, my mother and I constantly share market information, names of good books we've read, and story ideas. Sometimes we go to conferences together. She gets even more excited than I do when one of my stories gets accepted.​ Any time I write a new story I first send it to two people: my mother, and my brother, Mike, who’s an excellent editor, and also a children's book author. If they like it, then I know I’m good to go.