I grew up in a home with books, many of them "withdrawn" school library books which were "saved" by my teacher grandmother.   My mom was young, but knew the value of reading to her children.  Later, as a music and classroom teacher, it seemed natural to incorporate literature into my curriculum.  Then I taught music and library simultaneously, which gave me more options for integration.  Later I chose to be a full-time librarian.

Do you have a library/information science degree?

    I have a library endorsement from the state of Washington.  Most of my coursework was independent study projects through Western Washington University.

What kinds of library positions have you held and where?

    I worked for several years as an elementary school librarian in Oak Harbor, Washington.

How long were you a librarian? 

   I've maintained by library credentials for about a decade, but only half of that has been spent working as a librarian.

Are you currently working as a librarian? 
  
   I founded and now co-direct a homeschool support program on an island in Puget Sound.

Do you plan to continue in the profession?  

   I may not be a librarian again, at least not full time, but I will always be surrounded by kids and books.

Which came first in your life, your career as a librarian, or writing for children?

    I've always written for children as a part of my teaching work, but writing for publication happened after my teaching career was well underway, unless you count having a piece appear in a little volume called Wonder Writers when I was ten!

Did your library work have anything to do with becoming a children’s writer?

    My library experiences and my writing have both influenced the other.  Long before I became a librarian, my masters project was on teaching writing.  My students knew they were "writers."  Later, I took a sabbatical to work on writing, and much of my library focus after returning was on reading and writing strategies.

Did your library work directly influence your work as an author? 

    Library work gives you a knowledge of children's literature and publishing trends that isn't equaled anywhere else.  If you're not directly looking at the books, you're often reading about them.  Children's issues and behaviors are right in front of you.  One manuscript I wrote, which has been accepted for publication, was created after being frustrated with one particularly primary-aged trait -- the battles over friends.  While the library has been a great influence on my writing, I've never set a story there, but I'm sure it will happen at some point. 

What were the greatest benefits of being a librarian to you as a writer? 

    The greatest benefits of being a librarian and a writer are the constant contacts with kids and books.  I still make sure I have both in my life, but it's a more intentional effort now.

Were there any drawbacks to being a librarian and also a writer? 

    The only drawback in being both a librarian and writer is the same one we all feel when life is too full -- there’s never enough time!

If you wrote while working as as librarian, how did you manage the time-juggling act? 

   I'm not sure anyone ever manages the time-juggling act, no matter what their jobs are.  Librarians seem to thrive in chaos and the need to write just fuels more chaos!

Did you find any conflicts or job-related difficulties in being both a writer and a librarian?

   No. In fact, I felt that being an author gave me a broader perspective on books, and also helped validate (for both me and my students) what I had to say about books and writing.

Do you feel that librarianship had specific benefits to you as a writer?

   When I attended my first national SCBWI (Society of Childrenís Book Writers and Illustrators) conference, one of the presenters talked about getting to know librarians.  Librarians know publishing trends, books, and readers. I've always been aware of how my knowledge of books has put me at an advantage when writing my own.

Deborah's books: 
Dinosailors, out from Harcourt in Fall 2003.
Tell Me My Story, Mama is being published by HarperCollins in Spring 2004.
I have two books out from Morehouse with another one due next fall.
Play & Pray  is a boardbook, and
Me & God: A Book of Partner Prayers is a picture book.