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Debbie’s Blog

Welcome to my new blog, which now includes content from many of the blogs I’ve created over the years. You can now also access content via category from this one page instead of having to search for my individual blogs, which were scattered over various platforms and websites.


How Ruby Rose Was Created Part 3

Part 1 – Part 2 – Part 3 (Last updated July 26, 2017) The next thing that arrived were the color proofs. Debbie checked them over to make sure everything looked ok: and what needed to fixed, like this floating torso in Ruby Rose’s cafeteria (eek!): Debbie let HarperCollins know things that could be . . .



How Ruby Rose Was Created Part 2

Part 1 – Part 2 – Part 3 (Last updated May 14, 2016) While Debbie was doing research, she noticed that Rob Sanders mentioned on his website that RUBY ROSE had been inspired by his great-niece Madi. She asked Rob for some reference photos, and based aspects of the picture book Ruby Rose on . . .



How Ruby Rose Was Created Part 1

Part 1 – Part 2 – Part 3 (Last updated July 26, 2017) Welcome! This post for young readers is about how the first Ruby Rose picture book was created. First, author Rob Sanders started with a character. He tried lots of characters and wrote lots of stories, looking for one “who was fresh and new, . . .




#BookADay: THE GAME OF LOVE AND DEATH by Martha Brockenbrough

Holy cow, did I love THE GAME OF LOVE AND DEATH by Martha Brockenbrough (Arthur Levin Books, 2015). I found myself slowing down my reading about 3/4 way through because I DIDN’T WANT IT TO END. And I was inspired to do some fan art (see image). The romance was so original . . .



How I’m Finding Ways To Read More Books This Summer

One of the reasons I love Donalyn Miller’s Annual Summer #BookADay Challenge is because it always forces me to reevaluate my reading habits. I love to read but sometimes I find that reading gets put on the back burner more often while other activities take priority. Sometimes these activities, especially family-related and . . .