Deborah Diner
 | Kidlit Member |
Hi, Deborah! Thanks for coming!
Hi, Dionna! Thanks for throwing this party for us!
Do tell, please, how did you find your way to becoming a kidlit author?
To be honest, I'm not completely sure what drove me to become a writer. It has always felt so natural to me, I've never seriously questioned why I'm willing to wake up early every morning to scratch out stories before work! But, I know exactly why I have chosen to write for children. They are the dream audience--open-minded, enthusiastic, curious, and brutally honest. As a teacher, my favorite part of the day is when I read out loud to my students and see the pure delight of their reactions to a well-crafted story. My dream is to one day write the book that makes students ask, "Is it read-aloud time, yet?"
Do you have a project of the heart you're working on?
The manuscript I have currently on submission was definitely a work of the heart--a middle grade fantasy story based on Jewish mythology and folklore. When I was a kid, Jewish characters in children's literature were confined almost entirely to historical fiction, in stories of pogroms, immigration, and the Holocaust. While those stories are incredibly important, I was aching for Jewish characters in the fantasy and science fiction books I loved best. Today there's a growing movement of Jewish fantasy, and diverse Jewish characters across all genres, that I would be so honored to be part of.
Sounds exciting! So, what do you love about being represented by Kelly Dyksterhouse?
What don't I love about working with Kelly? From the beginning, she has been so supportive of me and my strange little manuscript. She's given me the feedback I needed to elevate my book to the next level, but she's never made me feel like I have to change in order to be successful. Because this is my debut manuscript, I'm still learning the ropes of the publishing process, and she has been so patient in answering my questions and making sure I feel comfortable about the decisions we're making. I really couldn't imagine a better experience!
Thanks for stopping by, and do let us know when your manuscript is being released!
Will do, and thanks for having me!
Hi, Dionna! Thanks for throwing this party for us!
Do tell, please, how did you find your way to becoming a kidlit author?
To be honest, I'm not completely sure what drove me to become a writer. It has always felt so natural to me, I've never seriously questioned why I'm willing to wake up early every morning to scratch out stories before work! But, I know exactly why I have chosen to write for children. They are the dream audience--open-minded, enthusiastic, curious, and brutally honest. As a teacher, my favorite part of the day is when I read out loud to my students and see the pure delight of their reactions to a well-crafted story. My dream is to one day write the book that makes students ask, "Is it read-aloud time, yet?"
Do you have a project of the heart you're working on?
The manuscript I have currently on submission was definitely a work of the heart--a middle grade fantasy story based on Jewish mythology and folklore. When I was a kid, Jewish characters in children's literature were confined almost entirely to historical fiction, in stories of pogroms, immigration, and the Holocaust. While those stories are incredibly important, I was aching for Jewish characters in the fantasy and science fiction books I loved best. Today there's a growing movement of Jewish fantasy, and diverse Jewish characters across all genres, that I would be so honored to be part of.
Sounds exciting! So, what do you love about being represented by Kelly Dyksterhouse?
What don't I love about working with Kelly? From the beginning, she has been so supportive of me and my strange little manuscript. She's given me the feedback I needed to elevate my book to the next level, but she's never made me feel like I have to change in order to be successful. Because this is my debut manuscript, I'm still learning the ropes of the publishing process, and she has been so patient in answering my questions and making sure I feel comfortable about the decisions we're making. I really couldn't imagine a better experience!
Thanks for stopping by, and do let us know when your manuscript is being released!
Will do, and thanks for having me!
Deborah Diner was born into a military family, and grew up moving all over the country. She has always loved books and words, and wanted to be a writer even before she could read. Some of her earliest memories are of dictating stories to her mother, who typed them up and bound them into her first published books. In college, Deborah continued developing her writing as she studied English, astronomy, and elementary education at the University of Virginia. She currently teaches fourth grade in Winchester, Virginia. When she is not working on her writing, she enjoys embroidery, playing the violin, and indoor rock climbing. Represented by Kelly Dyksterhouse of Raven Quill Literary, you'll find Deborah online at deborahdiner.com.
