Bandit, our
Cajun snow dog, likes the climate
in Tennessee.
Hi, I'm Debra Smith. I was born a lon-ng time ago in Natchitoches, LA, home of Steel Magnolias, meat pies, and a great Christmas festival. It's the oldest town
in the Louisiana Purchase, so we were surrounded
by history. We later moved to the Baton Rouge area, where I went to school, got married, and spent the
next 30 years.
When did you start to write?
I have always loved reading, and discovered in 3rd grade how much fun it was to make up stories and share them. Writing for publication began many years later (1992), when my children were in school. I love travel, photography, and turning kids on to history. Memberships include:
Louisiana Artist Roster
Society for Children's Book Writers and Illustrators
Best things about being a writer:
~ Research, which involves reading, travel, and taking
lots of pictures
~ School visits with excited readers
~ Letters saying, "Hattie is just like me"
~ Older people wanting books for their grandchildren,
"so they'll know how it was when I was young"
~ Helping kids understand that others have survived
tough times, and they will, too.
The Move
Living in south Louisiana taught us about difficult times. In the wake of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, our family decided it was time to find higher ground. We're now on a mountain in middle Tennessee!
There are many things I miss about home -- especially some dear people and Cajun cooking. But Tennessee offers another rich culture to explore, new faces, and stories to be told.
To schedule a school visit, ask a question, or just say "hi,"
or call 1-800-843-1724
BOOKS
Hattie Marshall and the Prowling Panther
Pelican Publishing, 2005 (2nd ed.) Hattie Marshall and the Dangerous Fire
Pelican Publishing, 2008 (2nd ed.) Hattie Marshall and the Mysterious Strangers
Crossway Books, 1996 Hattie Marshall and the Hurricane
Pelican Publishing, 2000 Yankees on the Doorstep: The Story of Sarah Morgan
Pelican Publishing, 2001 SCBWI list of Books Publishers Recommend for Children Dealing with Crisis and Tragedy
OTHER
Study guide for Yankees
From Time to Time: Creation to Judges, Lifeway
Adventure (monthly articles, 1993-1999)
Keys for Kids, Teen Power, More
Livingston Parish News, The Advocate (Baton Rouge)
Starburst Publishing’s devotional collections
PROGRAM TOPICS can be adapted for 3rd grade to adult participants, and include a slide presentation.
Preserving Family Stories – how the Hattie Marshall series began, with emphasis on students recording their own family history.
The Treasure Hunt - bringing the past to life through the adventure of research.
Living in Precarious Times – how Sarah Morgan’s wartime journal sustained her and reveals a girl’s life during the Civil War.
Creating Characters to Recall - elements of characterization and finding authentic voice.
Pearls, Pixels, and Pruning – writing for periodicals.
