I'm Debbie Gonzales, a lover of children, books, writing, and education. I am an author/educator who cares deeply for kids and their connection to reading and writing.
I've been a teacher, a school administrator, an educational consultant, a curriculum designer, a former adjunct professor, and a writing workshop instructor. I once taught PBS's Barney kids in a one-room off-set Montessori classroom. Today, along with helping authors and illustrators establish vibrant Pinterest platforms, I create educational guides for publishers, authors, and educators through a service I call Guides by Deb. I earned my MFA from the Vermont College of Fine Arts in Writing for Children and Young Adults.
As an author, I've published a non-fiction picture book titled Girls with Guts: The Road to Breaking Barriers and Bashing Records, (The story of the tenacious history of the female athlete from the first Olympic Games to present day, incorporating the passage of Title IX) and a number of early readers with New Zealand's Giltedge Publishing. I'm proud to be represented by Melissa Nasson of Rubin Pfeffer Content.
My over 35 years in the classroom has given me the experience to know just what an educator needs in a guide...engaging, lively, entertaining, solid content connecting the child with the spirit of the book while meeting the academic rigors of teaching in today's educational system. Well-crafted educational guides keep your books in the hearts of young readers and the hands of those who care for them.
A transplant from Austin, Texas, I now hang my hat in magical Ann Arbor, Michigan where I live with my two favorite dogs, beloved husband John and my spunky black Lab puppy, Missy.
Debbie Gonzales is a certified Pinterest Marketing Specialist, an author, and an educator. She's the author of six transitional readers for New Zealand publisher, the nonfiction picture book GIRLS WITH GUTS: THE ROAD TO BREAKING BARRIERS AND BASHING RECORDS, and the host of Guides by Deb, a website consisting of over 300 standards-aligned educator guides for all genres. A former SCBWI Regional Advisor, Deb currently serves as a member of the SCBWI-MI Leadership Team and the Michigan Reading Association board. She earned her MFA in writing for children and young adults from the Vermont College of Fine Arts. Learn more about Deb and her many projects by accessing her websites at debbiegonzales.com and guidesbydeb.com.