Debbie Dadey, Children's Author - Debbie Talks to Kids

Tuesday January 16, 2007

Tomorrow, I'll start writing another Bailey School Kids Junior book for next Easter. First, Marcia and I will brainstorm and come up with a plan for our book. What will happen first? Perhaps Eddie should spill Easter egg dye all over the carpet! Maybe his fingers will turn a horrible shade of green and people will think he has something wrong with him. There's so many possibilities. What do you think should happen?

Snigdha gave me a funny suggestion with Tooth Fairies Don't Kick Soccer Balls. My daughter would like that idea. She loves soccer. We're actually going to a soccer tournament in Las Vegas this month that she'll be playing in. Haleigh likes Tooth Fairies too. She suggested another funny title, Tooth Fairies Don't Eat Doughnuts. I think Tooth Fairies sound like a great idea. What do the rest of you think?

Jami-Ann, I get ideas from everywhere-even the newspaper and especially from my kids. I never know how many books I will write in a year because it varies a lot, depending on lots of things. I like to read a lot, that's one of the things that got me writing. I wanted to write something that someone else might like to read. You can find out more about me under Events and FAQ.

Thanks for writing Alexis, Wasin, Braeden and Mark. You guys sound like awesome readers. Tell your teachers I think you are great! Mark, I hope you noticed where I answered your question. I think the Bailey School kids books could be classified as realistic fiction. Ryan, I don't know if you're reading this, but I wonder about you often and hope everything went well with your bone marrow transplant. Take care, Debbie

Wednesday January 10, 2007

Greetings from the frozen state of Colorado! Congratulations to Anna who will have the book, Wizards Do Roast Turkeys (coming this fall) dedicated to her for guessing I had 20 Christmas trees. (I have 51, but she had the closest guess.)

Did you see the neat new bats on my home page? They sit over to the left and if you wait or click on them they will fly around the screen. Thanks to webmaster Fred and computer magician Sarah! Thanks also to Jade for suggesting FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) for the Bailey School kids. I worked on them on Saturday and I hope they'll be online soon.

Mark, the Bailey School books could be classified as realistic fiction or fantasy, depending on how you look at them. Marielle, your title idea was so funny. Erin, it's hard to choose one favorite Bailey School Kids book, but usually I say Skeletons Don't Play Tubas is my favorite.

To Kamey, I was born in Henderson, KY. Please look under About Me under Events (also FAQ) for more information and on my home page. Write to me on this page if you'd like me to respond. This is the safest way to communicate by email. The teacher's site email is for grown-ups to use.

Brenton from Australia, just wanted to let you know I mailed you a package today. I hope it gets there in time for your report. Brenton had written to me snail mail for some help with a report. I can't take your name over the Internet, but I can respond to written requests through the mail. (This is because there are lots of weirdos in this world and it's not a good idea for kids to put their names and addresses on the Internet.)

Okay, I'm off to save the world in a book. I have two stories I'm rewriting so I'd better get to it! Take care, Debbie

Thursday December 28, 2006

Brrrrrrr! Have you ever been in a blizzard? I live in Colorado and we had one just before Christmas. 24 inches of snow blasted us. It came down so fast and furious, it was almost a total white-out, which means you could barely see anything but snow. It was blowing sideways and felt like needles in your skin. When it was all over, my whole neighborhood looked like it was sprinkled with fairy dust. Everything was a dazzling white. Unfortunately, the drifts were so high that it took hours of shoveling and snow-blowing to even get a path for our dogs to go outside to potty! Many people still cannot drive on their streets because the snow is so deep in the roads and the snowplows haven't gotten to their streets yet. The crazy news is that we may get another foot of snow tonight! We may be snowed in for the New Year.

Thanks for your notes. Laveen, you are phantasmagorical yourself! David, did you know my younger brother's name is David? Elmedina, what a cool name you have. David, everytime I think about The Bride of Frankenstein Doesn't Bake Cookies I get very hungry. I may go eat the gingerbread house that we made. Elizabeth, you sound like an amazing reader. Ten books over Christmas break! That sounds like a record. Any other voracious readers out there? Ash and Brenton, I have to tell you that Scholastic holds the copyright for the series title The Adventures of the Bailey School Kids. Marcia Jones and I hold the copyrights for the individual titles. You can have great fun writing as many Bailey books as you want, however if you try to sell them you would be in trouble with Scholastic. Brenton, you suggested some great titles! Rick, check with your local librarian and ask he/she to get more of my books. That's the cool thing about libraries, the books are free! Samantha, I'm so glad you like the Barkley School for Dogs books. You can write to me in care of Scholastic, Inc. 557 Broadway New York, New York 10012-3999. For anyone doing author or book reports, you can find out more info about me under FAQ in the events section of this site. I am in the process of adding to that, so if there's additional information you want added, let me know.

I hope your 2007 is filled with many blessings. May every hope, dream, and wish come true. Here's a quote about not giving up from basketball legend Michael Jordan that is inspirational to me and maybe it will be for you:

"I never look at the consequences of missing a big shot . . . when you think about the consequences you always think of a negative result. I've missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games, 26 times I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed."

Thanks Michael. Happy 2007, Debbie

Tuesday December 19, 2006

Are you counting down the days until Christmas? My kids tell me it's 6 if you don't count today. I feel very blessed this year and thank you all so much for writing me and reading my books. Merry Christmas and if you're Jewish, Happy Hannukah. I don't know very much about Jewish customs, so maybe you can teach me.

Logan, I'm glad you liked Beware of The Blabbermouth, a Ghostville Elementary book. Who knows maybe you DO have ghosts at your school!

Ricky and Kameryn, check out the About Me section of my website under events. That might help your reports, but I'm also adding a fast facts page using your suggestons. Thanks!

Deb, I like your name! Yes, we are finishing up a new Bailey School Kids Junior book right now. When we first wrote Vampires Don't Wear Polka Dots, Mrs. Jeepers really did turn into a vampire monster right in front of Eddie. That's why he came back as white as a ghost from the hallway. Our editor wanted us to take out the really scary part though. Do you think it would have been too scary?

Hey Brent, glad you like my books and hope Santa brings you and Brenton some more. Brenton, good luck with your writing. You certainly have a head start on me. I didn't begin writing a lot until I was about 27 years old!

Matthew, I am truly honored to be able to dedicate a book to your grandpa, James Frank. He was one of those really awesome people who truly was larger than life. He spread joy! I remember just listening to his funny stories around the dinner table when we'd come to visit. I didn't know him as well as you, but he will always have a special place in my heart. What a lucky boy you were to have him as your grandpa! I hope it works out that I can visit your school.

As for me, I need to go get dressed. (I'm still in my PJs as I write this! Don't I have a cool job that I can work in my PJs?) I hope to get my picture taken with one of Santa's reindeer's today. If it works out, I'll post it soon! Take care of yourselves and be kind! Debbie

Monday December 11, 2006

Guess what? My hair finally got long enought to donate to Locks for Love. I got it all cut off! I hope to have a picture soon for you to see in my photo album, but it feels a little bit naked! The great thing about hair is that it will grow back.

I hope you're having a great time this month. Can you believe it's only a few weeks away from Christmas? I don't know about you, but we're pretty excited about it around my house. There's been a lot of secret present wrapping and tucking away of packages. My two youngest kids want I-pods for Christmas. Are you hoping for a special gift?

Speaking of Christmas, thanks for all your guesses as to how many Christmas trees I have in my house. I had to go around and count them. Are you ready, Anna, Brenton, Jessica, Molly, Matthew, and Karin? I have 2 large trees (one in my dining room and one between my family room and my office). I also have 21 middle-sized trees and 29 tiny trees! So, did anyone do the math yet? That's a grand total of 51 trees. I must be a little nuts! So, Anna you guessed the closest so I will dedicate Wizards Do Roast Turkeys to Anna. (Shhhh, that comes out next Thanksgiving) Thanks for guessing.

Hi to Elizabeth and Josefine! Josefine, I'm so glad you like the new Bailey School Kids Junior series. Bailey, I love your name! Did you know my grandmother's last name was Bailey? Bailey, I have met other authors and you can send me books to authograph in care of Scholastic 557 Broadway New York, New York 10012-3999. One way to make it easier is to simply send a book plate.

Makenzie, how cool to be able to read in French. I have to admit, my French is not that great and I sometimes have to have help reading fan letters written to me in French. Luckily, my neighbor is from France.

Aima and Brenton, it would be totally awesome to visit your schools and meet you guys. But I have to have an adult invite me. If your teachers or a parent group are interested, have them check out the event and scheduling part of my website.

Take care of yourselves and be happy, Debbie

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