Dear Readers,
Thank you so much for visiting my website and, especially, for reading my books. It is a great honor! When writing, I often think of you, my readers, and wonder how to best bring the story and characters from my imagination to the printed page so you can enjoy them. You’ve learned something about me through my books, but read on to learn a little more.
My Family
I grew up in Maryland and I live there now with my husband David, our three children, and our dog Indigo. My parents, sister, and nieces don’t live too far away so luckily we get to see each other a lot.
But between my childhood and now, I lived many places: California, Michigan, Jerusalem, New York, New Jersey and North Carolina. I like visiting new places. That’s one of the great things about writing. I get to learn about lots of different times and places. I hope that comes through in my books.
In addition to living lots of places, I’ve been lucky to have a rewarding and varied career. Let me tell you about it.
I am a Rabbi
I am the rabbi of Beth Chai in Bethesda, Maryland. We’re a great small congregation with a big commitment to community, learning, and social justice. I was ordained in 1997 from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion.
My writing journey
I didn’t set out to be an author. Although I was an English major at University of Michigan, I never took a creative writing class. But during rabbinical school, I took a class on writing modern midrash, or Biblically-based stories. I loved it! And that got me started.
My first book, the Seventh Day, was published twenty years ago. Since then, I’ve been lucky to have over 20 more books published. I’ve won a National Jewish Book award and had several books chosen as PJ Library titles. I’ve even had books translated into Spanish and Russian.
My inspiration comes from many different sources: people I know, tidbits from history, Jewish texts. For example, my daughter Arianna loved vehicles as a young girl (she’s now a college graduate!) and her interests inspired me to write the first Engineer Ari book.
And Today!
I am an editor at Behrman House Publishing and our imprint Apples & Honey Press. I get to work with authors and illustrators all over the world to publish books for children and adults. It’s great fun and I love helping other authors get their stories ready for print. The picture to the left shows some of the books that I’ve worked on as an editor.
I also do a lot of my own writing. Often, I collaborate with a writing partner, Kerry Olitzky. He was a professor when I studied in rabbinical school and we reconnected years later to write together. Our strengths complement each other and enhance our writing.
I have several new projects coming out in the next couple of years. And I’m always thinking about new ideas to write. Check back for more details!
(Just one more thing . . . because it is a bit unusual)
I once owned a book trolley
My interest in writing grew into a love of literature for young people. I had a dream of opening a children’s bookstore, but with a twist. I purchased and renovated a trolley bus into a bookstore and, for about five years, brought it to schools, synagogues, churches, farmer’s markets and more.
Deborah Bodin Cohen is an author of award-winning books for children and teenagers 