Official Website of debbiesteffens.com

Name: debbiesteffens.com
Address: US

Author, Storyteller, Illustrator, Artist, Photographer, and Animal Lover

Welcome to my website. As a professional author, and retired teacher I want to instill a love of reading in children and try to show the importance of values and caring in our world today. This has become a mission which has cast me in many different roles: author, artist, and promoter for my books. I also want to instill a belief in values such as caring and responsibility. I want them to know that their actions and how they treat others, matters. I hope to show them that to treat others with kindness and caring is important.

A Bit About Me

Debra is an impassioned writer and retired teacher full of strong feelings about the need for positive values and responsibility .

Debra had always wanted to write books. As a retired elementary teacher, children's books seemed like a perfect fit. She had always loved books and as a small child, her mother read to her everyday. Of course, she had her favorites, usually about animals. By the time she was three, she had several memorized, from hearing them so many times. She spent time reading stories to her classes and found that many of the books she had loved growing up, were favorites of her students as well. Debra's books are focused on positive values and the characters are very likeable and full of fun mischief. The illustrations are more child friendly than many of the books of today.

My first book

The Adventures of Shadow, the Almost Black Kitten

This is the first in a series of stories about a kitten's adventures through her eyes. This story is based on the life of the author's cat and is a true story. It is a positive, feel-good book for all ages. The illustrations are more like the books the author grew up with and are very kid friendly. The characters are full of personality and are very likable. It shows that values such as responsibility and kindness matter. This book teaches us that love and caring make the difference in all lives, whether big or small. In today's world this is something important to remember. In a world where you can be anything, be kind.

Shadow's Utah Adventure

Shadow's Utah Adventure is the next book for you. Shadow and Prissy go on the family vacation and get to see many new sites, plants and animals. Shadow is up to her old tricks and getting into all kinds of mischief, including getting lost in the southern Utah desert. She meets new friends that try to help her find her way home. As with the first book, it is based on the real life misadventures of my sweet cat, Shadow. If you liked my previous title I guarantee you’ll love this one even more. Join Shadow on this adventure and see if she finds her way home.

Shadow's Utah AdvShadow's Utah Adventure
Fans

Smokey Finds His Wag

The first few weeks of Smokey's life were in a very hot, dry, barren yard. There was little shade and little room, for a growing puppy. It was a very sad place, except for his mother. She tried to keep his hopes up and told him stories about finding a good forever home. As a result, his tag didn't work. You have to be happy to wag your tail. Come along with Smokey and see how he finds his wag.

Smokey's Fans

Shadow Visits the Alamo

If you are a proud Texan or just love Texas history you are going to enjoy my next book.

After Shadow finds out that she is going to see the Alamo, her Mom tells her the story of Dusty, her Great, great, great, great....grandfather, the cat at the Alamo. Relive the battle of the Alamo, see what life was like, and get to know the heroes behind those scared walls. View the final battle at San Jacinto, when Texas won her independence. Packed with lots of Texas facts. Join Shadow as she learns about the battle through Dusty's eyes.

Alamo fans

Bailey Comes Home

Bailey was left by her family on the side of the road. They were moving and decided that they couldn't take her with them. Bailey wandered and wandered from house to house, but was met with one closed door after another. Follow Bailey on her journey to find a forever home.

Bailey's fan club

Fred the Prideful Flamingo

Fred was a very pompous and prideful Flamingo. He would strut around showing off his beautiful pink feathers and boast that they were the brightest and most beautiful pink of all. As a result, the other flamingos didn't really like him. It made them feel less important and it hurt their feelings. When Fred finds out how they feel about him, he goes to his only friend, Chubs, with his problem. Chubs, a funny little flamingo tell him he needs to go to the Wise Old Flamingo for help. Come along on Fred's journey, to find his answers to how he can make things right.

Fred's Fans

Reading at Yoakum County Libraries in Plains and Denver City

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Storytime at the City-Community Library in Tahoka

First
Barnes and Noble Signing

Meet Debra Addison Steffens

My first book signing was such an amazing day. Barnes and Noble in Lubbock did a great job and helped make the day very memorable.

Signings

Ruidoso, Llano Estacado Winery, Lubbock Art Show

Caprock Writers and Illustrator's Alliance

Book Signings at Barnes and Noble

2024

2025 Labor Day Weekend

Gallery

Some of mine and Shadow's special friends

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Speaking Events

Tahoka Rotary Club

My first speaking engagement was at the Tahoka Rotary Club Luncheon in Tahoka, Texas. This was such a thrill because I was invited by one of my former students, who is a member. It meant so much for her to ask me and I was able to see so many people that were dear to me when I taught at Tahoka Elementary.

My Books

I had always wanted to write children's books. When I retired from teaching in 2016, I knew that I now had to time to follow my dream. I began working on my writing and by the beginning of 2017, I had several books almost ready to publish. When we lost my Dad, I sat it to the side. In 2018, I began to publish my first book, The Adventures of Shadow, the Almost Black Kitten.

The Adventures of Shadow, the Almost Black Kitten

May 17, 2018

This book is a feel good story and is very child friendly. I believe that children need positive uplifting stories. My book is based on values, such as kindness and responsibility. I also helps to introduce the children to and build a strong case for pet rescue. The story is based on the true life adventures of my kitten through her eyes.

Have you ever gotten lost when you were visiting a new place? It is a scary feeling when you don’t recognize anything that will help you find your way out and get back home. Join Shadow on her next adventure, or should I say misadventure on a family trip in Utah. While playing a trick on everyone, it backfires and Shadow gets lost while she and her family are camping near Arches National Park. She meets many new animal friends that try to help her get back home. Join Shadow and see if she finds her way back or has to find a new home.

Shadow's Utah Adventure

October 1, 2019

Smokey Finds His Wag

November 15, 2019

Smokey was born and spent the first few weeks of his life in a hot dry dirty yard. He was the smallest of all the puppies, but had a BIG dream. His mother had told him that someday, if he was good and believed, he would find a forever home. A home where he would be taken care of and loved. Smokey held onto that dream which helped him get through each long hot sad day. Since, he wasn’t a happy puppy, his tail didn’t work. You see, a dog has to be happy to wag their tail. Even though Smokey wasn’t happy, he still hung on to his dream. Find out how Smokey’s dream comes true and he finds his wag.

Shadow Visits the Alamo

Shadow is off on another adventure to see the Alamo. She is excited to go on another trip but has no idea what the Alamo is. Shadow's mom, Midnight, gives her a lesson in Texas history and surprises her with a special story about one of her own relatives, her many times great grandfather, Dusty.

While learning why the Alamo is so important to Texans Shadow is surprised to learn that one of her relatives had been at the Alamo, in fact he was the Alamo cat. Come along with Shadow on an historic adventure and learn about two important battles of the Texas War for Independence.

Bailey Comes Home

Bailey had had a very sad and lonely life. Her owners had left her on the side of the road. Even though she had been deserted and treated badly by her family, Bailey never loses her faith that somewhere there is a person who will love her just the way she is. She searches and searches to find her forever home. Travel along with Bailey on her adventure to find her home.

Fred the Prideful Flamingo

Fred was a beautiful bright pink flamingo. He spent his day eating shrimp and admiring himself. Fred paraded about showing off his lovely pink feathers to the others in his flock. This high-and-mighty, better than you, attitude caused the other flamingos to dislike Fred. He had one friend, a funny little flamingo, named Chubs. Chubs liked everyone and everyone liked him. Even though he didn't look like any of the others, no one seemed to notice. When Fred finds out how the other flamingos feel about him, he sets out to find a way to make the flock like him and want to be friends. His adventure to get advice from the the wise old flamingo and a hurricane land him in the middle of West Texas. where he meets Shadow and her friends. They help Fred to return home to Florida. When he finally returns home, he finds forgiveness and friendship with his flock.