I grew up in Rye, New York, with two parents, one older brother named Donnie, and one white cat named Snezhy (“snowball” in Russian). There was often a TV, a radio or two, or a record player on (yes, I’m ancient!), sometimes all at once. On top of that, Donnie practiced piano every day. It was hard to find a quiet place. Even though I was an outspoken and extroverted child, I had a serious, reflective side too, and I cherished silence.
As an adult, I learned meditation and mindfulness and instantly loved the sense of calm and peace I experienced, which often carries into my busy days as a writer, editor, teacher, and therapist. So when I decided to write a children’s book, I wanted to show how it’s possible for children, even young children, to tune in to their breath and quiet their mind, even if the world around them is very noisy and busy.
This is my first picture book. I usually write creative nonfiction and have published essays in The New York Times, Boston Globe Magazine, The Writer's Chronicle, Writer's Digest, Brevity Blog, the Chicken Soup for the Soul series, on Salon, Cognoscenti, and in numerous other publications. In 2013, as part of an interdisciplinary project at Lesley University's MFA Program in Creative Writing, I studied picture-book writing and fell in love with the genre. Thanks to Rachel Neumann and the whole Parallax team for their enthusiasm and vision for the project. And to the fabulous Sara Woolley for bringing Charlotte to life!
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In addition to offering school visits for kids of all ages, Debbie is available for speaking engagements and workshops on mindfulness or picture-book writing. For information, please use the Contact form.
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Click here for our Electronic Press Kit, including press release, discussion guide, author interview, and author photo.
BIOS FOR MEDIA
Long version:
Deborah Sosin, LICSW, MFA, is a writer and clinical social worker specializing in mindfulness. A native of Rye, New York, Debbie lived in Munich, Germany, as a teenager, then graduated from White Plains (N.Y.) High School and the University of Michigan. Her essays have appeared in The New York Times, Boston Globe Magazine, The Writer’s Chronicle, Brevity Blog, the Chicken Soup for the Soul series, on Salon and Cognoscenti, and in numerous other publications. Debbie has worked with children in various capacities—as a therapist, Montessori educator, and volunteer with the Newton (Mass.) Child Assault Prevention Program. As a clinicial social worker, she specialized in substance use disorders and authored the forthcoming workbook The Sober Starting Today Workbook: Powerful Mindfulness and CBT Tools to Help You Break Free from Addiction (New Harbinger, March 2024).
Debbie earned her MFA from Lesley University and MSW from Smith College School for Social Work and is a member of SCBWI, the Writers' Loft, the Authors Guild, and NASW. A longtime meditator, Debbie holds an advanced certificate from the Institute for Meditation and Psychotherapy. She lives with her two very quiet cats outside of Boston, Massachusetts.
Short version:
Deborah Sosin, LICSW, MFA, is a writer, GrubStreet instructor, and clinical social worker specializing in mindfulness. Her essays have appeared in The New York Times, Boston Globe Magazine, The Writer’s Chronicle, on Salon and Cognoscenti, and in numerous other publications. She lives outside of Boston, Massachusetts, with her two very quiet cats.
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For information about Debbie's writing workshops, editorial services, and clinical practice, visit www.deborahsosin.com.
Photo credit: Kevin Day Photography