Press Kit
Biography
Debra Kempf Shumaker started reading at the age of four and hasn’t stopped since. She grew up on a small dairy farm in Wisconsin but now lives in the suburbs of Northern Virginia with her husband and two cats. Debra is the author of Freaky, Funky Fish; Peculiar Primates; Tell Someone; and Wind Is a Dance. When she isn’t reading or writing, she enjoys hiking, gardening, setting puzzles, and watching Jeopardy.
Representation
Debra is repped by James McGowan & Sophie Sheumaker at BookEnds Literary.
Links To Full Size Cover Images/Book Info
Downloadable Author Photos/Bios
Upcoming Events
- July 13, 2 pm: Animal Adaptations Storytime Program at James City County Library in Williamsburg, VA. Details here.
- July 14th: Storytime and Animal Adaptations Program at Yorktown Library in Yorktown, VA
- August 4th, 10:30 am: Animal Adaptation Fun at Nokesville Library, Nokesville, VA. Details here.
- August 4th, 2:00 pm: Animal Adaptation Fun at Bull Run Library, Manassas, VA. Details here.
- August 5th, 10:30 am: Animal Adaptation Fun at Independent Hill Library, Manassas, VA. Details here.
- August 5th, 3:00 pm: Animal Adaptation Fun at Haymarket Gainesville Library, Haymarket, VA. Details here.
- August 6th, 10:30 am: Animal Adaptation Fun at Dale City Library, Woodbridge, VA. Details here.
- August 6, 2:00 pm: Animal Adaptation Fun at Lake Ridge Library, Woodbridge, VA. Details here.
- August 7, 10:30 am: Animal Adaptation Fun at Dumfries Library, Dumfries, VA. Details here.
- August 7, 2:00 pm: Animal Adaptation Fun at Potomac Library, Woodbridge, VA. Details here.
Audio / Video Interviews
- Tell Me About Your Book Podcast with Oaky Tyree
- Reading With Your Kids Podcast with Jed Doherty and learn more about PECULIAR PRIMATES, November 6, 2022.
- New Books Network Interview — Peculiar Primates with Mel Rosenberg, September 7, 2022.
- Something’s Happening Here Podcast with Harlan Marks, January 26, 2022
- Reading with Your Kids Podcast, December 9, 2021
- “Empowered Publicity,” Children’s Books Spotlight Series, December 2, 2021
- Interview with Mel Rosenberg—“You’ve Got Mel”—about Freaky, Funky Fish and my writing journey. October 6, 2020
Blog Interviews
- Featured on Jennifer Lynn Pease’s blog, December 7, 2024.
- Featured on Kerry Aradhya’s Blog, “Picture Books and Pirouettes”, October 23rd, 2024.
- LitLinks Blog: Discover how the wind breathes life into your curriculum, October 9, 2024.
- Featured Author on Jonathan Roth’s Blog, September 25, 2024.
- Featured on Mrs. Bookdragon’s Blog, August 18, 2024.
- SCBWI Blog: The Three “Ps” in My Publishing Journey: Practice, Patience, and Perseverance, June 27, 2024.
- SCBWI Blog: Reasons to Be in More Than One Critique Group, June 20, 2024.
- SCBWI Blog: Using Writing Challenges to Move a Story Forward, June 13, 2024.
- SCBWI Blog: Five Reasons to Type Up Other Writers’ Books, June 6, 2024.
- Featured Author on Chelsea’s World of Books Blog, January 3, 2024.
- NF Fest Blog: Writing a Rhyming Nonfiction Picture Book: A Game of Jenga TM, February 1, 2023.
- Lit Links Blog: How to use primates to teach across the curriculum, January 4, 2023
- Simply Seven with Debra Shumaker—Peculiar Primates, October 11, 2022
- Picture Book Builder’s Blog, October 4th, 2022
- Dynamic Book Duos Blog with Suzanne Jacobs Lipshaw, September 27, 2022
- Behind the Scenes: “Working With Experts To Verify Information In Backmatter.” August 20, 2021
- Lit Links Blog: Share FIN-tastic Fun About the Odd Ways Fish Survive, May 19, 2021
- Author Debra Shumaker on about how to Publish Expository Nonfiction, May 12, 2021
- CritterLit Interview with Debut Author Debra Shumaker, May 6, 2021
- KidLit411 Author Spotlight: Debra Kempf Shumaker, April 30, 2021
- Simply 7 with Debra Shumaker—Freaky, Funky Fish, April 29, 2021.
- First Draft To Final Book—Freaky, Funky Fish, April 28, 2021
- Math Is Everywhere Blog—Interview with Debut Author Debra Shumaker, April 23, 2021
- Cover Reveal for Freaky, Funky Fish, September 25, 2020.
- Author Debra Kempf Shumaker on the Art of Perseverance, April 22, 2020.
- The Face of Perseverance, November 15, 2017

(photo: Yanka Photography)