Deb Gruelle

Deb Gruelle is a bestselling and award-winning picture book author. Ten Little Night Stars prepares children for sleep as it teaches counting. And Sleepy Time Colors, a snuggly companion book, teaches colors. She’s related to Johnny Gruelle, the creator of Raggedy Ann and Andy, and loves being a third-generation writer for children. She feels honored to share stories with children to enrich their childhood memories.

A recovering technical writer, she’s also authored over 100 articles for women’s and parenting magazines including American Baby, as well as storyboards for children’s games. The second edition of her nonfiction book, Aching for a Child, is due out in 2020. She wrote it to support Christian women struggling with the medical, ethical, and spiritual issues they can face when struggling with infertility or miscarriage. (It’s currently available in Hungarian.)

Wherever Deb speaks, she loves to encourage those she meets. She enjoys supporting writers by serving as the chaplain for Inspire Christian Writers and teaching at writers’ conferences. During school author visits, she has fun spreading her love for children’s literacy. She’s also enjoyed sharing on multiple radio broadcasts, including Family Life Today.

Currently, Deb serves as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) to help children in foster care navigate the court system. A former homeschooling mom, she loved raising three multi-ethnic children who joined her family by both birth and adoption (though she often wondered when they were little if she would last until nap time). You can often find her reading mysteries and eating popcorn on her porch swing in summer or by her fireplace in winter.

A portion of the proceeds from the sale of Ten Little Night Stars goes to support A21, a ministry that rescues children.