Debra Dean
Debra Dean is the bestselling author of four critically acclaimed books that have been published in twenty-one languages. Her debut novel, The Madonnas of Leningrad, made awards lists at the New York Times, Booksense, Booklist, and American Library Association, among others.
A professor in the MFA program at FIU and a former actress in the New York theater, Debra Dean is a warm and seasoned speaker and has delighted and inspired audiences at museums, universities, libraries, literary festivals, and women’s groups around the country. Echoing themes in her fiction, her topics range from the glories of Russia’s Hermitage Museum to the joys and perils of a life in the arts.
Debra On PBS
INCLUDE
The Bookworm’s Manifesto: How Reading Fiction Makes You A Better Person
If you’ve ever felt guilty for picking up another novel instead of doing something useful, Debra Dean will assuage your guilt. Turns out, the act of reading fiction is good for you, perhaps even better, it turns out, than picking up a non-fiction title. Find out about the physical and social benefits of reading fiction, why we need it more than ever now, and explore how to recover the habit if it’s fallen by the wayside.
Writing Your Memoirs: Historians—And Your Grandchildren–Will Thank You
History isn’t simply what happens in the news, it’s what’s happened in our day to day lives. And it’s how ordinary people have responded to the big events of the day. When letter writing was replaced with emails, texts, and phone calls, a great resource for historians and researchers disappeared. Maybe you’ve considered writing your memoirs but dismissed the idea because you’re not famous. We’ll talk about what makes for a memoir that will interest both your family and historians in years to come, and we’ll even try a few practice entries!
Some Crazy Russian History
Debra Dean has written two acclaimed historical novels set in St. Petersburg, Russia, and wrote the first, the best-selling The Madonnas of Leningrad, before ever setting foot there. Settle in with her for a little armchair travel as she tells remarkable stories about the Siege of Leningrad, the Hermitage Museum, and a “fool saint,” Xenia, and how these stories came to life when she finally visited.
The Last Bohemians Of Greenwich Village
It’s show and tell! Debra Dean tells the true story of Belgian-American artist Jan Yoors – childhood vagabond, wartime resistance fighter, New York bohemian – and the two women who agreed to share his life and weave the enormous tapestries he designed. Nearing the end of her life, Marianne Yoors shared their amazing story with Debra, culminating in the illustrated biography Hidden Tapestry. The New York Times bestselling author Ross King called it “one of the most remarkable artistic stories of the twentieth century.”