SCBWI-MI Spring Conference Presenter Debbie Gonzales

 El Paso, Barney, Austin TX RA, GIRLS WITH GUTS, teacher's guides, and Pinterest Power: Author and presenter Deb Gonzales

Charlie Barshaw coordinates our regular Writer Spotlight feature and interviews writers of SCBWI-MI. In this piece, meet author and Pinterest guru Debbie Gonzales. Deb is also part of the cast of distinguished faculty at the SCBWI-MI spring conference. 

Debbadee. That was your email moniker when I first met you. Nickname?

Debbadee is a nickname that my dad gave me. I love it. My dad was a brilliant man with a wry wit. I knew that when he called me Debbadee, he was pleased with whatever I was doing.

What was life like for young Debbie? Were you born in Texas?

I was born in El Paso, Texas, and spent the first two years of my life there before moving became the norm. My father’s career in avionics engineering kept our family on the go, and by the time I reached the age of fourteen, I had lived in Texas three times, as well as in Oklahoma, Nebraska, Colorado, Iowa, and California. 

Deb and Missy

As an introvert, I had to learn early on how to be outgoing—whether I wanted to or not. My mother, who was no hand-holder (believe me), had a firm philosophy on making friends: “They aren’t going to come to you, Debbie. You have to go to them first.” Words that have served me well throughout my entire life.

You’ve been an educator for over 35 years. What inspired you to make education a career?

I think my desire to become a teacher was sparked by all the moving around I did as a child. The classroom became my emotional haven—a place of stability in a constantly changing world. I loved school. I loved its predictability, its challenges, and—most of all—the supplies! To this day I LOVE office supplies!!!! 

I spent hours playing school, teaching my stuffed animals how to read and write. That early passion for education eventually morphed into an incredible career as an author, educator, and Pinterest marketing specialist. And for that, I am exceedingly grateful.

 

Barney

One of your earliest teaching jobs was on the set of “Barney,” the purple dinosaur. Describe a typical day for the kid actors in your school.

Yes, I was once the Barney School House teacher. Now that was a really fun job. My students’ ages ranged from one first grader, two second graders, a third grade, fourth grade, fifth grade, sixth grade, and seventh grader all of which I served in a one-room Montessori classroom I put together in a room adjacent to the kids’ rehearsal hall decorated with the Barney & Friends full-body costumes were suspended from the ceiling. 

While there, I coordinated educational content around rehearsal, filming, fitting, and publicity scheduling. Our classroom was even featured on the Today Show! How about that! Serving as the Barney School House teacher was one of the most fun teaching experiences I have ever had! A great experience, for sure.

 

You were the Regional Advisor for SCBWI while you lived in Texas. I sense there’s a memoire in it for you. What were some of your most memorable moments while R.A. in Texas?

I remember being nominated for the role of RA and not really knowing much about the expectations required for the job. Because Austin was such a hub for Kidlit at the time, there was much work to be and great fun to be had. 

If I was to identify the events that I was most proud of were our two Digital Storytelling Workshops. The topics we explored back then were Content Marketing, Blogging, Photoshop Tips, E-Books, Illustration 101, Graphic Novels, Crafting Promotional Swag, Social Media Strategies and so much more. I suppose those Digital Storytelling Workshops paved the road for the work that I am doing today.    

 

Deb and John

Tell us about your husband John, who is another marvelous human being. How did you meet?

We met at Richland Junior College in Dallas, Texas, and for a long time, we were just great platonic friends. That all changed on a double date. At the time, we were both dating incredibly possessive people—who were none too happy about how much fun he and I were having together. The rest, as they say, is history.

How did you end up in Michigan?

John’s work transferred us here, and I’m so grateful for the experience of living as a Michigander. This Texan had no idea that not only would Michigan prove to be such a gorgeous state, that her people would be so warm, interesting, and solid. We’ve loved living here! I absolutely love it!

 

You wrote and published a picture book, GIRLS WITH GUTS. How did those gutsy girls get their own book?

GIRLS WITH GUTS: The ROAD TO BREAKING BARRIERS AND BASHING RECORDS began as part of my creative thesis at VCFA. It began as my first attempt at writing a picture book under the guise of some very wise advisors. 

Because I wanted to take full creative license while attending the Vermont College of Fine Arts, my creative thesis consisted of a middle grade novel, a short story, and a picture book – all exploring aspects of the plight of the female athlete. Little did I know that that little picture book would become a reality.

Want some scoop? Charlesbridge has decided to release the book in English in paperback as well as simultaneously make a Spanish edition of titled ¡CHICAS CON AGALLAS! They have them slated for publication for early 2026, which will put them on the same season as the next Winter Olympic Games. Isn’t that great news!

You’re quite the dog lover, aren’t you? Tell us about your pets.

Actually, years ago, I considered myself to be solely a cat person. There have been a number of really sweet kitties in my life, the best of which was Mr. Pibb, a rotund and loving tabby. We first got Mr. Pibb when we lived in California over 30 years ago. He lived to be 23 years old. Mr. Pibb was as devoted to me as I was to him.

Tripod

After Mr. Pibb passed, we adopted Tripod, a three-legged chocolate lab…and what a sweet soul he was.  I hadn’t experienced the richness of dog love until Tripod limped into my life. He had an uncanny way of connecting with people, all kinds of people. He healed my heart in ways I had no idea I needed healing.

And now we have Missy. I believe that Tripod sent Missy to us. Talk about devoted! She’s the perfect office mate and brings so much joy into our life!

 

 

You create teacher’s guides. What kinds of books make good teacher’s guide material?

I’ve been creating teacher guides since around 2018, and at this point, I’ve got more than 400 of them posted on my Guides by Deb website. If you can name a genre, chances are I’ve made a guide for it—board books, picture books, mysteries, STEM-related stories, young adult and middle grade novels galore. Developing this vast collection of academic standards-aligned guides has been both a challenge and a joy, but the best part? Connecting with authors and educators on these incredible projects.

As for what makes a book a great fit for a teacher guide, it really comes down to its ability to connect with its audience. That’s why our Guides by Deb tagline is: “Keeping your books in the hearts of young readers and in the hands of those who care for them.” 

These guides are designed to equip homeschooling parents, teachers, school librarians, school counselors, and caregivers with the resources they need to help kids engage with a book’s themes, educational content, and emotional depth—all while keeping the experience age-appropriate, meaningful, and inspiring.

 

You’re all in on Pinterest now—running an agency, teaching workshops, hosting a newsletter—the whole nine yards! So what’s the deal? I always thought Pinterest was just for recipes and DIY projects. How does it actually help authors, and what makes you so passionate about it?

Actually, it was my intention to promote Guides by Deb and Girls with Guts that first led me to Pinterest. I discovered the platform in 2016, about four years after it became public. Back then, it was a very different place—kind of clunky. Honestly, I was probably a little clunky with it, too. But even then, I could see its potential for our community. Now, almost ten years later, I’m more convinced than ever that authors, illustrators, publishers, and booksellers need a presence on Pinterest. There’s definitely a learning curve but trust me—the trek is worth it!

People often think Pinterest is a social media platform, but it’s not. It’s actually a powerful visual search engine driven by SEO keywords. These keywords come from a deep analysis of the themes and educational content in an author’s books, programs, or services. Pinterest then indexes this information so that when the right audience searches for those key terms, pins showcasing the book, program, or service appear in their feed.

Deb with a tomato

One of the best things about Pinterest is that content doesn’t disappear after a day or two like it does on other platforms. A well-crafted pin can keep working for months—sometimes even years! That means your books, programs, and resources stay discoverable long after you post. I know this to be true. Those clunky pins I posted back in 2018 are still surfacing! Yes!

Even better, Pinterest puts books right in front of the people who need them—teachers looking for classroom resources, parents searching for book recommendations, and librarians curating collections. These audiences aren’t just scrolling; they’re searching with purpose. And when your content shows up at the right moment, it creates real connections. Boom!

 

What are you presenting at the conference?

My topic is Beyond the Launch: Harnessing the Evergreen Marketing Power of Pinterest.

There’s so much I want to share in my conference presentation—I’ll have to rein in my excitement a bit to make sure we cover the essentials without overwhelming everyone! My goal is to inspire participants—whether they’re pre-published or bestselling authors—by showing them that Pinterest isn’t just for recipes and DIY projects. It’s a powerful search engine that helps authors and illustrators connect with their ideal audience.

We’ll break down the basics of building a strong, evergreen presence, explore the differences between personal and business accounts, and dive into actionable strategies to boost book visibility and engagement. Whether you’re brand new to Pinterest or looking to refine your approach, you’ll leave with the tools and confidence to make Pinterest work for you.

 

What’s next for Debbie?

Well, besides serving my oh-so-awesome Pin Lit clients and keeping up with all the latest Pinterest updates, I’m diving into two exciting projects. The first is a how-to book all about Pinterest and the Kidlit community. I’ve learned so much about the possibilities this platform holds for us, and I feel compelled to share it. I’m still figuring out exactly what shape the book will take, but for now, the goal is just to get it out of my brain and onto the page. You know how it goes, right?

Also, I'm completely captivated by ChatGPT—so much so that I’m developing a new AI tool called The Pin Lit Author Bot. Designed specifically to enhance Pinterest platform management, this custom-built tool is currently in its early development phase. My goal is to have it ready to launch by the conference, and I can’t wait to share more about it then.

__________________________________________________________________________

Thanks so much for the opportunity to share a little bit about my journey and the work I love. I’m excited for what’s ahead and can’t wait to connect at the conference! See you soon!

Please share any social media platforms:

·         Pinterest: @debbadee5

·         Instagram: _debgonzales

·         LinkedIn: @debbie-gonzales-gbd/

·         Website: www.pinlitmarketing.com

·         Email: debbadee5@gmail.com