Deborah Mitchell

I became fascinated with books and words at an early age, demonstrated by the fact that I ate a page out of the World Book Encyclopedia at the tender age of 5 when I became frustrated at my inability to understand what the letters said. Fortunately my mother supported my appetite for words. Soon I was devouring not only the encyclopedia but many other tomes. I wrote and illustrated my first “book” at age 7 or 8, complete with a cardboard cover that I decorated with yellow and white contact paper (I still remember that book!). My other passions at an early age were nature and animals. After deciding against a career in teaching, I worked for a company that published veterinary journals. That morphed into covering medical conferences for two-legged animals. Then I launched out on my own. Now, with thousands of articles and more than 50 books bearing my name (plus several as a ghost), the journey continues. I enjoy the quest for answers to burning questions. Some topics I love to research and write about are the health and well-being of people, animals, and the planet and how we can all take responsibility for honoring and preserving them. To achieve that goal, we need to be aware, educated, and conscious. I hope in some meaningful way to contribute to that effort.