A twice-published author, multi-time award-winning playwright, magazine writer, theatre reviewer, and newspaper journalist with 30+ years in journalism and business copywriting, Deb was a 2022 Recipient of the Gobioff Foundation Grant, 2019 Recipient of the inaugural Tampa Bay Theatre Festival Denise Deneen award for her work in theatre and a 2017 Recipient of Theatre Tampa Bay’s Jeff Norton Dream Grant. With the grant, she was able to produce and direct her original production, Breast Advice, and with the second grant, produced and directed with another educator, A Necessary Conversation at Straz Center for the Performing Arts’ TECO Theatre, with a talkback with leaders in the community after the two-show performance with ticket sales donated to Moms Demand Action, Tampa. A Necessary Conversation won Regional Broadway World’s 2018 “Best Actor” and “Best Actress” Awards. In 2020, the play was nominated for "Best Original Script of the Decade." An expanded version of this bullying, mental health, and gun violence drama was showcased during the 2021 Voices of Truth Theatre Festival at Powerstories Theatre, winning "Critic's Choice" and Regional Broadway World's 2022 "Best Performer and "Best Supporting Performer in a Streaming Play." In the summer of 2019, she reached out to the community for true stories about breasts, from shape and appreciation to size and cancer. In December, she wrote Breast Advice, a show that workshopped to a standing-room-only audience and was called The Vagina Monologues for boobs. A portion of ticket sales was donated to The Affirmations Project, which works with survivors of breast cancer and domestic abuse. The production was accepted into the Tampa Bay Theatre Festival in September 2022 and won Regional Broadway World's 2022 Runner-Up for "Best New Play or Musical." On May 20 & 21, 2023, a series of short one-acts and two full-length plays will be debut in a playwright showcase weekend called Tapestry: A Weekend of Socially-Conscious Storytelling. Learn more at www.tapestryplays.com.
Relying solely on word-of-mouth client testimonials, since 2005, Deb has successfully operated the WriteOne Creative Services, a freelance copywriting service and a comprehensive yet independent, woman-owned graphic and web design business that offers the talent and design/print capabilities of an agency without the overhead expense.
Life Amplified, a variety showcase for grassroots charities and the philanthropic side of Deb’s writing and design company, celebrates its ninth year in 2023. Deb and Life Amplified have been honored by Bay News 9 Everyday Hero in February 2016 and Fox13 Hometown Heroes in May 2014. With 100% venue donation and talented volunteer performers, Life Amplified has helped fundraise and raise awareness about human trafficking, PSTD, military sexual trauma, bullying, sexual violence prevention, and LGBTQ issues.
Like so many she knows, she is an invisible illness warrior. Deb lives her busy life to show others that you can thrive and not have to be your diagnosis.
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