Debra Derrenbacher
2024
I call myself Mrs. D because I was a Christian Educator for 20 years and it was just easier for children to say my name. During my years of teaching the Bible to children, youth and adults, my creativity was focused on teaching. Now that I am retired, I feel I have been called to be a writer and artist to break down barriers between people. I don't just look at my writing as a creative outlet but a way to communicate with people. I use my artistic talent to write and illustrate. I also create works of art through alcohol inks, zen doodles and acrylics.
Debbie Derrenbacher is a local artist and published author from Sharpsville, PA where she lives with her husband, Lyle. She is a mother and grandmother to three daughters and their husbands and nine beautiful grandchildren.
40 Days of Love: Poems, Prayers & Ponderings
40 Days of Love is a book of art, poetry, prayers and essays written during the 2020 pandemic lock down. It was born out of a desire to fulfil a prayer for hope and love to be felt during a time when people were scared and filled with anxiety about the effects of an unknown virus called Covid-19. The premise of the book began as an effort to offer daily encouragement by sharing my art and prayers meant for people to share with whomever needed it. Also a prayer for me as an artist and writer to fulfill my retirement goals to write books that would be meaningful to someone. This book shows how God is involved in the intimate details of a person's life by demonstrating His minuteness and incarnation through human expressions of art and writing. It is my hope and prayer that God's love shines through and brings hope, love and devotion to whomever who decides to share this journey with me. The stories, poetry and art are meant to be shared as a witness to God's unending love during tough times in life.
Clover's Journey: A Dog's Memoir
Clover's Journey: A Dog's Memoire was inspired by a real dog's story. Her name was Clover. She was a common dog who lived a regular life and gave joy to a boy. Clover's story began when she was five months old. Clover was adopted from a place called Club Pet Adoption Shelter. When Clover was born, she was given to the animal shelter to help her find a forever-home. She found her forever-home with a new friend named Rob. When Rob saw Clover, it was love at first sight. Rob gave Clover a home with his family! Clover did not have to wait long for someone kind like Rob to adopt her.
Clover loved everyone except the mailman. When Rob grew up, he got married and had children of his own. Clover was not just a pet; she was part of their family! She went everywhere with them. She was always very neighborly and loved vacations at the beach.
When Clover got older her body was not working very well and she was very sick. Everyone was sad. Rob's son, had an idea! He said: "All Clover has to do is go back to the wild and she will be fine!" And so, she did. Clover went back to the wild! All animals have a place of love beside a kind Shepherd who lives in the wild. Clover's family misses her. But they know Clover is happy in the wild with the Shepherd. She is forever watching over them.
Gutsy Grandma Cookbook
I came from a clan of gutsy women who had very strong ideas about tradition and family. A time when manners mattered. I can still hear Mom's voice: "Sit up straight! Don't chew with your mouth open! I don't want to hear that at the dinner table!" It all sounds very strict and to the point! It also doesn't sound like a very kind or gentle delivery. Mom was everything kind and gentle -- that's what made it so poignant and remains with me to this day. Everyone has things that stick in their head from their parents, grandparents and great grandparents, if they are lucky. I was a lucky girl to have so many strong women to influence me in many ways. One of those ways was running a household which involves cooking.