Deborah Bedford - 1958
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Campbell County High School, Wyoming
I. Biography
Deborah Bedford was born on June 12, 1958, to Calvin and Tommie Pigg. She was born in Fort Worth, Texas. At the age of ten she began reading a book by the name of Little Women written by Louisa May Alcott. This book was a cause for inspiration in her writing. She liked the book and loved the characters, but the events that took place boggled her and sent her mind reeling into a different style of thinking. She would go out into her yard and write.
Her first writing was a play a lot like that of Little Women all the same characters just slightly altered the plot. She wrote throughout middle school and high school. This caused her to get into trouble with the teachers. She confessed to not always listening to her teachers because of her infatuation with writing. While growing up she was told by many people she should give up on her dream because it is too hard to be published. She was persistent and never let anybody take her dream away. "I encourage you and all people to follow your dreams, never let anyone stand in your way, and always be persistent," she said. Another inspiration for Bedford's writing is her grandmother. Her grandmother was a librarian who encouraged Deborah to read some of the most wonderful stories. Her grandmother is now at an amazing age of 90 years old and still encouraging her granddaughter. Her grandmother will find interesting or fascinating stories and send them to Bedford to this day.
Bedford graduated from JJ Pierce High School in Richardson, Texas. She attended college at Texas A and M University, graduating with a double degree in journalism and marketing.
After graduating she met her husband Jack Bedford. They were married in 1982 and are still together which she thinks is amazing. They have had two children, a boy who is a freshman in high school and a girl who turned 12 January 11, 2001.
Bradford has written twelve novels. One of them is entitled Chickadee. Bradford says that Chickadee was magic. There are different types of books. Some may take hard work and dedication to finish; others are like magic they flow so easily. There may be a character who will just take over and no matter what you try and do, they are always a prominent character. She said asking an author what her favorite book is that they wrote is like asking a parent which child is their favorite. Bedford was in Colorado at a convention when a man by the name of Tony Hillerman was making a speech and said, "A favorite book for an author is different than that of a reader." Bedford agrees totally.
Bedford has been writing contemporary romance novels but is starting to write inspirational books. She has always believed in God and believes He can help people achieve their dreams. She is currently working on an inspirational novel that will be called A Rose By The Door . She has a deadline that is set at the end of January of 2001.
Relationships between people have a lot to do with the way she writes. She believes in relationship and the power of love- she means the relationships between a mother and daughter, father and son, friends. She believes the power of love can hold everything together.
Bedford is considered a Wyoming Author because she lives in Jackson, Wyoming.
Bedford plans to write novels her whole life. She says she pictures herself writing until she can't anymore.
II. Literary Works
Touch The Sky (1985)
Passages (1988)
To Weave Tomorrow (1989)
Chickadee (1995)
Timberline (1996)
A Child's Promise (1997)
The Distant Promise
III. Bibliography
Deborah Bedford. Personal interview. 1-12-00.
This essay was submitted by a student of Nathel Coca, an English teacher at Campbell County High School in Gillette, Wyoming.