The Ballad of Shellby Shores

About the Book

Around 2003, my granddaughter Shellby came to live with my husband and me. One of our bonding and endearing experiences was she and I became part of a women’s surfing club in the South Bay called Ohana Nalu (Wave Family). The Shellby Shores personality is a compilation of the many amazing curl girls we surfed with, including world-class surfers and coaches Mary Setterholm and Wendy Gilley, plus our immediate surfing pals Joyce Flood, Sonia Nicholson, Kiki Foley, and Ivette Stickelmaier. Hermosa Beach surf instructor Vince Ray and my husband, Jim, were also integral parts of our surfing experience. Many of our ladies could hang 10, barrel, and as far as I know, I was the only member at the time who could do a headstand on a wave. Still, the ballad reflects the talent, kindness, and caring sisterhood our group encapsulated at a tumultuous time in many of our lives. The Ballad of Shellby Shores is Deborah Paul’s second published book in a series of five children’s books.

About the Author

Deborah Paul was born and raised in St. Louis, MO and came to Southern California as a 20-year old American Airlines flight attendant. Later, she worked for Flying Tiger Lines for 22 years in various capacities including flying tourist and military charters as an international flight attendant. She returned to university in the 1990s, earning an honor degree in journalism. Years later she would teach journalism as well as become advisor to the campus newspaper at Cal State University Dominguez Hills. As a newspaper reporter for a community section in the Los Angeles Times and subsequent magazine journalist for Orange Coast Magazine, Deborah has always sought out stories that bring out human kindness and compassion. Her children’s ballads are inspired by real folks who live in our midst but rarely seek publicity for their amazing deeds. Though retired, she still freelance writes for newspapers and magazines around the Palos Verdes Peninsula where she resides with her husband, Jim.