The Ballad of Baby Rain

About the Book

My first ballad was inspired by a young Misty Copeland, now a principal ballerina for American Ballet Theatre in New York. I wrote feature articles about her and watched her dance in The Nutcracker at the Warner Grand Theatre in San Pedro, California, when she was barely fifteen years old. Copeland has gone on to be a globally recognized name, but even at thirteen or fourteen, everyone knew this hard-working girl—against immeasurable odds—was going to accomplish her goals. Baby Rain was a nickname given to Misty by a ballet teacher, which aptly portrays my sweet fictional character.

About the Author

Deborah S. Paul was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, and came to Southern California as a twenty-year-old American Airlines stewardess. Later, she worked for Flying Tiger Lines for twenty-two years in many capacities, including flying tourist and military charters as an international flight attendant. She returned to university in 1992, earning a degree with honors in journalism. As a newspaper reporter for a community section in the Los Angeles Times and 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 writes freelance for newspapers and magazines around the Palos Verdes Peninsula where she resides with her husband, Jim.