Here’s a round-up of my essays, guest blog posts, interviews
and videos:
On Returning to My People: How October 7 led me home.
Recently, the wonderful Zibby Owens invited me to write a piece for a new collection of work inspired by the anthology On Being Jewish Now: Reflections of Authors and Advocates.
You can read my contribution here: https://onbeingjewishnow.substack.com/p/on-returning-to-my-people
Let’s Talk Memoir with Ronit Plank: Mining Opening Pages for Impact
I had a great conversation with Ronit Plank about writing my memoir, An Old Man’s Darling, for her podcast. You can listen here
Episode 251 ft. Deborah K. Shepherd
This is 79: Deborah K. Shepherd Responds to The Oldster Magazine Questionnaire
Oldster Magazine recently featured a Q&A with me on their site. Check out “This is 79” HERE
**It would be great if you did, but you don’t have to subscribe to read the interview, just click “Next” if the article doesn’t come up.
Book Q& A with Deborah Kalb
Here’s part of my interview with the great Deborah Kalb. Read the full interview HERE
Deborah K. Shepherd is the author of the new memoir An Old Man’s Darling. She also has written the novel So Happy Together. She was a social worker for many years, and she lives in Maine.
Q: Why did you decide to write this memoir, and how would you describe the relationship between you and your first husband?
A: I was never going to write this memoir. After my first book, a novel, was published when I was 74, I really thought I was one and done.
There were some similarities between my real life and the narrative (I set it in Tucson, where I went to school; some of the characters were composites of people I had known) but the main story, about a woman in middle age who leaves her husband and children to pursue an old love, was complete fiction.
Nonetheless, I got so many questions of the “Is this about you?” ilk, that I couldn’t imagine writing a book that really was about me and my life with my 34-years-older-than-me husband…. Read the full interview
Authors Answer Feature
My interview on Authors Answer was published on May 14, 2026. You can read it HERE
What It Really Takes to Shape a Memoir: A Conversation with Deborah K. Shepherd
By Tanya Whiton Medium
Her new book began with a cache of old love letters. Getting it to publication required a therapist, a tough editor, and the willingness to ask hard questions about her own past.
As a developmental editor, I’m usually part of the writing process when things are still raw and in flux. There’s a first draft, or a second, and there’s still a lot of work ahead. Helping writers navigate a revision is a delicate business — it requires asking tough questions, keeping an eye on the big picture, and advocating for the story, all while encouraging (and sometimes cajoling) the writer to tough it out for another draft or two.
Read more on MEDIUM.COM
The fabulous website, Women Writers, Women’s Books is sharing an excerpt from “An Old Man’s Darling” (available for pre-order NOW–links above– and everywhere May 12, 2026).
You can check it out here.
While you’re there, don’t forget to check out the other fantastic and inspiring articles, books and authors featured on the site.
I have a short piece featured in Persimmon Tree, an online magazine of the arts by women over 60. Check out “The Path” (scroll down a little to find it among so many great pieces).
WOW-Women on Writing featured my submission to “Friday Speak Out” about what comes after my second book. Read it here
I’m honored to have my story about my memories of cooking as a child–memories that were a little cloudy–featured on Eat, Darling, Eat. There’s a Cabbage Soup recipe included too! Read it here.
My Winter ’25 “Short-Short’ from InShort Journal : “Septuagenarian Sex in the Summer of our Discontent“
My recent submission to “50 Give or Take: Daily Stories of 50 Words or Less”
**a subscription to 50 Give or Take may be required to view this content: Jams and Jellies As the site’s name suggests, it’s a short one!
Another short piece of prose. This one is featured in Fauxmoir, a literary magazine celebrating first person narratives.
So gratified to talk with Kathryn Zox about my book; aging issues; and the joys of being an older author. Have a listen to the show
This was written as a love letter/Father’s Day gift for my husband. I’m glad Motherwell liked it, too! How my husband won over my grandkids with macaroni and cheese
I have been reading Sari Botton’s wildly popular Oldster Magazine (not just for oldsters) since she started it almost two years ago, and I am thrilled to be published there: A is for Anosmia
After submitting this personal essay to eleven different publications, it finally found the right home. A love letter to our marriage therapist
https://leslielindsay.com/2021/05/05/so-happy-together/
http://www.largeheartedboy.com/blog/archive/2021/04/deborah_k_sheph.html
http://blog.jill-elizabeth.com/2021/04/16/excerpt-so-happy-together-by-deborah-k-shepherd/
http://deborahkalbbooks.blogspot.com/2021/04/q-with-deborah-k-shepherd.html
http://booksbywomen.org/why-did-you-write-that-scene-by-deborah-k-shepherd/
https://muffin.wow-womenonwriting.com/2021/02/friday-speak-out-long-haul.html
Memory, Truth and Politics
On September 18, 2018, my letter to the editor was published in The New York Times. Here’s the link: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/20/opinion/letters/kavanaugh-memory.html
For more information, please contact my publicist:
Melissa Gerety
MCG Creates
207-299-0485 / melissagerety@mcgcreates.com