Biography of Author Deborah Dunwell

Deborah Dunwell, a native of Arizona, has always had a passion for cooking. Growing up in a close-knit, extended family meant frequent gatherings that always included home-cooked meals. Time spent in the kitchen with her mother and grandmothers fueled her desire to learn more about the art of cooking.

Deborah Dunwell's other passion, the great outdoors, manifested itself in her involvement with Girl Scouts. Debbie earned their highest achievement, the prestigious Gold Award, which is awarded to only five percent of all eligible Girl Scouts. At this same time in her life, Debbie became involved with target archery, shooting at a varsity level all four years in high school. Deborah Dunwell was voted most valuable player and attained state ranking for three years. Debbie earned an archery scholarship to Glendale Community College.

Dunwell studied nutrition in college but soon became bored with general studies and classrooms and took a job in the kitchen of a local five-star resort. Here she gained a hands-on education in the world of restaurant cooking, working her way from line cook to buffet chef to baker's assistant. Deborah Dunwell's aspirations of attending culinary school, however, were not to be. She fell in love while working at the resort and was soon married, wanting to start a family of her own. Dunwell continued to work but shortly discovered that a busy restaurant kitchen was no place for a mother-to-be. In her seventh month of pregnancy, Debbie left to become a stay-at-home mom.

Deborah Dunwell spent the next 17 years in that role, working only as her three children became older and only during their school hours. While raising her family, Debbie managed to work in several different restaurants, became a certified master gardener, volunteered for the Girl Scouts, worked for her children's school district, and went back to school to become a licensed massage therapist. Somehow, through it all, she was always there when the kids came home from school and always provided her family with nutritious, home-cooked meals.

With this varied background, Deborah Dunwell has a lifetime of knowledge and experience to share in preparing delicious food. In her cookbook she presents some of her family's favorite recipes, along with some tips and pointers she has learned along the way. Debbie has brought generous portions of love and joy to her family and friends over the years. These are two ingredients (love and joy) the Deborah Dunwell kitchen will never be short of, and the results are Good Cooking.