Deborah Balke-Lindner Bio:
For most of her life, Deborah Balke-Lindner has dreamed about writing books about horses, dog care, farm stories and more. But her biggest desire was to write about dinosaurs, fossils, and prehistoric animals, bringing them back to life for children of all ages.  “The ‘publishing bug’ bit me when my 7th grade English teacher, Mrs. Valerie Scott, sent one of my Haiku poems to Read Magazine’s national writing contest. Wonder of wonders, I Won! I didn’t even know that she had sent it in. I was hooked!”

Debbie attended two New York State Universities, majoring in Animal sciences and pre-veterinary medicine. While in school, she spent many hours looking through microscopes, doing drawings for her notes. Two of her professors liked her drawings so much that they bought some to use as teaching aids in the microbiology and zoology classes.One professor even told her that when she got her degree, she should become a medical illustrator. No, Deb still wanted to be a vet. She finished with a A.A.S. in Agriculture and a B.S. in Large Animal Sciences/Pre-Vet . Unfortunately, she was never able to attain a degree in veterinary medicine. But, as Debbie likes to say, when one door closes, another one opens.

Deborah went back home and worked for a while at a veterinary hospital. But she still wanted more. An ad in a local newspaper for a technical illustrator caught her eye. Maybe the professor was right, she should become an illustrator. She applied for the job, showing only her drawings done in college . She was hired that day! 

Her first thirteen years in the publishing  field were spent illustrating  high school and college textbooks for McGraw-Hill, McMillian, and Delmar publications and more. During this time, she also freelanced, doing military-spec work for Grumman and Fairchild Corporations. 

In 1982, she was hired by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, on Long Island, New York. The Laboratory specializes in cancer and genetic research.There, she worked with several Nobel Prize winners, including Dr. James Watson, Dr. Alfred Hershey, Dr. Richard Roberts, and Dr. Barbara McClintock. She remained friends with Dr. McClintock until her death in 1992. Her work has been published in Nature, CELL, The Journal of the American Medical Association, various scientific publications, and grant proposals.

Deborah had another interest that she always wanted to follow. Joining the military. While in college, she attended a discussion given by recruiters from the NYS ANG. This was idea was immediately planted in her mind. Her father, Theodore G. Balke, was in the first graduating class of Kings Point Merchant Marine Academy. After graduating, he immediately joined the navy and rose in rank to of Captain. He served in World War 2. Interestingly, her grandfather, Theodore Balke, was a dirigible piolet in World War 1.

On a whim one day, Deborah decided to go the Roslyn Air National Guard base in Roslyn, New York. She signed up, raised her right hand to honor and protect the United States. In 1981 She took time off from work to attend Air Force Basic Training at Lackland Air Force Base. She served full time in the Air Force for about six months. Once home she served in the Air 

National Guard for a total of six years. She rose to the rank of Sergeant working in the  engineering squad as a draftsman. She also did photography and graphic arts for the base. Deborah proudly received the Airman of the Year award in 1982.

She met her husband Joseph Lindner, a police officer for the NYPD, while at the base. They were married in 1984. Many of their service members attended the wedding. After leaving the laboratory to raise their daughter, Jennifer. 

While still freelancing for several of her former companies, Debbie had much more time to develop her writing career. She wrote and illustrated for many magazines, including CRICKET, HIGHLIGHTS, SHOFAR,DOG FANCY, HORSE FANCY, CAT FANCY and HORSE ILLUSTRATED. 

During her spare time, Deborah was a volunteer CSE Parent for the Hicksville School District’s Committee of Special Education. She spent 12 years volunteering and helping parents in the school district find the right courses or special schools. She always enjoyed this work. Her brother, Mike, had many special educational needs and she did this because of him. In 2004 she won the Woman of Distinction Award from the Town of Oyster Bay. The award was for her volunteering and the success of her educational coloring book company. “Thanks’ Mike, Amen”

In 1984, Debbie and Joe began Colorfully Yours, Inc., an educational coloring book company that taught children about fire safety, conservation, hospitals, and volunteer ambulance squads.  Joe, a volunteer firefighter himself, rose to the rank of Lieutenant with the Westbury Fire Department. He was there for 9-11 and later developed colon cancer. He received wonderful treatment and is doing well today.Each of the organizations that they delt with reported great success when using these books in their educational programs. They won many awards.

The United States of Dinosaurs and Fossils was begun in the early 1990’s. Debbie put a lot of time researching her project, but everyday day life and commitments slowed her writing down. After selling Colorfully Yours, Inc. in 2020, Debbie worked full time on her writing project. The COVID epidemic gave her time to follow her dreams. Various dinosaur books were all over her office!

Of course, nothing is ever “Always Rosey”, as she says. After the birth of their daughter, Debbie developed SLE, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. She had a very difficult time with this and the fact that it slowed her down. It also turned out that she had Spondylosis. This is an arthritis of the spine and can affect the central nervous system. Debbie uses a cane to walk now, but that has never slowed her down!

“I hope you thoroughly enjoy The United States of Dinosaurs and Fossils”. This project has always been near and dear to my heart. I want kids and their parents to learn more about our great country as well as our wonderful fossils and dinosaurs. Go to museums together like I did with Jenn. May all of you have fun times and remember to follow your dreams, even during any hard times. Thank you all for buying my book!