Carmen Agra Deedy is an author of children’s literature, storyteller and radio contributor.

Early life

Born in Havana, Cuba, she migrated to the United States with her family in 1963 after the Cuban Revolution. Deedy grew up in Decatur, Georgia.

Storyteller

As a storyteller, Deedy has performed across the United States and Canada including the Disney Institute, the New Victory Theater, the Folger Shakespeare Library and the Kennedy Center as well as numerous storytelling festivals including the St. Louis Storytelling Festival, the Athens Storytelling Festival, the Timpanogos Storytelling Festival, the Southern Ohio Storytelling Festival and as a Featured Teller at the National Storytelling Festival. She delivered the 2010 commencement address for the women's college of Brenau University in Gainesville, Georgia, where she was also awarded an honorary doctorate.

Children’s books

English

Deedy is the author of nine children’s books written in English, with two titles published in Spanish. All of her books were published by Peachtree Publishers. They are listed below. Some with the honors they have received.

Spanish

Radio/audio

Deedy has contributed to National Public Radio’s Weekend All Things Considered and Latino USA. Her audio collection of twelve short stories originally heard on NPR, Growing up Cuban in Decatur, Georgia, (Peachtree Publishers, 2004) was named Publishers Weekly 1995 Best Audiobook—Adult Storytelling and received the Parents' Choice Gold Award 1996. Deedy's most recent audio recording is her CD for Martina the Beautiful Cockroach, which includes a reading of the book in both English and Spanish, as well as a performance version of the story. That CD is an ALA Notable Children's Recording and an Odyssey Award Honor.

Personal life

Deedy is married to musician John McCutcheon. They live in Decatur, Georgia.