SHEEN, Barbara 1949-

PERSONAL: Born October 8, 1949, in Brooklyn, NY; daughter of Lester (a factory worker) and Marilyn (a homemaker) Sheen; married John Busby (a librarian/musician), August 5, 1980. Education: City University of New York, B.A., 1970; Long Island University, M.S., 1973. Politics: "Live and let live." Religion: Jewish. Hobbies and other interests: Swimming, weight training, reading, cooking.

ADDRESSES: Office—905 Conway, #32, Las Cruces, NM 88005. E-mail—sheenbusby@hotmail.com.

CAREER: Freelance writer, 1972. Teacher in Texas and New Mexico, 1970-2003.

MEMBER: International Woman's Writers Guild, Society of Children's Book Authors and Illustrators.

AWARDS, HONORS: Dallas Hispanic Teacher of the Year nominee, 1999; Disney Teacher of the Year nominee, 2000.

WRITINGS:

Chemical Dependency ("Overview" series), Lucent (Detroit, MI), 2003.

Teen Alcoholism ("Teen Issues" series), Lucent (Detroit, MI), 2003.

"DISEASES AND DISORDERS" SERIES

Attention Deficit Disorder, Lucent (Detroit, MI), 2001.

Arthritis, Lucent (Detroit, MI), 2001.

Hepatitis, Lucent (Detroit, MI), 2002.

Asthma, Lucent (Detroit, MI), 2002.

Diabetes, Lucent (Detroit, MI), 2003.

Cerebral Palsy, Lucent (Detroit, MI), 2004.

Acne, Lucent (Detroit, MI), 2004.

Author of four collections of short stories for adults, two of which were translated into German. Short stories have appeared in magazines and anthologies. Author of We Learn English (educational Spanish/English workbooks), Educational Insights, 1975. Author of The Traveling Animal Mariachi Singers (bilingual Spanish/English folktale audiotape), SHOOFLY, 1990.

WORK IN PROGRESS: A nonfiction book about Easter Island; a middle-grade novel, books on heart disease, headaches, and ovarian cancer for Lucent; research on herbs and folk remedies.

SIDELIGHTS: For three decades Barbara Sheen has been a teacher and writer, publishing works for both adults and children and earning honors for her teaching skills. "I love reading, writing and teaching, so writing nonfiction is a great way to combine my passions. I try to use my teaching ability to make complex material clear and interesting for my readers." Beginning in 2001 Sheen has published several books in Lucent's "Diseases and Disorders" series. Yet, as she told CA, she has plans to expand her scope: "Although, I've written lots of books in the health field, I'm interested in almost everything. I'm a curious person who loves doing research. It's exciting! Consequently, although I plan to continue writing health books in the future, I also hope to write about other subjects too."

Sheen has not limited herself to nonfiction, either. "I also enjoy writing fiction. Everywhere you look, there's a story waiting to be told," Sheen told CA. During the 1970s she wrote fiction for adults. Her many short stories appeared in magazines and were collected in anthologies and solo collections. Two books of her short stories were even translated into German and sold abroad. Having lived for many years in Texas and New Mexico, it comes as no surprise that Sheen should also be interested in the Spanish language and Southwestern culture. "I also enjoy retelling fairy tales and folk tales from a southwestern point of view," she said. "I use Spanglish, a combination of English and Spanish in these stories because they reflect the culture of the southwest, and because they are fun to read and write. In all my fiction, I try to let my sense of humor shine through. Neither I, nor my characters, take ourselves too seriously."

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

School Library Journal, September, 2001, Margaret C. Howell, review of Attention Deficit Disorder, p. 254.