Member Spotlight—Deborah U.
Deborah U. is a children’s book author, singer, animal lover, and wannabe birder.
How long have you been in the city? Tell us a little about your journey.
I’ve been here since 1983. After I graduated from Pomona College near L.A., I drifted up to San Francisco with a friend. I was a street performer at the wharf for several years. Then I fell into a full-time admin job, which I had for years while I was singing in the evenings: first with the San Francisco Symphony Chorus, then with San Francisco Choral Artists.
All the while, I was writing everything from greeting cards to puzzles to magazine articles. When my company was sold and we were all laid off, I finally realized I was supposed to be writing books for kids.
How many steps are you away from Tillage?
326.
What does a typical day or week look like for you, and how has Tillage become a part of that routine?
After breakfast, I meet up with friends online to do Tai Chi, then I head to Tillage. If I can get a few good hours of creative work done there in the morning, it’s a really good day. And sometimes if I have a task I need to focus on, I’ll come back at night for a bit.
What drew you to Tillage, and what have you enjoyed about being part of the community so far?
After more than 20 years of working from home, I desperately needed some life/work separation. Being able to walk into Tillage and chat with others before settling into writing makes the day so much nicer. I’ve appreciated getting to know people outside my field. I think that cross-fertilization makes us all more creative.
And working in such a beautiful space soothes my soul. The changing artwork, the gorgeous wood tables, the bathroom light fixtures and walls!
Where's your favorite spot in/at Tillage? e.g. sitting by the front window in the library, the leather bench at the community table in the Lounge, the bathroom with the mural, etc.
The small table on the right as you enter the library.
What does being a community member mean to you?
I’ve really been craving hyperlocal, in-person connections. Even my SF critique partners and I meet online, because it’s easier than driving across the city and finding parking.
So it’s great meeting Tillagers who live near me, people I might run into on the street. And I love the opportunities to connect with and help each other that crop up here regularly.
What’s one local spot you couldn’t live without, and what’s one memory you’ve made there?
The San Francisco Botanical Garden. In 2019, I came across a tagged juvenile red-tailed hawk eating lunch. I took a bunch of photos, then followed him over several weeks. That hawk sparked my interest in birding. Reporting him was my introduction to citizen science. And birding led me to native plant gardening. My pal K70 was quite the catalyst in my life!
Anything else you’d like to share?
If there are classical musician Tillagers who might want to get together and make music just for fun, hit me up!
