Babs Hodges Deal (June 23, 1929 – February 20, 2004) was an American writer. She published a dozen novels and numerous short stories. Her novel ''Fancy's Knell'' received an award from

Mystery Writers of America Mystery Writers of America (MWA) is an organization of mystery and crime writers, based in New York City. The organization was founded in 1945 by Clayton Rawson, Anthony Boucher, Lawrence Treat, and Brett Halliday. It presents the Edgar Award ...

. She adapted her short story "Make my Deathbed" for an episode of ''

Alfred Hitchcock Presents ''Alfred Hitchcock Presents'' is an American television anthology series created, hosted and produced by Alfred Hitchcock, aired on CBS and NBC between 1955 and 1965. It features dramas, thrillers and mysteries. Between 1962 and 1965 it was ren ...

'', and she also adapted her novel ''The Walls Came Tumbling Down'' for the TV movie ''Friendships, Secrets and Lies.''

Biography

Born on June 23, 1929, in Scottsboro, Alabama, Babs Hodges worked as a clerk and typist after high school. In 1952, she received her B.A. from the

University of Alabama The University of Alabama (informally known as Alabama, UA, or Bama) is a Public university, public research university in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Established in 1820 and opened to students in 1831, the University of Alabama is the oldest and la ...

. That same year she married

Borden Deal Borden Deal ( – ) was an American novelist and short story writer. Biography Born Loysé Youth Deal in Pontotoc, Mississippi, Deal attended Macedonia Consolidated High School, after which he joined the Civilian Conservation Corps and fought f ...

, who she had met at the university. Initially staying home with their children in support of her husband's writing, by 1959 Babs Deal launched her own literary career with the publication of her first novel, ''Acres of Afternoon''. Living 7 years in

Tuscaloosa, Alabama Tuscaloosa ( ) is a city in and the seat of Tuscaloosa County in west-central Alabama, United States, on the Black Warrior River where the Gulf Coastal and Piedmont plains meet. Alabama's fifth-largest city, it had an estimated population of 1 ...

, the two moved to

Sarasota Sarasota () is a city in Sarasota County on the Gulf Coast of the U.S. state of Florida. The area is renowned for its cultural and environmental amenities, beaches, resorts, and the Sarasota School of Architecture. The city is located in the sout ...

, Florida, in 1964, where they were involved in the literary community. In 1975 Babs and Borden divorced, and she moved to

Gulf Shores, Alabama Gulf Shores is a resort city in Baldwin County, Alabama, United States. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 9,741. Geography Gulf Shores is located on the Gulf of Mexico at 30°16'4.069" North, 87°42'5.285" West (30.267797, −87.70 ...

. Babs Hodges Deal eventually published 12 novels. In 2004, she died in

Montgomery, Alabama Montgomery is the capital city of the U.S. state of Alabama and the county seat of Montgomery County. Named for the Irish soldier Richard Montgomery, it stands beside the Alabama River, on the coastal Plain of the Gulf of Mexico. In the 202 ...

Publications

*1959: ''Acres of Afternoon''. New York: David McKay Company. *1961: ''It's Always Three O'Clock''. New York: David McKay Company. *1962: ''Night Story''. New York: David McKay Company. *1964: ''The Grail''. New York: David McKay Company. *1966: ''Fancy's Knell''. Garden City, New York: Doubleday. *1968: ''The Walls Came Tumbling Down''. Garden City, New York: Doubleday. *1969: ''Summer Games''. Garden City, New York: Doubleday. *1969: ''High Lonesome World''. Garden City, New York: Doubleday. *1973: ''The Crystal Mouse''. Garden City, New York: Doubleday. *1974: ''The Reason for Roses''. Garden City, New York: Doubleday. *1975: ''Waiting to Hear from William''. Garden City, New York: Doubleday. *1978: ''Goodnight, Ladies''. Garden City, New York: Doubleday.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Deal, Babs Hodges 1929 births 2004 deaths American mystery writers People from Scottsboro, Alabama University of Alabama alumni