A passionate reader and writer from an early age, Caletti only started focusing seriously on her writing after her youngest child turned two.
Though she had studied journalism at the University of Washington, receiving some recognition for playwriting, Caletti feared that a career in creative writing would be too difficult.
However, Caletti says, "When my son was two, I got serious about writing.
I didn’t want to be one of those people who talked about their dream but never did anything about it.
That seemed sad.
I worried I would end up at the counter at Denny’s eating pie and smoking cigarettes, and I’ve never even smoked.
So I made a decision that I would do it until it happened.
No giving up, no going back."

After writing for some time, Caletti’s fifth book, "The Queen of Everything" was picked up by Simon and Schuster in 2002.
Written originally for adults, "Queen" was published in the young adult market, and received positive reviews, including a starred review in Publishers Weekly (Nov. 2012).
Her next novel, "Honey, Baby, Sweetheart" (2004) was a National Book Award finalist, California Young Reader medal finalist (2005/2006), PNBA Best Book of 2005 award, and made many of the year’s top lists including New York Public Library’s 2005 "Books for the Teen Age".

Based on a van Gogh painting, Caletti’s next novel "Wild Roses" was published in 2005, and was a 2006 finalist for the Washington State Book Award.
 Following the success of her first three novels in three years, Caletti then went on to write "The Nature of Jade" (2007), "The Fortunes of Indigo Skye" (2008), "The Secret Life of Prince Charming" (2009), "The Six Rules of Maybe" (2010), "Stay" (2011), and "The Story of Us" in 2012.
Caletti’s next venture was a much-anticipated adult fiction novel titled "He’s Gone", released by Random House in 2013.
After that came further books for adults and young adults:"The Last Forever" (2014); "The Secrets She Keeps" (2015); "Essential Maps for the Lost (2016); "What's Become of Her (2017).
Her most recent book, "A Heart in a Body in the World" was released in September 2018, and was chosen as a Michael L. Printz Honor Book.
As well, it was awarded the Josette Frank Award for Fiction from Bank Street College of Education, among other honors.
Caletti’s books have been translated into many languages.

A series of television films based on Caletti's novels was in production in 2007, though that project is now on hold.
Caletti was also a judge for the 2013 National Book Awards, in the Young People's Literature category.
A passionate reader and writer from an early age, Caletti only started focusing seriously on her writing after her youngest child turned two. Though she had studied journalism at the University of Washington, receiving some recognition for playwriting, Caletti feared that a career in creative writing would be too difficult. However, Caletti says, "When my son was two, I got serious about writing. I didn’t want to be one of those people who talked about their dream but never did anything about it. That seemed sad. I worried I would end up at the counter at Denny’s eating pie and smoking cigarettes, and I’ve never even smoked. So I made a decision that I would do it until it happened. No giving up, no going back."
After writing for some time, Caletti’s fifth book, "The Queen of Everything" was picked up by Simon and Schuster in 2002. Written originally for adults, "Queen" was published in the young adult market, and received positive reviews, including a starred review in Publishers Weekly (Nov. 2012). Her next novel, "Honey, Baby, Sweetheart" (2004) was a National Book Award finalist, California Young Reader medal finalist (2005/2006), PNBA Best Book of 2005 award, and made many of the year’s top lists including New York Public Library’s 2005 "Books for the Teen Age".
Based on a van Gogh painting, Caletti’s next novel "Wild Roses" was published in 2005, and was a 2006 finalist for the Washington State Book Award.  Following the success of her first three novels in three years, Caletti then went on to write "The Nature of Jade" (2007), "The Fortunes of Indigo Skye" (2008), "The Secret Life of Prince Charming" (2009), "The Six Rules of Maybe" (2010), "Stay" (2011), and "The Story of Us" in 2012. Caletti’s next venture was a much-anticipated adult fiction novel titled "He’s Gone", released by Random House in 2013. After that came further books for adults and young adults:"The Last Forever" (2014); "The Secrets She Keeps" (2015); "Essential Maps for the Lost (2016); "What's Become of Her (2017). Her most recent book, "A Heart in a Body in the World" was released in September 2018, and was chosen as a Michael L. Printz Honor Book. As well, it was awarded the Josette Frank Award for Fiction from Bank Street College of Education, among other honors. Caletti’s books have been translated into many languages.
A series of television films based on Caletti's novels was in production in 2007, though that project is now on hold. Caletti was also a judge for the 2013 National Book Awards, in the Young People's Literature category.
Deb Caletti