Author and journalist Deborah Gregory was one of two authors-in-residence at University Settlement Society in the Lower East Side from May 7 - May 11 as part of the National Book Foundation's Settlement House Author Residency Program.

Ms. Gregory has been a contributing writer for Essence magazine since 1990. She has been a senior editor for Redbook, and her work has been featured in many other national magazines, including Spin, Seventeen, Entertainment Weekly, Mode, and US.

In 1996, she won a NYABJ (New York Association of Black Journalists) Award for her feature, "Foster Care in Crisis: Savanna's Story."

Ms. Gregory is now the author of a new paperback novel series titled The Cheetah Girls.

The plot of the series is based on five New York City girls from five different ethnic backgrounds who set out to become the world's hottest singing group. The series is soon to be a television special co-produced by the Disney Channel and Whitney Houston's Brownhouse Productions. The series is drawn from Ms. Gregory's life experiences of growing up in New York City and spending her adolescent years in several foster homes. "To me it was very important that the characters be multicultural because that is the reality of the world," Ms. Gregory says.

She graduated from the Fashion Institute of Technology with an associate applied science degree. Ms. Gregory continued her education at Empire State College, where she earned her bachelor's degree in English literature and writing. She currently lives in Manhattan with her pooch, Cappuccino.

On Friday, May 11, 2001 at 6:30 p.m., Ms. Gregory gave a Reading, followed by a question and answer session, and a wine and cheese reception at University Settlement Society of New York; located on 184 Eldridge Street, New York City. The event was free and open to the public.