Blumberg, who was born in Washington in 1957 and grew up in Chevy Chase, notes that her father, Herschel, was president of the local United Jewish Appeal (later, the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington), and her mother, Goldene, chaired its women's division. Her father also was president of B'nai Israel Congregation in Rockville -- she's still a member -- and her mother was a life member of WIZO and Hadassah.

"Those are hard shoes to fill," the Bethesda resident says, but she is co-president of WIZO Washington and a member of the board of Save a Child's Heart. In addition, she is a lifelong member of Hadassah and a Lion of Judah contributor to the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington.

She also credits her parents for her passion for stories and her love for writing.

"I always loved sharing stories," says the publisher/writer/nonpracticing attorney. "It's something that picked me," she adds, noting how important it was that her parents read to her. "I fell in love with words because my parents loved words."

Her most recent children's book was the 2008 Sunny Bunnies, about a family of rabbits who spend a day at the beach. She loves writing children's books -- her previous works include Avram's Gift (2003) and Shakespeare for Kids: His Life and Times (1999), which she co-authored with Colleen Aagesen.

"I love the illustrations and working with the artists," she says. "The idea of marrying text with pictures is irresistible to me."

Blumberg, who has a bachelor's degree from American University and a law degree from Baltimore University, also has recently published a 246-page e-book, The Scoop on Good Grammar, which uses cultural references, such as art, food and sports, to make grammar lessons more appealing.

"It is written for anyone over the age of 12," says the Bethesda resident, "for young writers, young readers, young speakers and anyone who wants to brush up on grammar."

A few grammatical boo-boos seem to unnerve her, for example, people who can't decide whether to use "me" or "I" in a sentence and opt for "myself," as in "She went with my boss and myself to the meeting."

"I guess it [myself] must sound neutral to them," she says.

She has issued most of her books through her own MB Publishing Co. (she's the only author), saying she enjoys the give-and-take between writer and artist, so necessary in children's books, which traditional publishers often don't permit.

In addition to being a writer, publisher and community activist, Blumberg is an avid photographer and collector of novels and plays that have been made into movies.

She's also an inventor, with a 2008 patent for an electronic memory pad for medical use that she is working to get to market. -- Aaron Leibel

Suggestions for profiles may be sent to infocus@washingtonjewishweek.com.

Name: Margie Blumberg

Hebrew name: Menucha

Lives in: Bethesda

Birthday: April 6, 1957

Synagogue: B'nai Israel Congregation

Favorite Jewish holiday: Chanukah

Favorite Jewish food: Hamantashen

Favorite Jewish celebrity: Ben Stiller