AUTHOR

When Deborah was a small child, she spent most of her time imagining she was on great adventures all over the world. Much later, she completed a teaching degree before buying a backpack and a plane ticket and going on them for real. After 3 years she came home, studied Communications and begged unashamedly for her first TV job at the production house, Southern Star. This was followed by 7 years at Network TEN as a Children’s TV writer/producer.

Deborah's latest book, The Remarkable Secret of Aurelie Bonhoffen, was published by Random House in 2009. In 2009 it was shortlisted for best children's book in the Aurealis awards. In 2010 it was a notable book in the CBCA Younger Readers category.

Deborah left Network 10 in 2001 to write the Max Remy Superspy series about a feisty spy girl and the Jasper Zammit (Soccer Legend) books, written with the advice of Australia’s very own soccer legend, Johnny Warren, about a team of kids who dream of being just like him.

Since then, Deborah has become one of Australia’s most popular authors of literature for young people. In 2009, Deborah was selected as an Ambassador for the NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge, and the NSW Premier’s Westpac Spelling Bee Challenge.  In 2008, She was awarded the May Gibbs Fellowship for Children’s Literature, and her series Max Remy Superspy was voted by the public in to the Top 50 Children’s Books (Angus & Robertson). 

What to expect from a Deborah Abela visit.

When Deborah's not writing or reading, she loves talking to kids and getting them excited about stories, writing and going on their own adventures.  Deborah enjoys making the sessions informative, fun and interactive, with the aim of promoting and encouraging amongst the students a love of books, reading and maybe even being writers themselves.

Deborah likes to demystify the persona of the writer so tells stories about herself, including writing her first story at age seven, and stories that inspired her work, such as the time she was thrown in jail at gunpoint in Africa! She takes students through the process of creating an engaging story by asking them to come up with story alternatives to her work. Through story and word games, Deborah stimulates their imaginations and encourages a love of reading and books.

Deborah also loves leading writing workshops. With her teacher trained background, she uses games to help children create ideas for their stories and assists them in developing them further to include an enticing beginning, middle and satisfying end, keeping in mind the structure of the 3 Act Plot. 

With her background as a television producer and writer, Deborah is happy to show some excerpts from the children’s TV show she wrote and produced for 7 years at Network TEN. She explains the process of taking a small idea to scripting and editing stages.   

Deborah has many writing workshop games and activities that tickle the imagination, promote ways for getting started and activities for those already on the way but who need help editing and refining. She also holds workshops for teachers who are keen to gather tips and practical activities to take back to the classroom.

The aim of any session from Deborah is to leave the students (and staff!) feeling enthused about stories, those on the library shelves and also the ones they have yet to write themselves.

Links

http://www.deborahabela.com

See and hear Deborah in a video presentation about Max Remy part nine (and all the fan comments!).

Check out the Aurelie trailer, teacher notes and a sample of the audio book.

Download the Jasper Zammit (Soccer Legend) Teacher Notes from Deb's website.

All Deborah’s books are published by Random House.

"Deb Abelas visit to our school was one of the best library incursions we have had. Her personality was bubbly and animated and she won the kids over with her enthusiasm for writing. The children were mesmirized with her and thoroughly enjoyed meeting her. All the staff commented on how well Deb spoke and how animated she was. No-one lost interest as she kept the audience engaged as she strolled through the audience. The teachers were very impressed with her."
– Irene Robertson, Tapping Primary School, WA (Sep 2009)

"Deb engaged the students well, demonstrated a strong knowledge base and inspired the children to write. She was larger than life, energetic and very entertaining. Deb's stories generated laughter and her encouraging manner enabled students to take risks in their responses and writing. I could highly recomment her to primary schools."
– Teacher responses to Deb's sessions at the 2009 Hastings Literature Festival.

I have seen Deb twice now - at Tyabb PS and at the Hastings Literacy Festival. Staff and students loved her talk and she kept them engaged for the full hour session. Deb stayed the night at my place last year. She is a warm,friendly person and her visit was memorable.She was very easy to please."
– Heather Tytler, Hastings Literature Festival, Sep 2009

"Deborah Abela was absolutely fantastic, every single student was enthralled with her hilarious, entertaining and exciting talk.  She connects so well with the students - they are still raving about her." 
– Georgina Konstanta, Children/Young Adults Officer, Wollondilly Shire Council July 2009.

“Ms. Abela enthralled the students as she related experiences from her life, which later formed foundations for each of the books she wrote. It was a lively engaging time, with students’ hands flying up and down as students suggested alternative plots to existing stories and weird and wonderful scenarios that could build up the reader tension within the structure of a novel.”
–Heather Fisher, Librarian , New England Girls School, Armidale, NSW.  March 2009

"I found [Deborah] to be very professional, personable, compassionate and an exciting and entertaining speaker for our Year 7 students. As one mother said, “After hearing Deb speak my daughter, who has never been a reader, wanted to rush out and buy the Max Remy books. And she has read them all now!” [Deborah] was inspirational and thought provoking, in that she set the scene for students writing and the ideas that they came up with were exciting. We would love to have her come back to our school again."
– Glenda Crothers , Teacher Librarian, Guildford Grammar School, WA (July 2008)

“Deborah’s visit to our school was a great success and I would highly recommend her presentation. She held the interest of her audience and created enthusiasm for both reading and writing amongst the students.”
– Suzanne Leslie Teacher-librarian, Lindfield Public School, Sept 2006

“Deb’s infectious, bubbly personality and her ability to involve all students in the discussions and activities made the sessions memorable for all who were involved.”
– Loris Grigg Year 6 teacher, Hopetoun PS VIC

“Deb mystified the students at the Hopetoun Primary School with her story telling prowess. Deb had the students intrigued as she delved into the life of Max Remy Superspy and the life of an author…I would recommend Deb Abela as an excellent author to have within any school setting as her energy and commitment sees students with a reenergized thirst for reading and writing.”
– Ian Herben Principal Hopetoun PS VIC

“Deb was able to build an affirming rapport with each of the three groups of children (Years 5 & 6). She related positively to the children, making them each feel important.”
– Liz McQuade Acting Principal Good Shepherd PS Hoxton Pk NSW

“While listening to Deborah at a school author visit, the words exciting, dynamic and extreme came to mind; and that was just the characters that she writes about. Deborah motivated the children with her contagious enthusiasm for stories and books. Deborah sparked the creativity bulb within all of the students.”
– Peter Brock, 4B, Lindfield Public School, 2006

“Deb was inspiring, creative, dynamic and enthusiastic – exactly what we were hoping for!”
– Paul Macdonald, Owner The Children’s Bookshop, Beecroft, Oct 2006 for Writing Workshops

Selected Awards & Grants

2010
The Remarkable Secret of Aurelie Bonhoffen, CBCA Notable Book, Younger Readers Category
2009
The Remarkable Secret of Aurelie Bonhoffen Shortlisted for 'Best Children's Book', Aurealis Awards
Ambassador NSW Premier's Reading Challenge
Ambassador NSW Premier's Westpac Spelling Bee Challenge
2008
Awarded May Gibbs Fellowship for Children's Literature
Max Remy Superspy Voted in Top 50 Children's Books (Angus Robertson Australia)
2007
Shortlisted CBC Children's Choice Awards, United States of Ameria
Shortlisted for WAYBRA (WA children's choice awards)
Shortlisted for KOALA (NSW children's choice awards)
Shortlisted for YABBA (Vic children's choice awards)
2006
Honor Book, Annual Ellie Awards, Madison Alabama USA
2005
Winner Gold Oppenheim Toy and Book Award, New York
Shortlised for the KOALA Awards (Kids Own Australian Literature Awards)
2004
Australia Council Literary Grant – New Work / Developing Writer
Invited Judge for Write Around Australia Competition
2003
Nominated for Aurealis Awards for excellence in speculative fiction.
Winner of Read And Write Award by Vocaleyes Productions for best author narration of a novel (she also won in 2002).

Deborah has also been a highly sought after presenter at literary festivals across the country, having been invited to The NSW Writers’ Centre Writing for Children and YA Festival (2006 and 2007) Sydney Writers’ Festival (2002, 2003, 2006, 2008) Somerset Festival of Literature, QLD and All Saints Literature Festival, WA, Byron Bay Writers’ Festival 2006 and Ipswich Festival of Children’s Literature 2007, Marrickville Festival of Learning, Kids Universe (2004) and City of Melville Festival, Perth (2004). Phew!