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AUTHOR
/ POET
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Deborah Carlyon's first novel
won the 2001 Queensland Premier's Literary Award
for best emerging author. Her book MAMA
KUMA: ONE WOMAN, TWO CULTURES, is an authorised
biography about the incredible life of Kuma Kelage;
(Deborah's maternal grandmother), who was the
daughter of a Chimbu Chieftain in the highlands
of Papua New Guinea.
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A former student
of St. Peters Lutheran College, Deborah taught in
State High Schools in Queensland before becoming
the founding teacher for the Noosa Pengari Steiner
School. While creating children's stories at the
Steiner School, Deborah completed a Diploma of Professional
Children's Writing. Her ability to act as a bridge
between two cultures is a wonderful gift that she
has brought to schools during the last ten years
of her teaching career. |
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Deborah is widely traveled
and speaks Pidgin as well as conversational Bahasa
Indonesia.
In addition to her prose talents,
Deborah is also an avid poet. Her poems have been
published in Reflections of Tomorrow and Radiant
Light magazine. Deborah performed her poetry at
the Woodford Folk Festival in 2002.
Combining her ability to communicate
effectively with people of all ages and nationalities,
Deborah has a gift for creating children's stories
and songs on the spot. As she says, 'spontaneity
is the lesson my students taught me'.
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Detailed teachers notes for
Mama Kuma can be obtained by request.
LOKU
AND THE SHARK ATTACK is Deborah's latest
publication, this time for younger readers, 8
years and up, and illustrated by John Danalis.
Deborah is available for talks
on her books, her culture and writing.
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