top of page
  • Facebook Social Icon
  • YouTube Social  Icon
  • Instagram Social Icon
Twitter-logo.svg.png
linkedin-logo.png

Children's Author & Teacher

The Book of

Wondrous Possibilities 

Notables Sticker.png
realawards logo.jpg
Davitt awards w background.png
Screen Shot 2023-06-15 at 10.33.32 am.png

2023 CBCA BOOK OF THE YEAR NOTABLE

2023 SHORTLISTED REAL AWARDS

2023 THE SPEECH PATHOLOGY BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARDS

2023 SHORTLIST DAVITT AWARDS

A story about books, bookshops and libraries and how they save us when we feel lost.

Arlo Goodman lives with his Uncle Avery in a run-down flat above their bookshop. He has no friends, except for his pet mouse, Herbert. But when a girl called Lisette bursts into the shop and begs him to hide her from a murderer, Arlo’s life changes forever.

He’s swept up into an adventure involving a magical book, a race to save Lisette’s home and a story in The Book of Wondrous Possibilities, where Arlo himself is the hero…but will Arlo be able to find his courage in time to save the day?

Skymouse.png

‘…a delightfully quirky, sweeping adventure with smart young characters, unexpected plot twists...a great read for 8-12 year olds.’

Paul Macdonald, The Children’s Bookshop

‘A fast-paced, funny and surprising book with original characters, dastardly plots and wondrous possibilities.’ Tristan Bancks author of Two Wolves

‘As soon as I started reading, I instantly fell in love with this book.’ 

Hannah Mae Gruppetta age 12

Skyline 1.png
Lisette.png
Skyline 1.png
Arlo.png
Dragon 1_edited.png

Bear in Space

CBCA Notable 2021!

Bear Cover with logo.png

Bear was different.

 

When he dreams of going into space, the other bears laugh. In space he feels at home, but also alone, until something extraordinary happens.

 

A story about being different and finding friends who love you just the way you are.

'...a beautiful new book,' Mary Marton Bookshop

'I just love it!...we're going to see this one shortlisted.' Megan Daley, Children's Books Daily. 

'BEAUTIFUL illustrations and a LOVELY story about imagination and friendship.' KidsBooksWeLove

'...a charming story for early readers,' Barbara Braxton, The Bottom Shelf

Build a Rocket!

Just like Bear

Download your rocket activity sheet & Colouring Pages

Home made rocket.jpg
Build Your Own Rocket Pic.jpg

Deb is a trained teacher and has been speaking in schools and festivals here and around the world for 20 years! She LOVES getting kids excited about books, reading and writing their own stories.

Over the last few years, Deb has been talking and leading workshops from her attic, Studio 6, where she also writes.

Find out how to book Deb here.

The kids AND the staff have absolutely loved working with you too! Excitement levels have been very high! I can't believe we've never done this virtually before!!

Cynthia Maiden, Principal, St Joseph’s Hopetoun.

Without exception every teacher and child who was part of your ZOOM visit to our school was excited and impressed by your energetic, well-prepared and fun talk. Thank you so much!!!!!!

Bronwen Loveday, Cherrybrook PS

Thank you so very much for your BRILLIANT presentation. Your enthusiasm, passion and pure joy about writing and all things book related, was so infectious we had all the students and staff just buzzing!

Christine Bottrell Kincoppal Rose Bay

IMG_1428.jpeg
Storytelling onesie.jpg
IMG_1414.jpg
IMG_1350.jpg
Deb and kids copy.jpg
Deb and kids hands in the air.jpg

Final Storm

SHORTLISTED FOR THE YABBA, KROC AND KOALA AWARDS 2021

REAL AWARDS 2023.jpg

Deb wrote Grimsdon because she was angry that governments weren't dealing with climate change.

 

Kids loved it and harassed her to write New City and after even more kid harassment, she wrote the third and last book, Final Storm. 

It has wild weather, hoverboards, robots, rescue eagles and a teenager, called Aleksander Larsen, who is smart, kind, good-looking and likes Isabella Charm. Xavier can't stand him.

Read more about the Grimsdon trilogy here

'The characters, the adventures, the emotion, the plot twists and turns - WHAT'S NOT TO LOVE!'

Jo Noble, Librarian, St Agatha's Catholic School, Clayfield

'AWESOME. EXCITING. UNPUTDOWNABLE!'
Mrs Kerry Gittins, Head Librarian, Renaissance International School

 

'Your book had me on the edge of my seat in every chapter.'

James, age 12, Sydney Grammar School

The Stupendously Spectacular Spelling Bee

'The irrepressible Wimple family returns. Merriment and edification mark this story of bravery, friendship, and logophilia.'

Kirkus Reviews, USA.

Humorous and poignant, this title will inspire readers with its kind, courageous heroine. School Library Journal, USA

5/5 This has to be one of the best children's books that I have read this past year! Goodreads

Read aloud to a middle primary class, they will enjoy the quirky characters, solving the mystery and Abela's celebration of the English language. Rhyllis Bignell. ReadPlus

This is a story that’s less about a spelling bee, and more about friendship, and standing up for one another, and most importantly standing up – and believing in —  yourself. Verushka Byrow Reading Time

Deb's

Instagram

5Writers5minutes
5 writers 5 minutes -sq.jpeg

The Uber Talented Critique group - Deborah Abela, Tristan Bancks, Lian Tanner, Zanni Louise and Sarah Armstrong - get together once a month to workshop their writing and record a 5 minute masterclass about how they do it. Listen here or watch on youtube.

Reading With a chance of tacos
Screen Shot 2022-07-31 at 8.45.05 pm.png

Deb had lots of fun chatting with Ken, the fabulously energetic host of the podcast Reading with a Chance of Tacos. They spoke about books, writing and why it's all so wondrously fun! Click here to listen in

One More Page Podcast

Screen Shot 2022-08-04 at 4.43.41 pm.png

Deb spoke to the wonderful Kate from One More Page at the Kids and YA festival at Writing NSW  about writing, stories and the wondrous possibilities of books.

Interview with Zanni Louise
Screen Shot 2022-08-04 at 11.31.10 am.png

Deb had the absolute pleasure of chatting with superstar author and critique buddy Zanni Louise all about writing. You can listen in here.

CBCA Lunchtime Storytime
Lunchtime Storytime Tile.jpg

Deb had lots of fun dressing up in her shark onesie and talking all about books on the CBCA Lunchtime Storytime. Have a peek here.

Ecmmxu5UwAALtgD.jpg

Superstar author Adrian Beck is also the superhost of Author Hangout, a livestream video chat with authors and illustrators. You can watch the video here.

Diversity pic.jpg
IMG_0743.JPG
Story Scoop

Watch authors and illustrators tell the story behind their stories on the CBCA NSW Branch website.

Podcast for
Young Writers
WW-MASTERCLASS-PODCAST-LOGO-MAIN.jpg

Westwords have a new podcast where they talk to writers about writing! And Deb got to join in! She talks to James Roy about Hunting and Gathering ideas.

Have a listen here.

Screen Shot 2020-04-20 at 12.07.43 pm.pn
Deb chats about Books
on the 21CL Podcast

Teacher and podcaster, Michael Boll, chats with Deb about books and writing and sharing the excitement of writing with kids.

Have a listen here.

I want to be a hero!.png
Wolfie An Unlikely Hero

Wolfie LOVES fairytales, but is tired of wolves always being the bad guys, and he wants to be a HERO!

Read more here.

Spelling Bee read by an entire District in USA

Chosen for the One District One Book program, every family read the book in NJ, USA.

See what they got up to.

Deb chats with author extraordinaire, Adrian Beck
Kidlit%20Club_edited.jpg

Adrian Beck is an incredible author. He and Deb chatted about all things writing and Final Storm.

Have a look here.

Room to Read

700 million people in the world can't read, most are girls and women. Educating a child in the world's poorest countries costs $1 a day. Can you help us raise money to send kids to school?

Find out more here.

'Words & Nerds' Podcast

Deb enjoyed chatting with Dani Vee, podcaster, reader, writer and book enthusiast, all about writing.

Have a listen here.

Spelling Bee In Malta & US

​Deb is so excited that the Wimple family are in the USA and Malta!

Find out more here.

Most Marvellous US 3D.jpg
zanzan cover.jpg
cbca-nsw-branch-logo.jpg
The Children's Book Council

​The CBCA NSW Branch is a vibrant group of passionate people who love connecting young people with books. Find out more here.

Grimsdon.jpg
New City.jpg
Final Storm.jpg
bottom of page