Author
Deborah trained as a teacher before becoming writer/producer of a national children’s TV show at Network TEN. She then went to Africa where she was harassed by monkeys, got caught in a desert sandstorm and was thrown in jail twice. Since then, she’s become an internationally published and awarded author of 30 books including her climate change trilogy, Grimsdon, New City and Final Storm. The Stupendously Spectacular Spelling Bee and The Most Marvellous Spelling Bee Mystery were inspired by her stupendously inspiring grade 4 teacher, Miss Gray. She wrote the CBCA Notable Bear in Space illustrated by Marjorie Crosby-Fairall, and the CBCA Notable The Book of Wondrous Possibilities, is her love letter to books, booksellers and librarians and how they save us when we feel lost. Her latest novel is The Kindness Project, where four kids try to change the world with a school project. Deb’s won awards for her work but mostly hopes to be as brave as her characters.
Student Sessions
Deborah’s author talks are informative, interactive and fun. With her teaching and TV background, she uses images, videos, storytelling and games, to explain why writing is so much fun and help kids develop their own engaging stories, leaving them excited about books, reading and writing. She will focus on the Grimsdon trilogy, The Book of Wondrous Possibilities and The Kindness Project.