• our blog
  • SCBWI home
  • Illustrator Award 2025
  • Critique Groups
  • Events
Menu

SCBWI Australia East Blog

  • our blog
  • SCBWI home
  • Illustrator Award 2025
  • Critique Groups
  • Events
SCBWI Conference logo.jpg

Behind the Scenes: Meet the Faculty Deborah Abela

January 2, 2019

Deborah Abela is not only the Assistant Regional Advisor of SCBWI NSW but is a pocket rocket of unimaginable energy and verve, which is useful if you’re on the Conference Committee for the SCBWI Sydney Conference 2019. Grab a bright bloom and wave it around for, Deb Abela!

Deb Hong Kong.jpg

Deborah has always been short and a bit of a coward, which is why she writes books about spies, ghosts, soccer legends and kids living in a flooded city with sea monsters and flying machines. Her 24 novels include Grimsdon, New City and Teresa A New Australian, which was inspired by her dad who lived through the devastation of WW2 before migrating to Australia. Her latest book is The Stupendously Spectacular Spelling Bee. Deb’s won awards for her books but mostly hopes to be as brave as her characters. She is an ambassador for the Premier’s Reading Challenge and Room to Read. www.deborahabela.com

Wolfie final cover.jpg
Teresa front cover.jpg
Spelling Bee Cover final smaller.jpg
Most Marvellous Cover hi res.jpg

Briefly state your conference role and conference responsibilities

I am the ARA for SCBWI NSW and part of the magnificent SCBWI leadership team that operates under the guidance and steam of Susanne Gervay. Anyone who knows Susanne knows she is a powerhouse of energy and generosity and enthusiasm...they'll also know that if you're standing near her for too long, you'll have volunteered for something. That's how our relationship has worked for over a decade.

Describe your most notable achievement or proudest moment in Kids’ Lit to date

Being part of the kids' lit world has been a feast of magnificence since my first book was published in 2002. There have been so many highlights....launching Teresa a New Australian with the president of Malta at her palace, being named a Koala Legend in 2017, but one of the loveliest times was when a teacher wrote and said she'd read my novel to her class and when she finished the last page, the entire class got to their feet and clapped. I was very teary.

What is the most memorable (SCBWI) Conference experience you’ve had to date, or hope to have?

Ahhhh again there are so many....the dancing, the lunches, meeting lots of new people, and the flopping down exhausted on a coach with my fellow lovely SCBWI team at the end....I loved every minute.

Name one thing you can’t live without

Hope

Provide at least one Fun Fact from a SCBWI Conference you’ve attended or organised (any where in the world)

One conference we gave Susanne Gervay a table tennis paddle with the word 'no' plastered on both sides, to try and get her to stop saying yes to everyone and anything people ask.

…I think that worked for six minutes or less!

We’ve still got lots of lovely memories and behind the scene facts to unearth around the potting shed. Come back again soon to discover them.

Rove ya’ later!

Dimity (Head Gardener)

www.dimitypowell.com

#SCBWISyd



In Conference Blog, Events, Roving Reporters, SCBWI Australia East & NZ, Sydney Conference 2019 Tags Deborah Abela, Susanne Gervay, Dimity Powell, Conference Blog, conference, Meet the Team, Roving Reporters, Sydney Conference, #SCBWISyd, Events
← Behind the Scenes: Meet the Faculty Marjorie Crosby-FairallBehind the Scenes: Meet the Faculty Sue Whiting →

How to Share your New Book or Award...

If you're a member and want to share your New Book or Award, CLICK HERE for instructions!


SCBWI Australia East Event Calendar

Or CLICK HERE to see a list of Australia East Events.


Latest & Greatest

our blog
SCBWI Success Story Zoe Gaetjens
about 2 days ago
New PB for Caz Goodwin and Zoe Bennett
about 6 days ago
New PB for Peter Baldwin and Amelia Tonta
about a week ago
Finalist Bologna Portfolio Award for Marjorie Crosby-Fairall
about a week ago
New PB Board Book for Jackie Hosking and Marjorie Crosby-Fairall
about a week ago
New PB for Angie Cui and Novia Heroanto
about a week ago
Award Shortlist for Deborah Abela
about a week ago
Debut PB for Nicole Mercer and Amna Zaki
about a week ago

Search by Category

  • CBCA Conference (1)
  • Competitions (1)
  • Finalist (1)
  • Online Critique Groups (1)
  • Publishers (1)
  • SCBWI Loves Librarians (1)
  • SCBWI Sunshine Coast (1)
  • SCBWI Website (1)
  • Sketch & Scribble (1)
  • Charities (2)
  • Far North Queensland (2)
  • Fellowships (2)
  • SCBWI International (2)
  • SCBWI NZ (2)
  • SCBWI Newcastle (2)
  • SCBWI Retreat (2)
  • Christmas Parties (3)
  • Literacy (3)
  • Illustrator Tips (4)
  • SCBWI How To (4)
  • Comics Mastermind (5)
  • PB Illustrator Award (6)
  • SCBWI South Australia (7)
  • SCBWI ACT (8)
  • SCBWI Tasmania (8)
  • Angie's Reviews (11)
  • SketchLook (11)
  • SCBWI Australia West (13)
  • SCBWI VIC (13)
  • Illustrator Showcase (16)
  • SCBWI NSW (18)
  • SCBWI Queensland (20)
  • SCBWI Success Story (21)
  • Sydney Conference 2014 (24)
  • Illustration Advice (25)
  • Interviews (34)
  • Writing advice (38)
  • Conference Blog 2016 (40)
  • Sydney Conference 2016 (40)
  • Sydney Conference 2019 (42)
  • Conference Blog (44)
  • Roving Reporters (71)
  • Events (89)
  • SCBWI Australia East & NZ (93)
  • Awards (163)
  • New Books (817)

SCBWI Australia East

SCBWI is the international professional organisation for writers and illustrators of children's literature

Learn More

Share your New Book or Award!

Each month we'll be keeping you up to date with new publications by members and also any awards or competitions our members have won. So if you're a member of SCBWI Australia East and want to share your exciting news, CLICK HERE for instructions.

Copyright © 2025 SCBWI Australia East
All rights reserved.