Reading Resources

A: I knew from the age of seven I wanted to be an author. My family never had much money when I was a kid, but when she could, my mum bought a Little Golden Book for 25 cents until I had this bright shelf of books that I treasured as if they were made of real gold. I was lucky that we had a library at school that felt like a comfy haven. My year four teacher, Ms. Gray, created a class library full of brand-new books and I made it my mission to read every one. This love of books definitely led to my very first book in the Max Remy series.  

A: My Nanna Teresa was born in Malta, the most heavily bombed place of World War II. She spent three war-torn years hiding in underground shelters, doing everything she could to protect and feed her children. My father was born in one of these shelters. My Nanna’s strength and determination to protect her children makes her one of the bravest and strongest people I know, and I always feel that if she could face what she did with such strength, then I owe it to her to be as brave as I can, not to waste my life and good fortune and try to be generous, just like her.

Nanna Teresa, grandmother of Deborah Abela

Rabat Church that housed the underground tunnel where Deborah Abela’s father was born

A: I love working with kids. I love inviting them to be excited about learning, books and reading and writing their own stories. When I’m with kids during an author talk or workshop, I sometimes need to pinch myself that I have such a privileged life to be able to share my love of writing with them. Kids are funny, smart, cheeky and their imaginations are so vast…they make me laugh a lot.  

A: When a character makes me laugh or cry. It always catches me unawares and I love the power of words, even words I’ve written, to move people.  

A: For me, creativity is sparked by being out in the world in places I’ve never seen, speaking to people, sharing stories, hiking through nature or climbing the mountain for a view that makes all the pain of the climb worth it. That for me is where the gem of creativity lies.  

Deborah Abela on her first trip to Malta

A: From my earliest memories, books have offered whole worlds of possibilities and been a safe haven when I’ve felt lost, including during the last few years when life globally became uncertain and scary. I started thinking about kids who also use books as a refuge and began thinking about an orphan called Arlo. He lives with his uncle in a bookshop he rarely leaves because he finds the world outside frightening. One day, he meets a girl who needs his help and gives him a book called a grimoire. Popular in 18th century France, grimoires were said to have special properties, and in this grimoire is a story written by Arlo’s mum that will change his life. “The Book of Wondrous Possibilities” is my unapologetic tribute to books, booksellers and librarians, and how they can save us when we feel lost. 

A: There are lots of fun things planned for this year including school visits in Vietnam and all over Australia. I have also just finished the first draft of a new novel in verse called “The Kindness Project” (publication date for 2024) where kids are given a class assignment to create a project that makes the world a better, kinder place. I can’t wait to dive into it with my online critique group, who will help make it as polished a book as it can be. 

A: I’ve been writing for over 20 years and for me it comes down to a few points:  

• Write what you love 
• Write even if that book may never be published 
• Write because you love your characters and miss them when you’re not with them 
• Write, rewrite and rewrite some more 
• Join a critique group and work on your writing with writers you like and admire  
• Read, read, read, read, read!