Difference between revisions of "Deborah Abela"

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'''Deborah Abela'''
'''Deborah Abela''' (1966) is a children's books author from Sydney, Australia, most notably the [['''Max Remy, Super Spy''']] series.


Author
==Early life==
Her mother, Maureen Duck, was born in Australia in 1947 and her father Amante (Monty), was born in [[Rabat, Malta]] in 1942 during a [[WWII]] bombing raid in Malta. Her grandparents were Theresa and Ramech Abela.  Ramech Abela migrated to Australia to find a house for his family and he was then followed by his wife, Monty and other family members in 1950. They all went on the [[assisted passage scheme]], settling in Sydney and living in [[Leichhardt]].  Deborah’s grandmother was not a very well woman and, only a few years later, Monty and his brothers were sent to [[Boystown]] and his sisters to a convent.  They were able to return to their home after a few years, but their mother remained ill and died in 1960.


Deborah Abela was born in 1966 in Sydney, Australia.  Her mother, Maureen Duck, was born in Australia in 1947 and her father Amante (Monty), was born in Rabat in 1942 during a WWII bombing raid in Malta. Her grandparents were Theresa and Ramech AbelaRamech Abela came to Australia to find a house for his family and he was then followed by his wife, Monty and other family members in 1950. They all came on the assisted passage scheme, settling in Sydney and living in LeichhardtDeborah’s grandmother was not a very well woman and, only a few years later, Monty and his brothers were sent to Boystown and his sisters to a convent.  They were able to return to their home after a few years, but their mother remained ill and died in 1960.
Deborah went to [[St Patrick’s Primary School, Guildford]] and [[Cerdon College, Merrylands]], for her high school years. She enrolled in a Diploma of Teaching (Secondary) before travelling around the world for three yearsAfter returning to Australia she completed a degree in Communications, majoring in writing and film theory at [[UTS]] in 1995.   


Deborah went to St Patrick’s Primary School, Guildford and Cerdon College, Merrylands, for her high school years. She enrolled in a Diploma of Teaching (Secondary) before travelling around the world for three years.  After returning to Australia she completed a degree in Communications, majoring in writing and film theory at UTS in 1995.  She began working in children’s television, initially in the script department of the Southern Star production house and then as an assistant producer and producer/writer for Cheez TV.
==Publications==
Deborah began working in children’s television, initially in the script department of the [['''Southern Star''']] production house and then as an assistant producer and producer/writer for [['''Cheez TV''']].


In 2001 she left television to write her first novel, ''Max Remy Superspy Part 1: In Search of the Time and Space Machine,'' which was published in 2002.  She has completed ten books in the ''Max Remy Superspy'' series and they have been published in six countries including Germany and Brazil.  She has also written a shorter series of books on ''Jasper Zammit Soccer Legend'' and several other books.  Former Socceroo captain, the late Johnny Warren, co-authored two of the ''Jasper Zammit'' series. When asked why she chose the name Zammit for her soccer star, she responded “…because soccer was brought to this country by European migrants and even though many of them didn’t have the same language, the soccer field and their love of the game united them”. Her other books are ''The Remarkable Secret of Aurelia Bonhoffen'', ''Grimsdon'' and the ''Ghost Club'' series.  
In 2001, she left television to write her first novel, [['''Max Remy Superspy Part 1: In Search of the Time and Space Machine''']] which was published in 2002.  She has completed ten books in the [['''Max Remy Superspy''']] series and they have been published in six countries including Germany and Brazil.  She has also written a shorter series of books on [['''Jasper Zammit Soccer Legend''']] and several other books.  Former Socceroo captain, the late [[Johnny Warren]], co-authored two of the [['''Jasper Zammit''']] series. When asked why she chose the name Zammit for her soccer star, Deborah responded …''because soccer was brought to this country by European migrants and even though many of them didn’t have the same language, the soccer field and their love of the game united them''. Her other books are [['''The Remarkable Secret of Aurelia Bonhoffen''']], [['''Grimsdon''']] and the [['''Ghost Club''']] series.  


==Awards & nominations==
Deborah has been nominated for and won numerous awards in the field of children’s literature:
Deborah has been nominated for and won numerous awards in the field of children’s literature:


New York Gold Oppenheim Toy and Book Award, 2005
* 2005 - [['''New York Gold Oppenheim Toy and Book Award''']]
Shortlisted, Ellie Awards, Alabama, USA
* Shortlisted- [['''Ellie Awards''']], Alabama, USA
Shortlisted, Children’s Book Council Awards of America, as well as the WAYRBA, KOALA and YABBA popular awards in NSW, Victoria and WA, 2007
* 2007 - Shortlisted - [['''Children’s Book Council Awards of America''']], as well as the [['''WAYRBA''']], [['''KOALA''']] and [['''YABBA''']] popular awards in NSW, Victoria and WA
Awarded the Max Gibbs Fellowship for Children’s Literature; ''Max Remy Superspy'' series voted by the public into the Top 50 Children’s Books (Angus and Robertson), 2008
* 2008 - Awarded the [['''Max Gibbs Fellowship''']] for Children’s Literature; [['''Max Remy Superspy''']] series voted by the public into the [[Top 50 Children’s Books]] (Angus and Robertson)
Ambassador, NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge and NSW Premier’s Westpac Spelling Bee Challenge, 2009
* 2009 - Ambassador, NSW Premier’s [['''Reading Challenge''']] and NSW Premier’s ['''[Westpac Spelling Bee Challenge''']]
''Max Remy Superspy'' series shortlisted for both the YABBA and KOALA awards, 2010.  Both awards are voted for by children from Victoria and NSW.
* 2010 - [['''Max Remy Superspy''']] series shortlisted for both the [['''YABBA''']] and [['''KOALA''']] awards.  Both awards are voted for by children from Victoria and NSW.
''The Remarkable Secret of Aurelia Bonhoffen'', shortlisted for best children’s book in the Aurealis Awards, 2010 and awarded “Notable Book of 2010” by the Children’s Book Council of Australia.
* 2010 - [['''The Remarkable Secret of Aurelia Bonhoffen''']], shortlisted for best children’s book in the [['''Aurealis Awards''']] and awarded [['''Notable Book of 2010''']] by the [['''Children’s Book Council of Australia''']].
''Grimsdon'', a novel about children living in a flooded city, shortlisted for the Aurealis, REAL and Speech Pathology Awards; Favourite Kids’ Book in the Kids’ Book Review, 2011
* 2011 - [['''Grimsdon''']], a novel about children living in a flooded city, shortlisted for the [['''Aurealis''']], [['''REAL''']] and [['''Speech Pathology Awards''']]; '''Favourite Kids’ Book''' in the [['''Kids’ Book Review''']]
Nominated, Ambassador for the National Year of Reading, Australia, 2012
* 2012 - Nominated, Ambassador for the [['''National Year of Reading''']], Australia
Ambassador, Premier’s Reading Challenge NSW, 2012
* 2012 - Ambassador, [['''Premier’s Reading Challenge''']] NSW
Shortlisted USBBY Outstanding International Book Awards, USA for ''The Ghost of Gribblesea Pier'' (Australian title, ''The Remarkable Secret of Aurelia Bonhoffen''), 2012
* 2012 - Shortlisted [['''USBBY Outstanding International Book Awards''']], USA for [['''The Ghost of Gribblesea Pier''']] (Australian title, [['''The Remarkable Secret of Aurelia Bonhoffen''']])
Maurice Saxby Award for Services to Children’s Literature, 2013
* 2013 - [['''Maurice Saxby Award''']] for Services to Children’s Literature
''Ghost Club'' series nominated for Sisters in Crime Davitt Awards 2013
* 2013 - [['''Ghost Club''']] series nominated for [['''Sisters in Crime Davitt Awards''']]


 
==Sources==
Sources:
1. Deborah Abela, personal communication
1. Deborah Abela, personal communication
2. Wikipedia
2. [[Wikipedia]]
 


==External links==
==External links==
* [http://www.deborahabela.com]
* [http://www.deborahabela.com Official Website]
* [http://www.facebook.com/deborah.abela.9]
* [http://www.facebook.com/deborah.abela.9 Facebook]


{{DEFAULTSORT:Abela, Deborah}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Abela, Deborah}}
[[Category:Maltese-background Who's Who in AU & NZ]]
[[Category:Maltese-background Who's Who in AU & NZ]]
[[Category:Born in 1966]]
[[Category:Australians of Maltese descent]]
[[Category:Australian authors of Maltese descent]]

Revision as of 11:27, 2 October 2013

Deborah Abela (1966) is a children's books author from Sydney, Australia, most notably the '''Max Remy, Super Spy''' series.

Early life

Her mother, Maureen Duck, was born in Australia in 1947 and her father Amante (Monty), was born in Rabat, Malta in 1942 during a WWII bombing raid in Malta. Her grandparents were Theresa and Ramech Abela. Ramech Abela migrated to Australia to find a house for his family and he was then followed by his wife, Monty and other family members in 1950. They all went on the assisted passage scheme, settling in Sydney and living in Leichhardt. Deborah’s grandmother was not a very well woman and, only a few years later, Monty and his brothers were sent to Boystown and his sisters to a convent. They were able to return to their home after a few years, but their mother remained ill and died in 1960.

Deborah went to St Patrick’s Primary School, Guildford and Cerdon College, Merrylands, for her high school years. She enrolled in a Diploma of Teaching (Secondary) before travelling around the world for three years. After returning to Australia she completed a degree in Communications, majoring in writing and film theory at UTS in 1995.

Publications

Deborah began working in children’s television, initially in the script department of the '''Southern Star''' production house and then as an assistant producer and producer/writer for '''Cheez TV'''.

In 2001, she left television to write her first novel, '''Max Remy Superspy Part 1: In Search of the Time and Space Machine''' which was published in 2002. She has completed ten books in the '''Max Remy Superspy''' series and they have been published in six countries including Germany and Brazil. She has also written a shorter series of books on '''Jasper Zammit Soccer Legend''' and several other books. Former Socceroo captain, the late Johnny Warren, co-authored two of the '''Jasper Zammit''' series. When asked why she chose the name Zammit for her soccer star, Deborah responded …because soccer was brought to this country by European migrants and even though many of them didn’t have the same language, the soccer field and their love of the game united them. Her other books are '''The Remarkable Secret of Aurelia Bonhoffen''', '''Grimsdon''' and the '''Ghost Club''' series.

Awards & nominations

Deborah has been nominated for and won numerous awards in the field of children’s literature:

Sources

1. Deborah Abela, personal communication 2. Wikipedia

External links