Dip Teach, BA (Comm)
Children’s Author, Teacher, Speaker, Workshop Leader
Deborah trained as a teacher and completed a BA (Comm) before becoming writer/producer of a national children’s TV show. She left after 7 years and has since written 28 books for children, including the Max Remy Superspy series and her climate change trilogy, Grimsdon, New City and Final Storm. Teresa A New Australian, was inspired by her dad, who, with a million other refugees, made the journey to Australia after WW2. The Stupendously Spectacular Spelling Bee and sequel, The Most Marvellous Spelling Bee Mystery, were inspired by her grade 4 teacher. Her latest middle grade adventure is The Book of Wondrous Possibilities, about the power of books to save us when we feel lost.
Deborah’s won awards for her books, including the USBBY Outstanding International Book Award in the USA, Children Book council Awards USA and Australia, the Maurice Saxby Award for Services to Children’s Literature, best book in Translation Malta, and many children’s choice awards.
Deborah has visited tens of thousands of children, their teachers and librarians over the past 20 years. She has spoken at international schools, conferences and festivals across Australia, encouraging children to love books and reading, and equipping teachers with practical activities to foster a joy of writing in their students.
She believes that every child has the right to an education and to the ability to read. She has been an ambassador for the National Year of Reading, the Premier’s Reading Challenge and Spelling Bee, Room to Read and Books In Homes. She is the Assistant Regional Advisor for the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, Australia.
Most Recent Awards
- 2021 Best Book in Translation, Malta, Bear in Space
- 2021 REAL Awards(Kid’s Choice Victoria, NT, NSW, ACT) Final Storm shortlisted (3rd book Grimsdon Trilogy)
- 2020 REAL Awards (Kid’s Choice Victoria, NT, NSW, ACT) New City shortlisted (2nd book Grimsdon Trilogy)
- 2020 Best Book in Translation, Malta, The Stupendously Spectacular Spelling Bee
- 2019 Shortlisted REAL Awards (Kid’s Choice Victoria, NT, NSW, ACT) The Stupendously Spectacular Spelling Bee
- 2018 REAL Awards (Kid’s Choice Victoria, NT, NSW, ACT) Grimsdon shortlisted.
- 2017 REAL Awards (Kid’s Choice Victoria, NT, NSW, ACT) Grimsdon shortlisted.
- 2017 Teresa: A New Australian Shortlisted for WAYBRA Awards WA
- 2017 Teresa: A New Australian Best Book in Translation, Malta
- 2017 KOALA Legend award
- 2017 The Stupendously Spectacular Spelling Bee – Australian Family Therapists Awards
