1. What's your hidden talent?
I studied Judo when I was younger and can still throw someone over my shoulder who is much bigger than me.
2. Who is your favourite literary villain and why?
Lemony Snicket's Count Olaf. I love his terrible overacting and his ability to love himself above all others when there really isn't much about him that’s loveable.
Kate Dicamillo, Patrick Ness, RJ Palacio, Rebecca Stead and Roald Dahl.
4. Which literary invention do you wish was real?
Bear’s rocket from Bear in Space. I remember when I was writing about this flying machine, I really really wished it was real.
5. What are five words that describe your writing process?
Clumsy, chaotic, persistent, joy-filled, muddled.
6. Which are the five words you would like to be remembered by as a writer?
Warm, heart-felt, exciting, engaging, enduring.
7. Picture your favourite writing space. What are five objects you would find there?
A craggy ocean view, a roaring fireplace, a fully stocked kitchen and fridge, a bookshelf filled with my favourite books, a giant bouncy castle in the yard.
8. Grab the nearest book, open it to page 22 and look for the second word in the first sentence. Now, write a line that starts with that word. (Please include the name of the book!)
‘Know yourself, truly and honestly, and this will be your greatest power against those bullies.’
Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate Dicamillo
9. If you could ask one author one question, what would the question be and who would you ask?
Anh Do: How to make me laugh and cry all in the same sentence?
10. Which would you rather do: 'Never write another story or never read another book'?
What? Oh that’s too hard because for me they go so well together. The more I write, the more I crave reading and the more I read, the more it inspires me to get back to my writing.
After finishing a teaching degree, Deb Abela went to Africa where she was caught in a desert sandstorm, harassed by monkeys and thrown in jail twice! She’s written 25 books, including Max Remy Superspy, Grimsdon, Teresa A New Australian and The Most Marvellous Spelling Bee Mystery. Her first picture book was Wolfie, An Unlikely Hero. Deb has won awards for her books but mostly hopes to be as brave as her characters. For more information, see www.deborahabela.com.