Deborah Abela makes CBCA notables 2025

Congratulations to author Deborah Abela on making the

2025 CBCA Book of the Year Awards Younger Readers Notables

for The Kindness Project

a paperback middle grade fiction for ages 8-12, published by Penguin Random House Australia

May 2024

Four kids are given a class project to make the world a better place... the trouble is, they don’t like each other… until they realise they have lots in common and band together when one of them needs help.

This is Deb's first verse novel and not only did she get to play with the narrative but also with font, form and layout to tell the story. Perfect for reluctant readers and readers moving from junior fiction to middle grade.

Congratulations Deb, what an outstanding achievement - kindness deserves this commendation!

Sketch and Scribble, Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney, Sunday February 16

I cannot think of a better way to spend a Sunday than surrounded by inspiring creatives and incredible plants. SCBWI NSW headed to the Botanical Gardens in Sydney, for our first event of the year, Summer Sketch and Scribble. We gathered at the Calyx cafe for a meet and greet. It’s always wonderful to welcome new authors and illustrators.

For those new to SCBWI and Sketch and Scribble, it’s where we get together at a specified location.  The group is lead to different spots where we are given a series of guided prompts, one at a time, after each prompt you get about 5/10 minutes to write or draw whatever inspires you from that prompt.

Deborah Abela lead the first session which started with ‘Morning Pages’, one of the best ways to clear the clutter of one’s mind and open all the channels for creativity. Inspired by The Artist’s Way, Julia Cameron (if you haven’t heard of it I recommend getting a copy. It’s a great tool!) Once our creative muscles were flexed, we followed some more fabulous prompts, like: List ten things you or your character might find in the gardens. Next we got to pick three and write a scene incorporating them. This is a useful writing activity if you have a blocked moment. After some more prompts, writing or drawing, then sharing (only if you want) we headed to our next spot, the glorious succulent gardens. 

Susanne Gervay lead the hilarious session with poems and visual descriptions. I was blown away by the illustrations and the written materials shared with the group.

After a spot of lunch we followed Shelly Unwin, where we walked three times forwards, then three times backwards around the Wishing Tree. YES! There is a Wishing Tree in the gardens! We settled under the gazebo to imagine what our character or you as a child would wish for (if you had one wish). When a ‘wishing tree’ is mentioned one cannot go past The Faraway Tree. In groups of four, we giggled whilst imagining what world would be up at the top of the tree? Who lived there? Who the baddy was? What went wrong and how we got back down? Magic, mystery, chocolate rivers, sour snakes, evil kings and portals were some of the great ideas that popped up. 

This was and exceptional day with incredible people. Brilliant ideas shared (if you wanted) phenomenal illustrations whipped up in mere minutes. I’m always blown away by illustrators. 

The fantastic thing about Sketch and Scribble is that you can choose to illustrate or write no matter what your skill set is. There is no judgement, only space to be creative, explore and have fun.

We hope to see you at the next one!

Amanda Lieber, Author My Giant Seashell

The ASA Style File is open for new portfolio submissions

The ASA Style File is open for new portfolio submissions!

Launched in 2003, the ASA Style FIle has become a respected source of high quality illustrators for the publishing community, launching the careers of many well-known Australian illustrators. In 2024, 76% of illustrators featured on the ASA Style File have received a professional work opportunity directly through the platform.

The ASA Style File service offers illustrators promotion of their portfolios to the ASA's network and wider industry network, priority access to the ASA’s Virtual Literary Speed Dating: Picture Book events,which allows illustrators to pitch their portfolios and illustration projects to publishers and agents, and access to exclusive illustrator mentoring services and resources through their ASA membership.

Entries open 26 February 2025 and will close at 5pm AEST, 21 April 2025. To apply, illustrators will need to prepare a 9-image portfolio and a short biography, which will be featured on the ASA Style File if successful.

For more information and to apply, please visit the website here.