MARJORIE ABELL grew up in the ueensland bush one of fi ve children. Her father was a teacher and taught all his own children. From her earliest years Marjorie loved telling stories, writing and drawing. She started work as a teacher, but regularly resigned to do other work. Her jobs included working on cattle stations, being a ranger and operating a tour boat. Most of her teaching has been on remote aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory. She has a lot of hobbies but particularly loves exploring out of the way places in her four wheel drive and camping out in the bush.