‘No hands, no feet, that’s me. I lived my dream. You can too.’ – Deb Gray.
A Simple Twist of Fate is the story of the Gippsland fisherman’s daughter born in 1957 with no arms and only tiny legs, who—thanks to the love, courage and support of her family, local community and her own determination and resilience—went on to live an inspiring life full of love and meaning.
As Deb’s writes in the book’s prologue:
‘I want to tell my story and I want it told with frankness and honesty… the way it has been. I want to tell of the love and devotion and of family and friends and in particular the importance of being accepted by the community during my early developing years and the choices I consciously made whilst trying to find people that did not feel they had to look after me and would utilise me as a friend. Then came the absolute joy of becoming a parent myself. So, here is my journey. The highs and lows; the sugar and the shit.
Deb Gray lived a life of resilience, adventure and independence. Born in 1957 with, in Deb’s words, “no hands, no feet, that’s me,” her parents were urged to put her in an institution and forget about her. They didn’t, and Deb refused to let her body define her. From a childhood spent defying expectations to raising a daughter and travelling the world, Deb’s story is one of courage and strength. Deb passed away in March 2025 just two months after releasing her memoir, A Simple Twist of Fate, was first released. Wilkinson Publishing is proud to publish this edition of Deb’s memoir, updated to include a note from Deb’s daughter Emma who writes that Deb’s ‘legacy and spirit live on in these pages.’
* Deb Gray lived her life defying expectations. When the Gippsland fisherman’s daughter was born with no arms and only tiny legs in 1956, her parents were urged to put her in an institution and forget her. ‘She’s our little one and we’re taking her home,’ her mother said. An act of love and courage.
* A Simple Twist Of Fate is a powerful and inspiring memoir. It is Deb’s story, in her own words, of a life of love and courage.
* A Story of Resilience: Deb seemed a textbook example of the most catastrophic form of injuries inflicted on unborn babies by the German-made drug Thalidomide. But she was conceived well before the drug was ever prescribed in Australia and before any Thalidomide victims were born outside of Germany.
* A Life Defined by Strength: With no scientific reason and nobody or no one to blame, Deb decided as a teenager that her body was “a simple twist of fate.” Life would be what she made it.
* Lived on Her Own Terms: Deb did not just survive to tell her story, she tackled life fiercely and on her own terms: working, swimming, travelling the world, attending rock concerts, driving fast, looking for love and meaning.
* An engaging and uplifting memoir that is perfect for readers of memoir, human interest stories and books about overcoming whatever life throws at you.
Publicity:
* Strong interest from national media campaign, book events and interviews.
