Vale Gabrielle Williams

Acclaimed YA author, Gab Williams, died on Saturday 21 January after suffering a massive stroke the previous Monday. Williams’s books include Beatle Meets Destiny (Penguin), The Guy, The Girl, the Artist and his Ex (A&U), My Life As a Hashtag (A&U), and It’s Not You, It’s Me (A&U). She is survived by her husband, Andrew, and children Charlie, Dom and Harry.

Readings managing director Mark Rubbo writes:

‘Gab had worked in television and advertising before embarking on her writing career. She also worked as a bookseller and for the last four years she has been the manager of the Readings Prize and Grants Officer for the Readings Foundation.

‘It was typical of Gab’s generosity of spirit that she loved these roles because they both involved giving; her great love were the organisations that the Readings Foundation supported and over the years developed close connections with them and their work.

‘Helen Garner, a trustee of the Readings Foundation wrote of Gab: “I hardly had a chance to get to know her, but I know a fine woman when I see one.”

‘Gab breathed new life into the Readings Prize and the Foundation. She was proud of them and what they had achieved but was always thinking of ways to make them more effective and impactful. She loved to get wins; and was thrilled that Readings market share for the fiction winner, Jess Au’s Cold Enough For Snow, was 29%.

‘The week before her stroke, we had been meeting with the recipients of the foundation grants, and her admiration for their work with disadvantaged young people was palpable and inspirational. Above all she was wonderful friend and colleague who will be sadly missed.’

Category: Obituaries