I’ve just been on a book tour, celebrating the release of my new junior graphic novel called Gastronauts. From Sept 26 to Oct 14, I had 23 events across three states.
I started in my hometown of Perth, then visited Sydney and Melbourne. We had four book launches, heaps of cartooning and comics workshops, and I got to deface decorate the windows at a few bookstores too. It was a brilliant trip, but I’m very happy to be back home with my family, and gearing up to work on some new projects.
Fun fact: Gastronauts is probably the first book in the world to be launched via a giant nappy. It will probably also be the last, as I don’t recommend it. Too messy. Watch what happens in the video below.
Here’s my favourite photos from the trip.
Gastronauts are go!
A giant nappy, hanging from a tree
Release the nappy!
Signing books at Paper Bird bookshop, Fremantle WA
Comics workshop at Thornlie Library, WA
Ready to draw at Dymocks Subi
Drawing on the window at Dymocks Subi
The window at Dymocks Subi
Signed books at Better Read Than Dead, Newtown, NSW
Berkelouw Books, Leichhardt, NSW
Drawing on the window at Berkelouw Books, Leichhardt
Meeting Sarah (the manager) and Steinbeck (pupp-lick relations) at Berkelouw Books Leichhardt
Launching Gastronauts at The Children’s Bookshop, Beecroft, NSW
Incredibly mature authors and illustrators being incredibly mature
Drawing demo at the Gastro launch, Beecroft
Eat cake, get Gastro!
Signing books at Beecroft
Matt Cosgrove wins the James Foley cosplay competition
Filming at Channel 9
With Adrian the Book Guy Beck on the set of Kids’ WB
Drawing demo at Collins Bookselers, Croydon, VIC
Cartooning workshop at Collins, Croydon
Signing books at Collins Croydon
Signing books at Dymocks in Melbourne CBD
Launching Total Quack Up with Adrian Beck and Sally Rippin at Kids’ Book Fest
Live illustrating ‘Who Blocked Up the Dunny’, my favourite story from Total Quack Up. It’s written by 12yo Ella Wallace
Who Blocked Up the Dunny?
At the inaugural Kids’ Book Fest, organised by Australia’s oldest children’s specialist bookshop, The Little Bookroom
Launching Gastronauts
Stretching out the dummy book for my junior graphic novel, Brobot
Stretching out the dummy book for my junior graphic novel, Brobot
Stretching out the dummy book for my junior graphic novel, Brobot
Drawing on the windows at Readings St Kilda, VIC
Drawing on the windows at Readings St Kilda, VIC
Drawing on the windows at Readings St Kilda, VIC
Drawing on the windows at Readings St Kilda, VIC
Drawing on the windows at Readings St Kilda, VIC
Thanks to everyone – bookstore owners, librarians, teachers, kids and parents – who came to events. And big thanks to my publishers Fremantle Press who helped organise the tour.
Gastronauts
Buy local – find your closest bookshop
Or order online:
– Booktopia (Australia and NZ only)
– Angus and Robertson (Australia only)
– QBD (Australia only)
– Boffins
– Dymocks
– Book Depository
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Author: James Foley
James makes books for courageous kids. He’s the author/illustrator of the S.Tinker Inc graphic novel series for middle primary: Brobot (2016), Dungzilla (2017) and Gastronauts (2018) star Sally Tinker, the world’s foremost inventor under the age of twelve, and Joe Tinker, her stinky baby brother. James’ earlier books My Dead Bunny (2015) In The Lion (2012), The Last Viking (2011) and The Last Viking Returns (2014) have all scored several honours, including children’s choice awards, shortlistings in the Children’s Book Council of Australia Book of the Year awards, and selection to the International Youth Library’s White Raven list. James comes from a long line of queuing enthusiasts. Follow him on FB/twitter/insta/youtube @jamesfoleybooks, or at www.jamesfoley.com.au .
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