Spring has sprung, and so have the writers festivals!
The next two months are absolutely chock-a-block with fantastic festival events.
There’s an online workshop for the Brisbane Writer’s Festival, plus in-person events with the Quantum Words Festival, the Scribblers Festival, the Awesome Festival, the Melville Storylines Festival and the Lit Centre’s Celebrate Reading Conference (which may as well be a festival).
I even have an exhibition coming up all about Animals in Space.
Full details below!
May 4 – end of term 4: Creating Graphic Novels workshop (online; for kids)
I recorded this hour-long online workshop for the 2022 Brisbane Writers Festival.
In the session, I share my expert tips for creating your own comics and graphic novels. You can have fun with the creative process and use my guide as a springboard for your own imagination. This session includes printable templates to use as part of the suggested activities.
Available by single download or with a Word Play Online subscription. See ticketing page for more information.
Content will be available to watch from May 3rd until the end of Term 4.
Sept 13-16: Scribblers Festival schools program
I’ve got three sessions across the schools program.
SESSION 1: AN ILLUSTRATOR’S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY (Tues Sept 13)
From galactic elephants to crazy inventors and cheeky dogs, creators James Foley and Briony Stewart take the stage to explore how a single image can open up a world of story. Join these two as they share how their illustrations unfold from those first few pen scratches marking the page… and come armed with your wildest ideas to throw into the ring for the friendly illustrator duel!
SESSION 2 & 3: REACH FOR THE STARS (Thurs Sept 15, Fri 16)
Stella wants to be an astronaut, there’s only one small (or in this case large) problem… Stella is an elephant. Much-loved children’s author and illustrator
James Foley’s new picture book, Stellarphant is a glorious celebration of difference, equality and the hero in all of us. Join James for storytelling and
live drawing as he shares Stella’s remarkable gravity-defying journey.
BOOKINGS
Teachers can book their classes in for the schools program using the Booking Form available here.
Full Scribblers Festival schools program available here.
Sept 17: Stellarphant @ Quantum Words Festival
Quantum Words Festival is coming again to Perth. it’s a writers festival celebrating science, creativity and wonder. I’ve got a free session for families on Saturday September 17th, all about my picture book Stellarphant.
Stella wants to be an astronaut. There is only one problem: Stella is an elephant. Every time she applies to Space Command, they come up with a new reason she can’t join. But where there’s a will, there’s a way and Stella is determined to reach for the stars. Join me, author/illustrator James Foley as I take young readers on a journey that will prove heroes come in all shapes, sizes and species!
This event is free but bookings are recommended.
WHEN: Saturday Sept 17th
TIMES: 12:30pm-1:15pm
WHERE: WA Museum, Hackett Hall, Studio 2
AGES: for families
BOOKINGS: recommended. Book here.
Check out the full Quantum Words festival program here.
Sept 18: Scribblers Festival family program
The Family days run on Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th September; I’ve got my sessions on the Sunday.
WORKSHOP
We’re going to make animal astronaut portraits, complete with star-scape backgrounds made using using squirty bottles and paint. It’s going to be so much FUN! 9:30-10:30am, Ages 7+. Book for my Scribblers Festival workshop here.
ARTIST TALK
I’ll be joined by my excellent author/illustrator friend Briony Stewart, and together we’ll present An Illustrator’s Guide to the Galaxy. 12noon-12:30pm, Ages 4+. No booking required.
ILLUSTRATOR BATTLE: PENCILS DRAWN!
Join me, along with Briony Stewart, Matt Stanton and Peter Cheong for an illustrator battle like no other. Ink will be spilt. 1:45-2:15, all ages. No bookings required.
Check out the full Scribblers Festival Family program here.
Sept 27, 29: Awesome Festival sessions
I’m doing one artist talk for families, two workshops for kids, and I’m holding an exhibition!
‘ANIMALS IN SPACE’ EXHIBITION (free event)
The back endpapers of my latest book Stellarphant include a timeline of the true history of animals in space. This exhibition will display portraits of those animal astronauts.
Dates: Tues 27 Sept – Sat 1 Oct
Times: 10am – 3pm Daily
Venue: Studio Underground Foyer, State Theatre Centre of Western Australia
Bookings: not required
ARTIST TALK / BOOK SIGNING (Sept 29, free event)
I’ll talk about the history of animals in space, and the making of my picture book Stellarphant. There’ll also be an opportunity to buy a copy of Stellarphant and get it signed by me!
Dates: Thurs 29 Sept
Times: 11:30am
Venue: Studio Underground Foyer, State Theatre Centre of Western Australia
Bookings: express your interest here
WORKSHOPS (Sept 27, 29)
Join Author and Illustrator James Foley and learn how to draw your very own Animal Astronaut portrait. If you’ve had the delight of reading James’ latest book Stellarphant, you’ll know that any animal can be an Astronaut, and all Astronauts need a portrait. With one of WA’s leading author/illustrators as commander of the ship, your drawing skills will be out of this world after this workshop.
Ages 6+. Bookings essential. Book your tickets for the workshops here.
Oct 19, 26: Melville Storylines festival sessions
The City of Melville will celebrate story in all its forms with the first annual, Melville Storylines– a program that brings together the many and diverse ways in which we tell stories across the entire City this October.
Exploring the full gamut of the storytelling spectrum, Melville Storylines seeks to expand on the traditional focus of a writers’ festival to encompass a broad range of narratives, making room for oral storytelling, visual arts, music, history, film, and the written word.
You can find more info about the Storylines Festival here.
I’ve got two sessions in the festival.
Oct 19: The Business of Writing
Always wanted to write but don’t quite know where to start? Or perhaps you’ve got that first draft down and don’t know what to do next?
Join Georgia Richter, author of How to be an Author, as she speaks with contributors to the book, children’s author and illustrator James Foley and best-selling novelist Liz Byrski about their top tips for writers at any stage of their career.
Come armed with your questions about the business of being a writer as panellists discuss their experience and share their advice on being successful in the publishing industry.
This event is great for those at the start of their writing journey, those who wish to be published, or those who wish to find about more about the business of being a writer.
Book your ticket for The Business of Writing.
| Date | October 19th |
| Time | 6:45 PM – 8:30 PM |
|---|---|
| Cost | Free |
| Venue | Civic Square Library |
Oct 26: Picture Books 101
Have you always wanted to write or illustrate a picture book? Here’s your chance to learn from two celebrated West Australian author/illustrators. Join Helen Milroy and James Foley as they discuss just what makes a picture book tick. They’ll reveal their creative processes, share their insights and experience, and leave you inspired to create your own stories.
Book your ticket for Picture Books 101.
| Date | October 26th |
| Time | 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM |
|---|---|
| Cost | Free |
| Venue | AH Bracks Library |
Oct 28-29: The Literature Centre’s Celebrate Reading conference
Experience two days of ideas, inspiration, and insights into creating Australian picture books and junior fiction for children.
This year’s lineup includes: Morris Gleitzman, Jackie French AM, Marc McBride, Kirli Saunders, Sean E. Avery, Cristy Burne, Gabriel Evans, Deb Fitzpatrick, Dr. Helen Milroy, Dianne Wolfer and me!
James Foley 