Author: James Foley

James Foley makes children’s books for children who read books. If you’re a child and you’re eating his books, you’re doing it wrong. His books include the Secret Agent Mole graphic novel series, the S.Tinker Inc graphic novel series, and the multi-award winning Stellarphant. James lives in Perth with his wife, 2 kids, and a labrador. He is a massive Marvel movie nerd and comes from a long line of queuing enthusiasts. Follow him on socials ( @jamesfoleybooks ) or at www.jamesfoley.com.au .

Meeting Mem: Ubud Writers and Readers Festival 2014

Bali … it’s an idyllic paradise filled with rice fields, temples and frangipanis … unless you’re in Kuta, and then it’s a place of digestive upsets and Bintang-singleted bogans.

Don’t go to Kuta. Go to Ubud. It’s a very special place an hour’s drive north of Denpasar, and I got the chance to go there for the Ubud Writers and Readers Festival in October. I ran a workshop for kids, I did a school session too, and I got to be on a panel with Mem Fox!

Jeni Caffin, Zak Waipara, myself and Mem

Details after the jump.

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Join me for a picture book illustration workshop

TLV2-4th-dummy-colour-storyboard-cropped — storyboard sample from ‘The Last Viking Returns’

I’m running a full-day picture book illustration workshop through UWA Extension.

There are four places left, so if it sounds like your kind of thing, book in and come along. Details below.

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“My Place”: whimsical stories from Mount Hawthorn Primary students

Briony and James with student artwork

This year, Mount Hawthorn Primary School invited myself and fellow author/illustrator Briony Stewart to collaborate on a 13-week residency project.

Our project was called ‘My Place’. The aim for each year four student (all 87 of them) was to complete a polished story and accompanying illustration based upon their favourite place in Mount Hawthorn. They also made the amazing map you see above!

Hit the link to see more work by the kids.

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The Last Viking Returns, September/October school holiday events

We’ve got two more Viking events happening during the school holidays:

the State Library exhibition continues until the end of the September
we’ve got a Boffins bookshop event in Perth on Wednesday 1st October.

Hit the link for the details.

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Tonya ‘Valkyrie’ McCusker launches The Last Viking Returns

TLVR launch 7 — James and Norman with Malcolm, Tonya and Mary McCusker at the official launch

We had two launches for The Last Viking Returns this past week: a mini-launch at the fantastic Beaufort Street Books in Mount Lawley, then a big mammoth launch at the State Library. Tonya McCusker generously dressed up to launch our book with her daughter Mary ably assisting. Hit the jump for more photos.

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The Last Viking Returns out now

My new children’s book The Last Viking Returns is finally out!

Written by Norman Jorgensen, it’s the sequel to The Last Viking. Here’s the official synopsis:

Josh is still as brave as a Viking warrior, and not much can scare a Viking … but the two littlest Vikings have grown up a bit since the first book, and they’re going berserk. They think they’re invincible, and that spells trouble!

When Pop takes the family to Viking World, Josh finds out just how far he’ll go to keep them safe.

You can find The Last Viking Returns at your local bookstore and online.

Hit the link for more photos from the official launches!

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The Last Viking Returns exhibition

The State Library of Western Australia is exhibiting the artwork of The Last Viking Returns from today until September 30.

Head up to The Place on the mezzanine floor to see original sketches, storyboards and character designs as well as prints of the final artwork. You can also see research materials and Norm’s original manuscripts.

Read on for photos of the printing and hanging process …

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Reviews for The Last Viking Returns

We’ve had a few more reviews filter through – one for The Last Viking Returns and a belated but very welcome one for The Last Viking.

THE LAST VIKING RETURNS

“A very humorous account of two worlds colliding: the mortal and the Viking Asgard. Young Josh, alias Knut, must look after his younger twin siblings at the Viking theme park but Odin and the other Viking gods get caught up in the problem that occurs when the twins go berserk …

Not only is the simple story full of action but the full colour animated spreads further make this book an exciting adventure for the reader. The front end paper brings the theme park alive with its keyed map while the back end paper offers a runic alphabet and code for the more advanced reader. This landscape production will be a sure winner with young readers up to middle primary and perhaps beyond.” – John Cohen, the Children’s Book Council of Australia’s Reading Time blog

THE LAST VIKING

“This is an intricately crafted picture book of the highest quality. A CBCA Notable Book in 2012, it manages to both entertain and inspire, while touching on issues ranging from childhood fears and bullying to the power of myth and storytelling. Josh’s creativity as he builds a Viking longship is a joy to behold. His bravery in the face of terror as he marches out to confront a pack of bullying children is formidable. And the way in which his problems are resolved is delightful.

There’s a lovely wry humour running throughout this book that will give parents a great deal of enjoyment too. And I absolutely loved the way the illustrations are allowed to tell entire chunks of the story. In fact, I pretty much loved everything about this book, which is why I can’t wait for the sequel.” –Anouska Jones, Kids’ Book Review

The Last Viking Returns is out now!

Find it at your local bookshop or order it online.