Category: books

Hear me read Stellarphant on Nova with Nathan, Nat and Shaun

Yesterday I got to hang out with Nova Perth’s breakfast team and talk about my favourite part of the year, Children’s Book Week! I also got to chat a bit about the making of Secret Agent Mole, and read Stellarphant aloud on air (with running commentary from the team – you won’t find that in an audiobook).

Thanks heaps for having me in the studio, Nathan, Nat and Shaun! And huge thanks to Chasze the tradie for helping me out when I’d left my phone at home. Champion.

Click the link below to listen to the chat.


INTERVIEW
Book Week 2023 (mp3 file)
Nova 93.7 Perth Breakfast show
with Nathan, Nat and Shaun

I got to chat with Brenton McKenna for ALIA Graphics

Back in May I had the great privilege of yarning with my bud Brenton McKenna for ALIA Graphic Novels and Comics. ⁠
⁠
Brenton and I interviewed each other about our newest graphic novels (including Secret Agent Mole: Goldfish-Finger), our processes and our inspirations. Brenton is the creator of the Ubby’s Underdogs trilogy and has a new series out called Hairy Holes, all about some hairy creatures that live in the Australian outback. It’s hilarious! ⁠


You can catch our chat here on YouTube.

P.S. ALIA has a massive treasure trove of videos, all about graphic novels and comics. Make sure you check it out!

Book Week costume ideas – and free printable masks!

Stuck for a CBCA Book Week costume idea? Here’s how to dress up as Max Mole, Helena Hippo or Bug from my series, Secret Agent Mole.

And scroll down for free printable masks of Max, Helena and Bug!

Printable masks

You can download all three of these masks in one handy pdf.

Tips:

  • Each is designed to print out at A4 paper size; they’ll work best of printed or glued onto thick card.
  • Cut out the black eyeholes, and cut around the thin outline on the outside edge of the mask.
  • Add colour if you wish.
  • Don’t forget to add string or a paper loop so that you can attach the mask to your face.
  • And don’t forget some antennae for Bug – you could use thin strips of paper or card, or pipe cleaners.
Download the 3 masks

Declassified: Secret Agent Mole, Book 2!

I can finally reveal the next instalment in my graphic novel series, Secret Agent Mole! Book 2: The Boar Identity, is scheduled for release September 1st, 2023.

When Star Division discovers a magical meteorite with anti-gravity powers, Dr Nude will stop at nothing to get his naked little hands on it – including brainwashing a Star employee! This important mission features a secret mountain base, an exploding rocket and a flying pig with no clothes on. Can Max Mole, Helena Hippo and June Bug stop Dr Nude’s evil plans? I hope so, otherwise we’re all doomed! It’s time to Rock and Mole!

Pre-order your copy today!

Written & illustrated by James Foley

🇦🇺🇳🇿 Australia/NZ edition:
Published by Scholastic Australia, 1st Sept 2023
ISBN: 9781761200168 (paperback)

🌏 *SIGNED COPIES* – PAPER BIRD
🇦🇺 🇳🇿 LOCAL INDIE BOOKSHOPS
🇦🇺 🇳🇿 BOOKTOPIA
🇦🇺 QBD
🌏 DYMOCKS
🇩🇪 KULTURKAUFHAUS
🇩🇪 HUGENDUBEL
🇪🇸 Casa Del Libro
Casa Del Libro (Catalan)

Psst… There are Book Launches coming up too!

  • Aug 19: Sydney
  • Aug 26: online
  • Sept 2: Freo

For more details on these events, head to the blog.

It’s (nearly) time to rock and mole! Make sure you dive into Secret Agent Mole, Book 1: Goldfish-Finger before the release!

Supanova Comic Con Perth

I’ve just finished up an awesome weekend at Perth Supanova Comic Con!

I got to see some incredible cosplay, chat with Kevin Eastman (co-creator of the Ninja Turtles!!), catch up with my bud Brenton McKenna, get a hand-delivered fan letter from Super Mario and hang out with the wonderful authors Meg Caddy and Renae Hayward (my gorgeous wife)!

Continue reading “Supanova Comic Con Perth”

Sydney Writers (and Secret Agents) Festival

I recently spent a packed couple of days at the Sydney Writers Festival Family Day! Here’s a couple of highlights.

A spy infiltrates the Festival…

As part of a panel on Junior Fiction, Adrian Beck and I had a spy-off. The objective? Blend in and make your way to the stage without being seen, using any means necessary. 

This here hombre was served humble pie as his last meal, with bullets for dessert, as I went up against Serena Geddes, Heath McKenzie and Charmaine Ledden-Lewis in an Illustrator Battle. Congrats to Charmaine (AKA Lead-Pencil Lewis) for being the quickest draw in the inner-west. Special thanks to our excellent MC (and chief cat wrangler) Adrian Beck.

Continue reading “Sydney Writers (and Secret Agents) Festival”

Upcoming events, June-Sept

I’ve got some fantastic events coming up:

  • the Perth Supanova Comic Con;
  • the Littlescribe Mini-Writing Festival;
  • storytime workshops at The Lane Bookshop;
  • an online cartooning workshop; and
  • three launches for Secret Agent Mole, book 2!

Details below.

June 24-25: Supanova Comic Con, Perth

In a surreal and welcome turn of events, I’ll be a guest author at this year’s Supanova Perth!

Continue reading “Upcoming events, June-Sept”

Stellarphant on the REAL shortlist

Great news! Stellarphant has been shortlisted in Australia’s biggest children’s choice book awards – the REAL awards.

It stands for Reading and Enjoying Australian Literature, and is a partnership between the YABBAs (Young Australia Best Book Awards) in Victoria, the KOALAs (Kids’ Own Australian Literature Awards) in New South Wales and the KROC (Kids’ Reading Oz Choice) awards in the Northern Territory. So really, it’s like three shortlistings in one!

Big big thanks to the organising teams behind the awards, to all the teachers and librarians who collect the votes, and to all the kids who voted around Australia. And congrats to everyone with books on the shortlist!

Continue reading “Stellarphant on the REAL shortlist”