This one comes from a session at the State Library of NSW last weekend. I was joined by my author-illustrator bud Sean E Avery (creator of Frank’s Red Hat and Friendly Bee) who provided the live illustrations!
We had some fantastic ideas from the kids in the audience; check out the story below.
‘MEG WYNNE THE PIG-UIN’
Sunday October 26, 10:30am-11:30am
In which a half-pig, half-penguin called Meg Wynne – who spends most of her time diving underwater to catch cabbage fish – decides to chase her long-held dream of flying through the sky.
I ran some improv storytelling sessions at the Awesome Arts Festival this week – where the kids came up with the ideas, and I illustrated them live! Huge thanks to all the amazing young storytellers who came along and offered up madcap characters, preposterous plot points and epic endings.
Session 1: ‘Luca the Heartbroken Toaster’
Wednesday October 1, 11:15am-12:15pm
In which Rosita, the sea star-girlfriend of Luca the Toaster is kidnapped by the evil Captain Bob, the intergalactic Butter Pirate. Captain Bob is called a Butter Pirate not because he steals butter, but because his body is a chunk of butter. Captain Bob flies off into space in his ship, the Blendar 1, with Rosita in a cage beside him.
I’ll be in Sydney at the end of October with my author-illustrator bud Sean Avery, and we’re taking over the State Library of NSW!
SESSION 1: SPONTANEOUS STORYTIME
Join James and Sean for a laugh-out-loud session where the kids are in charge. Bring your weirdest and wackiest ideas for stories, because they’ll be mashing them up into the funniest Franken-tale you’ve ever heard — which James and Sean will illustrate, live!
Suitable for ages six and up, but all welcome.
DATE: Sun 26 October TIME: 10:30-11:30am WHERE: JB Fairfax Learning Centre, State Library of New South Wales AGES: 6yo+ (for families) TICKETS: $10/child (adults free) BOOKINGS: essential via eventbrite
SESSION 2: CHARACTER MAQUETTE WORKSHOP
Are you ready to learn secrets of character design from two of Australia’s best children’s illustrators? Join James and Sean for a fun workshop where you get to design your own book character, then build them in 3D using colourful clay.
Suitable for ages 8–12.
DATE: Sun 26 October TIME: 12noon-1pm WHERE: JB Fairfax Learning Centre, State Library of New South Wales AGES: 8-12yo TICKETS: $10/child (adults free) BOOKINGS: essential via eventbrite
Join me for a laugh-out-loud session where the kids are in charge. Bring your weirdest and wackiest ideas for stories, because we’ll be mashing them up into the funniest Franken-tale you’ve ever heard – which I will illustrate, live.
DATE: Wednesday 1 and Friday 3 October TIME: 11:15am each day WHERE: Education Room, State Library of WA, Francis St, Perth AGES: 6-12yo BOOKINGS: essential via trybooking
Oct 4: Comic illustration workshop (for kids) **SOLD OUT**
Join this workshop where I’ll show you how to create characters, use speech bubbles, sound effects, panels and backgrounds to create your own comic stories.
DATE: Saturday 4 October TIME: 1-3pm WHERE: Conference Room, Wanneroo Library and Cultural Centre, 3 Rocca Way, Wanneroo AGES: 7-14yo BOOKINGS: essential via eventbrite – **sold out, but there is a waitlist**
Oct 11: illustration workshop (for adults)
Want to learn how to illustrate picture books? Join me in this session to find out how. Suitable for ages 16+.
Topics include:
Research
Planning (storyboards and dummy books)
Media testing and final artwork
Characters
Point of view, image boundary, colour, medium, line quality, font, composition
Words vs pictures
Preparing a portfolio and submitting to publishers.
DATE: Saturday 11 October TIME: 12:30-4:30 WHERE: Conference Room, Wanneroo Library and Cultural Centre, 3 Rocca Way, Wanneroo AGES: 16yo+ BOOKINGS: essential via eventbrite
Oct 24: Mantle Conference for Teacher Librarians, Newcastle
I’m presenting at this year’s Mantle Conference in Newcastle, along with superstars Deborah Abela, Sean E Avery, Charlotte Barkla, Megan Daley, Kate Foster, Lara Cain Gray and Kirli Saunders. What a line up!
If you’re in Sydney or Melbourne, please come along to a book launch and help me celebrate these two new releases.
March 29 – Sydney, NSW
I’ll be in Sydney at the end of March to celebrate the release of Bigfoot vs Yeti and the new colour edition of Dungzilla! Join me at Gleebooks in Glebe for a ridiculously fun double book launch.
DATE: Saturday March 29 TIME: 10:30am WHERE: Gleebooks, 49 Glebe Point Rd, Glebe, NSW REGISTRATION:rachel@gleebooks.com.au
April 4 – Melbourne, VIC
Melbourne friends, please come along to help me launch my new picture book Bigfoot vs Yeti, plus the colour edition of Dungzilla!
DATE: Friday April 4th TIME: 6-7pm AEDT WHERE: Readings Kids, 315 Lygon St, Carlton VIC RSVP:essential, via trybooking
Thanks to everyone who came out on Saturday to celebrate the launch of my new picture book!
Bigfoot Vs Yeti: A Love Story had a fun-filled send-off featuring a cryptid Olympics, craft activities, Karen Irwin and a real life Bigfoot! Several snowballs were slung and many morsels were munched.
Huge thanks to everyone who helped out: Fremantle Press for organising, The Literature Centre for hosting, New Edition for book sales, Karen Blair for ably launching, Deb Fitzpatrick and Sam Hughes refereeing, and Renae Hayward for the hardest job of all: kid (+ James) wrangling 😘
Best on ground goes to Dave Foley for donning a gorilla suit on a very humid day 👏👏👏
Check out some video from the WA launch in the insta post below.
If you’re in Perth or Sydney, please come along to a book launch to help me celebrate!
March 15 – Fremantle, WA
Get ready for a fun-filled celebration of imagination, rivalry and unexpected friendship! Join us on Saturday 15 March at The Literature Centre for the highly anticipated launch of Bigfoot vs Yeti: A Love Story.
From participating in a fun tug-of-war or ‘snowball’ fight (no risk, all fun!), this event is packed with exciting, hands-on activities for all ages. Bring your family, friends and love for reading – there’s something for everyone!
DATE: Saturday March 15 TIME: 11am-1pm AWST WHERE: The Literature Centre, Cnr Knutsford St & Hampton Rd, Fremantle WA REGISTRATION:essential, via Humanitix
March 29 – Sydney, NSW
I’ll be in Sydney at the end of March to celebrate the release of Bigfoot vs Yeti and the new colour edition of Dungzilla! Join me at Gleebooks in Glebe for a ridiculously fun double book launch.
DATE: Saturday March 29 TIME: 10:30am WHERE: Gleebooks, 49 Glebe Point Rd, Glebe, NSW REGISTRATION:rachel@gleebooks.com.au
I love working with StoryBox Library – they’re a wonderful company that creates video read-aloud of Australian children’s books, often read out by the creators themselves. I’ve recorded a few videos with them in the past! I also helped out with their fantastic classroom lesson program, Story Tools.
So when StoryBox Library asked me if I wanted to be part of a competition for Australian schools, how could I say no?
I’ve got a couple of workshops and book launches coming up – details below!
Feb 10 – free virtual school session
Join me for a digital event on Feb 10. I’ll read Stellarphant and Happy Barry Capybara, as well as lead a quick draw session and engage in a live Q&A.
DATE: Monday February 10th WHEN: 10:00 – 10:45am AEDT WHERE: online AGES: early stage 1, stage 1, stage 2, stage 3 COST: free BOOKING:log in to book your place
March 15 – Bigfoot Vs Yeti book launch (WA)
Get ready for a fun-filled celebration of imagination, rivalry and unexpected friendship! Join us on Saturday 15 March at The Literature Centre for the highly anticipated launch of Bigfoot vs Yeti: A Love Story.
From participating in a fun tug-of-war or ‘snowball’ fight (no risk, all fun!), this event is packed with exciting, hands-on activities for all ages.
Whether you’re a lifelong fan of James’s work or new to his world, this event is a perfect opportunity to dive into the adventure and joy of Bigfoot vs Yeti. Bring your family, friends and love for reading – there’s something for everyone!
DATE: Saturday March 15 TIME: 11am-1pm AWST WHERE: The Literature Centre, Cnr Knutsford St & Hampton Rd, Fremantle WA REGISTRATION:essential, via Humanitix
March 17 – Harmony Week with James Foley (Free virtual session)
I’ve got a FREE virtual primary schools session coming up in March!
NB: If you can’t make it to the live session, you can still register and get access to a recording for two weeks afterwards.
March 29 – Bigfoot vs Yeti + Dungzilla double book launch (NSW)
I’ll be in Sydney at the end of March to celebrate the release of Bigfoot vs Yeti and the new colour edition of Dungzilla! Join me at Gleebooks in Glebe for a ridiculously fun double book launch.
DATE: Saturday March 29 TIME: 10:30am WHERE: Gleebooks, 49 Glebe Point Rd, Glebe, NSW REGISTRATION:rachel@gleebooks.com.au
April 9 – The Art of Illustrating Books (workshop)
Learn how to break into the arts as an illustrator with some practical advice from a professional writer, illustrator and cartoonist – me! Join me for this evening workshop.
DATE: Wednesday April 9th WHEN: 6 – 7:30pm WHERE: Wanneroo Library and Cultural Centre, 3 Rocca Way, Wanneroo TICKETS:essential. $10 per person
