events – Page 9 – James Foley

Just a typical Children’s Book Week session (with zombie animals)

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Last week was Children’s Book Week, my busiest week of the year. It’s the time when schools and libraries across Australia invite children’s authors and illustrators to speak to their students. For me it’s become more of a Children’s Book Month: between July 30th and September 16th this year I’m giving 93 talks and workshops to schoolkids. Each session with grade 4s and up is featuring at least one zombie animal. Here’s how a typical session looks.

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Zombie animals terrify at Telling Tales

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Last weekend I visited Balingup for their annual Telling Tales Children’s Storytelling Festival.

Balingup is a beautiful town in the South-West Region surrounded by farms, bushland and pine forest. When the sun is out the scenery is stunning – it’s all green hills and winding valleys. But on cold winter mornings a mist descends upon the town, which creates an incredibly spooky atmosphere. It’s the perfect setting for a scary story …

Balingup mist

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Making a mural at the Perth Writers Festival

The Perth Writers Festival is over for another year. The weekend goes by so quick! I was very happy to be back this year as a presenter on the schools’ day and family day, and this year I also got to work on something a bit different – a massive mural.

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How to make a book for a Giant

This year’s Perth International Arts Festival will see a 6 metre-tall girl walking down St George’s Terrace. She’s called ‘the Little Girl Giant’, and as part of her visit she’ll receive an enormous book from the children of the City of Perth. I helped schoolkids produce some art for the book. More details on the Giants and the book below.

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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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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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