news – James Foley

Brobot re-released in full COLOUR

Originally published in 2016, Brobot is back with a new full colour edition!

With colouring by Paulina Gamez and new covers designed by Rebecca Mills, this new edition looks deliciously schmick.

It even comes with an extra bonus story!

About BROBOT

Sally Tinker – the world’s foremost inventor under the age of twelve – is fed up with her smelly, sticky, stinky baby brother Joe. Her new invention – Brobot – is just as a brother should be … until the remote control breaks and Brobot goes haywire. Can Sally keep Joe safe from her out-of-control creation? Get set for some sci-fi silliness in this hilarious junior graphic novel.

About the bonus story: SALLYMANDER

Sally and her friends take a time machine trip to the Middle Ages to meet a royal ancestor. But when some leaking time machine fuel creates a fiery monster, Sally has to put things right – otherwise she might just rewrite world history!

This bonus story was first published in the School Magazine, but has been reformatted into an action-packed 70-page graphic novella in the back of Brobot.

Buy Brobot (colour edition) now:

*signed copy* – PAPER BIRD

Events for March

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Mar 16 – ‘Right Way Down’ book launch

Join us to celebrate the launch Right Way Down, a collection of children’s poetry from 38 brilliant WA writers!

Following the launch: books will be available for purchase, enjoy light refreshments, browse the artwork of Briony Stewart, meet the book’s editors and illustrator, and grab a signature from one of the many contributors (including me!).

This event is a collaboration between Alphabet Soup Books and Fremantle Press. The book is sponsored by the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries.

Tickets to this event are free but essential (numbers are limited).

DATE: Saturday 16 March, 2024
WHEN: 3-5pm
WHERE: State Library of WA, Perth CBD
AGES: all ages
TICKETS: FREE, bookings essential

Mar 21 – Top Secret, Declassified Graphic Novel Techniques (online)

Join me for a look into the making of my graphic novel series Secret Agent Mole. I’ll take you through all the steps, from character design to script writing, from roughs to final artwork. Learn all my time-saving tips and tricks and put them to use in your next comic masterpiece!

This workshop is presented by the Cardboard Box Illustrators.

WHEN: Thursday 21st March, 12noon-1pm AEDT
WHERE: This workshop is hosted online via Zoom. Can’t make the live session? You will be able to watch a recording of this workshop for one week after the event!
TICKETS: $35. Book your ticket here.

Sally Tinker is back … in full colour!

Sally Tinker, the world’s foremost inventor under the age of twelve, is back!

She first appeared in my debut graphic novel – Brobot – released in 2016. The book was printed in black and white and just 112 pages long. Three sequels followed: Dungzilla, Gastronauts and Chickensaurus – each longer and more ambitious than the last – plus some full-colour short stories in The School Magazine. And that was it … or so I thought.

Then the wonderful team at Fremantle Press said, “Hey James … how about we rerelease the Sally Tinker comics in full colour?”

My instant and highly professional reply was, “heck yes!”

Then I looked at my diary and saw how busy I was already. I wouldn’t have time to colour them in. “Oh bottom,” I exclaimed in measured tones.

So Fremantle said, “what if we get some artists to help?”

And I remarked, “that’s a flippin’ excellent idea!”

So Freo asked an up-and-coming artist called Paulina Gamez to do the colouring, and the ever brilliant Rebecca Mills to redesign the covers. I reformatted the School Magazine stories to fit inside the new editions. And before we knew it, we had four revamped and beefed up graphic novels to release!

First up is Brobot on April 3rd, followed by Gastronauts on June 1st. Both feature new covers and extra stories. (No official release dates on the colour editions of Dungzilla or Chickensaurus, but rest assured they’re in the works). If you enjoyed Secret Agent Mole then you should love these comics too!

Pre-order your copies at the links below.

Brobot: now in colour!

Published by Fremantle Press, 3rd April 2024.
ISBN: 9781760993115 (paperback)

Buy online:

*signed copy* – PAPER BIRD

Gastronauts: now in colour!

Published by Fremantle Press, 1st June 2024.
ISBN: 9781760993122 (paperback)

Buy online:

*signed copy* – paper bird

Secret Agent Mole book 3 is almost here!

It’s not an April Fools’ prank … Secret Agent Mole book 3: Dr Nude is coming on April 1st.

Here’s the official blurb:

Dr Nude’s anti-gravity Doomsday Device is ready to blow. Max and the team have to stop it or the entire Earth could be split in two … and then they’ll never get their secret agent licences!

But first, our heroes need to sneak into a fancy-dress party. Will they have good disguises? You bet. Will the disguises work? Probably not, no. Is Max prepared for what he’ll find in Dr Nude’s lair? Goodness no. To be perfectly honest, I’m not sure you’ll be prepared either, dear reader. You have been warned.

Time to rock and mole!

Hats off to the brilliant Hannah Janzen for the epic cover design, to my wonderful editor Laura Sieveking, and to the whole Scholastic Australia team. I’m so proud of how this series has turned out!⁠

Pre-order Secret Agent Mole book 3:

Secret Agent Mole, now available in the UK!

That’s right! Max Mole and the team are reporting for duty in the home of James Bond – the United Kingdom.

It’s the very first time I’ve had one of my books picked up by a UK publisher and I couldn’t be more thrilled! Big thanks to Scholastic UK.

Please share the news with your friends and family abroad!

You can find Secret Agent Mole: Goldfish-Finger at the following UK stores:

Secret Agent Mole book 2 out now!

It’s official … Secret Agent Mole book 2: The Boar Identity is now in bookshops.

Freo book launch

We launched the book in secret agent style this past Saturday. Thanks to the incredible staff at Paper Bird Books in Fremantle for hosting; to the 99 to my 86, Renae Hayward, for prepping the snacks; and to all who braved the wild and wooly weather to come celebrate with me.

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’m running workshops at the 2023 Awesome Arts Festival

The Awesome Arts Festival is almost here again!

It’s a fantastic kids’ art festival right here in my hometown of Perth, featuring theatre, dance, visual arts and more. It’s a brilliant way to keep the kids occupied in the September/October school holidays.

As always, I’m presenting some cartooning and comics workshops for young’uns.

Details below!

SEPT 23, 26 – Super Secret Short Story Comic Strips (for kids)

Join me for hands-on writing and drawing workshops making comic strip stories. Your subject – secret agents!

I’ll show you how to draw Max Mole and other characters from my new graphic novel series Secret Agent Mole, and guide you in creating your own short story comics. Invent villains, devise gadgets, and draw dramatic battles. Who will win in your comic? You decide.

There will be three workshops in two different locations – details below.

KELMSCOTT WORKSHOPS (ARMADALE HUB)

DATE: Saturday 23 September
WHEN: 10am-10:45am OR 2pm-2:45pm
WHERE: Kelmscott Hall, Bilya (River Room), 60 River Road Kelmscott
AGES: 6yo +
TICKETS: On sale now!

STATE LIBRARY WORKSHOP (PERTH)

DATE: Tuesday 26 September
WHEN: 11:30am-12:30pm
WHERE: The Education Room, State Library of Western Australia
AGES: 8-12yo
TICKETS: On sale now!

Help me launch Secret Agent Mole, book 2!

It’s only four weeks until the release of Secret Agent Mole book 2: The Boar Identity – it’s out September 1st!

I’ve got events coming up in Sydney, Fremantle and online – details below.

Littlescribe Mini Writing Festival

It’s a writing program and a writers festival all-in-one, and it’s back for another year!

The 2023 Littlescribe Mini-Writing Festival features Australian Children’s Laureate Gabrielle Wang, past laureate Jackie French, CBCA picture book of the year winner Claire Saxby, best-sellers Jacqueline Harvey and Louise Park, and festival favourites Deb Abela and Oliver Phommavanh. Oh, and me too.

It’s on from Monday 31st July to Friday 4th August and is fully online, so no matter where your school is (or whether you’re homeschooling), you can join in. There’s sessions for students aged 5-14, covering everything from poetry to picture books, and sports writing to slam poetry.

I’ll be chatting with Tim Harris (we made Toffle Towers together!) about creating and illustrating unique characters, plus joining all the other sessions as an illustrator-in-residence.

Program below. Full details on the LittleScribe website.