news – Page 12 – James Foley

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.

Continue reading “Meeting Mem: Ubud Writers and Readers Festival 2014”

“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.

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

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!

Continue reading “The Last Viking Returns out now”

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.

The Last Viking Returns today!

The Last Viking Returns is officially in bookshops from today!

To celebrate, we’re having two launches in Perth over the next week.

We’re also having an exhibition of the book’s artwork.

The big launch has reached capacity, but there’s still some space left at the second launch.

Here’s the details:

The Last Viking Returns second launch!
Saturday 6 September
11am to 12pm
Beaufort Street Books
567 Beaufort St, Mt Lawley, WA

Meet Wolverine the dog and his new friend on the day!
There will be a special reading of The Last Viking Returns and activities.
Kids tickets cost $5 but can be redeemed off book purchases.
FREE entry for adults.

Reservations and ticket purchases: (08) 6142 7996 or hello@beaufortstreetbooks.com.au

If you can’t make it to either of the launches, you might like to see an exhibition of the artwork from the book.

The Last Viking Returns exhibition
Sept 5 – 30
The Place, State Library of WA
25 Francis St, Perth

On behalf of Norm, thanks again for your support of our books!

James

Our second book gets a second book launch

By the time this blog post goes live, we’re likely to have reached capacity for the launch of The Last Viking Returns.

If you couldn’t RSVP in time, don’t despair.

We’ve got a second launch organised!

Keep Saturday 6 September free from 11am to 12pm for a Viking event at Beaufort Street Books, 567 Beaufort St, Mt Lawley, WA.

Meet Wolverine the dog and his new friend on the day!
There will be a special reading of The Last Viking Returns and activities.
Kids tickets cost $5 but can be redeemed off book purchases.
FREE entry for adults.

Reservations and ticket purchases: (08) 6142 7996 or hello@beaufortstreetbooks.com.au

The Last Viking Returns – official launch details

My new book The Last Viking Returns will be in bookshops from September 1, and we’re throwing a huge launch party to celebrate.

You’ll be able to see original artwork from The Last Viking Returns, meet the author Norman Jorgensen and I, and you might even meet some real Viking warriors.

Everyone is welcome to attend. Here’s the details:

The Last Viking Returns
To be launched by Mrs Tonya McCusker

Wednesday 10th September
6pm for a 6:30pm start
The Place, State Library of WA
25 Francis St, Perth

DRESS CODE: Leather, sheepskin and horned helmets.
(You may be asked to leave your weaponry at the door).

RSVP by 5th September to (08) 9430 6331 or admin@fremantlepress.com.au

THE LAST VIKING RETURNS is a thrilling showdown

Here’s a fantastic review for The Last Viking Returns from today’s Weekend Australian (Review section, pg.22).

The Last Viking Returns is a sequel to one of our favourite books of 2012, the inspirational The Last Viking.

Author Norman Jorgensen and illustrator James Foley reacquaint us with young Josh (who, a braver boy now, calls himself Knut) and his little dog Wolverine (still wearing a colander helmet).

When Josh’s grandfather decides to take them to a Viking theme park for the day, the god Thor, watching from Asgard, decides to pop down to earth and join in the fun. “What could possibly go wrong?” he asks … The answer is Fafnir, “the most evil dragon imaginable”, who has been waiting for Thor to let his hair down.

The resulting showdown between boy, dog, god and fire-breathing beast is thrilling.

Thanks to Stephen Romei and his co-reviewer Syd for the review.

Throwback Thursday: “Once Upon a Time” mural

In August 2013 a group of illustrators from the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (Australia West) got together to paint a mural at the State Library of WA.

The theme was fairy tales with a local twist. Ten local illustrators (including myself) participated, each tackling a different fairy tale. Each tale was painted within a letter of the phrase ‘Once Upon A Time’.

Illustrator extraordinaire Chris Nixon compiled this time-lapse video of the process. On behalf of SCBWI, huge thanks to Chris and all the other artists: Samantha Hughes, Kelly Canby, Heather Charlton, Leanne White, Den Scheer, Frané Lessac, Sean E. Avery and Briony Stewart.

Long may the mural live on the wall; may it survive the sticky fingers of toddlers and the crayons of kids.

if the video doesn’t appear here, hit this link to watch.

The Last Viking Returns – book trailer

Here’s your first proper look at The Last Viking Returns!

The book will be out on September 1.

Josh is as brave as a Viking warrior. And not much can scare a Viking. But when the two littlest Vikings go beserk, Josh, Grandpa and Viking World are in for a rocky ride. Here’s a sneak peek at the sequel to The Last Viking.