The reviews are in! My new book Amazing Astro Animals has been out in Australia and NZ for almost three weeks now – big thanks to everyone who’s shared a review so far.
Amazing Astro Animals
Buy it here:
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Tag: Amazing Astro Animals
Join the launch of Amazing Astro Animals across Australia!
My new book, Amazing Astro Animals, is coming to a bookshop near you very soon!
Join me for a book launch in Perth, Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane.
Each launch will include a short lecture by renowned astrozoologist Professor Vüpshe Dazchy.
PERTH, SEPT 29
DATE: Tuesday Sept 29th
WHEN: 2:00pm
WHERE: Heath Ledger Theatre, WA State Theatre Centre
TICKETS: $5 – get your tickets here
SYDNEY, OCT 24
DATE: Saturday October 24th
WHEN: 2pm
WHERE: Gleebooks, Glebe Point Rd, Glebe
RSVP: Rachel@gleebooks.com.au
MELBOURNE, OCT 25
DATE: Sunday October 25th
WHEN: 11am
WHERE: The Little Bookroom, 8 Village Ave, Brunswick East
RSVP: https://events.humanitix.com/amazing-astro-animals
BRISBANE, OCT 31
DATE: Saturday October 31st
WHEN: 10am
WHERE: Quick Brown Fox Bookshop, 5/33 Carberry Street, Grange
RSVP: https://www.trybooking.com/DPTQH
Events for Sept-Oct
Perth’s Awesome Festival is coming up, and I’ve got a bunch of events on!
Plus, book launches for Amazing Astro Animals! LET’S DO THIS!!
PERTH, Sept 29-Oct 3: STELLARPHANT STAGE SHOW
The incredible stage show of Stellarphant is back as part of this year’s Awesome Festival! If you missed it back in May, now’s your chance.
Full of laughter, heart and imagination, Stellarphant takes audiences on a cosmic adventure about determination, equality and following your dreams. Adapted for the stage by Clare Testoni, this uplifting production reminds us that heroes come in all shapes, sizes and species.
DATE: Sept 29 – Oct 3
WHEN: various times
WHERE: Heath Ledger Theatre, WA State Theatre Centre, Perth
TICKETS: $10. Get your tickets here.
PERTH, Sept 29-Oct 3: AMAZING ASTRO ANIMALS exhibition
DID YOU KNOW that the very first astronauts were fruit flies?
Or the the first Earthlings to travel around the moon were tortoises and mealworms?
Or that the first fish in space was called a ‘mummichog’?
Learn more about intrepid animal astronauts in this FREE exhibition.
DATE: Sept 29 – Oct 3
WHEN: 10am-3pm
WHERE: Heath Ledger Theatre foyer, WA State Theatre Centre, Perth
ENTRY: FREE. More info here.
PERTH, Sept 29: AMAZING ASTRO ANIMALS book launch
Join me to celebrate the release of my first-ever non-fiction book, Amazing Astro Animals!
MC’d by graphic novelist Aśka, and featuring world-famous astrozoologist Professor Vüpshe Dazchy.
DATE: Tuesday Sept 29th
WHEN: 2:00pm
WHERE: Heath Ledger Theatre, WA State Theatre Centre
TICKETS: $5 – get your tickets here
PERTH, Oct 1-2: SPONTANEOUS STORYTIME
Join me for a laugh-out-loud session where the kids are in charge.
Bring your weirdest and wackiest ideas for stories, because I’ll mash them into the funniest Franken-tale you’ve ever heard — which I’ll also illustrate, live!
Suitable for ages eight and up.
DATE: Thurs October 1st, Fri October 2nd
WHEN: 10-11am, 12-1pm
WHERE: State Library of WA
TICKETS: $10 for kids; free for their adults – get your tickets here
FREMANTLE, Oct 5-6: TOTALLY LIT STORY WHEEL
Climb aboard the Story Wheel (aka the Fremantle Esplanade ferris wheel) and treat the young people in your life to their own private 10-minute story time experience with one of WA’s leading writers for children.
Day 1 (Oct 5th):
– Jeanette Stampone (10-11am),
– Gabriel Evans (11-12pm, 1-2pm),
– Deb Fitzpatrick (12-1pm).
Day 2 (Oct 6th):
– Karen Blair (10-11am),
– Susan Joy Lu (11am-12pm),
– Meg McKinlay (12-1pm),
– James Foley (1-2pm).
FREMANTLE, Oct 5-11: TOTALLY LIT STORY TRAIL
Our pirates – Hector, Captain, Stringbean, Jerry Hattrick, Pearl and Puss – are having lots of adventures in the Port City.
Follow the map to track down what this pirate crew is getting up to.
Start your own adventure at Fremantle Town Hall where you’ll be able to collect your Totally Lit Trail Map and then follow the map through the city to find pirate treasure. Every stop on the journey unlocks one of six pieces in the story.
Presented by City of Fremantle and Totally Lit. Artwork created by James Foley.
CLAREMONT, Oct 9: Draw Along @ Lane bookshop
See off the school holidays in artistic style by joining James Foley for a draw-along.
DATE: Friday 10th October
WHEN: 10am – 11am
WHERE: The Lane Bookshop
TICKETS: general admission FREE; ‘Book Lover’ $35.00 (includes admission and a hardback copy of Amazing Astro Animals by James Foley, RRP $34.99)
Please note, parents and carers do not need to buy a ticket if they are attending with children.
FREMANTLE, Oct 11: SPONTANEOUS STORYTIME @the big book market
On Sunday, 11 October, Fremantle/Walyalup will host the Big Book Market – an opportunity for book lovers of all interests to discover new titles and great bargains.
This is a free, all ages event.
The day will also include live sessions:
11.30am-12.30pm: James Foley – a story time and live illustration challenge featuring the pirate crew from the Totally Lit Trail.
1.00-2.00pm: Peter Murphy and Fred Rhea – live music and storytelling inspired by their book, Fremantle to Freedom.
2.30-3.15pm: Poetry readings, details TBC
Things to note:
– Live presentations will take place in front of the sloping grassed area in Walyalup Koort – so why not pack a picnic, bring a blanket and settle in for a few hours?
– In the event of bad weather the Market and live events will relocate indoors to Fremantle Town Hall.
Presented in Walyalup Koort thanks to City of Fremantle
SYDNEY, Oct 24: AMAZING ASTRO ANIMALS book launch
Sydneysiders – join me to celebrate the release of my first-ever non-fiction book, Amazing Astro Animals!
Featuring a short lecture by world-famous astrozoologist Professor Vüpshe Dazchy.
DATE: Saturday October 24th
WHEN: 2pm
WHERE: Gleebooks, Glebe Point Rd, Glebe
RSVP: Rachel@gleebooks.com.au
MELBOURNE, Oct 25: AMAZING ASTRO ANIMALS book launch
Melburnians – join me to celebrate the release of my first-ever non-fiction book, Amazing Astro Animals!
Featuring a short lecture by world-famous astrozoologist Professor Vüpshe Dazchy.
DATE: Sunday October 25th
WHEN: 11am
WHERE: The Little Bookroom, 8 Village Ave, Brunswick East
RSVP: littlebookroom.com.au/events
BRISBANE, Oct 31: AMAZING ASTRO ANIMALS book launch
Brisbanites – join me to celebrate the release of my first-ever non-fiction book, Amazing Astro Animals!
Featuring a short lecture by world-famous astrozoologist Professor Vüpshe Dazchy.
DATE: Saturday October 31st
WHEN: 10am
WHERE: Quick Brown Fox Bookshop, 5/33 Carberry Street, Grange
RSVP: https://www.trybooking.com/DPTQH
Amazing Astro Animals out in October
My first non-fiction, Amazing Astro Animals, is out this October!
Born out of my research for Stellarphant, this is a true history of animals involved in space travel.
Before humans ever left the planet, animals boldly went where no man had gone before. Even now, these unwitting test pilots and space travellers outnumber their human counterparts.
From microscopic tardigrades to a pregnant cockroach, from last-minute mutts to unhatched chicken eggs, these animals and their stories are weird, wacky and wonderful. Chock-full of extraordinary facts and fun, this is an absolute must read!
Pre-order now:
