secret agent mole – Page 4

See you at the Sydney Writers Festival

Sydney, I’m coming back for the Writers Festival at the end of May!⁠

I’ve got four sessions, all FREE: ⁠

FRIDAY 26th⁠ MAY

10:30am: Secret Agent Mole, Hornsby Library ⁠
(bookings essential)⁠

SUNDAY 28th MAY (Family Day)⁠

11am: Junior Fiction Spotlight
(with Adrian Beck and Jasmin McGaughey)⁠
⁠
12:30pm: Storytime Clubhouse⁠
⁠
3pm: Illustrator Battle
(with Heath McKenzie, Serena Geddes, Charmaine Ledden-Lewis and Adrian Beck)

Head to the Sydney Writers Festival website for more details.

I can’t wait!! See you there.

James’ Big Bookshop Tour

I just got back from an interstate bookshop tour to promote my new graphic novel series, Secret Agent Mole.

I visited 66 bookshops in 3 states in 8 days.

It was ridiculous and busy and a total blast!

After sleeping for three days straight (I wish) I put together this video.

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A post shared by James Foley author/illustrator (@jamesfoleybooks)

Thanks to all the bookshops that welcomed me and let me sign their copies of Secret Agent Mole. You are all champions! Support local and grab a signed copy from these awesome stores:

Perth, WA

Secret Agent Mole, book 1 is declassified as of today!

My new graphic novel series Secret Agent Mole is finally out in the world as of today! Book 1: Goldfish-Finger is available wherever you get your books, (including the latest Scholastic Australia book club catalogue).

We had the WA launch last weekend at the Perth Festival family day, in the beautiful grounds of the Fremantle Arts Centre. Somehow our venue reached capacity, and we sold a massive stack of signed books! Thanks to everyone who came along. Here’s some pics from the morning.

My wife launched her new book at the festival, too; it’s called Say Hooray and it’s illustrated by Rebecca Mills. Renae and Rebecca and I were gifted with the most incredible hand-painted gingerbread biscuits made by local bookseller Kristy Diffey. Check these out:

They were almost too good to eat … almost. Thanks so much, Kristy!

A huge thanks to the team at Scholastic for making this book with me – thanks Andrew, Sharon, my editor Laura Sieveking and our brilliant designer Hannah Janzen. It’s turned out so great. Now, on to book 2!

Three new interviews

Writers Weekend: Drawing on the Imagination
Seesaw Magazine
with Julie Hosking

I chat with Julie about the upcoming Perth Festival Family Day in Freo, a day of sessions with local and Australian authors and illustrators. I also talk about the creative processes behind some of my books.

Secret Agent Mole
reading With a Chance of Tacos podcast
with Ken Williams

Chatting with Ken is always a laugh! We talk about my new graphic novel series Secret Agent Mole – what it’s about, where the ideas came from, and where the series could go in the future.

Animals in Space
What the Duck?! podcast
with Dr Ann Jones

It was a real pleasure to be able to speak with Ann about the research I did for my picture book Stellarphant. I learned so many weird and wonderful stories about the true history of animals in space, and I got to share some of those tales on the podcast.

Book launches in Freo & Sydney

The WA launch of Secret Agent Mole isn this Sunday Feb 26 in Freo! Plus I’ve added a Sydney launch on March 9. Details below.

Feb 26 – Secret Agent Mole, Freo book launch (FREE)

Hot on the heels of his multi-award-winning picture book Stellarphant, WA local James Foley is back with a brand-new hilarious graphic novel action series.

Join us at the Perth Festival Family Day in Freo for the laugh-a-minute launch of Secret Agent Mole, book 1: Goldfish-Finger.

This is a FREE event!

DATE: Sunday Feb 26th, 2023
TIME: 9:30am
VENUE: Fremantle Arts Centre, Upper Lawn, 1 Finnerty St, Fremantle/Walyalup, WA
(NB this is an accessible venue)
AGES: all ages
TICKETS: FREE. You can rock up on the day or pre-register here.

The Perth Festival ‘Family Day in Freo‘ will also feature Craig Silvey, Cheryl Kickett-Tucker, Jayden Boundry, Matt Agnew, Renae Hayward, Rebecca Mills, Kelly Canby, Jared Thomas, Campbell Whyte, Sarah Winifred Searle, Cristy Burne and HM Waugh.

March 9 – Secret Agent Mole, Sydney book launch (FREE)

Join me at Gleebooks in Glebe, Sydney on Thursday, 9 March, at 4:30 pm for their first children’s event of the year in their temporary new home. They’re having a big house warming party to welcome you all to their cool new space! We are also partying to celebrate Australian Reading Hour and the release of two new books: Secret Agent Mole by me, and Pearly and Pig and the lost city of Mu Savan by Sue Whiting.

This a free event with snacks, mischief, activities, drawing, prizes and a whole lot of fun with James and Sue. Please RSVP so we can cater accordingly!

DATE: Thursday March 9th, 2023
TIME: 4:30pm
VENUE: Gleebooks, 181a Glebe Point Road, Glebe, NSW
AGES: all ages
TICKETS: FREE. Please RSVP here.

Secret Agent Mole – meet the villains!

My new graphic novel series Secret Agent Mole is coming soon. Book 1: Goldfish-Finger is out on March 1st!

Before the book comes out, I thought I’d introduce you to the characters. You’ve already met Max Mole, Helena Hippo and June Bug, plus their supporting cast. Now meet the villains of Book 1.

Eric Goldfishfinger

Goldfishfinger is a criminal mastermind who’s mad about gold. After a daring escape from the maximum security aquarium, this fiendish fish embarks on a crime spree along with his insidious sidekick, Toxin.

Toxin

Toxin is the most poisonous pufferfish on the planet, and Goldfishfinger’s loyal henchfish.

Pray you don’t cross paths with this prickly customer as his powerful poison can paralyse in seconds.

Dr Nude

Dr Nude is a world-famous techno-terrorist in dire need of some underwear; he’s a most ingenious and very nasty naked mole rat.

He seems to be Max Mole’s nemesis, though he wouldn’t call Max his; not when the Mole is simply a trainee agent and therefore unworthy of challenging the greatness of Nude. Still, whether he likes it or not, expect to see Dr Nude in many future missions!

Secret Agent Mole – meet the supporting cast

My new graphic novel series Secret Agent Mole is coming soon. Book 1: Goldfish-Finger is out on March 1st!

Before the book comes out, I thought I’d introduce you to the characters. You’ve already met Max Mole, Helena Hippo and June Bug; now meet their supporting cast.

W

W is the head of The Agency.

But what does W stand for?
‘Walrus’?
‘Witless’?
‘Wilberforce’?
All of the above?

W is a wonderful boss; he cares deeply about the safety and wellbeing of all his agents, though he is occasionally a hard tusk-master.

Chekhov

Chekhov is The Agency’s go-to-gal for gadgets; she knows what you need before you do.

She’s also W’s long-suffering assistant. If W ever took a sick day, Chekhov could lead The Agency with her eyes closed.

Andy Warthog

Andy Warthog is best known for his portraits of Marilyn Monrodent and the Camel’s Soup Tin series.

His latest exhibition at New York’s Met features a giant, priceless, solid-gold fish finger (aka a fish-stick for those in North America).

Thanks for reading, and stay tuned for the next post where you’ll meet the villains of Secret Agent Mole.

Meet the team of Secret Agent Mole

My new graphic novel series Secret Agent Mole is coming soon. Book 1: Goldfish-Finger is out on March 1st!

Before the book comes out, I thought I’d introduce you to the characters.

Our main characters are Max Mole, Helena Hippo and June Bug; they’re a team of trainee spies trying to get their secret agent licences.

Let’s start with the title character himself – Maximilian (‘Max’) Mole.

Max Mole

Earthworms fear him.
His granny loves him.
Villains find him … kind of annoying.

Max has wanted to be a secret agent ever since he was a baby mole, and now is his chance. He’s a trainee at the Agency, and he’s facing his final tests before he can get his secret agent licence. With his explosive suction-dart gun, classy dirt-repellent suit and sparkling wit, Max believes he is ready to face the world’s supervillains. Time will tell …

Helena Hippo

Dependable.
Determined.
Deadly.

Helena had a brief career as a professional wrestler (stage name Helena Handbasket) before joining The Agency as a new recruit. She is the muscles of Max’s team. Armed with her teeth, her fists (‘Ruth‘ and ‘Rita‘) and her legs (aka ‘the ol’ kicksticks’), Helena is a formidable and fearsome foe. Just be grateful she’s on our side.

June Bug

Bug is the brains of the operation, and provides teeny-tiny tech support to Max and Helena.

She’s an expert in hacking, surveillance, lock picking and bomb defusing; she’s also a champion cake baker.

Don’t let her small size or wide smile fool you; Bug is an incredibly capable pint-sized powerhouse. You’d be wise not to underestimate her.

I’ll tell you about some more characters soon! Thanks for reading.

Come to my book launch in Freo!

My new graphic novel series Secret Agent Mole is released on March 1!

Help me celebrate at a book launch in my hometown of Fremantle. Details below.

(P.S. Sydneysiders and Melburnians, stay tuned for details of events in your necks of the woods).

Hot on the heels of his multi-award-winning picture book Stellarphant, WA local James Foley is back with a brand-new hilarious graphic novel action series.

Join us at the Perth Festival Family Day in Freo for the laugh-a-minute launch of Secret Agent Mole, book 1: Goldfish-Finger.

This is a FREE event!