Barking Gecko Arts’ incredible stage adaptation of Stellarphant is back for a limited run this school holidays!
If you missed it back in May, now’s your chance. It’s got the original cast and creative team, which means you’re in for a treat – they really knocked this out of the park!
Stellarphant is on at the State Theatre Centre from Tuesday September 29 to Saturday 3rd October. Tickets are only $10 and you can book your seats here.
There’s even an Auslan-interpreted session on Thursday 1st October at 11am.
I’m launching my new non-fiction book Amazing Astro Animals on Tuesday Sept 29th at 2pm – that’s right after the 1pm Stellarphant show. Why not grab tickets for both??
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.
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
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).
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.
See off the school holidays in artistic style by joining James Foley for a draw-along.
DATE: Friday 10th September WHEN: 10am – 11am WHERE: The Lane Bookshop TICKETS: general admission $10.00; ‘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
The amazing team at Barking Gecko Arts have adapted my picture book Stelllarphant for the stage. I am so excited for everyone to see this … I’ve been checking out the rehearsals and it’s going to be epic!
From the official blurb:
Join Stella, an elephant who dreams of becoming an astronaut, as she builds her own spaceship and proves that anyone can reach for the stars … this uplifting 55-minute production for children aged 6-12 and their families is packed with heart, humour, and imagination. Perfect for the April school holidays.
Photo: Daniel J Grant
The run opens with general public shows at Subiaco Arts Centre, followed by school group shows around the metro area and regional WA. Full dates below.
This one is part of Walker Books’ Paw Prints series – junior fiction books by funny authors and illustrators. Fuzzball is written by Nathan Luff, illustrated by me! Out in April.
I don’t have a cover to share with you yet, but I can tell you it’s a non-fiction follow up to my most popular book, Stellarphant. It will be my very first non-fiction book! More news on that soon.
Earlier in Feb I got to chat with Gregory Dobbs from the Good Reading podcast, all about my picture book Stellarphant and the upcoming colour rereleases of Brobot and Gastonauts.
As Greg puts it, we chat about “the great characters [James] has created – Sally Tinker (the world’s foremost inventor under the age of twelve), Joe Tinker (full-time baby) and Charli Stevenson (foremost biologist under the age of eleven). We explore the hilarious and often quite smelly adventures they get up to, along with Sally’s amazing range of inventions. There’s also a few Dad jokes along the way.”
It’s never not a thrill to see one of my books travelling overseas! I love seeing how the translators and graphic designers adapt the titles and covers.
Here’s some of the international covers Stellarphant has collected so far.
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’ve just finished up an awesome weekend at Perth Supanova Comic Con!
I got to see some incredible cosplay, chat with Kevin Eastman (co-creator of the Ninja Turtles!!), catch up with my bud Brenton McKenna, get a hand-delivered fan letter from Super Mario and hang out with the wonderful authors Meg Caddy and Renae Hayward (my gorgeous wife)!
I recently spent a packed couple of days at the Sydney Writers Festival Family Day! Here’s a couple of highlights.
A spy infiltrates the Festival…
As part of a panel on Junior Fiction, Adrian Beck and I had a spy-off. The objective? Blend in and make your way to the stage without being seen, using any means necessary.
This here hombre was served humble pie as his last meal, with bullets for dessert, as I went up against Serena Geddes, Heath McKenzie and Charmaine Ledden-Lewis in an Illustrator Battle. Congrats to Charmaine (AKA Lead-Pencil Lewis) for being the quickest draw in the inner-west. Special thanks to our excellent MC (and chief cat wrangler) Adrian Beck.
James Foley 