Tag: The Last Viking Returns

The Last Viking turns 10

On a dark and stormy night exactly 10 years ago today, The Last Viking was launched.

It was my very first published book, illustrated by me and written by Norman Jorgensen, and it was launched in dramatic Viking style. Thor brought a ‘once-in-1o-years’ thunderstorm down upon us with 30mm of rain falling in 30 minutes. Hundreds of guests, all completely drenched, helped us celebrate. It was a night to remember, and I can’t believe it’s been 10 years already. Then I look at my kids and my hairline and I can definitely believe it.

To celebrate the milestone, I’ve been posting some behind-the-scenes pics on my Instagram, Facebook and Twitter accounts over the past 10 days; head over to those for more in-depth detail. But I’ll share a little bit of it here too. Here are the rough and final versions of some of my favourite spreads in the book.

You can find more behind-the-scenes posts about The Last Viking here;

and teacher resources are here.

Buy ‘The Last Viking’

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Last Viking Returns voted number one by WA kids

The Last Viking Returns (2014), front coverNorm and I have some good news: The Last Viking Returns has won the Hoffman Award!

It’s one of the WA Young Readers’ Book Awards and it’s given to the highest-ranked book by a WA creator. The Last Viking won the same award back in 2012.

Huge thanks to all the WA kids who voted for our book; it means a lot.

You can read more about the win on the Fremantle Press website.

Making a mural at the Perth Writers Festival

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The Perth Writers Festival is over for another year. The weekend goes by so quick! I was very happy to be back this year as a presenter on the schools’ day and family day, and this year I also got to work on something a bit different – a massive mural.

Continue reading “Making a mural at the Perth Writers Festival”

Evolution of a scene: the final version of ‘Big Trouble’

pg22-23-5-finalLast week I posted the roughs for this scene from The Last Viking Returns. This post will show how I got from my almost-final rough to my final illustration.

Continue reading “Evolution of a scene: the final version of ‘Big Trouble’”

Evolution of a scene: the rough sketches for ‘Big Trouble’

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final rough on the left, finished version on the right

There’s a scene in The Last Viking Returns called ‘Big Trouble’ where Fafnir the dragon is finally revealed in all his terrible glory. The scene went through a lot of changes during development, so I thought I’d share them here.

It’s a lot of pics though so I’ll share them in two parts. This post will show you the roughs, and next week’s post will show how the final illustration was put together.

(And if you haven’t read the book yet, there’s a few SPOILERS below.)

Continue reading “Evolution of a scene: the rough sketches for ‘Big Trouble’”

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”

The Last Viking Returns, September/October school holiday events

We’ve got two more Viking events happening during the school holidays:

  • the State Library exhibition continues until the end of the September
  • we’ve got a Boffins bookshop event in Perth on Wednesday 1st October.

Hit the link for the details.

Continue reading “The Last Viking Returns, September/October school holiday events”

Tonya ‘Valkyrie’ McCusker launches The Last Viking Returns

TLVR launch 7
James and Norman with Malcolm, Tonya and Mary McCusker at the official launch

 

We had two launches for The Last Viking Returns this past week: a mini-launch at the fantastic Beaufort Street Books in Mount Lawley, then a big mammoth launch at the State Library. Tonya McCusker generously dressed up to launch our book with her daughter Mary ably assisting. Hit the jump for more photos.

Continue reading “Tonya ‘Valkyrie’ McCusker launches The Last Viking Returns”

The Last Viking Returns out now

The-Last-Viking-Returns-cover-500pxMy 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”