Kids’ & Teen Book Tour Highlights 2019

2019 has been another big adventure in the world of kids’ and teen books. (My top 9 Insta pics for the year above. Mental note: puppies and babies much more popular than pictures of books. I’m considering opening a pet and baby supply barn just for Instagram purposes.)

I toured and met readers in Sydney, Northern NSW, Canberra, Melbourne, Geelong, Hobart, Adelaide, Brisbane, Sunshine Coast, Toowoomba, Gold Coast, Hong Kong and Singapore. And if you didn’t manage to make it along to an event, never fear because here are the highlights. I was particularly pleased this year with the reception for my new book, Detention, which explored some big ideas and sparked lots of interesting conversations.

I’ve just set off on a 4.5 month reading, writing, dreaming, creating adventure with my family through the US, UK, Europe and Vietnam and I’ll be sharing all the updates on Instagram, Twitter, FB & eNews.

 

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Pre-release signed copies of Detention at Dymocks Camberwell in Melbourne if you’re in the neighbourhood. 😉✌🏼Read the first three chapters free at the link in my bio.

A post shared by Tristan Bancks (@tristanbancksbooks) on Jun 13, 2019 at 3:13am PDT

 

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This week schools and authors all over Australia are doing crazy-fun challenges for gold-coin fundraisers as part of our @roomtoread World Change Challenge to support 50 girls in the developing world for one year of education. Just google ‘2019 World Change Challenge’ to find out more and discover how just $365 can buy a year of education! Join our mission. 🙂

A post shared by Tristan Bancks (@tristanbancksbooks) on Aug 20, 2019 at 4:37am PDT

 

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I was lucky enough to have the lovely Megan Daley @childrensbooksdaily launch my new book, Detention, last night at Somerset College on the Gold Coast thanks to @booklinksqldinc . Megan is an articulate and entertaining advocate for literacy. I’m currently reading her new book, Raising Readers. Here is some of what she said last night: ‘Detention is a raw and authentic exploration of human connection. An unlikely union, Dan and Sima are confronted with some life-altering decisions as they are thrown into a very dangerous situation. The novel challenges readers to think about the complexities of a world that deems what is ‘moral’ and what is ‘legal’ as being polar opposites. It is affirming in its representation of a younger generation able to grapple with such contradiction and to stand up for what is right, and leaves readers with a sense of optimism that things might one day change. Tristan’s writing is gripping, his characters are all-too real and his symbolic use of the Australian landscape is a powerful weapon he wields to make his readers look more closely at the world around them. In the classroom context, Detention is ideal for study in the 12-14 year age range. It has strong ties to the Australian Curriculum and its contemporary themes add a level of connection for both students and staff which will lead to discussion, debate and analysis.’

A post shared by Tristan Bancks (@tristanbancksbooks) on Jun 14, 2019 at 3:07pm PDT

 

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BIG thanks to Rachel and @berkelouwbooksleichhardt for a fine afternoon yesterday, launching my new book Detention into the world with a big group of kids, parents and teachers as well as authors and friends @katejoltemple, their son Arlo, nephew Humpty Dumpty & @matt.cosgrove (pictured).

A post shared by Tristan Bancks (@tristanbancksbooks) on Jun 30, 2019 at 3:48am PDT

 

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Opening Newington College LitFest with a call to action: Buy thousands of sausage sandwiches to fund girls’ education in the developing world through our @roomtoread World Change Challenge! And buy them they did. We raised $2200, enough to fund literacy tools for six girls for a year! More pics from Newington LitFest in new post at tristanbancks.com (Link in bio.)

A post shared by Tristan Bancks (@tristanbancksbooks) on May 13, 2019 at 3:54am PDT

 

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The Morning Show. Talking reading, writing and Detention.

A post shared by Tristan Bancks (@tristanbancksbooks) on Aug 13, 2019 at 3:00am PDT

 

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With author Oliver Phommavanh at Somerset StoryFest today after learning we’d be on the dunking stool tonight. Aside from the amazing sessions and being looked after so well at this fest, it’s great to catch up with writerly friends.

A post shared by Tristan Bancks (@tristanbancksbooks) on Mar 20, 2019 at 3:13am PDT

 

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From day at @otis_studios, recording audiobook of my new novel, Detention – a fast-paced story for 10-14 y.o.’s about an escape from an immigration detention centre, a school lockdown and an epic chase. You can listen to a sample through the link in my bio. (Also free opening ebook chapters, video book trailer, book soundtrack, teaching materials and lots of behind-the-scenes stuff on the story).

A post shared by Tristan Bancks (@tristanbancksbooks) on Nov 8, 2019 at 1:19am PST

 

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Why would the ABC treat their guests this way? 😜 @abcme @piprasmussen #thepackdown

A post shared by Tristan Bancks (@tristanbancksbooks) on Aug 22, 2019 at 3:53am PDT

 

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The team behind a book. I’d love to take all the credit for creating my novels but the truth is that no author works alone. I’ve just blogged (link in bio) about the epic team behind the scenes. Here are just some of the 🐧 heads who have helped create and share my new book, but there are many more key people behind the scenes who assist in the making or breaking. Full post at tristanbancks.com

A post shared by Tristan Bancks (@tristanbancksbooks) on Jun 25, 2019 at 3:08am PDT

 

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Telling tall tales with the kids at Burringbar PS in front of the @storyboardbyronwf bus! . The tepees seem to turn a school playground into a pretty inspiring place to create.

A post shared by Tristan Bancks (@tristanbancksbooks) on May 22, 2019 at 3:09am PDT

 

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Speaking at a conference in Adelaide tomorrow, SAETA. Hoping to catch the keynotes by @ozlaureate & @jaclynmoriarty, too. Meanwhile, in the sky, I saw this.

A post shared by Tristan Bancks (@tristanbancksbooks) on Jun 19, 2019 at 3:33am PDT

 

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My great great uncle Jim Bancks created a comic strip character, Ginger Meggs, in 1921. I’ve always been very proud of this and feel it’s one reason I became an author for kids. I’m really pleased to share that I’ve just signed a contract to write a book of brand new Ginger Meggs stories for kids to be released in 2021, the hundredth anniversary of the character’s creation. The book will be illustrated by the brilliant @jasonchatfield, current @gingermeggs1921 artist, who has done a fine job of contemporising this iconic Australian character. These pics are in Hornsby where the stories were initially set and where I signed and posted my contract last week.

A post shared by Tristan Bancks (@tristanbancksbooks) on Aug 4, 2019 at 2:07am PDT

 

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Good times at recent visit to Dodger Stadium.✌🏼We loved it so much, we’re going back. (Although baseball season’s over, so they may not let us in.)

A post shared by Tristan Bancks (@tristanbancksbooks) on Nov 23, 2019 at 12:59am PST

 

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My book for 2020 with illustrator @heath.mckenzie ! I shared this on Twitter a few days ago but thought it was unfair not to share it with non-Twitterers. If you’ve ever had nits, combed nits or feared that nits will come and eat you in your sleep, this book will change your life.

A post shared by Tristan Bancks (@tristanbancksbooks) on Nov 10, 2019 at 1:09am PST

 

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Author talk. Sometimes I just get way too into the story. . Pic by @tempanydeckert

A post shared by Tristan Bancks (@tristanbancksbooks) on Nov 6, 2019 at 12:41am PST

 

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I love this pic of author and friend @saraharmstrong68’s mum reading my book and laughing at being photographed. Thanks for sharing, Sarah. I made a short film of Sarah’s story The Long Wet almost twenty years ago and now we’re in a writing group together. She’s a solid source of story wisdom and, like her mother and daughter, a big reader!

A post shared by Tristan Bancks (@tristanbancksbooks) on Jul 15, 2019 at 6:22pm PDT

 

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Back from an amazing month in the US driving California coast with fam, getting fresh inspiration on works-in-progress, gathering new ideas. There’s nothing like time off to give perspective. This pic is on the ferry from Sausalito to Fisherman’s Wharf after cycling over the Golden Gate Bridge. One of the great days of all-time. . Pic by @ambermelodyportraits 😊

A post shared by Tristan Bancks (@tristanbancksbooks) on Oct 22, 2019 at 3:06am PDT

 

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Australian International School, Singapore. An extraordinary place filled with creative, well-travelled humans. So impressed. . Pics by Nicole Timbrell @nicloutim

A post shared by Tristan Bancks (@tristanbancksbooks) on Dec 5, 2019 at 12:58am PST

See you on the road again in 2020!