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Michael Pryor has published thirty-four books, the latest being Machine Wars (Random House, April 2014).

At Booked Out, we are hoping that the machines don’t get into our computers — our database could turn against us!

The Bourne Identity meets The Terminator in this fast-paced technothriller for boys aged 10 to 14.

It was only a matter of time until one escaped.

Bram just wasn’t expecting it to be today.

In the sky, drones are hunting him. On every corner, machines are waiting to kill him.

But Bram has a plan. First, scatter and hide. Then, with his best friend and wise-cracking roboduck, help to save the world. – See more at the Random House website.

Tristan Bancks was recently on ABC Radio National Books and Arts Daily.

You can stream the interview online, if you missed it:

At Booked Out we have been busy planning tour dates for 2014.

We have a great selection of speakers hitting the road next year, and odds are, one of your favourite creatives is coming to your town!

Check out our news page and follow the links to see who is in your area and when. (Links are at the very top of the news page).

Some tours are already filling up so get your planning hats on!

Tristan Bancks has a new novel coming out March next year through Random House, and it looks set to be a pulse-raising story!

‘Gripping and unpredictable, with a hero you won’t forget.’ – John Boyne, author of The Boy in The Striped Pyjamas

‘A high stakes adventure that will keep you guessing and breathless until the very end.’ Michael Gerard Bauer, author of Don’t Call Me Ishmael

One afternoon, police officers show up at Ben Silver’s front door. Minutes after they leave, his parents arrive home. Ben and his little sister Olive are bundled into the car and told they’re going on a holiday. But are they?

It doesn’t take long for Ben to realise that his parents are in trouble. Ben’s always dreamt of becoming a detective – his dad even calls him ‘Cop’. Now Ben gathers evidence and tries to uncover what his parents have done.

The problem is, if he figures it out, what does he do? Tell someone? Or keep the secret and live life on the run?

Teachers notes are available here.

Tristan tours Tasmania from 11–13 March, and Melbourne 11–15 August for Booked Out next year.

Booked Out often receives feedback on our speakers from teachers and event organisers, but there’s something special about getting students’ impressions directly. Scot Gardner recently visited North Geelong Secondary College’s Year 7s, and the verdict is in: he’s a funny man.

The Voice of the People

Scot’s visit was really funny and he wasn’t talking like old people. He was talking as if he was a kid, which helped me understand him more. My favourite story was when he hit his kid in the head with a paddle because I can relate to that when I was on Grade 6 Camp.

–Zanda

Thank you for coming and sharing your wonderful stories. One of my favourites was about the girl who was playing Duck Duck Goose and then sat on her dog. It does show that not all games are safe. I really enjoyed your stories.

–Rachel

I did enjoy Scot’s visit. It was very humorous and enjoyable. He was an author so he must have, and did have, a good imagination. If the school needs to entertain kids, they should just give Scot a call.

–Ahmad

I think Scot Gardner is a funny person. He makes wonderful books and turns stuff from boring to extremely funny. He is my favourite author from now. Thanks!

–Billy

I enjoyed Scot’s visit very much. He is so funny. I really liked the Grass Seed story because it was really funny. Scot inspired me to write my own Manga.

–Deanna

Scot Gardner was really funny and he was really inspirational and I liked how he could make a story out of anything. Before he came, I wasn’t interested in reading his books, but now I am and they are really interesting. Scot Gardner is really funny. He has great stories and I hope to see him again next year.

–Kaylah

The Children’s Book Week wave has crashed over us and receded again, leaving schools, authors and bookings agents alike exhausted but happy. This year, one hundred authors, illustrators and storytellers conducted over one thousand sessions across the country during the last fortnight of August. The feedback is coming in, and we’ve been pleased to hear so many positive stories from school and libraries.

Lili Wilkinson

Lili’s recent visit to our school was an absolute delight. Our girls, who are already very familiar with her works were thrilled with the opportunity to meet her. The many sessions she ran were full of good humour and good advice. Lili is indeed an exceptional presenter and we look forward to welcoming her back. 100 out of 10!

–A. Kolodziej, Walford Anglican School for Girls, South Australia

Paula Weston

Loreto College in Queensland had Paula Weston in for a four day residency working with their Year 11s.

Paula was very generous with her time with the girls. She was able to relate to the students in a practical way to give them valuable tips for writing their short stories, based on a Brisbane setting. In her workshops with the girls, she showed how the perspective of the character in relation to setting was important for setting the mood. She read from her own novels and from novels she admires. We have promoted those texts in the library by way of public display. Hopefully the girls will feel inspired to follow up with more reading and to develop the connection between reading and writing.

–C. O’Donaghue, Loreto College, Queensland

Louise Park [PICTURED]

We got some wonderful feedback about Louise’s visit on Monday. A teacher reported that a group of year three boys, who are not normally interested in books or writing, were so inspired by Louise’s presentation that they got together at lunch to write a Star Boy, a boy version of Louise’s Star Girl. Would you mind passing this on to Louise so she knows what a hit she was with the kids here?

–Y. Greenhalgh, Stanton Library, New South Wales

Scotch College Literature Festival

The Scotch College junior school ran a huge literature festival this year, with a multitude of Booked Out speakers,

Hello Booked Outers. I just wanted to say thank you for all your organisation re our Literature Festival. All the authors you arranged were fantastic. They all arrived on time, prepared and the boys loved every single minute of the festival.

Thanks also for your suggestions re Marc Martin (sensational), Emilie Zoey Baker (the Year 6 boys are still raving about her session) and Andrew Plant who was also new to us (amazing presenter).

The festival was a huge success, mainly due to your awesome behind the scenes work.

–J. Pride, Scotch College, Victoria

After days of sun, sea, whale watching, walking and, of course, a writer’s festival, in Byron Bay, Booked Out speakers are struggling to readjust to wintery Melbourne. Booked Out commander-in-chief Lauris Pandolfini was there, and hasn’t stopped enthusing since.

Star spotting started on the flight where ‘Rosie Project’ author Graeme Simison, ‘Phryne Fisher’ creator Kerry Greenwood, comedians Denise Scott & Justin Heazlewood, and musician Dave Graney rubbed shoulders on an early flight to Byron.

As usual it was a perfectly organised and packed Festival. The most difficult thing for three days was choosing between concurrent sessions.

Highlights included Benjamin Law, Alice Pung, Maria Tumarkin & Yasmine Abdiel-Magied discussing their migrant backgrounds in the session Acquiring a Taste for Vegemite, (well, Benjamin admitted that he had never quite acquired it!)

A session with Tony Birch & Anita Heiss discussing 21st century Aboriginal stories was riveting. Singers Paul Kelly & Archie Roach on their collaboration together charmed everyone and Dave Graney & Justin Heazlewood entertained with their take on Improvisation. Sessions on Dysfunctional Families, Longevity, & Complacency saw capacity audiences in every marquee.

For those interested in YA Literature, Melina Marcheta, Phillip Gwynne, Judy Horacek & Libby Gleeson were interviewed by local authorTristan Bancks.

There were too many literary stars to name them all. Add to this mix great food, fine wine and clear blue skies every day and it all added up to a blissful Byron Bay experience.

The end of the year is in sight, and Year 12 English classes are turning their attention to the exams. Booked Out offers a range of sessions tailored to the VCE curriculum, delivered by engaging and authoritative presenters.

Sometimes though, students are more in need of a pep-talk than another round of study notes. Consider relieving the pressure by bringing in a circuit breaker from outside – someone to inspire, entertain, motivate, or just put life in perspective.

See our VCE 2014 brochure for more!

Booked Out’s Chris Turney has found himself an interesting position between Antarctic expeditions. He will be a judge on the upcoming Doodle 4 Google competition, where kids from Years 1 – 10 have a go at redrawing the Google logo to match the theme, ‘If I was an explorer I would…’

The winning doodle will be shown on Google’s front page for a day, and the lucky teacher of the winning artist will win a place in the 2013-14 Australasian Antarctic Expedition, retracing the steps of Mawson.

Don’t worry if you don’t have too much Antarctic experience. Chris will be there to drag you onwards.

If you’re a teacher or student, you can register for the competition here. The submissions are open from 19th July to the 20th September, so there is plenty of time to work at it!