Authors > Tristan Bancks

Tristan Bancks
Photograph by Amber Melody

Tristan Bancks

Tristan Bancks is an author with a background in acting and filmmaking. He loves the beach, space, New York City, making movies, flying, ice cream, theme parks and mind-blowing inventions. Mac Slater Hunts the Cool is his first book for... Read full bio

Author Revealed:
Q. What is your motto or maxim?
A. ‘Be Scary’ I borrowed it from filmmaker, Robert Rodriguez (El Mariachi, Spy Kids) and it became Mac Slater’s motto in 'Mac Slater Hunts the Cool', too.
Learn more about Tristan Bancks
My life in 8 words: "A big rollercoaster adventure with occasional boring bits."
EXCLUSIVE RANTS, RAVES AND MUSINGS FROM S&S AUTHORS
Hi From Tristan Bancks
November 11, 2009
Hi, I’m author of the upcoming MAC SLATER HUNTS THE COOL (April 2010). It’s the first in a fast-moving series for...
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FIND OUT WHAT S&S AUTHORS ARE DOING RIGHT NOW
Mac Slater Hunts the Cool will be released on April 06, 2010 in Hardcover
about 6 hours ago
Twitter:
Stevie Wonder doing 'Superstition' on Sesame: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ul7X5js1vE
Nov 18, 2009
Twitter:
Hey @kristinaschulz Welcome to Twitsville, Tennessee. Fave Sesame St moment? Stevie Wonder cameo. www.sesamestreet.org/onair/history/vote
Nov 18, 2009
Twitter:
@belindacjeffrey It was actually my grandfather's arm. Will let him know. Is it still sew-back-on-able or too far gone now?
Nov 17, 2009
Twitter:
Road-testing unconventional nit cures on kids 4 Nine show, The Shak, today. Mayo, vegemite, peanut butter etc. Will let u know if they work!
Nov 17, 2009
Twitter:
Interesting Naomi Klein piece on Climate Debt: Poor nations feeling 80% of climate effects. Rich nations shld pay http://tiny.cc/0Mbps
Nov 17, 2009
Twitter:
Great discussion with improvisational actors from Mac Slater book gig last week. Melbourne seems a rich hub for creative idea exchange.
Nov 16, 2009
Twitter:
@twitofalili The balance of coffee, chocolate, food, water in system is so integral to the writing process, huh? Hope chocolate heals you.
Nov 16, 2009
Twitter:
Thnx 4 ListLove @Tara_Moss/authors-bibliophiles @LibrarianIdol/writers @wwwkarentyrrell/aussie-writers @AitkenLibrary/authors @Lozzaloulilei
Nov 16, 2009
Twitter:
Morning pages. Warming up for day. Creative gymnasia on the page. Letting fragments fall away to find something whole. Happy day to you.
Nov 16, 2009
Twitter:
Do you think you can sue the Lego Corporation for injuries sustained by treading on pieces of their product? #StabbedByaSteeringWheel
Nov 16, 2009
Twitter:
Fascinating chats with author @michaeljpryor & youthlit guru @mike_sh re: space stations, Thomas Malthus, science faction & The Right Stuff
Nov 15, 2009
Twitter:
Reading back zero draft of new book. Far more palatable than my worst fears had led me to believe.
Nov 15, 2009
Twitter:
Thanks Official92!
Nov 15, 2009
Twitter:
Coffee and croissant in Centre Place Melbourne. I love these laneways. So much flow. Feel like I could write forever here.
Nov 12, 2009
Twitter:
Mac Slater onstage today in Melb thanks 2 State Library of Victoria. Excerpts from books performed then Q and A. Nice. I love this city.
Nov 12, 2009
Twitter:
Meeting in Melb today with animators and producer of animated series based on my Nit boy books. Talking B/Gs, lighting & look. Fun.
Nov 12, 2009
Author Voices:
Hi From Tristan Bancks
Nov 12, 2009
Twitter:
Super-inspiring kids & teens: RT @LynMikel Let's hear it for kids making a difference: http://bit.ly/1NKPB Huffpost- ADOLESCENT ACTIVISTS .
Nov 10, 2009
Twitter:
@Esprit77 For me starting to write new novel is poss easier than finishing reading novel I'm not enjoying.The writing is inspiration-fuelled
Nov 10, 2009
Twitter:
A thought-provoking @YPulse piece on @LynMikel 's new book 'Packaging Boyhood'.I think this is really worth discussing. http://tiny.cc/TmwOY
Nov 10, 2009
Twitter:
Win a copy of Anthony Horowitz's new Alex Rider novel, Crocodile Tears (released worldwide tomorrow), at http://boysblokesbooks.edublogs.org
Nov 10, 2009
Twitter:
What's better? Reading books or buying them? I'm undecided.
Nov 10, 2009
Twitter:
@michaeljpryor Hey Michael. I really enjoy your Twitstyle, the blow-by-blow account as you work through aspects of writing. Hope ur well.
Nov 09, 2009
Twitter:
This is hilarious! (In a writer-geek kind of way). RT @misrule_au @Zoe_Walton How to write badly well: http://bit.ly/1JJaGc
Nov 08, 2009
Tristan Bancks:
Mac Slater On Stage
Nov 06, 2009
Twitter:
Dalai Lama is following my tweets. How funny. And is it just me or is it somehow wrong that Kutcher has 3 mil followers and DL has 100,000?
Nov 05, 2009
Twitter:
WIN a copy of the 8th Alex Rider book, Crocodile Tears (out 12 Nov), right now @ www.boysblokesbooks.edublogs.org . Please RT if poss. :-)
Nov 04, 2009
Twitter:
@IllustratorGus Site's looking great, Gusto. I love webspaces that feel organic and take the edge off the polished feel of the 'puter screen
Nov 04, 2009
Twitter:
@lauravazquez Hey Vaz. You too. I like your feelgood quotes on the Twit.
Nov 04, 2009
Twitter:
I just blogged some fun Nit Boy cover art created by kids! Bug warning: http://tristanbancksflow.blogspot.com
Nov 03, 2009
Twitter:
RT @JensBookPage 20 Sites and Tools to Encourage Lifelong Reading from @LiteracyLaunch #literacy #kidlit http://tinyurl.com/yfc95oz
Nov 03, 2009
Twitter:
@belindacjeffrey That's great to hear. BSB and Nit Boy are very similar stories, don't you think? ... I feel so shallow.
Nov 03, 2009
Twitter:
Just finished 38500 words in 6 weeks. NaNoWriMo-heads may mock my snail-esque pace and miniscule narrative length but I'm quietly pleased.
Nov 03, 2009
Twitter:
@twitofalili I so feel your pain on those last words of the day. Blood from a stone. Hope they come.
Nov 03, 2009
Twitter:
SMH article from a few weeks back on Sydney's $600 million / annum in wasted food: http://tiny.cc/WNVXG . I'm going freegan.
Nov 01, 2009
Twitter:
Could you live for a year without money? Great article from Mark Boyle, founder of the freeconomy movement - http://tiny.cc/PD0oy
Nov 01, 2009
Twitter:
Reading @belindacjeffrey 's 'Brown Skin Blue'. I love the way dark moments and memories are woven with funny observations & dialogue.
Nov 01, 2009
Twitter:
Who will be first to tweet the end of the world? #endoftheworld
Nov 01, 2009
Twitter:
I just put up a post on Boys, Blokes, Books Blog about Ursula Dubosarsky's (@Terrible_PLOP) excellent Word Spy blog: http://tiny.cc/Nwj6W
Oct 29, 2009
Twitter:
Just blogged about challenges of pushing through an early draft and characters who won't say die. www.tristanbancksflow.blogspot.com
Oct 28, 2009
Tristan Bancks:
Characters Who Just Won't Die
Oct 28, 2009
Twitter:
@TheMGeorge Hey congrats! That's so cool. An AFI nom. What better place to receive the news?
Oct 28, 2009
Twitter:
@SnarkyWench I love the #NaNoWriMo manifesto of enthusiasm and perseverance over painstaking craft to hatch that first draft. V. cool
Oct 28, 2009
Twitter:
@twitofalili I think that's the best book cover, possibly ever. Thanks for tweeting it. http://tiny.cc/297L3
Oct 28, 2009
Twitter:
Shameless self-promotion: Nit Boy won TV pitch contest judged by heads of development from Screen Australia, Screen NSW, ABC and SBS. Nice.
Oct 28, 2009
Twitter:
Just blogged the mystery of writing, how impossible it is to truly break down and share the process of writing a book. http://tiny.cc/ncIN1
Oct 26, 2009
Twitter:
RT @gregpincus Great info! RT @alicepope: On PW: What Do Teens Want? (cool survey of teen über readers) http://tinyurl.com/yfqrfd3
Oct 26, 2009
Tristan Bancks:
The Writing Process
Oct 26, 2009
Twitter:
@Zoe_Walton Thanks for recommending Jasper Jones!
Oct 26, 2009
Twitter:
@IllustratorGus Yes, mate. I saw Wendy in there, too. How is everything going with Wendy? It's a beautiful picture book.
Oct 26, 2009
Twitter:
I vote Jasper Jones the best book I've read this year. Teen appeal and Mockingbird cool. Congrats Craig Silvey. http://tiny.cc/LfCyS
Oct 26, 2009
Twitter:
'Wimpy Kid' book (@DiaryWimpyKid) is free to read online at Funbrain.com – http://tiny.cc/ewgLV – where the whole Wimpy phenom began!
Oct 26, 2009
Twitter:
3000 words written on zero draft of new story. Hanging up the keyboard. One of those days when it just flowed. Sweet justice.
Oct 26, 2009
Twitter:
@Little_Bookroom Kids' Reading Guide looks great! www.kidsreadingguide.com.au
Oct 26, 2009
Twitter:
@becfitzpatrick Good on you! And huge congrats on the NY Times top ten. That is extraordinary. Looking forward to reading it.
Oct 22, 2009
Twitter:
RT @Mashable 15 Twitter Users Shaping the Future of Publishing - http://bit.ly/3YHSDM . This is really worth checking out!
Oct 22, 2009
Twitter:
RT @NathanBransford New blog post on The Week That Changed Publishing: http://bit.ly/9Z9WV
Oct 22, 2009
Twitter:
RT @Zoe_Walton A worthy cause - sign the petition to have a teacher librarian in every Australian school: http://bit.ly/3cDxEd
Oct 22, 2009
Twitter:
Do you dream more vividly when you're writing or doing creative work in the day? I've been having the most detailed, engrossing dreams.
Oct 22, 2009
Twitter:
Blue sky's still out there, people. I just saw it and stood under it. There wasn't even a screen around it.
Oct 22, 2009
Twitter:
Have been checking out digi-novels melding lit, vid and the web at www.vook.com and CSI creator @zuiker 's www.level26.com . Worth a look.
Oct 22, 2009
Twitter:
@TheMGeorge Life is sweet. Writing away. Buenos Aires sounds spectac. Coming 2 NY in new year. Love 2 catch up. Hemmingmyway sounds v. cool!
Oct 22, 2009
Tristan Bancks:
Books for Boys Blog
Oct 15, 2009
Twitter:
Back from week-long break. Just put up a blog post about the power of time off. Life-changing experience. www.tristanbancksflow.blogspot.com
Oct 14, 2009
Tristan Bancks:
The Power of Time Off
Oct 14, 2009
Twitter:
Win David Metzenthen's 'Really Nearly Deadly Canoe Ride'! I just published an interview with Dave at www.boysblokesbooks.edublogs.org
Oct 12, 2009
Tristan Bancks:
Mac Slater Exhibition
Oct 04, 2009
Twitter:
Just published a fun interview on pirates with author Sherryl Clark (aka Captain Blood and @sherrylwriter): www.boysblokesbooks.edublogs.org
Oct 02, 2009
Twitter:
@lauravazquez Yeehaw, Vaz. Hap-py birthday! (for six days' time)
Oct 02, 2009
Twitter:
I blogged The Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme park adventure today. Take a tour of HarryTown: www.boysblokesbooks.edublogs.org
Sep 30, 2009
Twitter:
Ten things you can do to change the world. www.tenthingsyoucando.com - very cool, simple site inspired by The Burning Season- @burningseason
Sep 28, 2009
Twitter:
Some thoughts on writing, creating: http://tristanbancksflow.blogspot.com. Hope you're feeling loose and happy.
Sep 28, 2009
Twitter:
Some thoughts on writing, creating: tristanbancksflow.blogspot.com Hope you're feeling loose and happy.
Sep 28, 2009
Tristan Bancks:
Making Stories
Sep 28, 2009
Twitter:
Just blogged Top Ten fave www.TED.com talks (@tedtalks). Unbelievably cool site. Post is at www.tristanbancksflow.blogspot.com . Yr faves?
Sep 27, 2009
Twitter:
Just blogged my Top Ten fave www.TED.com talks (@tedtalks). Unbelievably cool site. Post is at www.tristanbancksflow.blogspot.comYour faves?
Sep 27, 2009
Tristan Bancks:
TED.com Top Ten
Sep 27, 2009
Twitter:
Have you ever noticed that tweeting is easier than meditation? Or working.
Sep 27, 2009
Twitter:
@misrule_au and @twitofalili Big congrats! It's a great thing that you're doing. Hope the Lit Project turns on tons of new readers. Bravo.
Sep 25, 2009
Twitter:
Article on web film distribution/marketing from @insidefilm: http://bit.ly/tFPmR Interesting insight into future issues for book industry?
Sep 24, 2009
Twitter:
@TheMGeorge Old woman George. How are you, toots? Saw Vaz was chatting to you. Life good here. Writing in sunshine. That's cool you're in NY
Sep 24, 2009
Twitter:
@BookBoy That would be fine to grab Nit Boy cover from my site. Thanks for recommending it to peeps.
Sep 24, 2009
Twitter:
@becfitzpatrick Yep, I am. She's a great lady. I have a book coming out with S&S US in April. I see HushHush releases November in Australia!
Sep 24, 2009
Twitter:
Just put up a post on Boys, Blokes, Books about the supercool, revamped @GuysRead website. Check it out at: http://tiny.cc/Adh2R
Sep 24, 2009
Twitter:
Cool pics of 'Where the Wild Things Are' pop-up shop in LA on @kitsunenoir blog here: http://tiny.cc/uni8b . I want to be there now.
Sep 23, 2009
Twitter:
'If you're not prepared to be wrong, you'll never come up with anything original.' - @SirKenRobinson in his book, 'The Element'.
Sep 22, 2009
Twitter:
@lauravazquez Welcome to Twitsville, Oklahoma. Thanks for finding me. Hope you're well and happy.
Sep 22, 2009
Twitter:
Anyone got a spare robot they're happy to send to the moon? 30 million up for grabs in Google Lunar X Prize. www.googlelunarxprize.org/
Sep 22, 2009
Twitter:
Hey @becfitzpatrick. Ms Drayton suggested I look you up. Love what you're doing on the web. Can't wait to read Hush Hush. Good luck with it!
Sep 22, 2009
Twitter:
Just put up two new blog entries: Highlights of Bris Writers Fest with pics and a Writing Post. http://tiny.cc/kDMJt . Hope it's a great day
Sep 22, 2009
Tristan Bancks:
Brisbane Writer's Fest Highlights 2009
Sep 22, 2009
Tristan Bancks:
Buzz, Ganesh, Research and Writing
Sep 22, 2009
YouTube:
Fun in Space
Sep 21, 2009
YouTube:
The Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre
Sep 21, 2009
YouTube:
Star City: Russia's Cosmonaut Camp
Sep 21, 2009
YouTube:
Astronaut Training at Star City
Sep 21, 2009
YouTube:
Moon 2.0: Join the Revolution
Sep 21, 2009
Twitter:
@bookboy Thanks for the kind wishes. Writing a book has lots of false starts and dead ends but I enjoy the adventure on some sick level.
Sep 21, 2009
Twitter:
Reading a cool book on creativity, 'The Element', by Ken Robinson. Also just checked nice Westerfeld Leviathan trailer: http://tiny.cc/VJPYq
Sep 21, 2009
Author Revealed Answer:
Do you have one sentence of advice for new writers?
Sep 18, 2009
Author Revealed Answer:
What comment do you hear most often from your readers?
Sep 18, 2009
Author Revealed Answer:
What is your birthdate?
Sep 18, 2009
Author Revealed Answer:
What were your previous occupations?
Sep 18, 2009
Author Revealed Answer:
What was/is your favorite job?
Sep 18, 2009
Author Revealed Answer:
Where did you go to high school and/or college?
Sep 18, 2009
Author Revealed Answer:
Name of your favorite composer or music artist?
Sep 18, 2009
Author Revealed Answer:
What is your favorite movie?
Sep 18, 2009
Author Revealed Answer:
What is your favorite television show?
Sep 18, 2009
Author Revealed Answer:
If you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would you choose to be?
Sep 18, 2009
Author Revealed Answer:
What’s your best quality?
Sep 18, 2009
Author Revealed Answer:
Who is your favorite fictional hero?
Sep 18, 2009
Author Revealed Answer:
What’s your fantasy profession?
Sep 18, 2009
Author Revealed Answer:
What 3 personal qualities are most important to you?
Sep 18, 2009
Author Revealed Answer:
If you could eat only one thing for the rest of your days, what would it be?
Sep 18, 2009
Author Revealed Answer:
How would you describe your life in only 8 words?
Sep 18, 2009
Author Revealed Answer:
What is your motto or maxim?
Sep 18, 2009
Author Revealed Answer:
How would you describe perfect happiness?
Sep 18, 2009
Author Revealed Answer:
What’s your greatest fear?
Sep 18, 2009
Author Revealed Answer:
Which living person do you most admire?
Sep 18, 2009
Author Revealed Answer:
What are your most overused words or phrases?
Sep 18, 2009
Author Revealed Answer:
What do you regret most?
Sep 18, 2009
Author Revealed Answer:
If you could acquire any talent, what would it be?
Sep 18, 2009
Author Revealed Answer:
What is your greatest achievement?
Sep 18, 2009
Author Revealed Answer:
What’s your greatest flaw?
Sep 18, 2009
Author Revealed Answer:
If you could be any person or thing, who or what would it be?
Sep 18, 2009
Author Revealed Answer:
What trait is most noticeable about you?
Sep 18, 2009
Author Revealed Answer:
Who is your favorite fictional villain?
Sep 18, 2009
Author Revealed Answer:
What is your biggest pet peeve?
Sep 18, 2009
Author Revealed Answer:
What is your favorite occupation, when you’re not writing?
Sep 18, 2009
Author Revealed Answer:
What are your 5 favorite songs?
Sep 18, 2009
Author Revealed Answer:
Who are your favorite authors?
Sep 18, 2009
Author Revealed Answer:
What are your 5 favorite books of all time?
Sep 18, 2009
Author Revealed Answer:
Is there a book you love to reread?
Sep 18, 2009
Twitter:
Embarking on zero draft today. Good piece on zero drafting at Dissertation Diva: http://tinyurl.com/lk4a6z . Wish me luck. I'm going in.
Sep 17, 2009
Twitter:
@ariesfur Thanks kindly. Glad you dug the session. :-)
Sep 17, 2009
Twitter:
Must... start... writing. Must... stop... downloading iphone apps (Shakeitpro v. good, though, for polaroid action).
Sep 17, 2009
Twitter:
Have pretty much put life on hold till Ben and Jerrys hits Australia. Life-affirming icecream, esp NY Super Fudge Chunk http://tiny.cc/WWSR9
Sep 17, 2009
Twitter:
A Make Poverty History campaign to help more kids live to their fifth birthday: http://tinyurl.com/mm2uv4
Sep 16, 2009
YouTube:
Charles Simonyi - Space Tourist
Sep 16, 2009
Twitter:
Check out Brisbane Writers Fest over the weekend: @WritersFestival . Some interesting peeps speaking. Some big laughs at Fringe fest, too.
Sep 11, 2009
Twitter:
Just published a short interview with Gus Gordon, illustrator of The Undys series - @IllustratorGus - at www.boysblokesbooks.edublogs.org
Sep 10, 2009
Twitter:
Finished my last session at Brisbane Writers Fest. Bit sad. Have met some great writers and kids throughout this whirlwind week.
Sep 10, 2009
Twitter:
About to step into QLD Writer's Centre cocktail party on roof of Brisbane's gallery of modern art. Great venue. Air smells sweet.
Sep 10, 2009
Twitter:
Co-hosted a session on my book it's yr life. Tempany, my co-author, skyped in from LA. Teen audience seemed 2 dig it. Good times.
Sep 10, 2009
Twitter:
Mac Slater book gig was good. And a funny panel with jack Heath & Charlotte mcconnaghy talking about perils of "success" @ a young age.
Sep 10, 2009
Twitter:
Two huge days speaking at Brisbane Writer's Fest. 8 sessions. Great audiences. So enthusiastic. Sunshine & beautiful state library. Perfect.
Sep 10, 2009
Twitter:
Bris Writer's Fest next week. I've just posted a blog on my sessions at www.tristanbancksflow.blogspot.com & I'll be tweeting the fest here.
Sep 02, 2009
Twitter:
I just blogged new series, Battle Boy, over at Boys, Blokes, Books: http://tiny.cc/Adh2R
Sep 02, 2009
Tristan Bancks:
Brisbane Writer's Festival
Sep 02, 2009

Tristan Bancks Revealed

Q. What is your motto or maxim? A. ‘Be Scary’ I borrowed it from filmmaker, Robert Rodriguez (El Mariachi, Spy Kids) and it became Mac Slater’s motto in 'Mac Slater Hunts the Cool', too. Q. What are your most overused words or phrases? A. Rock on. Giddyup. Nice. Awesies (as in awesome). Repuggies (as in repugnant. Actually I don’t use ‘repuggies’ so much. I just like it. I might start using it more. Nice. I mean giddyup. Nuts.) Q. Who is your favorite fictional villain? A. Bill the Butcher (Daniel Day Lewis) in Gangs of New York. Buddy Ackerman (Kevin Spacey) in Swimming With Sharks. Rupert Pupkin (Robert De Niro) in King of Comedy. Q. What 3 personal qualities are most important to you? A. Honesty, Authenticity, Fun Q. What is your biggest pet peeve? A. People who talk too loud in cafes. Especially if what they’re saying is interesting. Don’t they know I’m trying to write a book here? Learn more about Tristan Bancks

Authors on the Web

Boys and reading
Rhondda's Reflections - wandering around the Web, October 23, 2009
...The Guys Read site has had a revamp (Thanks to Tristan Bancks on the Boys, Blokes, Books and Bytes site .) It has a completely new look and feel and it has a lot of cool boys’ book “stuff”. If you have...