Fancy meeting authors and fellow bookworms, attending fun panels, and maybe getting some books signed? The Young Adult Literature Convention (YALC) takes place as part of the London Film and Comic Con at the Olympia London on 26th – 28th July 2019. It’s a place for book lovers, readers, publishers, authors, and inspiring writers to come together and celebrate YA literature. 2019 marks its sixth year.
Here are the panels and topics that YALC has planned so far – are any of your favourite writers on the guest list?
YA Fantasy Newcomers
Adrienne Young (Sky In The Deep), Bex Hogan, Christine Lynn Herman (The Devouring Gray), Kesia Lupo, P.M. Freestone, and Rachel Burge (The Twisted Tree). Described as “Stranger Things meets The Raven Boys”, you may have spotted Christine Lynn Herman’s The Devouring Gray making the rounds on Titan Publishing’s Instagram Tour.
Monsters and Their Makers Panel
Justina Ireland (Dread Nation), Kristen Ciccarelli, Natasha Ngan (Girls of Paper and Fire), Samantha Shannon (The Bone Season series, Priory of the Orange Tree), and Taran Matharu talk all things spooky. If you haven’t heard about Priory of The Orange Tree from the talented Samantha Shannon, where have you been? There are dragons!
Be Kind To Your Mind Panel
Mental Health gets a mention in the “Be Kind To Your Mind” panel with Akemi Dawn Bowman (Summer Bird Blue), Amelia Mandeville, Emma Smith-Barton, Holly Bourne (The Places I’ve Cried In Public), and Sara Barnard (Beautiful Broken Things).
Body Positivity
Bethany Rutter (No Big Deal), Dhonielle Clayton, Juno Dawson (The Gender Games), Laura Bates and Moira Fowley-Doyle will be discussing body positivity and the media.
It’s a #LIFE
Discussing social media and their experiences online will be; Alice Oseman (Soliaire, Radio Silence, Heartstopper),Laura Steven, Michelle Johnson, Savannah Brown, Tom Pollock (Heartstream), and Yasmin Rahman.
New Masculinity
Not forgetting the men in YA, David Owen (All The Lonely People), Nikesh Shukla (Run, Riot) and Samuel Pollen (The Year I Didn’t Eat) talk about how males are portrayed in YA books.
Ten Things I Love About YA Retellings
Kiran Millwood Hargrave (The Girl of Ink and Stars), Renee Ahdieh, Sharon Dogar, and Zoe Marriott (The Swan Kingdom) discuss the best retellings of old favourites.
Sci-Fi
Alastair Reynolds (Shadow Captain), Lauren James, Sasha Aslberg (Zenith), and Temi Ohon talk about writing and creating sci-fi.
Mystical YA
A great line up for a popular genre includes Melinda Salisbury (Song of Sorrow), Sarah Maria Griffin (Spare & Found Parts, Other Words For Smoke), V.E. Schwab (The Near Witch, Vicious, Shades of Magic series), Vic James, Yaba Badoe, and Zen Cho (Sorcerer to the Crown).
Myths and Legends
Featuring Ben Aaronovitch (Rivers of London series), KK Perez (The Tesla Legacy), Mary Watson (The Wren Hunt)
Non Fiction
Laura Coryton (We Are Unstoppable), Lauren Sharkey, Lex Croucher, Niellah Arboine, and Sara Jafari talk about why they chose to write non-fiction books.
Newcomers To The “Contemporary” Genre
Anna Mainwaring (Tulip Taylor), Clare Rees, Dan Freedman (Jamie Johnson Series), Kate Mallinder, and Sabina Khan(The Love and Lies of Rukhsana Ali).
“Always Look On The Bright Side of Lit”
Featuring Alexandra Sheppard, Connie Glynn (The Rosewood Chronicles), Holly Smale (Geek girl series), Jess Vallance, Lucy Powrie (The Paper & Hearts Society), and Simon James Green. Popular Youtuber, Book Blogger, and founder of #YACHAT on twitter, Lucy has her first book – The Paper & Hearts Society out this year.
“Chiller Thrillers”
Emily Barr, Holly Jackson, Karen M. McManus (One of us is lying, Two can keep a secret), M. A. Bennett, and Sif Sigmarsdottir (The Sharp Edge of a Snowflake)talk about creating a tense thriller.
The World of Illustration & Concept Art
With Jim Kay who illustrates the beautiful new Harry Potter editions.
Poetry
Poetry is not forgotten at YALC! Guests include Dean Atta, Sophia Thakur, and Steven Camden
Master Your Own Journey
Alex Wheatle (Homegirl), Lisa Heathfield, Patrice Lawrence (Orangeboy) & Sarah Ann Juckesand talk YA storylines and finding your place.
Special Appearances
YALC regular Malorie Blackman talks to Juno Dawson about her new book; Crossfire.
Eoin Colfer (Artemis Fowl) & Derek Landy (Skulduggery Pleasant) will also be on stage together.
So, ready to head to YALC? Buy your tickets here. More info about YALC can be found on their website and Facebook!
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