Programming

Panel Information

SATURDAY

Power of illustration
Stories don’t just have to be told with words. Graphic novels help express the authors tale using beautiful pictures that can literally paint a picture of what is happening. We join the writers and illustrators of some of this year’s great graphic novel titles.
Chris Mould, Rosie Talbot (Chair), Salomey Doku, Sarah Maxwell, Theo Parish

Blossoming romantasy
We had romance books and we had fantasy novels. What do you get if you put them together? Romantasy. We review the resurgence in popularity for this genre and the coining of the new word in the urban dictionary.
Andy Darcy Theo, Ella McLeod, Katherine Webber (Chair), Lindsey Kelk

Déjà vu
Déjà vu is the phenomenon of feeling as though one has lived through the present situation before and while we can assure you that these books are new and fresh, their inspiration may be familiar to you. This panel talks to authors who use myths and retellings to help inform their story choices.
B. Poranek, Efua Traore (Chair), JP Rose, Sarah Underwood, T. K. Hall

Intense Intent
The thriller genre is ever popular and continues to send chills down the spines of readers as they attempt to unravel the mysteries of these amazing books. Join our authors to hear about how they go about their writing and see if ‘who done it’ is always the same person as they thought it would be when they started writing the book.
A.J. Clack, Elle Machray (Chair), Holly Jackson, Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Blood chilling books
Whether you have a fear of clowns or phobia of spiders, these truly horrifying books will be sure to make your blood chill. The authors however are lovely so please join us for this panel looking at the horror genre and how creating age suitable stories for a YA audience influences their writing choices.
Bill Wood, Josh Winning (Chair), MA Bennett, Scarlett Dunmore, Tomi Oyemkainde

10 years of YALC
We continue our celebration of YALC turning 10 years old with some of the people who were there at the beginning. We have representatives from the working group and attendees who have now turned authors themselves, as well as our ambassadors who are championing the event and its fans. Hear what memories they have and what they hope for the future.
Amy McCaw, Holly Bourne (Chair), Juno Dawson, Kat McKenna, Katherine Webber, Malorie Blackman

Un-natural topic, super stories
We are talking witches, werewolves, ghosts and ghoulies in this super supernatural panel.
Amie Jordan, Krystal Sutherland, Rhianna Pratchett, TBC (Chair)

SUNDAY

Expression through the arts
Do you love music or dancing or drama? If you do, this panel is for you as we talk to authors who have included these passions into their stories.
Daniel Tawse (Chair), Rachael Fernandes, Safa Ahmed, Tasha Ghouri

What if?
Everyone has asked themselves “what if?” Our authors expand on these thoughts and turn them into amazing dystopian and sci-fi tales that take us to other worlds or alternative realities. We look at world building and how they manage to transport you from the normality of real life.
Esmie Jikiemi-Pearson (Chair), M J Sullivan, Neal Shusterman, O R Sorrel

All the Ms: Magic, myths & mermaids
Fantasy allows us to escape and visit the world of magical creatures and epic storytelling. Our authors will be discussing their latest offerings and maybe about what it’s like to stick to the existing mythological cannon or throw the rule books away.
A.Y. Chao, A S Webb (Chair), Jess Popplewell, Molly X. Chang

Age is nothing but a number
Growing up is a part of life and that coming-of-age moment is something that has been documented in many a great read. This panel looks at how those moments come about and the best way to write them.
Abiola Bello, Adiba Jaigirdar, Anam Iqbal, Elle McNicoll, Simon James Green (Chair)

Heart rate critical
We are not sure if we are talking about the character’s pulse or the increase in our own heart rates as we read these chilling thrillers. We welcome a host of great writers to this panel as they discuss what makes a good thriller and what makes their own heart rates flutter.
Finn Longman, Karen Mcmanus, Lauren “Wren” James (Chair), Ravena Guron

Queer Folklore Stories
We celebrate books which were written with inspiration taken from traditional tales and incorporate an LGBQT+ twist.
Bea Fitzgerald, Lex Croucher, Radhika Sanghani (Chair), Zeena Gosrani

The darker side of school
Our authors investigate what goes on in the shadows of our academic buildings and to the people who frequent them. Hopefully your school is nothing like that, but you can still listen to this panel to hear about the dark academia trend and what these new books have in store for the readers.
Alyson Greaves, Jennifer Delaney, Joel Rochester (Chair), Sasha Peyton Smith

Workshop Information

SATURDAY

Writing what you love
Join Amy to delve into how you can weave your interests and the things you’re passionate about into your fiction. This will be an interactive session that is ideal aspiring authors, where participants will generate plenty of ideas.
Amy McCaw

Lie or die
Join author A.J. Clack for a live game of Lie or Die (similar to Mafia/Werewolf) influenced by her debut YA thriller Lie or Die. Perfect for fans of The Traitors! Do YOU have what it takes to survive?
A.J. Clack

So make the friendship bracelets
Calling all fans! Whether you’re a Swiftie, a Whovian, a Maasassin or a member of the BTS army, we are officially in our fandom era. Join author and pop culture expert Kat McKenna in this workshop to discuss why being a fan is so special, and why fandom is more powerful than ever before, as part of this interactive friendship bracelet making workshop. We will have bracelet making sets available in this session for you to make and take home, inspired by Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour. You’ll leave literally wearing your fandom on your arm, to proudly celebrate your very own fandom or current obsession!
Kat McKenna

Mystic art of curse writing
Unlock the mystic art of curse writing in this hands-on ‘invocations’ workshop, where you’ll craft personalised spells with Krystal Sutherland, inspired by the witchy world of The Invocations. Join the bestselling author for an enchanting session of creativity and magic and leave with your own bespoke curse. No humans are harmed in the making of this curse!
Krystal Sutherland

Writing from the heart
When prose just won’t cut it, poetry can articulate the intangible. In honour of YALC, I’ll be guiding participants on how to use those formative years as stimulus for good art, drawing on some familiar names for inspiration.
Ella McLeod

Graphic Novel Illustration 101
Have you ever wondered where to start with illustrating your own graphic novel? Based on her debut graphic novel BRIELLE AND BEAR, join self-taught illustrator Salomey Doku for a workshop that will show you how to begin your graphic novel illustration journey.
Salomey Doku

SUNDAY

Creative writing
Join award-winning author Adiba Jaigirdar for a creative writing workshop inspired by her two latest releases- Four Eids and a Funeral, and Rani Choudhury Must Die. Whether you are a budding author or complete beginner, flex your creative muscles and benefit from tips and tricks from a master of YA Contemporary Romance.
Adiba Jaigirdar

My love for Agatha Christie – how to write a murderously good mystery
Join Ravena Guron, bestselling author of This Book Kills, for a creative writing workshop on twisty murder-mysteries. Hear how Ravena’s deep love of Agatha Christie’s mystery novels inspired her writing and tips and tricks for writing a murderously good mystery. In this workshop, Ravena will discuss the inspiration for her two YA thrillers, how she came up with hooky concepts using Agatha Christie novels, how to craft unique characters and how to write an opening that will keep the reader gripped!
Ravena Guron

Considerations in LGBQT+ writing
This workshop is designed to teach young adult fiction writers and readers what it takes to create authentic and nuanced LGBTQIA+ characters and narratives. Participants will engage with a range of topics to deepen their understanding and improve their writing skills, such as embracing the complexities and individualities of queer characters, incorporating natural and realistic dialogue, and celebrating the challenges and wonder of self-discovery.
Alyson Greaves

Writing for competitions
O R Sorrell is an author and graduate of the prestigious Bath Spa Creative Writing MA. They won the Bath Spa MA / United Agents Best Manuscript prize and were longlisted for the Searchlight Novel Awards Best Novel Opening. Their debut novel Apocalypse Cow started as a short story which won the Guppy Books Open Submission competition in 2022. Join O R for a practical workshop including insight into competition processes, tips on perfecting an impactful opening, and working up a competition entry into a full length novel.
O R Sorrel

Worldbuilding & way finding in YA Sci-Fi
M.J.Sullivan, author of the beloved Game Over series, will focus on how to ground sci-fi worlds with a tangible feel of realism while simultaneously pushing the narrative and ideas to their limits. His workshop will focus on these two elements; pushing your idea as far as it will go is important to help your sci-fi world stand out from the crowd, while also heightening the originality of said world. Having tangible realism then creates a world where the tension feels real! Come along to the workshop to learn more from this talented author.
M J Sullivan

YALC Writing YA Romance
Bestselling author of The Love Dare, Abiola Bello will share her best tips for writing a bestselling romance, choosing the right troupes to create tension between characters and tips on to write a swoony scene to die for!
Abiola Bello

Industry & Agents Arena Information

SATURDAY

#InspiringIndies: The beauty of indie publishing YA novels
Helen Lewis, director of book publicity and marketing agency LitPR, will be joined by a panel of incredible independent authors to discuss the indie publishing journey, how to build a long-term and successful author brand, with an open Q&A at the end for all aspiring authors to pose their own questions to the whole panel.
Lit PR

Editing YA
Talking through everything from spotting authors on TikTok, what makes a commercial idea, the current YA market, and what’s involved in editing young adult manuscripts. Yasmin Morrissey will look at Lauren Roberts publishing, particularly bestselling Powerless and Reckless as a case-study.
Yasmin Morrissey, Publisher, Simon & Schuster

Getting published
You’ve written your YA novel – but how do you get it into the hands of your readers?
Our expert panel, made up of an author, literary agent and editor will tell you how. Sharing their real-life experiences and knowledge of what it actually takes to hook an agent and secure a publishing deal, they will cover the submissions process, how to craft a killer query letter, the dos and don’ts of publishing, and how to have a healthy and successful relationship with your agent and publisher (plus much, much more.) Bring your questions, because we are bringing the answers and industry secrets.
Writers’ & Artists Yearbook

Careers in publishing
Join Bath Spa University lecturers Megan Farr and Samantha Stewart for an hour-long workshop looking at the variety of jobs in publishing, how to develop the skills you need, and top tips on how to get started on a career in publishing. Megan Farr is a Lecturer in Publishing at Bath Spa University and a PhD candidate at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David. She has over twenty years’ experience working in marketing and publicity for a wide variety of publishers and literature promotion organisations. Samantha Stewart is a Lecturer in Publishing at Bath Spa University, a novelist and a freelance editorial consultant for some of the biggest publishing houses in the world, in which she’s worked for the last thirty years.
Megan Farr & Samantha Stewart, Bath Spa University lecturers

Demystifying the book cover design journey
In this session, Micaela Alcaino, an award-winning book cover designer and illustrator, will demystify the book cover design process. Gain insight into the inner workings of this creative journey as she unveils the intricate steps involved in bringing a book cover to life. Through a showcase of her own acclaimed work, Micaela will illuminate the journey from conception and sketches to completion, ready to grace the bookshelves. The session will then conclude with a Q&A.
Micaela Alcaino, Designer and illustrator

From booktok to bookshop
This workshop will focus on how to utilise social media to help draw an audience of readers and garner the attention of major publishing houses. Andy will share his unique journey to publication and will deliver key tips for aspiring writers at both the writing stage and also for marketing across TikTok and Instagram platforms.
Andy Darcy Theo

How to write a cover letter and other useful tips
With experience on both sides of the commissioning desk, Lydia loves working editorially with her clients and developing ideas from an initial spark into a full manuscript. She represents clients across all age groups, including picture book, chapter book, middle grade and YA, and has a particular focus on non-fiction. In the session, she will cover how to write a cover letter, how to put together a submission, what to look for in your opening lines, how to find an agent and an ‘Ask Me Anything’ on anything agenting!
Lydia Silver, Darley Anderson Children’s Agency

SUNDAY
Ten steps YA readers and reviewers can take to support under-represented authors 
Join Abiola Bello and Helen Lewis, co-directors of Hashtag BLAK, as they share their top ten tips for YA lovers on how to support underrepresented authors. Hashtag BLAK is an indie imprint of Hashtag Press, which elevates under-represented writers.
Abiola Bello & Helen Lewis, co-directors of Hashtag BLAK

Why you should judge a book by its cover 
From a first draft Word.doc to the finished book in your hand… How did it get there? Pip and Mattie explore the relationship between the editorial and design teams as they create covers that scream PICK ME!
Books are always a collaboration – between the authors and editors, illustrators and designers. From mood boards to initial concepts, sketches to final finishes, we’ll look at how you can distil the story, characters and all the feelings down into one small rectangle, while balancing the opinions of everyone involved in the process and, crucially, keeping the reader in mind. So if we’ve all done our jobs correctly, the cover will tell you everything you need to know. Judge away!
Pip Johnson (Senior Designer) and Mattie Whitehead (Senior Commissioning Editor)

Demystifying book marketing
Have you ever wondered how your favourite books became bestsellers? Join Emma Quick, Head of Marketing at Bonnier Books as she shares insights and case studies on all things YA marketing. From influencer collabs, brand partnerships, taking advantage of trends, and buzz-building, hear all about how publishers try and convince you to pick up their books!
Emma Quick Simon & Schuster

Libraries and librarians support reading
Library Love! Come and learn more about YA in libraries! Celebrating and acknowledging libraries as safe, inclusive spaces. Getting the right book to the right person at the right time and the impact that can have – don’t underestimate it!
Kelly Greenwood, Chair of Carnegies Organisational Group

YA Book Prize: Making ancient myth and history relevant
Join YA Book Prize winner Lex Croucher and YA Book Prize shortlisted Bea Fitzgerald in a discussion about how ancient myth and history remain relevant for readers today with Katie Fraser, chair of the YA Book Prize 2024.
Lex Croucher, Bea Fitzgerald, Katie Fraser (YA Book Prize)

Getting published
A 45 min workshop looking at how to draft your novel, improve your work, submit to agents and eventually get your book published.
Lucy Cuthew & Annalie Grainger, Bath Spa University lecturers

#InspiringIndies: The beauty of indie publishing YA novels
Helen Lewis, director of book publicity and marketing agency LitPR, will be joined by a panel of incredible independent authors to discuss the indie publishing journey, how to build a long-term and successful author brand, with an open Q&A at the end for all aspiring authors to pose their own questions to the whole panel.
Lit PR

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