{"id":17,"date":"2020-10-27T11:03:25","date_gmt":"2020-10-27T11:03:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/londonfilmandcomiccon.com\/2021\/YALC\/?page_id=17"},"modified":"2025-11-20T14:58:58","modified_gmt":"2025-11-20T14:58:58","slug":"programming","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/londoncomicconwinter.com\/YALC\/programming\/","title":{"rendered":"Programming"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wpb-content-wrapper\"><p>[vc_row disable_element=&#8221;yes&#8221;][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/2&#8243;]<div class=\"eut-element eut-align-center\"><a href=\"https:\/\/londoncomicconwinter.com\/YALC\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/YALC241025.pdf\" title=\"Click here for the full schedule\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" class=\"eut-btn eut-btn-extralarge eut-square eut-bg-primary-1 eut-bg-hover-black\"><span>Click here for the full schedule<\/span><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Click here for the full schedule<\/span><\/a><\/div>[\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/2&#8243;]<div class=\"eut-element eut-align-center\"><a href=\"https:\/\/londoncomicconwinter.com\/YALC\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/YALC-MAP-2025.pdf\" title=\"Click here for the map\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" class=\"eut-btn eut-btn-extralarge eut-square eut-bg-primary-1 eut-bg-hover-black\"><span>Click here for the map<\/span><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Click here for the map<\/span><\/a><\/div>[\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row disable_element=&#8221;yes&#8221; separator_top=&#8221;line-separator&#8221; separator_top_color=&#8221;&#8221;][vc_column css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1689951824492{padding: 20px !important;border: 10px solid #dd3333 !important;border-radius: 5px !important;}&#8221;][vc_column_text css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1761314697649{background-color: #ffffff !important;background-position: 0 0 !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\">Panel Information<\/h3>\n<p><strong>SATURDAY<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>\u201cThe early Greek mythologists transformed a world full of fear into a world full of beauty\u201d &#8211; Edith Hamilton<br \/>\n<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We have heard of Pandora and her box,<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Achilles and his ankle and Medusa and her hairdo, but how much do you really know? Join our panellists as they revisit the great Greek myths and retell them in modern and new stories for today\u2019s YA audiences.<br \/>\n<\/span><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Adrienne Young, Bea Fitzgerald, Bryony Pearce, Joel Rochester- Chair, Nikita Gill\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>\u201cTake a look and you&#8217;ll see, Into your imagination\u201d \u2013 Willy Wonka<\/strong><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The world around us is familiar but what goes into creating the environments we visit across the pages of our favourite YA books? This will be one of the discussion points amongst our guests in this much anticipated world building panel.<br \/>\n<\/span><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Alwyn Hamilton &#8211; Chair, Amber Hamilton, Jay McGuiness, Marvellous Michael Anson, Rosaria Munda<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>\u201cI&#8217;d been a thriller reader all my life\u201d &#8211; Lee Child<br \/>\n<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Entering the pages of a new book can be a thrill in itself but when the author has created a chilling tale for you to unravel the adrenaline levels increase. Our panel are here to tell you how they go about creating such stories, where they get their inspiration and what makes their thrill meter go up.<br \/>\n<\/span><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A.J. Clack &#8211; Chair, Cynthia Murphy, Lauren Wilson, Rachael Davis-Featherstone, E. Lockhart<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>\u201cRoyalty is completely different than celebrity. Royalty has a magic all its own\u201d &#8211; Philip Treacy<\/strong><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The world of Romantasy takes a royal twist in the plots of the YA books from our list of panellists. Visit the royal courts, hear of princesses, kings and knaves and visit the fantasy worlds within. Our authors talk love, magic and monarchy.<\/span><b><br \/>\n<\/b><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Katherine Webber &#8211; Chair, Kiera Azar, Laini Taylor, Lauryn Hamilton Murray<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>\u201cEnjoy yourself whilst you read!\u201d &#8211; Jaqueline Wilson<br \/>\n<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Join Alice Oseman in conversation with Juno Dawson as we celebrate the 10 years of the Osemanverse<br \/>\n<\/span><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Alice Oseman, Juno Dawson &#8211; Chair<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>\u201cI believe in everything until it&#8217;s disproved\u201d \u2013 John Lennon<i><br \/>\n<\/i><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To be mystical is to inspire a sense of spiritual intrigue, awe, and fascination and that is exactly what our panellists do in their new books. The fantasy genre provides a platform that allows us to discuss themes such as love, mental health, crime, academia and so much more. Visit the panel to hear all about it.<br \/>\n<\/span><em>Amie Jordan, Andy Darcy Theo &#8211; Chair, Doug Naylor, S.F. Williamson<\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>\u201cBut within every dystopia there&#8217;s a little utopia\u201d &#8211; Margaret Atwood<br \/>\n<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The modern dystopian genre has been around since the 1920s and YALC have welcomed many of the authors of this topic over its 10 years. We continue with 2025s cohort of dystopian titles and look forward to hearing about the reflections we are seeing in today\u2019s society across the pages of these popular books<br \/>\n<\/span><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Josh Silver &#8211; Chair, Kenechi Udogu, Moira Buffini<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>SUNDAY<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>\u201cI kiss thee with a most constant heart\u201d William Shakespeare<br \/>\n<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Romance books come in all shapes and sizes, and we have amassed a wonderful group of authors who have all written love stories but from across different viewpoints and genres. We have the rom com, the romantasy, the summer read, the cozy read, the cli-fi and the thriller. Which will be your favourite?<br \/>\n<\/span><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Harry Trevaldwyn, Jennifer Niven, Leon Egan, Sara Barnard &#8211; Chair, Tanya Byrne<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>\u201cListen to them, the children of the night. What music they make!\u201d Dracula<br \/>\n<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What do you think of when you hear Gothic? Is it dark, supernatural, and macabre themes, often involving suspense, mystery, and a sense of unease? Do you say \u201cit\u2019s not for me\u201d or \u201cOMG I need to read this\u201d? If it&#8217;s the latter, then this is just the panel for you. We\u2019ve got vampires, romance, betrayal, ballet and more in this panel not to be missed.<br \/>\n<\/span><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Adalyn Grace, Amy McCaw &#8211; Chair, E. V. Woods, Felicity Epps<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>A Celebration of Black British YA in memory of Alex Wheatle<br \/>\n<\/strong><strong>Bought to you by The Diverse Book Awards<br \/>\n<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In honour of the remarkable legacy of Alex Wheatle\u2014author of the Crongton series and former YALC guest\u2014we celebrate his life and the posthumous publication of his books with a heartfelt tribute to the enduring impact of his work, shared by authors inspired by his words and example.<br \/>\n<\/span><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Abiola Bello &#8211; Chair, Benjamin Dean, Dean Atta, Ella McLeod, Patrice Lawrence<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>\u201cI would rather spend one lifetime with you, than face all the ages of this world alone\u201d J.R.R. Tolkien<br \/>\n<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hear from Romantasy authors and possibly add some new must reads to your TBR pile. In these books we escape the real life grind and fall in love with the characters as they fall in love with each other in truly amazing fantasy settings. What better way to spend a day than with a good book or some great authors discussing great books?<br \/>\n<\/span><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Anna Fiteni, Jen Williams, Molly X. Chang, Ova Ceren, Stevie Finegan -Chair<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>&#8220;It&#8217;s more like a big ball of wibbly-wobbly, timey-wimey stuff\u201d \u2013 Doctor Who<br \/>\n<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Time travel has always been a fascination, and we delve further into the possibilities with these books that all have a timey-wimey element. Hear about the challenges faced when writing alternative timelines and keeping the genre fresh when creating new stories.<br \/>\n<\/span><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Caroline O&#8217;Donoghue, Grainne Clear &#8211; Chair, Kika Hatzopoulou, Laura Steven, Oraine Johnson<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>\u201cArt is the retelling of certain themes in a new light\u201d &#8211; George Lucas<\/strong><b><br \/>\n<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Inspirations can come from all walks of life, and we are massively influenced but what comes before. So much so that it can sometimes spark a story or encourage us to write our own versions or tell the tales using our own voices and that is exactly what our guests have done with their new books which they will be discussing in our \u201cretellings\u201d panel.<br \/>\n<\/span><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Asli Jensen, Cristin Williams, Jean Menzies, M. A. Kuzniar &#8211; Chair<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>\u201cI want to use my celebrity for good\u201d &#8211; Nyle DiMarco<\/strong><b><br \/>\n<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With the world of celebrities, influencers and social media not showing any signs of slowing down, we are embracing it with this panel of authors who have all achieved huge success in this field as well as being authors in their own right. They discuss their journeys, their inspirations and all the gossip from the new books they have created.<br \/>\n<\/span><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bill Wood, Busayo Matuluko, Eden Victoria, Rosie Talbot &#8211; Chair<\/span><\/em>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row disable_element=&#8221;yes&#8221; separator_top=&#8221;line-separator&#8221; separator_top_color=&#8221;&#8221;][vc_column css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1689951824492{padding: 20px !important;border: 10px solid #dd3333 !important;border-radius: 5px !important;}&#8221;][vc_column_text css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1762516323838{border-top-width: 10px !important;border-bottom-width: 10px !important;border-left-width: 10px !important;padding-right: 10px !important;background-color: #ffffff !important;background-position: 0 0 !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;border-radius: 5px !important;border-color: #dd3333 !important;}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\">Workshop Information<\/h3>\n<p><strong>SATURDAY<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>This &amp; Yap &#8211; Conversations about friendship, feminism and reading<br \/>\n<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Join bestselling author Holly Bourne for a fun chat about all things friendship, feminism and reading to celebrate ten years of the Am I Normal Yet? series and the brand-new editions. Featuring personality quizzes, cheesy snacks, the chance to connect with your book besties and an opportunity to ask Holly your questions!<br \/>\n<\/span><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Holly Bourne<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>Creating Your Characters<\/strong><b><br \/>\n<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It&#8217;s hard to talk about your favourite book without mentioning the characters, but it&#8217;s harder than you think to create them! Join New York Times #1 Bestseller Tony Lee as he explains the three strands of the character, and how to shape characters your readers will love, loathe, and never forget.<br \/>\n<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tony Lee<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><strong>How to be the perfect book boyfriend<\/strong><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Morally grey? Secret billionaire? Cinnamon roll? Sounds like a book boyfriend! Join YA author and TikTok personality Andy Darcy Theo for a celebration of YA\u2019s swooniest book boyfriends. Andy will introduce the MMCs of his epic Descent into Darkness series, talk about his character design process, and invite attendees to create their own bookish BFs. To finish, prepare for the ULTIMATE face-off to crown YA\u2019s BEST Book Boyfriend!<br \/>\n<\/span><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Andy Darcy Theo<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>Writing for stage &amp; screen<\/strong><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you are interested in discovering what it is like to write for stage or screen, and how that can be successfully combined with writing novels, this workshop might give you a taste of what each medium can offer. Run by award-winning playwright, BAFTA nominated screenwriter, and author of the Torch Trilogy, Moira Buffini, this workshop will suit all levels of experience<br \/>\n<\/span><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Moira Buffini<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>Opening chapters<\/strong><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Do you want to get started writing your own book? Are you facing a blank page with no idea how to get going?<br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the Opening Chapters workshop we will look at:<br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8211; How to overcome our fear of the blank page<br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8211; How to write an amazing opening line<br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8211; How and when to introduce person, place and problem<br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8211; How to use a mini-adventure to show (not tell) the reader key information.<br \/>\n<\/span><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bryony Pearce<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>Book club<\/strong><b><br \/>\n<\/b><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Coco Omer<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>Werewolf <\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: georgia, serif;\" data-olk-copy-source=\"MessageBody\">Join author A. J. Clack for a live game of\u00a0<i>Lie or Die: Blood Moon<\/i>\u00a0influenced by her YA thriller series\u00a0<i>Lie or Die<\/i>. Perfect for fans of\u00a0<i>The Traitors<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<div><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: georgia, serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: georgia, serif;\">Objective:<br \/>\nPeasants must identify and eliminate the Werewolves hidden amongst them before the Werewolves murder them all.<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: georgia, serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: georgia, serif;\">Roles: Peasants \u2013 Peasants must uncover the Werewolves hidden among them, accuse and vote them out at the Castle Council.<br \/>\nWerewolves \u2013 Disguised as Peasants, the Werewolves must work together to murder the Peasants one by one in the thrall of the Blood Moon.<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: georgia, serif;\">Do YOU have what it takes to survive the Blood Moon? <\/span><span style=\"font-family: georgia, serif; color: #000000;\">It doesn\u2019t matter if you haven\u2019t played before, come along and have a go! There\u2019s only one rule: trust no-one!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><em style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-weight: inherit;\">A.J. Clack<\/em><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>SUNDAY<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>How to write winning rom-coms for a YA audience<\/strong><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Join bestselling author Abiola Bello (Love in Winter Wonderland\/Only for the Holidays\/ The Love Dare) as she shares her top tips on writing the best swoony scenes, building tension, executing popular troupes and creating characters to fall in love with.<br \/>\n<\/span><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Abiola Bello<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>Twists, Tropes and TikTok: Writing Thrillers &amp; Building Your Brand<\/strong><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Join BookTok sensation and debut author Busayo Matuluko for a lively session on crafting addictive YA thrillers and growing your online presence. Learn how to hook readers with twists &#8211; and keep them coming back with authentic, engaging author branding that breaks through the noise.<br \/>\n<\/span><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Busayo Matuluko<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>Tools for writing<br \/>\n<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">An 45 mins workshop looking at how to draft your novel, improve your work, submit to agents and eventually get your book published.<br \/>\n<\/span><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lucy Cuthew &amp; Annalie Granger (Bath Spa University)<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>Building better worlds: World building 101<\/strong><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">John Tarrow, author and creative director behind Britian\u2019s Most Extraordinary Home, Talliston House &amp; Gardens knows a thing or two about worldbuilding. After all he built his perfect magical world inside the UK\u2019s most ordinary house. In this interactive workshop, he\u2019ll show you his own unique way of approaching the vast task of\u00a0 creating an entire other world \u2013 all the while focusing on the one thing that really matters: how the world is an important character in the entire story.<br \/>\n<\/span><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">John Tarrow<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>Not Going to Plan: Poetry Workshop<br \/>\n<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Join Yoto Carnegie Shadow Medal and UKLA winner Tia Fisher for an interactive poetry workshop where creativity knows no bounds! Tia will help you explore the art of poetry and narrative verse, discover new techniques, and express yourself in fresh and imaginative ways using inspiration from her multi-award-winning YA novel, Crossing the Line and her latest novel Not Going to Plan. Unleash your inner poet, learn from the best, and create something truly memorable. Don\u2019t miss out on this inspiring experience!<br \/>\n<\/span><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tia Fisher<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>YALC quiz of the year<br \/>\n<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Test your YA book knowledge in this audience participation quiz hosted by possibly the ultimate YALC superfan Amy McCaw. Who will be the YALC quiz champion for 2025?<br \/>\n<\/span><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Amy McCaw<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>Dyslexia and me<\/strong><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Join Dan as he discusses his own struggles with dyslexia and the barriers he faced when writing a book and strategies to help build confidence. Together work to build sentences step by step to make something average, creative and interesting. Discover how Dan organises ideas to ensure the work is coherent and not muddle and use this to\u00a0 edit together to make an amazing read.<br \/>\n<\/span><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dan Batchelor<\/span><\/em>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row disable_element=&#8221;yes&#8221; separator_top=&#8221;line-separator&#8221; separator_top_color=&#8221;&#8221;][vc_column css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1689951824492{padding: 20px !important;border: 10px solid #dd3333 !important;border-radius: 5px !important;}&#8221;][vc_column_text css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1760537985746{border-top-width: 10px !important;border-bottom-width: 10px !important;border-left-width: 10px !important;padding-right: 10px !important;background-color: #ffffff !important;background-position: 0 0 !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;border-radius: 5px !important;border-color: #dd3333 !important;}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\">Industry &amp; Agents Arena Information<\/h3>\n<p><strong>SATURDAY<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>The wonder of libraries<br \/>\n<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Join bestselling author of The Wycherleys, and former librarian Annaliese Avery to find out how her experience amongst the bookshelves has impacted her journey as a reader and writer. In this session Annaliese will also share tales of other well-known library lovers in the book world and stories of literature\u2019s most famous librarians and libraries!<br \/>\n<\/span><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Annaliese Avery<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>The author &amp; agent relationship<br \/>\n<\/strong>During this session, author and Writers &amp; Artists team member Clare Povey will be joined by literary agent Gemma Cooper and author Abiola Bello to delve into the author-agent relationship. We\u2019ll demystify the submission and publishing process, before taking a closer look at how agents and authors work together. You\u2019ll get the chance to ask any questions you have for Clare, Gemma and Abiola, and find out more about how the Writers\u2019 &amp; Artists\u2019 Yearbook can help you take that next step on your path to publication.<br \/>\n<em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Writers and Artists<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>The art of YA<\/strong><b><br \/>\n<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A talk and question and answer exploring the art of designing covers edges and other elements for young adult books with special author guest<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<br \/>\n<\/span><\/i><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Victoria Alyesa\u00a0(Alyesasworld) &amp; Katherine Webber<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>Breaking the Rules \u2014 The Rise of the Indie YA Rebel<\/strong><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">From genre mash-ups to bold, banned-book-worthy themes, indie authors are shaking up the YA scene. In this panel, hosted by Literally (www.literallypr.com) director and InspiringIndies founder Helen Lewis, who has worked on almost 800 book marketing \/ author branding campaigns over the past two decades. join a line-up of InspiringIndies (who will also be appearing in the InspiringIndies zone) who\u2019ve taken the road less travelled to publish their stories their way. Hear how they kept control, took creative risks, and built their own fanbases without waiting for traditional gatekeepers to say \u201cyes.\u201d Expect real talk about writing with freedom, making noise on social media, and finding success on your own terms. A must for readers who crave the unexpected \u2014 and writers who want to break the mould.<br \/>\n<\/span><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Helen Lewis &#8211; Lit PR #Inspiringindies<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>Careers in publishing\u00a0<\/strong><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">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.<br \/>\n<\/span><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Megan Farr and Samantha Stewart (Bath Spa University)<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>Going on tour<\/strong><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ever wondered what it\u2019s like to be a book publicist and preparing to go on an author tour? What do I need to think about? What should I pack in my bag? What goes into building an author schedule? What is publicity? Book publicist Jenna Petts will be giving the rundown of everything you need to be thinking about and what going on tour is REALLY like. Jenna was the book publicist at Gollancz for three years, has been on a myriad of tours and has worked with the likes of Leigh Bardugo, Garth Nix, Ben Aaronovitch, Victoria Aveyard, Brandon Sanderson and Joe Abercrombie. She is now at Penguin Michael Joseph working on SenLinYu, Devney Perry, Melissa De La Cruz, and is leading on all things SFF.<br \/>\n<\/span><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Jenna Petts<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>TBC<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>SUNDAY<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>TBC<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Becoming a literary agent<\/strong><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How to pick next year&#8217;s bestselling book! What do literary agents do and how to become one. Join Stevie Finegan from the Zeno Agency as she discusses reading submissions, editing manuscripts, pitching to publishers, scrutinising contracts and making sure authors get paid! If you want to figure out how literary agents work and what your first steps into the industry might be, this is the workshop for you<\/span><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\nStevie Finegan<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>Libraries and the YA genre<\/strong><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This interactive, intertextual workshop run by the Youth Libraries Group will focus on using your library and collections to promote and expand the concept of the YA genre. The hosts have a wealth of experience in school, prison, public and university library settings. They are passionate about the reading experience as well as the links between reading for pleasure, wellbeing, empathy and educational attainment. Borrowing from libraries allows everyone to access the latest Tiktok specials, forgotten classics, hobbies, self-help and niche interest texts &#8211; for free!<br \/>\n<\/span><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kelly Greenwood &#8211; Youth Libraries Group (CILIP)<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>Tales from behind the bookshelf &#8211; life as a bookseller<br \/>\n<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rhiannon Tripp has been a bookseller at Waterstones since 2018 and is the manager of the High Street Kensington branch, as well as assisting London stores as Children\u2019s Bookselling Area Support. In her time at Waterstones, she has been involved in many large-scale events, such as the Waterstones Children&#8217;s Book Prize, and has also chaired several events &#8211; most recently, interviewing A. F. Steadman at the inaugural Waterstones Children&#8217;s Book Festival in Lincoln in February. \u00a0 She will be talking about her journey has a Bookseller and give you a peek behind the shelf of day to day life in a Bookshop. She&#8217;ll also be happy to answer any questions you may have as Bookselling as a career or Bookselling in general!<br \/>\n<\/span><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rhiannon Tripp \u2013 Watersones Kensington<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>Marketing your books and yourself<br \/>\n<\/strong>Writing the book is only half the story\u2014now it\u2019s time to get it out into the world! In this fun, practical workshop, we\u2019ll dive into the art (and a bit of the science) of marketing both your book and your author brand. From finding your readers to shouting about your work without feeling cringe, we\u2019ll cover tips, tricks and confidence-boosting strategies to help you stand out in a crowded market. Bring your questions, your personality, and maybe a bit of bravado\u2014we\u2019re talking all things book buzz.<br \/>\n<em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Olivia Jeggo<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>Choosing editing as a career<br \/>\n<\/strong><em>Non Pratt (Walkers Books)<\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>Indie Author Life \u2014 What They Don\u2019t Tell You About Going Solo<\/strong><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Think indie publishing is all glitter and TikTok fame? Think again \u2014 and then get inspired. In this honest and uplifting panel, YA indie authors lift the lid on what it really takes to write, publish, and promote your own books. From juggling edits and algorithms to the emotional highs (and lows) of going it alone, this is the ultimate behind-the-scenes peek at the indie author hustle. Whether you\u2019re dreaming of publishing your own book or just want to meet the people behind the paperbacks, this session is packed with insight, laughs, and plenty of plot twists and will be hosted by Literally (www.literallypr.com) director and InspiringIndies founder Helen Lewis, who has worked on almost 800 book marketing \/ author branding campaigns over the past two decades. join a line-up of InspiringIndies (who will also be appearing in the InspiringIndies zone).<br \/>\n<\/span><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Helen Lewis &#8211; Lit PR #Inspiringindies<\/span><\/em>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\">The 2026 YALC schedule will appear here shortly before the event.<\/h3>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[vc_row disable_element=&#8221;yes&#8221;][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/2&#8243;][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/2&#8243;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row disable_element=&#8221;yes&#8221; separator_top=&#8221;line-separator&#8221; separator_top_color=&#8221;&#8221;][vc_column css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1689951824492{padding: 20px !important;border: 10px solid #dd3333 !important;border-radius: 5px !important;}&#8221;][vc_column_text css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1761314697649{background-color: #ffffff !important;background-position: 0 0 !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;}&#8221;] Panel Information SATURDAY \u201cThe early Greek mythologists transformed a world full of fear into a world full of beauty\u201d &#8211; Edith Hamilton We have heard of Pandora and her box, Achilles [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-17","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/londoncomicconwinter.com\/YALC\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/17","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/londoncomicconwinter.com\/YALC\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/londoncomicconwinter.com\/YALC\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/londoncomicconwinter.com\/YALC\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/londoncomicconwinter.com\/YALC\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17"}],"version-history":[{"count":121,"href":"https:\/\/londoncomicconwinter.com\/YALC\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/17\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3149,"href":"https:\/\/londoncomicconwinter.com\/YALC\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/17\/revisions\/3149"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/londoncomicconwinter.com\/YALC\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}