There’s much excitement in the YA world tonight with the announcement of the final roll call of over 60 YA authors heading for the Young Adult Literature Conference (Yalc) in London in July.
We already know that Malorie Blackman (children’s laureate and founder of the festival), Cassandra Clare, Derek Landy, Darren Shan Carrie Hope Fletcher and Samantha Shannon will be at the event - let’s have a look at who else is lined up.
Annabel Pitcher – the author of Ketchup Clouds, My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece and Silence is Goldfish, Pitcher has been nominated for a Carnegie medal and won an Edgar Award.
Brian Conaghan – another author who has previously been nominated for a Carnegie Medal, Conaghan is the author of When Mr Dog Bites, and The Bombs that Brought Us Together is due out early next year. Read his top 10 controversial teen books.
Judy Blume – the prolific author whose books have sold over 80 million copies and have been translated into 32 different languages. Judy Blume is best known for Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret, and Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing.
Joe Abercrombie – previous winner of the Ravenheart award for Best Fantasy Cover Art, Abercrombie is a British fantasy author who has penned books such as Red Country, The Heroes, and Half a King.
Louise O’Neill – author of Only Ever Yours (which won the first ever Bookseller YA prize), O’Neill is set to release her second book, Asking For It, this September. On her blog, O’Neill says: “I always feel sad when people tell me they don’t read, as it is one of my greatest pleasures.”
The full list of speakers that have been announced is:
Alex Wheatle
Alexia Casale
Alice Oseman
Amy Alward
Anna McKerrow
Arabella Weir
Ben Aaranovitch
Carrie Hope Fletcher
Cassandra Clare
Charlie Higson
CJ Daugherty
Clare Furniss
Darren Shan
Dawn Kurtagich
Den Patrick
Derek Landy
Frances Hardinge
Francesca Haig
Hayley Long
Helena Coggan
Holly Bourne
Holly Smale
James Dawson
Jamie Andersen
Jenny Valentine
Julia Bell
Julie Mayhew
Kevin Brooks
LA Weatherley
Laura Dockrill
Lisa Williamson
Liz Kessler
Lou Morgan
Lucy Inglis
Lucy Ivison
Lucy Saxon
Malorie Blackman
Marie Rutowski
Mark Stay
Matt Whyman
Melinda Salisbury
MG Harris
Moira Fowley-Doyle
Moira Young
Nikesh Shukla
Non Pratt
Patrick Ness
Paul Magrs
Sally Green
Samantha Shannon
Sarah Pinborough
Sarah Rees-Brennan
Siobhan Curham
Steve Camden
Taran Matharau
Teri Terry
Tom Ellen
Will Hill
Virginia Bergin
Yalc was set up in 2014 by children’s laureate Malorie Blackman, and brought together over 50 of the most popular and well-known YA authors for talks, workshops and signings.
This year’s Yalc will take place in a dedicated books zone of the London Film and Comic Con at Olympia, London, on 17-19 July.
Tickets for the weekend cost £46 each, or you can buy day tickets - Friday £14, Saturday £20, Sunday £17.
