A major event celebrating the best of children’s and young people’s literature is returning to Preston, and organisers say it’s set to be bigger and better than ever before.
AdvertisementThe Northern Young Adult Literary Festival (NYALitFest) is organised and hosted by the University of Central Lancashire’s award-winning UCLan Publishing House. The event is returning for its third year, with the addition of KIDSLitFest, a day dedicated to children’s books.
Last year’s event was a massive success, with 500 young book fans in attendance with a theme of mental health and inclusivity.
Read more: UCLan’s second Northern Young Adult Literary Festival is big success
The Festival brings authors, publishers and other industry experts together with readers and young writers in the only event of its kind in the north of England.
This year’s event will take place on Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 March on UCLan’s Preston Campus.
Throughout the weekend, workshops, advice panels, Q&As, and book signings will take place. Among the big name authors who will be in attendance are Juno Dawson and Holly Bourne.
A special evening event for teachers and librarians is also taking place on Friday 20 March. The theme is ‘Voices’ and attendees will hear from publishers including Bloomsbury, Faber, Scholastic, Walker, Barrington Stoke, Chicken House and Bounce.
Read more: Preston author publishes children’s mindfulness book after overcoming anxiety
Organiser Hazel Holmes, from UCLan Publishing, said: “NYALitFest and our new KIDSLitFest is purely focused on children’s and young adults’ literature. It’s brilliant for a northern festival to have such great support from publishers, authors and agents who are primarily London based.
“NYA and KIDSLitFest gives young readers, teachers and librarians direct access to authors, publishers and writing development workshops, otherwise unreachable. We’re thrilled to have so many fantastic speakers on out programme.”
For more details or to book a ticket visit the NYALitFest website.
Read more: New novel by Preston author A.J. Hartley to be released by UCLan publishing
Will you be going to NYALitFest or KIDSLitFest? Let us know in the comments.