The University of Central Lancashire’s (UCLan) annual literature festival for young adults and children will take place online with a bumper-packed line up of free online workshops and panel events.

The Northern Young Adults (NYA) Literary Festival will run from the 15 – 17 January and will for the first time include workshops and presentations for children as well as an older audience.

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It is the third year that UCLan Publishing has organised the free event, which attracts budding writers and reading enthusiasts from all over the country.

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The Festival usually takes place on the Preston Campus but organisers were determined to see it still take place despite the current lockdown situation. Hazel Holmes from UCLan Published said: “The NYA Literary Festival has become a key event in the UCLan calendar, with more than 2000 visitors last year.

“It is the only literary festival of its kind in the North of England and we didn’t want to let down our loyal attendees. This year they can still enjoy all the great content but from the comfort of their own homes.”

Highlights of the three-day event include writing tips from Chicken House publisher Barry Cunningham, the man who famously discovered JK Rowling, a discussion with award winning authors Sally Nicholls and Eve Ainsworth, and the virtual launch of Last One to Die, Cynthia Murphy’s debut young adult horror-thriller.

There will also be ten events specifically for young readers, including advice on inventing trailblazing characters, how to create a fantasy map in a session with best-selling author Vashti Hardy and a lesson in writing an exciting opening to a story from author Michelle Harrison.

Hazel said: “It is important now more than ever that young people develop and sustain a love of reading and writing.

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“We hope this series of exciting workshops and events will really grab their imagination and act as a great learning tool during this period of lockdown.”

The NYA Literary Festival is free, but all attendees must register in advance for the live events.

The full programme is available for more information.

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Will you be attending the virtual literature festival? Let us know in the comments below