After a two-year break, NYALitFest festival is making an in-person return to the UCLan campus, with over 50 authors scheduled to appear.

The festival focuses on Young Adult and children’s books.

NYALitFest is taking place on Saturday 21 May with doors opening at 9am, while KIDSLitFest takes place on Sunday 22 May with doors at 10am. On both days attendees should register at the UCLan publishing stand upon entry.

Read on for details of both days’ events.

NYALitFest on Saturday 21 May

Workshops

10am – 11am Creating Characters with Danielle Jawando

Join critically acclaimed author Danielle Jawando for a creative-writing workshop. Danielle will explore how to create authentic, three-dimensional characters that leap off the page. Looking at voice, setting and plot, in order to craft compelling and memorable characters for a YA audience.

12pm – 1pm Shared Reading with Natasha Devon

Join Rab from The Reader to try out a mindful hour of Shared Reading of Toxic by Natasha Devon. In a Shared Reading group, the leader reads aloud from the text, and then we stop and chat about what we’ve read.

There’s no pressure for group members to read aloud or even to speak – it’s perfectly fine to just listen.

The idea is to create a space where everyone feels at ease. This event is extra special because everyone attending will receive a limited proof of Toxic (not available on sale until July) to take away with them, and the group will have the opportunity to meet Natasha and have their copy signed.

Hearing fiction read aloud in real-time means everyone is involved in a shared experience, with the book providing a talking point for a relaxed conversation between those who do want to talk.

Read more: UCLan staff member crowned English Duathlon Champion 2022 for his age group

2pm – 3pm Building Confidence with C.G. Moore

A session focused on boosting confidence and self-esteem and how you can apply this to your writing.

Open to all ages, Chris will empower attendees and help you understand what is holding you back. Leave this session equipped with the tools and techniques to increase your confidence and feeling more positive.

The Agents Realm

10am – 10.45am The Publishing Process with Louise Lamont and Katie Clapham

11am – 11.45am Getting Your Pitch Right with John Baker and Gabriela Houston

Panel Events

10am – 10.45am The Craft with Finbar Hawkins, Ciannon Smart, Mary Watson. Chaired by Jennifer Lane

11am – 11.45am Thrills and Chills with Bryony Pearce, Cynthia Murphy, Naomi Gibson. Chaired by Amy McCaw

12pm – 1pm Signings with Danielle Jawando, Katie Clapham, Gabriela Houston, Finbar Hawkins, Ciannon Smart, Mary Watson, Jennifer Lane, Bryony Pearce, Cynthia Murphy, Naomi Gibson and Amy McCaw

1pm – 1.45pm The World We Live In with Simon James Green, Sita Brahmachari, Cynthia So. Chaired by Kate Weston

2pm – 2.45pm Living, Loving and Laughing with Christine Pillainayagam, George Lester and Tamsin Winter. Chaired by Sara Barnard

3pm – 4pm Signings with Simon James Green, Sita Brahmachari, Cynthia So, Kate Weston, Christine Pillainayagam, George Lester, Tamsin Winter, Sara Barnard and C.G. Moore

3.30pm – 4.15pm The Fight For What’s Right with Aneesa Marufu, Ann Sei Lin, Katharine and Elizabeth Corr. Chaired by Kesia Lupo

4.15pm – 5.15pm Signings with Aneesa Marufu, Ann Sei Lin, Kesia Lupo, Katharine and Elizabeth Corr

5.30pm Event closes

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KIDSLitFest on Sunday 22 May

Workshops

10am – 2pm Magical Story Jars and the Chief Story Makers (free drop-in activity)

Come and have caboodles of story-making fun at the Story Mixing Station. 

This drop-in activity is guaranteed to help everyone enjoy playing with story ideas to create their very own adventure stories.

Use story cards from Magical Story Jars®️ to help inspire your very own short story.  Write or draw scenes from your newly created adventure stories using lots of different characters including Rodney the very shy robot and his friend Dave the talking pencil. 

Along the way, your story characters can become superheroes for the day, find secret doors and discover gigantic shiny rockets.  What story will you create? 

The Chief Story Makers will be on hand to provide support, help kids shape their stories and to make sure they come away feeling inspired and excited about all things story.  Magical Story Jars will also be available to buy on the day. 

2pm – 4pm Create an Alien Storytelling Workshop (free drop-in activity)

Join Rab, author of Middle-Grade adventure The Late Crew, and design your very own alien!

From creating alien fact files, drawing alien designs, designing home planets, imagining wonderful alien superpowers, there’s something for children and adults alike who want to create their own extra-terrestrial creatures. 

Once you’re done, you can even make a story featuring your alien as the star! 

Panels

10.30am – 11.15am All The LOLs with Tasha Harrison, Helen Rutter and James Harris. Chaired by Simon James Green

11.30am – 12pm Signing and stalls with Tasha Harrison, Helen Rutter, James Harris and Simon James Green

12pm – 12.45pm Frank Cottrell-Boyce and Noah followed by a signing

1pm – 1.45pm Adventure Awaits! with Vashti Hardy, Annaliese Avery and Ross Welford. Chaired by Jasmine Richards). Followed by a signing

2pm – 2.45pm How Are You Feeling? with Darren Simpson, Gabriela Houston. Chaired by Paul Jenkins. Followed by a signing.

3pm – 3.45pm Mystery and Mayhem with Jo Clarke, Susan Brownrigg and Anna James. Chaired by Katherine Woodfine. Followed by a signing.

4pm – 4.45pm You Have the Power with Tamsin Mori, Elle McNicoll and Ross MacKenzie. Chaired by Jennifer Claessen. Followed by a signing.

5.30 pm Event closes

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Will you be heading to the event? Let us know in the comments below.