'A Monster Calls' actor to appear at YALC

Patrick Ness and Lewis MacDougall, the actor playing the lead role in the upcoming film adaptation of Ness' A Monster Calls, will be appearing at this year’s Young Adult Literature Convention (YALC).

On the Friday afternoon of YALC (28th July), Ness and MacDougall will give attendees a behind-the-scenes look at the film (out this autumn), which is based on Ness’ Carnegie-winning book (Walker Books).

YALC will also include a panel on ‘squad goals’, with authors Holly Bourne, Sara Barnard, Sarra Manning and Sarah Pinborough talking about everything from ‘BFFs’ to ‘frenemies’, and ‘Fantasy London’, an event where Samantha Shannon, Ben Aaronovitch and V E Schwab will discuss their alternative visions of London.

On the Saturday (29th July), YALC will host a poetry slam, and the Sunday (30th July) will be themed around Harry Potter. Fans will be invited to compete for the Hogwarts House Cup via a series of activities, organised in partnership with MuggleNet.

Other authors announced today include Sally Green, Juno Dawson, LA Weatherly, Alice Oseman, Taran Matharu, James Smythe and Lisa Heathfield. Several debut writers are taking part, such as Martin Stewart and Harriet Reuter Hapgood.

YALC organiser Katherine Woodfine said: “We’ve put together our most ambitious programme to date for 2016 – packed full of illustrious authors covering topics as diverse as the importance of music in literature to the moral and ethical responsibilities of YA authors. YALC has quickly become an unmissable event for YA fans and we’re going to make sure it’s better than ever this year.”