Young Adult Literature Convention/London Film and Comic Con
Friday 27th July 2018
Olympia, London
Although, I’ve been following the YALC movement for a few years now, I never thought I’d ever be able to attend myself. However, considering I was going to start taking this blog more seriously and having completed my degree around a month earlier, I thought why not blow my budget and finally attend one for myself?! I loved it, to say the least.
Honestly, with the hype surrounding it, I wasn’t expecting much. I mean, it was part of Comic Con, so I thought there’d be only a few stands on the upper level while they dominated the rest. I was wrong. Immediately, I was overwhelmed with the amount of stands and merchandise available. I told myself I’d be fairly restrained considering it was only the first of three days, but there was already so many freebies I didn’t know what to do with them!
When I first arrived, I wandered around a few times, trying to get the feel of the place before delving into all the stands. There was a great selection from all! But my restraint did mean I ended up losing out on a few titles by the second day already; stock ran out fast. Due to my anxiety, there’s not much to say regarding the competitions and available grabs on day one, I felt a little too overwhelmed to enter much; however, I did manage to meet a few amazing authors.
Sally Green
My all-time favourite author was the first I met at YALC, which was kinda fitting to me. Although, her queue was extremely long, meaning I had to receive a ticket for a virtual queue before even joining the line. I feel as if this system wasn’t entirely thought out, as there was way more than ten in the line when the numbers were being called. However, eventually I managed to reach the front and got to tell Queen Sally just how much her work meant to me. She was wonderful to speak to, appearing really interested in my work and plans for the future; she even wished me luck on my MA!
Chloe Coles
Chloe Coles’ queue began shortly after Sally’s, so as soon as I was finished there I immediately joined. She was equally as wonderful, and just as beautiful in person! I found it surprisingly easy to speak to her considering my struggles with social anxiety. We spoke a little about the convention itself, us both being first-time attendees, and I managed to explain just how adorable I found her Paige Turner. (Still can’t get over the great name!)
Alice Oseman
Alice’s queue was another long one, as expected, and unfortunately I still don’t think the crew had grasped the virtual queue idea by this stage as there was a lot of people for only twenty being allowed. However, I eventually joined after lunch and managed to meet Alice. I was a little shy, which I still beat myself over now, but I explained how gorgeous I find her writing style and how much it inspires my own. Her wonders with character development is just incredible and it was lovely to hear her own writing process. Plus, she’s even more beautiful in person!
London Film and Comic Con was also brilliant, managing to spot a few familiar cosplays and famous faces from afar. Although, I was saving my cash for a few book deals so I couldn’t grab an autograph or photo, I was happy enough just seeing them with my own eyes! I managed to spot my childhood queen/crush Aly Michalka and my favourite wrestler from the WWE games, Gail Kim! I’d say it was a pretty successful day, to be honest.
YALC Haul
1. Ink Iron and Glass by Gewndolyn Clare (Hardcover. Usborne Publishing/Faber & Faber -I’m unsure of the exact stand)
A certain pen, a certain book, and a certain person can craft entirely new worlds through a branch of science called scriptology. Elsa comes from one such world that was written into creation, where her mother – a noted scriptologist – constantly alters and expands their reality…
2. Skulduggery Pleasant: Midnight by Derek Landy (Hardcover. Harper Collins Children’s Books)
For years, Valkyrie Cain has struggled to keep her loved ones safe from harm, plunging into battle – time and time again – by Skulduggery Pleasant’s side. and always emerging triumphant.
But now the very thing that Valkyrie fights for is in danger, as a ruthless killer snatches her little sister in order to lure Valkyrie into a final confrontation.
With Skulduggery racing to catch up and young sorcerer Omen scrambling along behind, Valkyrie only has six hours to find Alice before it’s too late.
The clock is ticking…
3. City of Bones: 10th Anniversary Edition by Cassandra Clare (Hardcover. Walker Books)
All the stories are true.
4. Penguin Yearbook: Class of 2018/2019 (Paperback. Random House Group)
An exclusive proof of the best titles being released in 2018/2019, including:
All These Beautiful Strangers – Elizabeth Klehfoth
Catwoman: Soulstealer – Sarah J. Maas
Dear Evan Hansen – Val Emmich with Steven Levenson, Benj Pasek and Justin Paul
Eve of Man – Giovanna and Tom Fletcher
Feminists Don’t Wear Pink – Scarlett Curtis
Jack of Hearts (and Other Parts) – L.C. Rosen
Miss Peregrine’s Perculiar Children: A Map of Days – Ransom Riggs
Outside – Sarah Ann Juckes
Scribble Yourself Feminist – Childera Eggerue
The Million Pieces of Neena Gill – Emma Smith-Barton
The Miseducation of Cameron Post – Emily M. Danforth
The Truth About Keeping Secrets – Savannah Brown
This Mortal Coil – Emily Suvada
Tradition – Brendan Kiely
Turtles All The Way Down – John Green
5. Witchsign by Den Patrick (Hardcover. Harper Collins Children’s Books)
It has been seventy five years since the dragons’ rule of fire and magic was ended. Out of the ashes, the Solmidre Empire was born.
6. Undead Girl Gang by Lily Anderson & matching pin badge (Paperback ARC. Usborne Publishing/Faber and Faber – Stand Unknown)
Meet teenage Wiccan Mila Flores, who truly could not care less what you think about her Doc Martens, her attitude, or her weight because she knows that, no matter what, her BFF Riley is right by her side.
So when Riley and Fairmont Academy meals girls June Phelan-Park and Daton Nesseth die under suspicious circumstances, Mila refuses to believe everyone’s explanation that her BFF was involved in a suicide pact…
7. Harry Potter’s Tonks and Lupin Bookmarks (A Wish Upon a Store)
Two adorable magnetic bookmarks of Remus Lupin and Nymphadora Tonks. I adore them.
8. A selection of samplers and postcards. (Various stands)
Someday by David Levithan sampler. (Available October 2018)
Saving Death by R.L. Endean postcard.
Wicca by Harmony Nice postcard. (Available 11th October 2018)
Kick The Moon by Muhammad Khan sampler. (Available 2019)
Enchantee by Gita Trelease sampler. (Available 21st February 2019)
The Devouring Gray by Christine Lynn Herman sampler. (Available April 2019)
9. A selection of bookmarks. (Various stands)
Catwoman: Soulstealer – Sarah J. Maas.
Skulduggery Pleasant: Midnight – Derek Landy
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets: 20th Anniversary Edition – J.K. Rowling
Gone – Michael Grant
Not listed:
Ink Road Tote Bag (Ink Road)
Skulduggery Pleasant Tote Bag (Harper Collins Children’s Books)
Patrick Ness’ Chaos Walking T-Shirt (Walker Books)
Skulduggery Pleasant T-Shirt (Harper Collins Children’s Books)
LFCC Haul
10. Monster High’s Frankie Stein Funko Pop (Stand Unknown)
She was in the sale and I just found her so adorable, I couldn’t not pick her up!
11. Kingdom Hearts’s Halloween Town Sora Funko Pop (Forbidden Planet)
Kingdom Hearts is one of my favourite games of all time and I’ve never seen a Pop Vinyl of this version of Sora before, so there was no way that I was going to leave it behind!
Day Two and Day Three posts here.
A Little Fool Reads 
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