Young Adult Literature Convention/London Film and Comic Con
Sunday 29th July 2018
Olympia, London
Friday and Saturday were kind of overwhelming, consisting of hundreds of potential purchases and intimidating crowds, but Sunday was a little more relaxed. There were a few stands that were absent from the convention, and by Sunday many of the ones that were there had very little stock left, meaning the crowds had thinned out. Although, this was a little disappointing, I was thankful; my anxiety didn’t make an appearance throughout the remainder of my trip!
Although, I missed out on a few titles I had my eyes on, I still managed to get a great selection of books that I can’t wait to read. I also managed to spend a little more at Comic Con as I was always nosing around rather than shopping; None of which are Funko Pops either, so I was quite proud of myself. (Those are always my go-to items at conventions and comic stores.)
Sunday was another day where I spent nearly all day at the convention, from opening to closing time, which gave me the chance to enter a few more raffles and competitions. Again, I didn’t win anything, my luck seeming to begin and end midday Saturday, but it was still fun to enter and be involved in the event more! The raffles at Penguin and Harper Collins were for proofs and a Fantastic Beasts book selection, which was beautiful but I think I already owned one or two of the items so I wasn’t too heartbroken. However, Hot Key Books set up an incredibly fun competition for the chance to win a proof copy of Killer T by Robert Muchamore. To enter, all you had to do was take a photo of yourself with a copy in a lab-coat, mask and needle pen – which I got to keep! – and post it to twitter with hashtags. This was something I initially hid away from, hating the thought of putting an embarrassing photo of myself online. However, I was desperate for the chance to read the book, so I eventually submitted and took the photo. Although, I didn’t win, I’m extremely proud of myself for taking part and admittedly love the photo.
Akemi Dawn Bowman
On the final day, I was also lucky enough to meet Akemi Dawn Bowman and get my copy of Starfish and sampler of Summer Bird Blue signed. She was wonderful to speak to, being welcoming and friendly when I spoke to her about how beautiful I found her writing. We also spoke about those more experienced at the convention, as I apparently seemed really organised and was surprised to hear it was my first time. She was just lovely and is so beautiful in person!
Christina Henry
Christina Henry was the last author I met this year at YALC, and I decided to join the queue early to ensure I wouldn’t have to hang around with the dreaded ticketing system again. Although, it took a while to slowly get the queue moving, I discovered why soon after. Christina took the time to speak to everyone, which was wonderful to experience. When it was finally my turn, she began a conversation immediately, asking how I was enjoying the convention and the things I got involved in. After telling her how I’d only recently discovered her work, she asked about my favourites and what I had left to read, and seemed really happy that I loved Lost Boy and Alice the most. Her crew member seemed to agree also, which settled any fears of having an unpopular opinion. Overall, it was great to meet her, her imagination keeping me up at night, so it was great to meet the writer behind those stories.
YALC Haul
1. Did I Mention I Love you?, Did I Mention I Need You? and Did I Mention I Miss You? (The Dimily Trilogy) by Estelle Maskame (Paperbacks. Ink Road)
When sixteen-year-old Eden Munro agrees to spend the summer with her estranged father in the beachfront city of Santa Monica, California, she has no idea what she’s letting herself in for. Eden’s parents are divorced and now her father has a brand-new family. For Eden, this means she’s about to meet three new stepbrothers…
3. Things A Bright Girl Can Do (Signed Paperback. Waterstones)
1914. The world stands on the edge of change. But women still have no vote.
Evelyn is rich and clever, but she isn’t allowed to go to university. Life is set out for her, but Evelyn wants freedom and choice, even if it means paying the highest price alongside her fellow Suffragettes.
4. Fragments of the Lost by Megan Miranda (Paperback. Random House Group)
It’s been a month since Caleb died. They blame Jessa for the accident.
She hopes sorting through the things in his room will help her deal with the guilt.
But as she begin boxing up his life, she uncovers objects that challenge her memories of the boyfriend she thought she knew.
Caleb had secrets that won’t stay in the past, and now Jessa must search for the truth: who was Calab, and what really happened on that storm-swept bridge?
5. The Miseducation of Cameron Post by Emily M. Danforth (Paperback. Random House Group)
The night Cameron Post’s parents died, her first emotion was relief. Relief they would never know that hours earlier, she’d been kissing a girl.
Now living with her conservative aunt in small-town Montana, hiding her sexuality and blending in becomes second nature to Cameron until she begins an intense friendship with the beautiful Coley Taylor.
Desperate to ‘correct’ her niece, Cameron’s aunt takes drastic action.
Now Cameron must battle with the cost of her being her true self – even if she’s not completely sure who that is.
6. Shadow and Bone, Siege and Storm, and Ruin and Rising (Shadow and Bone Trilogy) by Leigh Bardugo (Signed Limited Editions. BKMRK)
Alina Starkov is a soldier. When her regiment is attacked whilst crossing the Shadow Fold – a swath of unnatural darkness crawling with monsters – Alina unleashes dormant magic not even she knew she possessed…
7. A selection of miscellaneous items (Various Stands)
‘Things A Bright Girl Can Do’ bookmark.
‘Witchsign’ bookmark.
‘Darksoul’ bookmark.
‘Oh Panda Eyes’ Harry Potter glasses necklace and card.
‘A Reaper at the Gates’ postcard.
‘A Sky Painted Gold’ postcard.
‘Spark’ postcard.
Ink Road travel kit.
‘Feminists Wear Makeup’ badge.
‘Dear Evan Hansen: The Novel’ badge.
‘Simon Could Never’ badge.
Harper Collins ‘Harper Voyager’ Lanyard.
9. A selection of bookmarks. (Various Stands)
‘Grey Sister’ bookmark.
Waterstones Kensington bookmark.
Ink Road Books bookmark.
‘It Ends With You’ bookmark.
‘The Punk Factor’ bookmark.
10. A selection of postcards and samplers. (Various Stands)
‘Monsters’ by Sharon Dogar postcard.
‘The Wicked King’ by Holly Black sampler. (8th January 2019)
‘The Dark Artifices: Queen of Air and Darkness’ by Cassandra Clare sampler. (4th December 2018)
11. The Novice, The Inquisition, and The Battlemage (Summoner Series) by Taran Matharu (Paperbacks. BKMRK)
Only his power to summon demons can save the empire.
Fletcher is just an orphan training as a blacksmith’s apprentice when he discovers he has the rare ability to summon demons from another world.
Now one of the gifted few, Fletcher will be taught the lost art of summoning at the Vocans Academy…
Not Listed:
‘Five Years of YALC’ Tote Bag
LFCC Haul
2. EMP wristband. (EMP Stand)
It was free and I love EMP a lot.
8. A selection of Necklaces (Unknown Stand)
Black Marvel’s Avengers logo necklace.
Marvel’s Loki Helmet necklace.
Oujia board planchette necklace.
Marvel’s Iron Man Helmet necklace.
Not Listed:
Marvel’s Tony Stark and Overwatch’s Sombra prints by artist Richard Williams. (Signed. Richard Williams stand)
So, YALC is over for the year, but I’m already making preparations for 2019. There’s no way I’d miss out on 3 books for £10 ever again!
Day One and Day Two posts here.
A Little Fool Reads 
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