YALC 2015 Line-Up Reaction

So, unless you've been living under a rock these past few months, you will know that YALC is back for 2015! The ace Booktrust team have been announcing the authors on the line up in stages, but now the full line up has finally been revealed. Here's what I'm really excited about: 

• Malorie Blackman - I worship at the shrine that is Malorie, so not only am I incredibly excited that YALC is back under her steerage, I'm very happy to see she will be actively taking part again. Is it wrong to have her sign all my signed copies again? 

• Tom Ellen & Lucy Ivison- I set out to read the whole YA Book Prize Shortlist this year and made it to 6, Lobsters being one of them. I think it's absolutely wonderful and does a great job at capturing what it is to be a teenager. Can't think of better attendees for a Young Adult event than these two... excited to hear news about their new projects too. 

• Moira Fowley-Doyle- The Accident Season's tarot card teasers were incredibly intriguing and to say I'm curious about Moira and this book is an understatement.. 

Were you lucky enough to receive one of these in the post today? #accidentseason by @moirawithatrema pic.twitter.com/W7vXhJowqC
— Random House Kids UK (@RHKidsUK) January 9, 2015

• Alexia Casale - I attended Alexia's workshop on finding your voice last year and (what I could hear of it) was really great and insightful. The YALC team have learned from last year and have said they've sourced separate rooms at the new Olympia location to hold these workshops in. I literally couldn't be happier with this news so hopefully another fantastic Alexia workshop is on the cards. 

• Alice Oseman & Samantha Shannon - a young author panel perhaps... intriguing. Check out Lucy at Queen of Contemporary's post on young authors (there's hope for us all yet).

• Non Pratt - I became familiar with Non through this year's YA Book Prize and Trouble has swiftly become one of my favourite contemporary YA's of all time. She is also a boss at Twitter and makes me die from laughter on public transport on a near daily basis.   

@Rachel90Kennedy pic.twitter.com/6yMKulHUoX
— Non Pratt (@NonPratt) April 23, 2015

• Louise O'Neill - Winner of the inaugural YA Book Prize, Louise is a champion of women's rights, body image and all things feminist. I'm hoping she's going to take part in a girl power style panel on self-love and self-worth. 

• Siobhan Curham - After the whole Zoella ghostwriter thing, I'm really looking forward to learning more about Siobhan and her work. 

• Lisa Williamson & Melinda Salisbury - I saw both these ladies at Oxford on a panel together and they were both ace. I was hoping to wait to buy a copy of The Art of Being Normal in paperback but I just won't be able to hold off after seeing Lisa speak so well again. And Mel is just so endearing, I wanted to give her a hug the whole last time I saw her. Looking forward to these two! 

• Lucy Saxon - Lucy was at YALC last year doing a panel on fandoms, and she cosplayed as Captain America. I'm counting on Lucy to lead the cosplayers this year - I'm already considering my Twylla/Melissandre/Scarlett Witch outfit... 

• Laura Dockrill - Particularly excited about this one and can't wait to get my grubby mits on a copy of Lorali!  I got to hang out with Laura while doing some work experience (we had the best curry I've ever had in Aberystwyth) and I can't wait to hear her speak again. Her energy is so infectious and her lipstick and wardrobe so eye-popping, she's sure to be a highlight. She might even cosplay, if the rumours are to be believed. 

• Carrie Hope Fletcher - I have been a Hopeful for a while now having discovered Carrie through Alex Day's channel back in the day. Anyone who doesn't know of Carrie or why she is YALC material, just watch below! Vloggers will take over the world! 

• Cassandra Clare - Need I Say More?! Gah!!! So excited! I saw her at Hay last year and everyone in the line was covered in Runes. I'm sure YALC will be no different, I'll bring the Sharpies! 

And last but certainly not least, I take huge pleasure in finally being able to say that Judy Blume will be at YALC this year! Fangirl to the extreme. Judy is one of the pioneering authors who carved out a teen book scene. She's incredibly inspiring, just listen to her here talking about her reading experiences as a kid. 

I am also incredibly fortunate that the PR agency I work for is handling the publicity for Judy's new adult book In the Unlikely Event. So with my YALC tickets already booked, I might even be lucky enough to escort Judy to the convention, and I might just die a little bit *fingers crossed she doesn't see this because that's embarrassingly uncool* 

And with all the other amazing authors attending, I can't wait to discover some great new voices and stories. A huge congrats to Malorie and Booktrust for creating such an incredible line-up! Bring on July! 

So who's going to YALC then? Who are you excited about seeing? 

Can't wait to see you all there!