The first-ever YA A to Z Conference held April 15-16 in Austin was a huge success. We want to thank our impossibly great inaugural faculty, hardworking volunteers, and a wonderful group of attendees! And yes, it was only last weekend, but we are already taking walks down memory lane.
This is just a little bit of the fun we had…
Attendees at the opening panel, “Why YA?”
Author Tim Wynne Jones leading a craft class on dialogue.
Conference attendees listened closely…
And then got writing!
Graphic novelist Hope Larson and agent Mary Kole on a panel about the importance of blogging in the YA world.
Agent/author John Cusick, and authors Bettina Restrepo and Carrie Ryan on the New Voices in YA panel. (Yes, they are all this sweet in real life!)
The Barnes and Noble book table. So many good books to go home with…
Ok, someone needs to say it. The conference food was amazing
Uma Krishnaswami reading from her new book, The Grand Plan to Fix Everything. (Out next month!)
Author Carrie Ryan showing us the arc of a story (with authors Cinda Williams Chima on the left and Jo Whittemore on the right).
Authors Heather Hepler, Varian Johnson (can you hear the laugh?), and April Lurie on a contemporary/realistic YA Panel.
Authors Greg Leitich Smith and Bethany Hegedus (also the WLT’s Office Manager and all-around YA conference rockstar.)
Author Tim Wynne Jones delivering his keynote speech, “An Address and a Map”
The conference faculty making the Writers’ League “W!” This was a truly amazing group and we could not have been more proud or happy to have them for the first year of YA A To Z.
(Latecomers had to make the “W” by themselves.)
Thanks to everyone who came to the conference or helped make it a reality. And if you missed it this time, don’t worry… We can’t wait to see you next year!
-The WLT Staff
