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Children's laureate Malorie Blackman has announced a campaign to support YA fiction in the UK, including a YA Literature Convention to be held in London next summer.
The author, whose own YA novels including Noughts & Crosses (Corgi), said: "We are incredibly lucky to have such a wealth of fantastic children's authors and illustrators in this country who create incredible stories for young adults to enjoy. It's so important to encourage, sustain and where necessary instil a love of reading in our teenagers. Reading opens doors and creates life opportunities. That's why I want to do my utmost to promote YA books for all our young (and older) readers.”
Blackman will act as a curator for the first UK Young Adult Literature Convention (YALC) will be held at the London Film and Comic Con 2014 (LFCC), to be held at London's Earls Court in June 2014. The convention will bring together YA publishers and host a series of author events including talks, workshops and signings, as well as sales area and a space for publishers to promote upcoming titles.
At the Winter LFCC, held this weekend (6th October), there will be a special YALC panel discussing YA books and films, with Meg Rosoff, Anthony McGowan, Lucy Christopher, and Blackman herself.