A LIT & Speculative Blog: YA In the Sun 2012

Cindy Pon

Do you love Young Adult literature? Does the thought of meeting your favorite authors make your head want to explode with excitement? Then you should join us at the Encinitas Branch Library on November 10, 2012 from 2- 4:30 pm. for "YA In the Sun", a celebration of Young Adult literature. This FREE event promises to be an unforgettable afternoon. Instead of waiting in line for half an hour (or more) for a face to face with your favorite author that only last the two minutes it takes them to sign a copy of the their book for you. "YA in the Sun” is your once in a lifetime opportunity to overcome those butterflies in your belly and have a conversation with them. It's also the perfect place to meet and become friends with other fans who have the same passion for reading that you do.

I spoke with Cindy Pon, the wonderful author of the YA fantasy Kingdom of Xia series, who helped put this fantastic event together. She told me what we can expect at YA In the Sun.

IBT: Tell us about your upcoming event, YA In the Sun. What can we look forward to, and how did it come about?

Cindy Pon: A group of us local San Diego writers decided that it would be great fun to celebrate young adult fiction here. So we met and began planning. We were so thrilled when we got the space at the Encinitas Library. I had had a Page One event there back in 2009 and it is so beautiful. But even better, it is closer for all the YA authors driving in from Los Angeles as well. YA in the Sun will be more of a social mixer than the usual panel and quiet audience format. All the authors will have "official" signing times in rotation, but you can still just find them on the floor (wearing colorful leis!) to chat with and get their autographs (and maybe swag, too). There will be games, a costume corner so you can play dress up and get your photos taken, as well as fabulous bookish raffle prizes to give away.

IBT: Will there also be books available for purchase?

Cindy Pon: Yes! Mysterious Galaxy was lovely enough to agree to sell books by all the authors attending at the event.

IBT: Can fans come dressed up as their favorite characters?

Cindy Pon: We would love that! In fact, if we get enough people coming in costume, an impromptu costume contest might be in order. Anything YA literature themed related, we would love! YA in the Sun is about having bun and celebrating young adult fiction!

IBT: If you could only pick one book, by any author attending YA In the Sun, which would you say readers really need to check out?

Cindy Pon: Oh gosh, to be truthful, these questions are impossible to answer. There is no way I could just name one author and one title. There will be almost twenty authors attending, all writing in very diverse areas. Any reader will be able to find something to love.

Kiersten White will be attending and she writes such fun and sassy paranormal in her Paranormalcy series. The last in the trilogy, ENDLESSLY, just came out this summer. She's also rumored to be giving away an ARC (advanced reader copy) of her newest novel out next year, MIND GAMES. Exciting!

One of my favorite reads from this year was WANDERLOVE by local San Diegan author Kirsten Hubbard. A wonderfully written soul searching journey abroad that is also illustrated by Kirsten herself, I recommend this read for everyone that loved Stephanie Perkin's ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS. (And who didn't love ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS??)

One of my favorite authors, Andrew Smith, will be coming down from Los Angeles. His novel IN THE PATH OF FALLING OBJECTS, about brothers that are forced to go on a road trip with serial killers, is nothing short of stunning. His MARBURY LENS was also a fantastic read and the sequel PASSENGER, just released on October 2.

Sarah J. Maas

I'm currently reading Sarah J. Maas' THRONE OF GLASS and loving it. It is a fantasy featuring a heroine that is a trained assassin, one of the best and most notorious across the kingdoms. What isn't there to love about this?

Marie Lu, whose debut Legend was optioned by CBS Films, will be attending as well. LEGEND is a a thriller sci fi with dystopian touches. I can't wait to read her sequel PRODIGY.

Leigh Bardugo will also be attending from Los Angeles. Her debut SHADOW AND BONE hit the New York Times Bestsellers list and was also recently optioned to be made into a film. So exciting! It is a Russian inspired fantasy and I can't wait to read it!

Leigh Bardugo

We will also have wonderful middle grade authors Barrie Summy and Greg Van Eekhout attending for our tween readers. Barrie writes the "I So Don't" mysteries (which my daughter devoured--all four novels--this summer) and Greg has two great sci fi novels out: KID vs. SQUID (how fun is that title?) and THE BOY AT THE END OF THE WORLD. Shannon Messenger's new Middle Grade fantasy KEEPER OF THE LOST CITIES was newly released in October and her YA novel LET THE SKY FALL will come out next March!

For those looking for a thriller mystery tinged with horror, Gretchen McNeil's TEN just released and I've only heard fabulous things. I can't wait to buy a copy for myself at the YA in the Sun event!

Finally, if you are looking for gods, demons, and adventuring with cute boys, I'll be signing copies of my Chinese inspired fantasies SILVER PHOENIX and its sequel, FURY OF THE PHOENIX. There will also be copies of DIVERSE ENERGIES available, a multicultural YA dystopian anthology which features my first published short story "Blue Skies".

I could go on and on and on, and I haven't even touched on all the fantastic authors that will be attending. It will be amazing. COME! =)

IBT: Thanks Cindy, I wouldn't miss it!

Attendees should also look forward to meeting authors like Jennifer Angelini, who is the author of the contemporary mythology based romance DREAMLESS, as well as Jennifer Bosworth the author of the post-apocalyptic dystopian novel STRUCK. Jessica Brody will also be in the house, she is the author of 52 REASONS TO HATE MY FATHER. 2013 debut author Debra Driza will be there to promote her upcoming sci-fi thriller, MILA 2.0. Nancy Holder the New York Times Bestselling author of Wicked, Possessions, and Crusade series. Her latest novel VANQUISHED was published in August. Cynthia Hand also a New York Times Bestseller, her novel BOUNDLESS will be published in January 2012 and is the finale in her Unearthly series. Another book that people should look out for is Tony Milazzo’s magical tale, PICKING UP THE GHOST.

There will be so much to do, so many authors to rub elbows with, it would be a shame to pass it up. Hope to see you there!