The Northern YA Literary Festival was Awesome

To put it simply, I had the best time.

I loved how stress-free the event felt. There was plenty of time between panels for signings, there was delicious (and super cheap?!) food available on site, there were fantastic stalls. I didn't feel rushed or panicked at the event (that was saved for the chaos of the delayed train on the return journey), and I event felt comfortable enough to lie down on a couch at the end and rest (which was much needed after being on the go since before 6am).

I am so glad I managed to pick up an ARC of The Harm Tree by Rose Edwards because I have heard excellent things about it from Charlotte and I'm excited to start it, especially after the Feminist Fantasy. I also nabbed an ARC of Fated by Teri Terry and I am full of excite at the prospect of rereading it without a migraine.

But instead of a full wrap up, I'm going to share some of my favourite quotes from the authors on the panels, because some of them hit me right in the feels and really resonated with me. And also I'm trying to be a better blogger and took a lot of Notes for one, go me.

I would have loved to include Samantha Shannon's full Strong Female Character speech (which was as epic and long as Priory of the Orange Tree) but I was too busy gleefully listening to actually write notes on it.

YA Thrillers

I feel like a fraud being on this panel, I just wanted to write something that people would want to keep reading

Will Hill

When I'm writing, I usually know where it's going, I know what's going to happen, but I let the characters guide how.

MA Bennett

Feminist Fantasy Panel

Being morally outstanding does not mean that someone is a good human being.

Laure Eve

The intimacy of friendship, especially as a teen girl, is so intense.

Rose Edwards

The break up of a friendship is devastating.

Samantha Shannon

As a society, in the media we consume we allow women to be strong only after they have been hurt.

Melinda Salisbury

Inclusiveness in YA Panel

We need to reset the notion of normal

AJ Hartley

I do it because it needs to be done, in twenty years things haven't changed.

Bali Rai

You can tell a very complicated story with simple language.

Non Pratt

Shame-Less Panel

The Exact Opposite of Okay wasn't a story about Izzy finding her voice, it was about using it.

Laura Steven

Shame is so different from guilt, it cuts a lot deeper and attaches to who you are as a person.

Tamsin Winter

How can you resist being overly critical of yourself when on social media you're essentially a public performance?

Laura Steven

Mental Health Panel

Oh My Gods was always meant to be funny and light, but in order to have light you need dark.

Alexandra Sheppard

If you're not being honest with yourself you cannot set boundaries.

Akemi Dawn Bowman

As a teen I felt like I was a different person every three months, I had to get to know myself again and again. There were so many expectations to confront, and that's a common experience.

Alice Broadway