Young Adult Novelist Convention (YANovCon) 2024

Julie Abe writes magical adventures for readers of all ages, including Eva Evergeen, Semi-Magical Witch, which was listed as a Best Middle Grade Book by Kirkus Reviews, NYPL, Bank Street, and Book Riot; Alliana, Girl of Dragons; and Tessa Miyata Is No Hero, as well as the young adult novels The Charmed List and Our Cursed Love. Keep up with Julie's latest books and adventures on instagram.com/julieabebooks or sign up for her newsletter at julieabebooks.com/newsletter.

Instagram: www.instagram.com/julieabebooks
Twitter: www.twitter.com/julieabebooks
Facebook: www.facebook.com/julieabebooks

Candace Buford has been an avid reader since childhood—always looking for stories with strong and complex characters. She graduated from Duke University with a degree in German Literature, which exposed her to the delightfully creepy side of storytelling by writers like Kafka and Brecht. She also holds a law degree from Penn State Law School and a business degree from Duke’s Fuqua School of Business. Raised in Houston, Candace currently lives in the heart of Texas, where you can find her huddled in café corners, scribbling away in her notebook. She shares her life with a rocket scientist, a Plott Hound, and a Labradoodle, who all ensure there is never a dull day. She is the author of the critically acclaimed books Kneel, Good as Gold, and Susie King Taylor. Visit her at candacebuford.com and follow her on Instagram and Twitter @CandaceBuford.

Instagram: @candacebuford

Twitter/X: @candacebuford

Kara HL Chen is a Taiwanese American writer who received her MFA in fiction from Brooklyn College. She is the author of Love & Resistance (Quill Tree/HarperCollins) and Asking For A Friend (7/23/24, Quill Tree/HarperCollins).

Twitter/X: @hl_kara
Instagram:@hl_kara
Tiktok: @hl_kara

H.E. Edgmon is an author of queer speculative fiction across genres. Once a stray dog in the rural south, he now makes his home in the Pacific Northwest with a family of his own design. Haunted and hopeful, his work aims to offer levity without flinching from hard truths. In his writing and his daily life, H.E. will always prioritize the pursuit of an Indigenous future, the safety of our most vulnerable, and making a terrible joke whenever possible. His debut series, The Witch King duology, is out now, and his next book, the highly anticipated Godly Heathens releases November 28, 2023.
Instagram: @heedgmon

Maurene Goo is the author of several acclaimed books for young adults, including Throwback, I Believe in A Thing Called Love and Somewhere Only We Know. She’s also written for Marvel’s SILK series. She lives and writes in Los Angeles with her husband, son, and cats.

Instagram: @maurenegoo
X/Twitter: @maurenegoo
Tiktok: @maurenegoo

Byron Graves is Ojibwe and was born and raised on the Red Lake Indian Reservation, where he played high school basketball. When he isn’t writing, he can be found playing retro video games, skateboarding, or cleaning up after his cats. He now lives in Denver. Rez Ball is his debut novel.
IG: @Makwa_Giniw
X/Twitter: @byrongraves
Tiktok: @Makwa_Giniw
FB: facebook.com/authorbyrongraves

Jason June (it's a two-name first name, like Mary-Kate without the hyphen or the Olsen twin) is a best-selling author of young adult novels that celebrate queer love and lust and chaotically gay shenanigans. His works include Jay's Gay Agenda, Riley Weaver Needs A Date To The Gaybutante Ball, The Spells We Cast, and the instant New York Times best-seller, Out of the Blue. When not writing, JJ zips about Dallas, Texas, with his husband and their Pomeranian, Pom Brokaw. JJ is a tried and true Laura Dern stan, and he is actively looking for an Andalite friend. Find out more about JJ and his books at www.heyjasonjune.com.

TikTok: @heyjasonjune

Instagram: @heyjasonjune

Sean McGinty is the author of the young adult novels Rainbow in the Dark and The End of Fun, an American Booksellers Association Indies Introduce selection. A graduate of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, he teaches English and Creative Writing at Olympic College. His latest novel, which he is finishing up now, is an illustrated mystery/thriller about a brother and sister (and their cat) trapped inside a gothic manor. Sean lives in Bremerton, WA, with his family beneath two gigantic trees. You can find him on Instagram: @mcgintyface or Facebook: facebook.com/mcgintyface

Lily Meade is a biracial Black woman living outside of Seattle, Washington. Her work has been published in Bustle and Teen Vogue, and she has been featured in Romper, Buzzfeed, and Rolling Stone. The Shadow Sister is her debut novel, which was a finalist for the Eleanor Taylor Bland award for emerging writers by Sisters in Crime. Learn more at lilymeade.com.

Instagram: @lilymeade
Twitter: @lilymeade
YouTube:@lilymeadebooks
TikTok: @lilymeadebooks

Lio Min lives in Oakland, California, and writes toward the future. Their debut novel Beating Heart Baby is out now via Flatiron Books.

Instagram: @emo.ocean

Sonora Reyes Born and raised in Arizona, Sonora Reyes is the author of contemporary Young Adult novels The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School and The Luis Ortega Survival Club. They write fiction full of queer and Latine characters in a variety of genres, with current projects in both kidlit and adult categories. Sonora is also a co-founder of QPOCfest, a virtual book festival celebrating queer and trans BIPOC authors and books.

Instagram: @sonora.reyes
Twitter: @sonorareyes

Hannah V. Sawyerr was recognized as the Youth Poet Laureate of Baltimore in 2016. Her spoken word has been featured on the BBC’s World Have Your Say program, as well as the National Education Association’s “Do You Hear Us?” campaign. Her written word has been included in Essence, gal-dem, and xoNecole. She holds a BA in English from Morgan State University and an MFA in Creative Writing from The New School. Sawyerr is an English professor at Loyola Marymount University and lives in Los Angeles, California. All The Fighting Parts is her debut novel.
Instagram: @hannsawyerr
Twitter: @hannsawyerr
Tiktok: @hannahsawyer

Ray Stoeve is the author of the young adult novels Between Perfect and Real and Arden Grey, both Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selections. They also contributed to the young adult anthology Take The Mic: Fictional Stories of Everyday Resistance. They received a 2016-2017 Made at Hugo House Fellowship and created the YA/MG Trans and Nonbinary Voices Masterlist, a database that tracks all books in those age categories written by trans authors about trans characters. When they’re not writing, they can be found gardening, making art in other mediums, or hiking their beloved Pacific Northwest. Find them online at @raystoeve or raystoeve.com
Instagram: @raystoeve
Twitter: @raystoeve