Young Adult Novelist Convention (YANovCon) 2026

YANovCon 2026: Fantasy vs Reality: Escape Into Fiction

The Peninsula Libraries' 11th annual Young Adult Novelists Convention (YANovCon) will take place Saturday, February 28, 2026, from 11:00 AM to 4:30 PM at the Belmont Library, opens a new window.

Escape into fiction with us at the 11th annual YANovCon, a free, half-day convention connecting local teens and YA enthusiasts (or fans or readers) to some of today's top YA authors. We'll start the day with a Teen Writing Workshop led by novelist Arriel Vinson, opens a new window, followed by a keynote address by author Don Martin. The convention will include a Q&A session and three engaging panel discussions exploring topics connected to this year’s theme, Fantasy vs. Reality: Escape into Fiction. YANovCon will conclude with author book signings. Books will be available to purchase on-site thanks to our wonderful partnership with Linden Tree Books, opens a new window.

Panel Discussions and Author Book Signings

Anticipated Schedule

11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Writing Workshop for Teens
Hosted by Arriel Vinson

12:00 PM - 12:15 PM

Intro/Welcome
2026 Teen Short Story Contest Winners Announced

12:15 PM - 12:45 PM

Keynote Address With Don Martin
Q&A session led by TBD

1:00 PM - 1:45 PM
Session 1

Heroes, Quests, and Coming of Age: How Teen Tropes Connect With the Real Journeys of Teens Today

Moderator: Aimee Phan
Panelists: Lily Anderson, Cait Levin, Axie Oh and T.L. Simpson

2:00 PM - 2:45 PM
Session 2

Worlds Within Us: Looking at Identity, Belonging and Truth Through Different Lenses

Moderator: Axie Oh
Panelists: Robbie Couch, Laura Gao, Aimee Phan and Arriel Vinson

3:00 PM - 3:45 PM
Session 3

Resistance Worldbuilding - Fantasy vs. Real-life Fiction: Steps Different Authors Take to Build the Worlds Their Characters Live In

Moderator: Robbie Couch
Panelists: Kalynn Bayron, Kristy Boyce, Ana Ellickson and Jackie Johnson

4:00 PM - 4:30 PM

Book Signing With All Authors

We've partnered with Linden Tree to have books available for purchase at the event.

Lineup of Authors

This year's YANovCon proudly features the following award-winning, notable and new young adult novelists:

Lily Anderson

Lily Anderson, opens a new window is the Printz Honor-winning author of many books, including Scout's Honor, opens a new window, Undead Girl Gang, opens a new window, and The Only Thing Worse Than Me Is You, opens a new window. A former school librarian, she is deeply devoted to Shakespeare, fairy tales, and podcasts. Somewhere in Northern California, she is expressing strong opinions on musical theater. Find her online at mslilyanderson.com, opens a new window

Kalynn Bayron

Kalynn Bayron, opens a new window is the New York Times and Indie bestselling author of the YA fantasy novels Cinderella Is Dead, opens a new window and This Poison Heart, opens a new window. Her latest works include the YA horror novel You're Not Supposed to Die Tonight, opens a new window and the middle grade paranormal adventure The Vanquishers, opens a new window. She is a CILIP Carnegie Medal Nominee, a Bram Stoker Award nominee, a LOCUS Award finalist, and the recipient of the 2022 Randall Kenan Award for Black LGBTQ fiction. She is a classically trained vocalist and musical theater enthusiast. When she's not writing, you can find her watching scary movies and spending time with her family.

Instagram: @kalynnbayron, opens a new window
Threads: @kalynnbayron, opens a new window
TikTok: @kalynnbayron, opens a new window

Kristy Boyce

Kristy Boyce is the New York Times bestselling author of Dating and Dragons, Dungeons and Drama, Hot British Boyfriend, and Hot Dutch Daydream. She played her first role-playing game in high school and has been friends with that group ever since. In fact, she even married the DM. Nowadays, she teaches psychology as a senior lecturer at The Ohio State University. When she’s not spending time with her husband and son, she’s usually writing, reading, or watching happy reality TV. Kristy lives in Pickerington, Ohio.

Instagram: @kristylboyce

Robbie Couch

Robbie Couch is a Los Angeles-based author who is originally from Michigan. His next young adult novel, Just the Good Parts, comes out in September 2026. If I See You Again Tomorrow, his New York Times bestselling third novel, has received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly, Booklist, and the Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books. Robbie's debut, The Sky Blues, was a Barnes & Noble Young Adult Book of the Year finalist and Junior Library Guild selection. His first adult fiction novel, Bloom, comes out in March 2026.

Instagram: @RobbieCouch

Ana Ellickson

Ana Ellickson writes about fierce girls, family curses, and everyday magic. The Vanishing Station (Abrams/Amulet, 2024) is her debut novel about jumping secret portals in the San Francisco subway. Roman the Renegade—her graphic novel script about street art and Filipino monsters—was awarded the 2021 New Visions Honor by Lee & Low Books. She grew up in San Francisco with a Filipina mama who still tells complete strangers that her daughter was valedictorian. Follow her travel adventures on Instagram: @ellicksonwriter

Laura Gao

Jackie Johnson

Jackie Johnson is a San Diego-born poet and novelist. With a background as a journalist, a BA in history, and an education in armed defense, Jackie has a uniquely authentic voice within the historical genre. Her debut novel, Bladestay, received a starred review from School Library Journal, was an IBPA Benjamin Franklin gold medal winner, a Silver Falchion finalist, and was the January 2024 Once Upon a Book Club’s young adult selection. She and her husband live on a ranch in Southern California, where she spends her days writing and chasing after their dreams, their two children, five horses, four cats and two dogs.

Instagram: @jaqsattack
Threads: @jaqsattack
Threads: @jaqsattack

Cait Levin

Cait Levin is an innovative educator, project manager, and leader of teams. Kirkus called her debut novel, Imposter, “an inspiring, unapologetically feminist takedown of misogyny in STEM culture.” Cait earned a BA from Barnard College and an MA from Middlebury College. When she isn’t looking for ways to help folks learn and build confidence, she likes to read, cook, play video games, and write fiction.

Instagram: @caitlevinwritesbooks, opens a new window

Don Martin

Don Martin, opens a new window is the New York Times, USA Today, and Indie bestselling author of Verity Vox and the Curse of Foxfire, opens a new window. He was born in Appalachia and now lives with his husband in the Chicagoland area, where he produces his inquisitive interview podcast, Head On Fire.

Instagram: @bydonmartin, opens a new window
TikTok: @bydonmartin, opens a new window
Threads: @bydonmartin, opens a new window

Axie Oh

Axie Oh, opens a new window is the New York Times bestselling author of The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea, opens a new window, The Floating World duology, opens a new window, XOXO, opens a new window and ASAP, opens a new window, and the Rebel Seoul, opens a new window series. Born in New York City and raised in New Jersey, she studied Korean history and creative writing as an undergrad at the University of California San Diego and holds an MFA in Writing for Young People from Lesley University. Her passions include K-pop, anime, stationery supplies, and milk tea. She currently resides in Las Vegas, Nevada, with her dogs, Toro and Leila.

Instagram: @axieoh, opens a new window

Aimee Phan

Aimee Phan is the author of The Lost Queen, the first book in a young adult duology, published by Putnam Books for Young Readers. She is also the author of two books for adults, We Should Never Meet: Stories and The Reeducation of Cherry Truong. She has received fellowships and residencies from the NEA, MacDowell Colony, the Rockefeller Foundation's Bellagio Center, Djerassi and Hedgebrook. Her writing has appeared in The New York Times, Time, USA Today and CNN.com, among other publications. Aimee teaches as a professor in writing and literature at the California College of the Arts in San Francisco and resides in Berkeley, California, with her family.

Instagram: @aimeephanwrites
TikTok: @aimeephanwrites

T.L. Simpson

T.L. Simpson is an award-winning journalist and novelist living in Arkansas. He is currently the editor of his hometown paper. His fiction draws from his experiences growing up in the Ozarks. Simpson lives in the Arkansas River Valley, between the Ozark and Ouachita Mountains, with his wife and four children. He is the author of Strong Like You, Cope Field and the forthcoming Accelerant.

Instagram: @word_factory21
Threads: @ word_factory21
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tlsimpson.bsky.social

Arriel Vinson

Arriel Vinson, opens a new window is a Reese's Book Club LitUp Fellow and Midwesterner who writes about being young, Black, and in search of freedom. She earned her MFA in Fiction from Sarah Lawrence College. Her poetry, fiction, and essays have appeared in Kweli Journal, Catapult, The Rumpus, Waxwing, and others. Arriel is a Tin House YA Scholar, Highlights Foundation scholarship recipient, and 2020 Walter Grant recipient. Under the Neon Lights, opens a new window, a YA novel-in-verse, is her debut. You can connect with her on social media at @arriwrites and find her work at arriwrites.com, opens a new window.

Instagram: @arriwrites, opens a new window
Threads: @arriwrites, opens a new window
X: @arriwrites, opens a new window
TikTok: @arriwrites25, opens a new window

Get Ready for YANovCon 2026

Stay in touch with us and receive the latest author updates by following #YANovCon on Facebook, opens a new window, X, opens a new window, and Instagram, opens a new window.
Read or listen to books by authors you'll see at YANovCon.
YANovCon is appropriate for families, including middle and high school students. Some mature topics could be discussed in the sessions.
Limited parking is available at the Belmont Library. Additional street parking may be available nearby on a first-come, first-served basis. We encourage attendees to use public transportation or carpool when possible. The library is accessible via Caltrain, opens a new window and SamTrans, opens a new window.

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YANovCon 2026: Fantasy vs Reality: Escape Into Fiction

Panel Discussions and Author Book Signings

Anticipated Schedule

Lineup of Authors

Get Ready for YANovCon 2026

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