A new wave of independent publishing talent will take centre stage at the Young Adult Literature Convention (YALC) next weekend (15–16 November) as the Inspiring Indies zone lands for the second year running at Olympia London; spotlighting boundary-pushing YA voices, bold new presses, and the readers and creators powering the indie renaissance.
Curated and presented by Literally PR (www.literallypr.com), the award-winning author-branding and publicity agency, Inspiring Indies shines a spotlight on the most exciting self-published and small-press authors in YA today. It is a space where readers, creators, and industry professionals can discover extraordinary stories being told beyond the mainstream.
“I created the wider Inspiring Indies initiative to celebrate creative freedom, inclusivity, and the entrepreneurial spirit of today’s authors,” said Helen Lewis, Founder and Director of Literally PR, which enters its 15th year of business in 2026. “So many incredible indie YA writers are building loyal readerships through passion, authenticity, and innovation, this zone gives them a professional, high-profile platform to connect directly with fans, reviewers, and book industry gatekeepers.”
What to expect
Inspiring Indies Exhibition Zone: A vibrant hub of independent authors and boutique presses, featuring signings, giveaways, and reader-exclusive editions. You’ll find us in the same corner as last year (by the signing line)!
Quickfire Indie Insights: Join us for a panel talk & Q&A each day offering honest, real talk on being an indie author, book marketing, discoverability, social media, and author branding. Saturday at 1pm: Breaking the Rules – The rise of the indie YA rebel.
Sunday at 4pm: Indie Author Life – What they don’t tell you about going solo.
There will be golden tickets under some chairs at each event for attendees to win prizes!
Ask the PR Team: Drop-in Q&A sessions with the Literally PR team, who have launched more than 800 books, and will be on hand to offer expert guidance on publicity, branding, and long-term author careers.
Reader Rewards & Giveaways: Pick up Inspiring Indies merch and books, collect signatures, and win prizes.
Author Meet & Greet Appearances from:
Emma Whitehall – Heretical
Daniella Draven – Confessions of an Invisible Girl
John Tarrow – The Stranger’s Guide to Talliston
Kestral Gaian – Tubelines
Luke O’Connell – Wonderfell
Marie Voinson – Us Against The Likes
Roz MacLaren – City and Shadow
SJ Clarke – Ringside Gamble
Plus Bookseller Guest Appearances from:
Alex Darkfell · Becky Jones · Emma Whitehall · John Tarrow · Kerry Williams · Kiera Nixon · Sara Sultane