Photo Illustration: Andrea Haseley
YALLFEST 2026 | YALLFEST.org
Since 1995
We go way back.
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Executive Director Jonathan Sanchez Festival Producer/ Development Director Frances Oliver Communications Director Rachel Strolle Festival Producer Stephanie Barna Schools Coordinator Sara Peck Social Media Coordinator Keara Rodriguez Blue Bicycle Books Staff Maddox Allen Sasha Audier-Johnson Jake Keim Sara Peck Ryan Poole Evelyn Sanchez Xander Sanchez Madeleine Turner Alex Ullman
THANK YOU THANKS TO THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF: Jordana Snider City of Charleston Accommodations Tax SPECIAL THANKS TO: Grace Smith The Lesher Family Charleston County Library Charleston Music Hall Charleston City Paper Andrea Haseley David Strauss Photography Holy City Hospitality Charleston Museum
Board of Directors Andria Amaral Soman Chainani Melissa de la Cruz Kami Garcia C. Alexander London Danielle Paige Brendan Reichs Veronica Roth Jonathan Sanchez Raphael Simon Margaret Stohl YALLFest HQ: Blue Bicycle Books 420 King Street Charleston SC 29403 (843) 722-2666 | YALLFest.org
Visit our sister festival at Santa Monica College in California, April 23 & 24, 2027. yallwest.com Justin Sealey The Tiny Tassel Hotel Richemont Off Track Ice Cream St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church PrimeSouth Palmetto Parking Bennett Hospitality Tinto Cafe and Provisions Mudhouse Coffee Oliver Pluff’s Tea Shop Kudu Acme Parking
AND THANK YOU...
To the hundreds of volunteers that help make YALLFest such a great success.
YALLFEST 2026 | YALLFEST.org
2026 Festival Chairs Melissa de la Cruz Margaret Stohl
YALLFest Staff Esme Barna Sara Black Allison King Meg Laverty Andye O’Dell Steve Padilla Sophia Ray Cody Roecker Allison Ruffolo Tiffany Young-Williams Sally Young
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YAL L r e a d y f o r a n E PI C F E S T i v a l ? 9:00 AM A TO T E a l l y E PIC DRO P Start the day picking up an Epic Reads tote*
Come visit the Epic Reads booth in front of the Charleston Museum for fun, giveaways & more all day long! THE GALLEY GAMES! 11:00 AM & 1:00 PM
12:00 AM & 2:00 PM
SPI N- TO- WI N
D R OP- TO- W I N
Spin the wheel and let fate decide which advanced copy you’ll receive!
Drop your token in the Plinko board and let gravity decide which advanced copy you’ll receive!
4:00 PM
JOIN SASHA PEYTON SM I TH’S FOX CREW Find a puzzle piece hidden around the festival and bring it back to the booth to get a galley of THE FOX BRIDE and help reveal deluxe endpage art!
TH E SE B O OTS WER E MA DE FOR DANCING Take a free line dancing class and get an advance copy of Meg Cabot’s upcoming YA novel KISSING COWBOYS
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EpicReads.com
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YALLFEST 2026 | YALLFEST.org
Location: Quad at the Charleston Museum
*While supplies last
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YALLFEST 2026 | YALLFEST.org
VISIT THE
CHOOSE UP TO
TWO TICKETS FOR
GIVEAWAYS OF THE
BOOTH! NEW READS
FESTIVAL’S HOTTEST
YALLFEST 2026 | YALLFEST.org
ED TICKET YS A W A GIVE
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G I V E A W AY S , C R A G N I T I C ADDITIONAL EX S TO R E , K O O B R U O E BROWS UR PURCHASE, O Y H T I W S C GRAB FREE AR R E A D S B O OT H ! E C R E I F E H T AND MORE IN @fiercereads
FIERCE FRIDAY
John L. Dart Library, 1067 King St.
Ticketed event. If still available, tickets can be found at yallfest.citypapertickets.com. Session 1 — 2:30 p.m. Signings with Adalyn Grace, Stephanie Garber, Mary E. Pearson, Page Powars., H.D. Hunter, and Melissa de la Cruz. Session 2 — 3:30 p.m. Signings with Tricia Levenseller, Amanda Foody, C.L. Herman, Kelly Quindlen, and Lily Berlin Dodd.
12 p.m.
E. Lockhart
1 p.m.
Sasha Peyton Smith
2 p.m.
Kaylie Smith Cassandra Clare Tracy Deonn Chloe Gong I.V. Marie Ashley Poston Kristen Ciccarelli
3 p.m.
Ava Reid Soman Chainani Brigid Kemmerer Sarah Dessen Shannon J. Spann Allison Saft Anna Bright
4 p.m.
Veronica Roth Lynn Painter Sarah Beth Durst Gail Carson Levine Brandon Mull Fonda Lee
Mudhouse Coffee, 375 King St.
125pm
Big Book Tent, 422 King St. Big Book Tent, 422 King St. Big Book Tent, 422 King St. Hotel Richemont, 93 Society St. Kudu Coffee, 4 Vanderhorst St. Lit Alley, 418 King St. Mudhouse Coffee, 375 King St. Oliver Pluff’s Tea Shop, 49 John St. Big Book Tent, 422 King St. Big Book Tent, 422 King St. Big Book Tent, 422 King St. Kudu Coffee, 4 Vanderhorst St. Lit Alley, 418 King St. The Tiny Tassel, 46 Spring St. The Tiny Tassel, 46 Spring St. Big Book Tent, 422 King St. Big Book Tent, 422 King St. Lit Alley, 418 King St. Off Track Ice Cream, 6 Beaufain St. Off Track Ice Cream, 6 Beaufain St. Tinto Cafe and Provisions, 45 John St.
SPECIAL GIVEAWAY 4 p.m. YALLCrawl Giveaway
CALLING ALL ASPIRING LIT RPG WRITERS! Swing by the Big Book Tent at 422 King St. for a sweet treat and a sampler of the latest comics and prose releases from Stone Kite, a new transmedia studio co-founded by experts from comics, games, prose, film/TV. Working on a novel, graphic novel, or LitRPG of your own? Sign up to join the Stone Kite Discord and chat with other writers. Free and open to the public, while supplies last!
YALLFEST 2026 | YALLFEST.org
YALLFest kicks off with Yallcrawl, a literary crawl featuring author signings at venues around King Street and beyond. Plus Fierce Friday, a ticketed signing event at the John L. Dart Library.
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Signing Guidelines O
ne person may get three books signed by an author per trip through the line, many lines may not allow for multiple trips through the line, so prioritize your favorites! YALLFest staff and authors try to accommodate everyone, but there may be occasional limits enforced based on time and availability. Any lines that allow for posed photos, please remain in front of the table. These general guidelines may be overruled by specific guidelines listed by author.
* Ticketed Signings Select Friday and Saturday signings have been ticketed in advance. This is a system to help prioritize both attendee safety and author wellbeing. All other signings are first-come, first-served and may still get cut off if they reach capacity. If someone is waiting in line with a friend/student/child/etc. and not getting books signed, they do not need a ticket and will be able to wait in line with the ticketholder until they reach the front of the line. Signed stock will also be available, so even if you don’t make it into a particular line, you may still be able to snag a signed book!
Find out where your favorite authors will be. Check Yallfest.org for schedule by author. SIGNING LOCATIONS American Theater Big Book Tent Charleston Museum Lit Alley
446 King St. 422 King St. 360 Meeting St. 418 King St.
12 p.m. 10 a.m.
Shannon Messenger * Chloe Gong
Charleston Museum, 360 Meeting St. Big Book Tent, 422 King St.
Rajani LaRocca David Levithan Brandon Mull Lily Berlin Dodd Emily Varga Ashley Poston Brigid Kemmerer * Stephanie Garber * Tahereh Mafi Gail Carson Levine Ransom Riggs
American Theater, 446 King St. American Theater, 446 King St. Charleston Museum, 360 Meeting St. Charleston Museum, 360 Meeting St. Lit Alley, 418 King St. Lit Alley, 418 King St. Lit Alley, 418 King St. Lit Alley, 418 King St. Big Book Tent, 422 King St. Big Book Tent, 422 King St. Big Book Tent, 422 King St.
YALLFEST 2026 | YALLFEST.org
11 a.m.
12 p.m.
* Sarah Beth Durst Melissa de la Cruz Kristen Ciccarelli 8 Kat Cho
American Theater, 446 King St. American Theater, 446 King St. Charleston Museum, 360 Meeting St. Lit Alley, 418 King St.
Sasha Peyton Smith F.A. Davidson * Sarah Dessen * Adalyn Grace Ryan La Sala * Cassandra Clare * Tracy Deonn
1 p.m.
Lola StVil N.E. Davenport C.L. Herman & Amanda Foody * Ava Reid Paula Chase E. Lockhart Soman Chainani Camryn Garrett * Kaylie Smith Noelle Monét Anna Bright Allison Saft
Andrew Joseph White
Find your favorite authors signing books at venues around Charleston!
Lit Alley, 418 King St. Lit Alley, 418 King St. Lit Alley, 418 King St. Lit Alley, 418 King St. Big Book Tent, 422 King St. Big Book Tent, 422 King St. Big Book Tent, 422 King St. American Theater, 446 King St. American Theater, 446 King St. Charleston Museum, 360 Meeting St. Lit Alley, 418 King St. Lit Alley, 418 King St. Lit Alley, 418 King St. Lit Alley, 418 King St. Lit Alley, 418 King St. Lit Alley, 418 King St. Big Book Tent, 422 King St. Big Book Tent, 422 King St. Big Book Tent, 422 King St. Big Book Tent, 422 King St.
YALLFEST Author Signings
2 p.m.
Mary E. Pearson Tricia Levenseller Page Powars Keala Kendall Ayana Gray * Ann Liang Marisa Churchill * Veronica Roth Natasha Díaz Gloria Muñoz I.V. Marie Olivia Wildenstein Robyn Schneider * Lynn Painter
3 p.m.
Jarrett Krosoczka Lauren Blackwood Shannon Lee & Fonda Lee H.D. Hunter Kami Garcia Tochi Onyebuchi
American Theater, 446 King St. American Theater, 446 King St. Charleston Museum, 360 Meeting St. Charleston Museum, 360 Meeting St. Charleston Museum, 360 Meeting St. Lit Alley, 418 King St. Lit Alley, 418 King St. Lit Alley, 418 King St. Lit Alley, 418 King St. Lit Alley, 418 King St. Lit Alley, 418 King St. Big Book Tent, 422 King St. Big Book Tent, 422 King St. Big Book Tent, 422 King St. American Theater, 446 King St. American Theater, 446 King St. Charleston Museum, 360 Meeting St. Charleston Museum, 360 Meeting St. Lit Alley, 418 King St. Lit Alley, 418 King St.
*Ticketed signing
3 p.m.
Miles Toriko Burks Shannon J. Spann Margaret Stohl Julian Winters Maureen Johnson Lamar Giles
Lit Alley, 418 King St. Lit Alley, 418 King St. Lit Alley, 418 King St. Big Book Tent, 422 King St. Big Book Tent, 422 King St. Big Book Tent, 422 King St.
Ikwo Ntekim Kelly Quindlen Kiara Valdez Taylor Grothe Brandon Hoàng DeAndra Davis Christina Ferko M.J. Hastings Alaa Al-Barkawi E.L. Shen
Charleston Museum, 360 Meeting St. Charleston Museum, 360 Meeting St. Lit Alley, 418 King St. Lit Alley, 418 King St. Lit Alley, 418 King St. Lit Alley, 418 King St. Lit Alley, 418 King St. Big Book Tent, 422 King St. Big Book Tent, 422 King St. Big Book Tent, 422 King St.
4 p.m.
Didn’t make it through a particular line, you may still be able to snag a signed book! Visit the Big Book Tent, 422 King St.
Find Author, Chef, and former Top Chef competitor Marisa Churchill
w at YALLFest
1:00 pm – Author Panel: “A Strong Foundation: Building a Story from the Ground up” in the American Theater – Cinema
Author Meet & Greet and Book Signing 2:00 pm / Location: Lit Alley
Free chocolate tasting and recipe card with purchase of
On Sale Now
Secrets, Spells, and Chocolate
bonus—First 20 people in line will receive a custom chocolate
and be entered to win a chocolate book crafted by the author
YALLFEST 2026 | YALLFEST.org
4:00 pm – Author Panel: “Making a Page a Portal: How the Written Word Becomes a World That Feels Real to the Reader” in the American Theater – Ballroom
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3 WAYS TO GET ARCS #1
9:00 AM - 1:00 PM ENTER OUR SWEEPSTAKES! Scan QR code below (or at our booth!) to enter. Winners will be emailed. ARCS MUST BE CLAIMED BY 4:00 PM
FANTASY + DYSTOPIAN
THRILLER + HORROR
#2
9:00 AM EVENT QUAD GO TO OUR DARK ACADEMIA ALUMNI DROP! Limited to 100 attendees. Wristbands given out 1 hour before at site. Exclusive GRAVESPELL tote bags include an ARC and lenticular character tarot cards, FLICKERSTATE playing cards, and a SHE WHO MAKES MONSTERS chapter sampler.
YALLFEST 2026 | YALLFEST.org
SCAN TO ENTER!
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#3
4:00 PM ROLL FOR YOUR NEXT READ! FATE PICKS THE GENRE. YOU GET A WRAPPED ARC TO TAKE HOME! WHILE SUPPLIES LAST
@sourcebooksfire
Meet Your Favorite Hyperion Authors at YALLFest
Kat Cho
Camryn Garrett
ALSO
Join us on Saturday afting Hour, r C y z o C a r o f
o n o n r e t f A C R A & a Te veaways! i
Saturday, November 14, 2 p.m. The Charleston Museum Event Quad *LIMITED TO FIRST 100 ATTENDEES IN LINE FOLLOW US @HYPERIONAVEBOOKS
YALLFEST 2026 | YALLFEST.org
Gi
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Special Events, Talks, and Panels TICKETS All events are FREE unless noted as a ticketed event. If still available, tickets can be purchased at yallfest.citypapertickets.com. Seating is general admission. First-come, first-served.
LOCATIONS
American Theater Ballroom, Cinema, & Stars Bar 446 King St. Big Book Tent 422 King St. Charleston Music Hall 37 John St. Charleston Museum & Event Quad 360 Meeting St.
YALLFEST 2026 | YALLFEST.org
Lit Alley 418 King St.
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For latest updates to schedule, visit
YALLFest.org
YALLFEST Special Events, Talks, and Panels
9:30 a.m. | Special Event START YOUR DAY WITH I READ YA! I Read YA Booth at Charleston Museum, 360 Meeting St. Grab a donut, pick up our spring 2027 galleys and swag, and get Tylor Whitlock and Feast of Hearts advanced copies signed by the authors.
Ticketed
TALK
10 a.m. OPENING KEYNOTE WITH VERONICA ROTH, CASSANDRA CLARE, AND TAHEREH MAFI Charleston Music Hall, 37 John St. $10, tickets available at yallfest.citypapertickets.com
10 a.m. | Panel Discussion WOULD YOU RATHER BATTLE A SUPERVILLAIN CHICKEN FOR A DAY OR WORK FOR A GRUMPY SQUID FOR A WEEK? AND OTHER IMPORTANT MIDDLE GRADE QUESTIONS Charleston Museum, 360 Meeting St. Moderated by Jarrett Krosoczka with Brandon Mull, Gail Carson Levine, Lily Berlin Dodd, Rajani LaRocca, and Camryn Garrett. 11 a.m. | Panel Discussion IT’S A THRILL TO BE HERE: PAGE-TURNING THRILLERS THAT KEEP US GUESSING Charleston Music Hall, 37 John St. Moderated by Maureen Johnson with Ryan La Sala, E. Lockhart, Lamar Giles, Kendall Annette, and Soman Chainani. 11 a.m. | Panel Discussion FRIENDS, ROMANS, BESTIES, COUNTRYMEN: BUILDING CHARACTER RELATIONSHIPS ACROSS FRIENDS, FAMILY, AND LOVE INTERESTS Charleston Museum, 360 Meeting St. Moderated by Camryn Garrett with Sarah Dessen, Kelly Quindlen, Alaa Al-Barkawi, and Paula Chase.
11 a.m. | Panel Discussion ROMFEST KEYNOTE WITH SARAH BETH DURST AND TRICIA LEVENSELLER Ages18+ American Theater - Ballroom, 446 King St. 11 a.m. | Panel Discussion WOW, THIS ESCAPE ROOM IS REALLY HARD: READING FOR ESCAPISM AND WHY WE GET LOST IN OUR FAVORITE WORLDS American Theater - Cinema, 446 King St. Moderated by Julian Winters with Sasha Peyton Smith, Gloria Muñoz, I.V. Marie, and F.A. Davidson. 11 a.m. | Special Event BEDAZZLE BEFORE THE DARK DESCENT WITH KRISTEN CICCARELLI Stars Bar at the American Theater, 446 King St. Pre-registered free event. If tickets are still available, you can find them on yallfest.citypapertickets.com Be sure to bring your copies of Heartless Hunter and Rebel Witch to bedazzle and get signed. 11 a.m. | Special Event PLOTS & PASTRIES Event Quad at Charleston Museum, 360 Meeting St. Grab a book-themed treat and take home an ARC! Ticket drop occurs at the Underlined Booth at the Charleston Museum at 9 a.m. 12 p.m. | Panel Discussion (RE)STARTING OVER: COMING UP WITH NEW IDEAS AND KNOWING WHICH TO FOLLOW Charleston Music Hall, 37 John St. Moderated by Allison Saft with Lynn Painter, Anna Bright, Ava Reid, Lauren Blackwood, and Ayana Gray. 12 p.m. | Interactive Game B-I-N-G-O: AUTHORS WHO WRITE FOR TEENS, TWEENS, AND YOUNGER BATTLE IT OUT IN AN EPIC BINGO BATTLE! Charleston Museum, 360 Meeting St. Moderated by Paula Chase with Kiara Valdez, Amanda Foody, E.L. Shen, and Shannon Messenger 12 p.m. | Panel Discussion NO WORRIES, I GOT THIS!: HOW TO BE A TEEN WHILE ALSO DEALING WITH CREATURES, MAGIC, AND THE VASTNESS OF SPACE American Theater - Ballroom, 446 King St. Moderated by Ashley Poston with Robyn Schneider, Lola StVil, Noelle Monét, and C.L. Herman.
YALLFEST 2026 | YALLFEST.org
9 a.m. | Special Event DARK ACADEMIA ALUMNI DROP Event Quad at Charleston Museum, 360 Meeting St. Limited to 100 attendees. Wristbands will be given out in line at 8 a.m. Exclusive Gravespell tote bags will include an ARC and lenticular character tarot cards, Flickerstate playing cards, and a She Who Makes Monsters chapter sampler.
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YALLFEST sarah dessen
DeAndra Davis
tracy deonn
YALLFEST 2026 | YALLFEST.org
Complete your punch card and get an exclusive pin!
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lynn painter
chloe gong
Noelle Monét
shannon messenger
Enter the raffle for a chance to win a deluxe prize pack!
Grab a wristband to secure your spot at the Bookish Brunch with Simon Teen and snag a pastry, mystery ARC, and exclusive swag!
@simonTeen
GET
AT
DON’T MISS THESE GIVEAWAYS AND EVENTS! 9:30 AM
2:30 PM
Duck, Duck, Murder Giveaway
Gutterwitch ARC Drop
Underlined Booth
Underlined Booth
11:00 AM
4:00 PM
Plots & Pastries
Sweet Treats Giveaway
Charleston Museum Event Quad
Underlined Booth
Grab a book-themed treat and take home an ARC! Ticket drop occurs at 9 AM.
Tarot and Tomes Giveaway Underlined Booth
@getunderlined getunderlined.com
ALL DAY Shadowhunter Photo Op Underlined Booth
YALLFEST 2026 | YALLFEST.org
1:00 PM
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AT YALLFEST! 9:30 AM KICK OFF YOUR DAY WITH I READ YA Pick up highly anticipated Spring 2027 YA galleys!*
11:00 AM MIDDLE GRADE HOUR Pick up highly anticipated Spring 2027 MG galleys and stay to make your own SLIME!*
12:30 PM MEET AUTHOR LAMAR GILES Get a signed galley of Lamar’s upcoming thriller.*
1:30 PM MEET AUTHOR RYAN LA SALA Get a signed galley of Ryan’s upcoming sequel to THE DEAD OF SUMMER.*
2:30 PM BLIND DATE WITH A PAPERBACK YALLFEST 2026 | YALLFEST.org
Make your TBR dreams come true and get your next perfect read. What will your choice be?!*
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3:30 PM HUNGER GAMES: SUNRISE ON THE REAPING Get ready for the upcoming movie with lots of swag!* * While Supplies Last. ©2026 Scholastic, Inc. All Rights Reserved
YALLFEST Special Events, Talks, and Panels
12 p.m. | Special Event BEDAZZLE WHILE YOU LISTEN WITH PRH AUDIO Event Quad at Charleston Museum, 360 Meeting St. Join authors E. Lockhart and Julian Winters in a bedazzle while you listen event. The first 25 attendees will receive a pair of headphones to bedazzle. Attendees should also feel welcome to bring their own item to bedazzle. 1 p.m. | Special Event SIMON TEEN DINER: BOOKISH BRUNCH Event Quad at Charleston Museum, 360 Meeting St. What’s your reading taste, sweet or savory? Stop by for pastries, an exclusive Simon Teen Diner bag, and a mystery ARC based on your reading taste. Grab a wristband at the booth to secure your spot. 1 p.m. | Panel Discussion IT’S NOT ROCKET SCIENCE (FICTION): DROIDS, DYSTOPIAS, AND SUPERPOWERS Charleston Music Hall, 37 John St. Moderated by Margaret Stohl with Kami Garcia, Chloe Gong, Tahereh Mafi, Ashley Poston, and Veronica Roth. 1 p.m. | Panel Discussion MEETING THE MOMENT: PORTRAYING MODERN TEENS IN FICTION Charleston Museum, 360 Meeting St. Moderated by Keala Kendall with Maureen Johnson, Alaa Al-Barkawi, DeAndra Davis, Natasha Díaz, and Page Powars.
1 p.m. | Panel Discussion BALANCING THE DRAGON SCALES: ROMANCE, FANTASY, AND MAKING SURE EVERYTHING FEELS COHESIVE
1 p.m. | Special Event STEP INTO SPELLFIRE Stars Bar at the American Theater, 446 King St. Join Robyn Schneider for an immersive hour of bingo, Q&A, and delicious treats! Attendees will receive an advance copy of Spellfire. This is a ticketed event. Come by the Penguin Teen booth between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m. to request a ticket. Tickets are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last. 2 p.m. | Panel Discussion A WHOLE NEW WORLD: CRAFTING A MAGICAL AND INTRIGUING FANTASY WORLD Charleston Music Hall, 37 John St. Moderated by Shannon J. Spann with Kristen Ciccarelli, Ikwo Ntekim, Stephanie Garber, Fonda Lee, and Shannon Lee. 2 p.m. | Interactive Game MIDDLE GRADE MONOPOLY Charleston Museum, 360 Meeting St. With Brandon Mull, Gail Carson Levine, Lily Berlin Dodd, H.D. Hunter, and Julian Winters. 2 p.m. | Panel Discussion STATE OF THE ART: BLENDING PICTURES AND WORDS INTO GRAPHIC NOVELS American Theater - Ballroom, 446 King St. Moderated by Jarrett Krosoczka with Tochi Onyebuchi, Kami Garcia, Kiara Valdez, Miles Toriko Burks, and Brandon Hoàng. 2 p.m. | Panel Discussion THE BRAIN GAME: NEURODIVERGENCE AND MENTAL HEALTH IN YA American Theater - Cinema, 446 King St. Moderated by DeAndra Davis with Taylor Grothe, Andrew Joseph White, Christina Ferko, and Kat Cho.
American Theater - Ballroom, 446 King St. Moderated by Tricia Levenseller with Melissa de la Cruz, Ann Liang, Brigid Kemmerer, Olivia Wildenstein, and Mary E. Pearson.
2 p.m. | Special Event COZY CRAFTS & AFTERNOON TEA WITH HYPERION Event Quad at Charleston Museum, 360 Meeting St. Make bookmarks, sip tea, and enjoy sweet treats from a local Charleston bakery! Get free ARCs for some of next year’s most anticipated reads. The event will be open to the first 100 guests on a first-come, first-served basis.
1 p.m. | Panel Discussion A STRONG FOUNDATION: BUILDING A STORY FROM THE GROUND UP American Theater - Cinema, 446 King St. Moderated by David Levithan with E.L. Shen, Marisa Churchill, Emily Varga, and Ransom Riggs.
3 p.m. | Panel Discussion EXPANSION PACKS: BUILDING, BROADENING, AND EVOLVING THE WORLD OF A SERIES Charleston Music Hall, 37 John St. Moderated by Ransom Riggs with Tracy Deonn, Cassandra Clare, Kristen Ciccarelli, Chloe Gong, and Adalyn Grace.
Ages18+
YALLFEST 2026 | YALLFEST.org
12 p.m. | Panel Discussion TO INFINITY AND BEYOND THE PAGE: STORYTELLING ACROSS MEDIUMS American Theater - Cinema, 446 King St. Moderated by Margaret Stohl with Tochi Onyebuchi, Brandon Hoàng, Shannon J. Spann, and Shannon Lee.
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JUNK JOURNAL and JAVA with
Stars Bar at the American Theater
LOCAL · LOW FEES · GREAT EVENTS Guest emcee Taylor Grothe
.COM
Join us for an afternoon break of creativity, caffeine, and conversation 3PM, Saturday, November 14th
LOCAL · LOW FEES · GR
446 King Street
SPECIAL AUTHOR GUESTS
Alaa Al-Barkawi, Gloria Muñoz, Andrew Joseph White, and Taylor Grothe
INTO THE WOODS, JR. SATURDAY, NOV. 7 AT 2 P.M. AND SUNDAY, NOV. 15 AT 3 P.M.
YALLFEST 2026 | YALLFEST.org
AT SOUTH OF BROADWAY THEATRE COMPANY
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We’ll have everything you need to make a very special YALLFest journal, in addition to ARC giveaways, author mood boards, and more! And of course, coffee. Please note: this venue is on the second floor of the building and there is no elevator. If you are unable to attend because of this, please email us-influencers@walkerbooksgroup.com and we’ll send you a junk journaling package.
FIREFLY DISTILLERY’S SUNDAY OYSTER ROAST SERIES SUNDAY, NOV. 22 AT 11 A.M. AT FIREFLY DISTILLERY
HOSTING AN EVENT?
THE CHARLESTON CLASSIC
FRIDAY, NOV. 13 AT 5 P.M. AND SATURDAY, NOV. 14 AT 8 P.M. AT JOHNS ISLAND COUNTY PARK
A CHRISTMAS CAROL MONDAY, DEC. 21 AT 7 P.M.
AT OLD TROLLEY THEATRE, SUMMERVILLE
For info on using City Paper Tickets for your next event contact sales@charlestoncitypaper.com
YALLFEST Special Events, Talks, and Panels
Ages18+
3 p.m. | Panel Discussion WELL MATCHED: CREATING COMPLIMENTARY LOVE INTERESTS THAT READERS SWOON OVER
American Theater - Ballroom, 446 King St. Moderated by Stephanie Garber with Melissa de la Cruz, N.E. Davenport, Brigid Kemmerer, Sarah Beth Durst, Kaylie Smith, and Allison Saft. 3 p.m. | Panel Discussion A STAR IS BORN: MAIN CHARACTERS AND THE STORIES THEY FIT IN American Theater - Cinema, 446 King St. Moderated by Anna Bright with Lola StVil, Rajani LaRocca, E. Lockhart, Ryan La Sala, and Teri Dederer. 3 p.m. | Special Event JUNK JOURNAL AND JAVA WITH PEACHTREE TEEN Stars Bar at the American Theater, 446 King St. Join us for an afternoon break of creativity, conversation, and coffee! Guest emcee Taylor Grothe will lead the afternoon’s activities and special guest authors Alaa Al-Burkwari, Gloria Muñoz, and Andrew Joseph White will junk journal along with us. All supplies will be provided and you can grab up some exciting Peachtree Teen ARCs. 4 p.m. | Panel Discussion A MOST ENCHANTING ROMANCE: TEEN LOVE ACROSS GENRE Charleston Music Hall, 37 John St. Moderated by Emily Varga with Lynn Painter, Page Powars, Kat Cho, Sasha Peyton Smith, and Miles Toriko Burks. 4 p.m. | Panel Discussion I FEEL CONFLICTED: CREATING FRICTION FOR THE GOOD OF THE PLOT Charleston Museum, 360 Meeting St. Moderated by Adalyn Grace with Kendall Annette, Shannon Messenger, I.V. Marie, Gloria Muñoz, and Teri Dederer. 4 p.m. | Panel Discussion MAKING A PAGE A PORTAL: HOW THE WRITTEN WORD BECOMES A WORLD THAT FEELS REAL TO THE READER American Theater - Ballroom, 446 King St. Moderated by Tracy Deonn with Amanda Foody, C.L. Herman, Marisa Churchill, Natasha Díaz, and Allison Saft.
4 p.m. | Panel Discussion LGBTQIA AMA American Theater - Cinema, 446 King St. Moderated by David Levithan with Camryn Garrett, Julian Winters, and Noelle Monét. 4 p.m. | Special Event THESE BOOTS WERE MADE FOR DANCING Event Quad at Charleston Museum, 360 Meeting St. Take a free line dancing class and get a copy of Meg Cabot’s upcoming YA novel Kissing Cowboys.
5 p.m. | Ticketed Talk AFTERNOON KEYNOTE WITH F.A. DAVIDSON, AYANA GRAY, SARAH DESSEN, AND ANN LIANG Charleston Music Hall, 37 John St. $8, tickets available at yallfest.citypapertickets.com
Ticketed
TALK
5 p.m. | Panel Discussion I CAN’T LOOK AWAY: THE EVERLASTING APPEAL OF GETTING SCARED Charleston Museum, 360 Meeting St. Moderated by H.D. Hunter with Andrew Joseph White, Taylor Grothe, Lamar Giles, Christina Ferko, and Keala Kendall.
Ages18+
5 p.m. | Panel Discussion I SEE THE VISION: BALANCING AUTHOR INTENT WITH AUDIENCE EXPECTATIONS
American Theater - Ballroom, 446 King St. Moderated by Lauren Blackwood with Tricia Levenseller, Olivia Wildenstein, Mary E. Pearson, N.E. Davenport, and Kaylie Smith. 5 p.m. | Panel Discussion KILL YOUR DARLINGS: EDITS AND TAKING A STORY FROM WRITTEN TO REFINED American Theater - Cinema, 446 King St. Moderated by David Levithan with Noelle Monét, M.J. Hastings, Fonda Lee, and Robyn Schneider.
YALLFEST 2026 | YALLFEST.org
3 p.m. | Panel Discussion WRITING, IN SPITE OF IT ALL: EVERYDAY DISTRACTIONS, AI, AND THE WORLD Charleston Museum, 360 Meeting St. Moderated by Soman Chainani with M.J. Hastings, Ikwo Ntekim, Kelly Quindlen, and Ava Reid.
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at YALLFest Come visit the Wednesday Books booth for fun giveaways & special events, all day long!
ARC GIVEAWAYS All Wednesday Books ARC giveaways will be TICKETED. The ticket drop will be at 9AM and you can select up to two giveaways to participate in.
BEDAZZLE BEFORE THE
DARK DESCENT
Celebrate the upcoming release of DARK DESCENT, the next book in the Crimson Moth series! Bedazzle your copies of HEARTLESS HUNTER and REBEL WITCH with author Kristen Ciccarelli—and get them signed!
Giveaways for our Saturday Books titles
(new adult imprint)
Check out the full official schedule at @WednesdayBooks on Instagram.
Pre-registration required on YALLFest.org. 50 tickets available. Please bring your copies to participate.
CHECK OUT THESE AUTHORS YALLFEST 2026 | YALLFEST.org
AT PANELS & SIGNINGS THROUGHOUT THE FESTIVAL
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Lauren Blackwood
author of Knight of the God King
Paula Chase author of Balancing Act
Kristen Ciccarelli author of Heartless Hunter
Fonda Lee
author of Breath of the Dragon
Shannon Lee
author of Breath of the Dragon
@wednesdaybooks
Ann Liang
author of To Dream in Darkness
Allison Saft
author of Immortal Game
Emily Varga
author of The River She Became
YALLFEST Special Events, Talks, and Panels
5 p.m. | Special Event THE GOLDEN QUEST PRESENTED BY MAYHEM BOOKS Event Quad at Charleston Museum, 360 Meeting St. Step into the world of The Golden Huntress by Katherine Quinn. Begin your journey through the Spiritwoods (aka YALLFest), starting at 11 a.m., and follow the clues to collect all three tokens. Bring your tokens to the Event Quad at the Charleston Museum to claim your prize: a final copy of The Golden Huntress. The number of hunters is limited, so be among the first 100 participants to embark on the quest. Check @entangledteen on Instagram for the first clue.
Ticketed
EVENT 6 p.m. | Ticketed Event YA SMACKDOWN 2026 HOSTED BY RYAN LA SALA AND KAT CHO Charleston Music Hall, 37 John St. $12, tickets available at yallfest.citypapertickets.com YALLFest’s annual game show closes out the 2026 festival, hosted by veteran YALLWEST Smackdown host Ryan La Sala and first time co-host Kat Cho.
YALLFEST 2026 | YALLFEST.org
See some of your favorite authors on stage as they battle it out in games inspired by the literary world — will they have to fight for their favorite trope? Or become their favorite book cover? Only time will tell. There are no guarantees in life, but there are two guarantees in Smackdown — it’ll be a lot of fun and it’ll be a lot of chaos.
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Meet the authors of STONE KITE PUBLISHING!
TM
WE BUILD WORLDS THAT MATTER
Margaret Stohl
Brandon Hoàng
Tochi Onyebuchi
Beautiful Creatures, Super Visible: The Story of the Women of Marvel Comics, Spider-Man Noir
Gloria Buenrostro is Not My Girlfriend, Avatar the Last Airbender’s The Kyoshi Warriors
Riot Baby, Goliath, Captain America; Symbol of Truth, Black Panther: Legends
SCAN NOW
FOLLOW US ON:
CHECK OUT OUR YALLFEST EVENTS!
stonekitestudios stonekitestudio
Bedazzle While You Listen to Audiobooks!
YALLFEST 2026 | YALLFEST.org
Hosted by Penguin Random House Audio with
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& E. Lockhart, author of The Pools
Julian Winters, author of Find My Way Down to You
Saturday, November 14 | 12pm ET, Location: Event Quad at the Charleston Museum
PENGUIN TEEN
YALLFEST
SWING BY THE PENGUIN TEEN BOOTH FOR DELUXE SWAG, EXCLUSIVE GIVEAWAYS, AND ADVANCE COPIES OF THE MOST ANTICIPATED BOOKS!
BOOTH SCHEDULE & GIVEAWAYS 9:30 AM:
Choose one author-curated playlist, then take home the love story that matches.
IT’S COMPLICATED ARC GIVEAWAY 10:15 AM:
THE DARK SIDE ARC GIVEAWAY 11:00 AM:
HOUR 11:45 AM:
ESCAPE FROM REALITY ARC GIVEAWAY
1:00 PM:
SPECIAL EVENT!
Your chance to grab two atmospheric thrillers where disappearances lead to supernatural secrets—and nothing stays buried for long. Snag an advance copy of Blackmail & Other Turn Ons, a dark rom-com that will have you questioning your every moral—plus a Berkley XO tote! FOR READERS 18+
Three epic fantasy worlds. Three unforgettable escapes. Which one will you enter?
YALLFEST 2026 EXCLUSIVE! Snag a limited edition Penguin Teen pin set at our booth by saying PENGUIN PINS to a Penguin Teen staffer! Pins will be given away in the booth at 9 AM, 11 AM, 1 PM, AND 3 PM!* *WHILE SUPPLIES LAST
Join Penguin Teen and national bestselling author Robyn Schneider for an immersive hour of bingo, author Q&A, and delicious treats! (Attendees will receive an advance reader copy of Spellfire.)*
*This is a ticketed event. Come by the Penguin Teen booth any time prior to the event to request a ticket. Tickets are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis, while supplies last.
LOCATION: STARS BAR INSIDE THE AMERICAN THEATER
1:00 PM:
2:00 PM:
THE TRAITOR GAME ARC GIVEAWAY 2:30 PM:
COZY READER GRAB BAG GIVEAWAY
Choose your trope. You decide which book takes the crown.
Solve the clues for a chance to grab an advance reader copy of The Traitor Game, the twisty, thrilling sequel to the #1 New York Times bestselling murder mystery The Escape Game. Cozy essentials + a tote + three ARCS of your choice = your perfect reading day.
YALLFEST 2026 | YALLFEST.org
BATTLE OF THE TROPES ARC GIVEAWAY
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YALLFEST 2026 | YALLFEST.org
CHAINANI.
NEW WORLD. 2028
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