YA author R.L. Stine to keynote closing session for YALSA’s 2014 Young Adult Literature Symposium

CHICAGO — R.L. Stine, author of the Fear Street series, will be the keynote speaker for the general closing session of the 2014 Young Adult Literature Symposium, announced the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), a division of the American Library Association.

“Stine’s contribution to the world of teen literature is immeasurable. With his ability to create stories that are accessible, well-written and stand the test of time, there is no one that hasn't been impacted by his writing,” said YALSA Literature Symposium Marketing and Planning Taskforce Chair, Valerie Davis. “I’m thrilled that he'll be closing the YA Lit Symposium this year.”

The Young Adult Literature Symposium will be held Nov. 14-16 at the Hyatt Regency Austin with a theme of “Keeping it Real: Finding the True Teen Experience in YA Literature.”  The symposium is funded in part by the William C. Morris Endowment.

Advanced registration is still available, and interested participants can register online through Oct. 13 at www.ala.org/yalitsymposium. After the Oct. 13 deadline, only onsite registration will be available. Advanced registration costs $245 for YALSA members, $295 for ALA members, $350 for nonmembers and $50 for students enrolled in an ALA-accredited library and information science program.

A new young adult horror novel in R.L. Stine's Fear Street series titled "Party Games" will be making its way to readers on Sept. 30, 2014. Fans of R.L. Stine’s novels are invited to share their favorite moments about reading R.L. Stine books by tweeting @yalsa and using the hashtag #stinestories.

R.L. Stine is one of the bestselling children’s authors in history, with more than 400 million books sold to date. In 1986, he wrote his first teen horror novel, "Blind Date," which became an instant bestseller. In 1989, Stine created the Fear Street series, one of the bestselling young adult book series in history, with 80 million copies sold worldwide. He is also the author of the bestselling children's series "Goosebumps," which began in 1992 and has sold 300 million copies around the world.

For more than 50 years, YALSA has worked to build the capacity of libraries and librarians to engage, serve and empower teens.  For more information about YALSA or to access national guidelines and other resources go to www.ala.org/yalsa, or contact the YALSA office by phone, (800) 545-2433, ext. 4390, or e-mail, yalsa@ala.org.