Kevin J. Anderson, Rebecca Moesta headline closing session at YALSA’s Young Adult Literature Symposium

Stephanie Kuenn


YALSA Communications Specialist


312-280-2128


skuenn@ala.org

NEWS


For Immediate Release


October 7, 2008

CHICAGO —The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), today announced that authors Kevin J. Anderson and Rebecca Moesta will be the keynote speakers at the closing session of the inaugural Young Adult Literature Symposium from 10:30 a.m. to noon on Nov. 9.

Anderson has published more than 100 books, including 29 national best sellers. His critically acclaimed original novels include “Captain Nemo, “Hopscotch” and “Hidden Empire.” He has also collaborated on many titles for long-running series, including Star Wars, the X-Files and Dune. Rebecca Moesta is the author of more than 30 books, including the award-winning Young Jedi Knights series and two original Titan A.E. novels, which she coauthored with husband Kevin J. Anderson. They recently completed the YA fantasy trilogy Crystal Doors.

Moesta said the pair was delighted to appear at the symposium, which is the first to focus exclusively on young adult literature. “The renewed popularity of young adult literature supports a theory that Kevin and I have had for the past 15 years: interesting and entertaining books create a greater demand for similarly good books,” Moesta said. “It’s our job to write stories that are so enjoyable that readers are sucked in, get lost in another world and learn the joy of reading. Once they are hooked, the books in libraries can take them anywhere.”

Anderson said they planned to reflect on the broadening of literature, in keeping with “How We Read Now,” the symposium’s theme. “When I grew up, a book was primarily printed words on a page,” he said. “Now, we have traditional novels, but also interactive computer games that tell a clear story. You can read novels and author blogs on social networking sites. Instead of being merely a solitary process, reading can be a social activity now.”

The symposium, funded in part by the William C. Morris Endowment, will take place biennially beginning this year at the Millennium Maxwell House Hotel in Nashville, Tenn., Nov. 7–9. The 2008 theme is “How We Read Now.” The symposium begins with a preconference focusing on illustrated materials for teens, followed by two days of programs, poster sessions and receptions. Details, including a schedule and a preliminary program, are available at
www.ala.org/yalitsymposium by clicking on “Programs & Presentations.”

Onsite registration costs $270 for members of YALSA, the Tennessee Library Association and the Tennessee Association of School Librarians; $320 for ALA personal members; $375 for nonmembers; and $75 for students, who must be enrolled full-time in a library and information science program. Online registration, at onsite pricing, is available at
www.ala.org/yalitsymposium through Oct. 17.

For more than 50 years, YALSA has been the world leader in selecting books, videos and audio books for teens. For more information about YALSA or for lists of recommended reading, viewing and listening, go to
www.ala.org/yalsa/booklists, or contact the YALSA office by phone, (800) 545-2433, ext. 4390, or e-mail,
yalsa@ala.org.