So Friday!
So we got there at about 11am and we, my mum george and I went to sign me up for some workshops. The Jeff Povey screenwriting workshop at 1pm and the Lisa Heathfield creative writing workshop. We also got our goodie bags and then we went to the first signings. I met Jenny Downham and Sarah Crossan. They were really lovely and I got a photo with each of them. I think I might of chatted too much but hey I do that when I'm nervous!
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| They had the costumes from Suicide Squad on display. I want to see this movie but I've heard the reviews aren't the greatest! |
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| Sarah Crossan and I |
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| Jenny Downham and I |
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| My brother had a go at two VR things. To be honest I don't see the appeal! |
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| The book wall! |
Then we went around the book and publisher stands. The amount of freebies we picked up was crazy, they were giving away posters, badges, postcards, samplers of books.
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| Just some of the freebies I got on Friday! |
We had a little look around the rest of comic con, my brother had a go at two virtual reality stands. They did offer me a go, I did say I could only see out of one eye and no 3d vision but they said I could still do it. But to be honest it didn't really interest me. I'd rather live in the real world!
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| Total fluke but we met Amir Arisson from the blacklist! |
So I headed to my first panel/workshop, Jeff Povey, whilst my mum and brother went back downstairs. Everyone else in the panel had notepads and pens or were getting pieces of paper to write notes. I just sat there like 'what do I do'. I just sat there listening whilst everyone else were heads down, writing notes.
Same happened with the next panel/workshop I went to, Lisa Heathfield's Creative Writing workshop. Again everyone was making notes. Although this time I did make notes, although I can't say my notes were very good. I have to take a bit of time to warm up with ideas. So when we had a bit where we had to write character answers to questions I really struggled because I wasnt in that mindset. Although the best thing happened at the end of the panel. It was a surreal moment. Now a week or two ago I tweeted Lisa Heathfield about how much I really enjoyed Seed. Fast forward 5 days ago I got a reply from Lisa. So imagine my surprise when I go to say thank you to Lisa for the panel and she says she recognises me from that very tweet! It was a moment of surrealness and a moment of surprise. So of course I ring my mum who is on her way back up to come with me to Lisa Heathfield's and Sara Barnards signings.
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| Lisa Heathfield and I, who was so lovely and remembered me! |
I saw people over the weekend who promoted the fact they had a blog. And my mum was like why don't I do that. And I answered, I want authors to get to know me as me, rather than it look like I am after something. Be it a book or promotion. Not saying that is what people were aiming for but I want to talk to authors because I like the book, rather than it be for exposure. I hope that makes sense. Thats why, I didn't want to go to signings of authors that I haven't read at least one of their books. Because I'm a genuine fan of the author. I don't know whether that makes sense.
So I then went to the Sara Barnard signing, who was as well really lovely. Then we had a bit of a wait for the L.A Weatherly signing. I was going to go to the Samantha Shannon signing if we had time but we didn't and I wasnt too bothered because I haven't read any of her books and yeah! When I met them both they were lovely.
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| Sara Barnard and I! |
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| L.A Weatherly and I |
Also on the way out of YALC I brought a t-shirt which had the YALC logo on the front and had all the authors attending during the weekend on the back.
Oh and how could I forget, on the way out we passed the signing for Kristian Nairn, who played Hodor in game of thrones. I thought, screw it I'm going to ask for a photo. Whats the worst he can say ? No. But he was actually really lovely and the lady sat next to him took the photo and yeah. I met Hodor.
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| Yes this happened! |
Sunday
Now Sunday, it was just my mum and I going and I had to get up at 6:30am. Yeah 6:30am. As the first thing I wanted to go to was, of course, the Catherine Doyle Creative Writing: from screen to page. Which was at 10am and we needed to get there earlier to sign us up for it. As on the Sunday there was a big cycling race across London. Meaning half the roads where closed, which is typical. It always seems to be when I'm going to meet Catherine Doyle theres always something in the way!
So we arrived at YALC around 9:20 so we signed up for the workshop then we had a look around the YALC floor. I had a look at the little brown book group, I believe that was the stand, I saw Carrie Fletcher's On The Other Side. Now I have recently started watching her youtube so when I saw her book I thought whilst its at a reduced price, it was £10 for a hardback and it was signed! Which is pretty good considering. Thats what I found, there was a waterstones stall that was selling full price books whereas if you brought books from the publishing stands you could get a paperback for £5 hardback for £10 and 3 paperbacks for £10. Which is almost like giving them away in book terms. We also looked at the new harry potter book. Harry Potter and the cursed child, my brother is really into harry potter and my mum didn't know whether he wanted that or some comics. They were selling it at waterstones for £20 which both my mum and I agreed was a bit much. There was a harry potter party in the afternoon to celebrate the books release at 12:01 that morning. So everyone was dressed up for it. So we headed to the workshop.
I found the workshop really interesting, my mum came with me and wrote notes for me. 2 whole pages. It was really fascinating to hear how scenes from certain movies influenced certain moments in the blood for blood saga. Like when she talked about a moment in the movie pochahontas influenced a scene in vendetta. The idea of self sacrifice and sacrificing yourself to save someone else. Putting them above yourself, that kind of heroism. When she was talking about it I knew exactly the scene she was talking about. I think this panel was really interesting because you could see her humour which is one of my favourite parts of the blood for blood saga. Also there was a bit of a sneak peak into Mafiosa, a red ruby ring, I'll try find a photo similar to it. Did I mention I need Mafiosa like yesterday!
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| The ring was along the lines of this. |
Then was the signing. Guess what, she recognised me. Again it was a moment of surrealness and surprise. When people say they'll remember you, I never quite believe them because people are busy and sometimes people forget. So when she was like 'Sophie' I was like 'Thats me!'. Again along with Lisa Heathfield, my personal highlight. We talked about my blog and the book. I did mention I hope it doesn't end like romeo and juilet and well she stuck her hands in her ears to avoid spoiling things. I did say I'd cry a river. Now when we went to take a picture my phone decided to run out of storage and so I had to take it on my mums camera which wasnt the best but oh well. Catherine mentioned to keep up with the videos, she watched my vendetta review. She also read my blog reviews. I mean that means a lot to think these authors I look up to read this tiny thing is quite cool. All my efforts have paid off. Did I mention that Catherine Doyles P.A/Agent lady looked a lot like an american book tuber by the name of Kat. It was really weird!
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| Catherine Doyle and I #1 |
Although something one person said in the panel really struck me. The phrase 'Deaf and Dumb'. It was used when someone was talking about their idea for a book. And I just wasn't comfortable with that. I don't think you should use that to describe someone. Because for one being disabled does not make you dumb, take Stephen Hawking. One of the cleverest minds on this planet and he is in a wheelchair and uses a speech machine. Would you label him 'Deaf and Dumb' No. You wouldn't. It is such a old dated word that doesn't really apply anymore, or ever. My advice to the person who said this would be talk to people with disabilities. Be it mental, learning, social or physical. Ask them whether they want to be called 'Deaf and Dumb' or any derogatory phrase. My niece is deaf, has cochlear implants and is very clever. Can lip read quite competently, can sign BSL amazingly well. Hardly uses her cochlear implants because she can just lip read and prefers that and signing. She is very vocal and is a happy little girl. She is only 5. I would not describe her as 'Deaf and Dumb'. If someone described me or anyone that I know with a disability as 'Deaf and Dumb'. Don't be astounded when I tell you where to go. I understand that phrase is commonly used by people with not a lot of understanding on disability and illness. Which is why we need more young adult novels about disability and illness. Highlighting the truth of it, not sugarcoating it but showing you life can be just as good as anyone else's life. People need more educating on it, with the facts. Maybe run things by actual disabled people. But then again they say if you can't find a book on what you want, that you should write it. Working on that one! Hope that doesn't offend anyone!
So then we went downstairs to try and find a comic for my brother. I sat and deleted a lot of my photos and when my mum gave up looking for the certain comic my brother wanted; we were left with a lot of time left until our taxi came so I said 'why don't we go back up and get another photo with Catherine Doyle since my storage issue is over since she is scheduled to be signing until 12:30' So we headed back up and we couldn't see her at her table but then my mum clocked her walking so, like complete stalkers we followed her to the chicken house stand and we got another photo. It may look a bit blurry but you can tell its us. I did say to her I promise i'm not a stalker I've just waited for this moment since missing out at Bath. I mean she did admit that she isn't in England all that often as she lives in ireland. Oh I also happened to mention I could go to signings in Ireland as I can get a dual passport as my grandparents are Irish. Yeah way to go to prove your not a stalker Sophie! Like I said she doesn't come to England all that much so I was going to make the most of this opportunity!
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| Catherine Doyle and I #2 |
So we said goodbye to Catherine Doyle and we went to get our taxi to the station and we went home. We went to our local WHSmith to pick up Harry Potter and The Cursed Child for my brother. It was £10, half of the price it was at YALC. Yeah we were on a penny pinching mission as we didn't have too much money so we reserved our spending. Well I think I did pretty well. I managed to get a few books, a lot of freebies and my YALC t-shirt. I mean we also went to pret at the train station both days so. I had a tomato and cheese croissant, it tastes like pizza. We also went to the Slice Cafe at YALC which if anyone goes to it beware it is more expensive than most cafes but their croissants are quite nice. We also didn't go Saturday and we spoke to someone in the lift who said that around 70,000 people were there. Yeah I though Friday and Sunday was busy.
Also a theme I noticed at Comic Con was who people were dressed as. This year there was a clear theme of Harley Quinn from Suicide Squad and Ren from Star Wars.
I hope to go next year. I will probably only go Friday and Sunday again as that was enough for me. But maybe do something in London on the day in between. Maybe see a show, go shopping. Something like that. Definitely bring more money next year.
But yeah that was my experience of YALC 2016, if you want to know more, in terms of wheelchair access and just access in general of Comic Con then feel free to comment and I will get back to you.
I am working on a montage video with all the photos and then do a kind of haul of everything from YALC 2016 at the end. Should be up on Wednesday. As tomorrow is the big day, my big thing. I spoke to some of the authors at YALC about it and they were really lovely wishing me luck. I'll probably mention it in my YALC 2016 video because I'll film it either Monday or Tuesday.
I hope you enjoyed this blog post. I had a really amazing time at YALC 2016, met some amazing people who had really nice advice on writing. And were just really lovely in general.
If you went to YALC 2016/Comic Con 2016, how did you find it?
Thanks for reading,
Until next time
Sophie
