30 authors coming to YA-hoo Fest

More than 30 authors of young adult fiction are converging on the campus of Chattanooga State Community College this weekend for the second YA-hoo Fest.

YA-hoo Fest is sponsored by Chattanooga State’s Writers@Work program in partnership with the Southern Lit Alliance. It is Chattanooga’s only young adult book festival. In addition to appearances by authors of young adult and middle-grade literature, YA-hoo Fest will include book sales and signings, food, vendors and music from Spinster. All events will take place on the campus of Chattanooga State, 4501 Amnicola Highway.

The festival will kick off Friday, Sept. 20, at 6:30 p.m. with a live taping of the critically renowned podcast, “First Draft with Sarah Enni.” This event will feature some of the most-anticipated visiting authors, including Rick Yancey, Cindy Pon and Justin Reynolds.

The event will be held in Chattanooga State’s Humanities Theatre, with book sales and author signings beginning at 6 p.m. Tickets for the live taping are $5, and can be purchased online at https://www.yahoofest. org/

Saturday’s events on campus are from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and are free of charge.

YA-hoo Fest opens Saturday morning with a presentation by Jeff Zentner of Nashville, author of “Serpent King,” “Goodbye Days” and “Rayne & Delilah’s Midnite Matinee.”

The day’s activities will include panel discussions among the five breakout sessions, book sales, author signings, food, vendors and live music.

The Humanities and Fine Arts Division of Chattanooga State presents YA-hoo Fest as a part of its annual Writers@Work program to enhance opportunities for literary analysis at the college.

A complete schedule of all events, including festival lineup and additional information about visiting authors, can be found at yahoofest.org.