Young Adult Authors Take Center Stage at Book Con 2015

BookCon, a fan event that fuses pop culture and books , today announced that ten of the biggest names in young adult (YA)books will take the stage on Saturday, May 30, bringing an unparalleled YA presence to this year's event.  Featuring Tavi Gevinson, Sophia Rossi, Gayle Forman, Sarah Dessen, Marie Lu and Richelle Mead, these leading ladies of literature will participate in four panels that will focus on a variety of relevant topics including diversity, love, exploring foreign cultures and navigating new media platforms. These guests join the current red-hot roster of bestselling authors and Hollywood heavyweights including Taye Diggs, Meg Cabot, Jodi Picoult, Jacqueline Woodson, Sherman Alexie, David Levithan andJustine Ezarik (iJustine) with more exciting guests to be announced in the coming months.

Penguin's panels at BookCon will include:

·         GIRLS ONLINE/GIRLS IRL: YOUNG WOMEN IN THE NEW MEDIA: A conversation with Sophia Rossi, co-founder of Hello Giggles and Tavi Gevinson, star of This Is Our Youth on Broadway and founder of Rookie

·         BFFS FOREVER: Sarah Dessen, Gayle Forman and Jenny Han discuss female friendship, power and the ties that bind: on and off the page

·         BRAVE NEW WORLDS: A CONVERSATION WITH RICHELLE MEAD AND MARIE LU

·         FARAWAY LANDS: A conversation with Renee Adieh (The Wrath and the Dawn), Marie Lu (The Rose Society), Aisha Saieed (Written in the Stars) and Sabaa Tahir (An Ember in the Ashes)

"The surge in YA's popularity has fueled a love of literature amongst young readers and accounts for some of the most enthusiastic and dedicated fans in the industry," said Brien McDonald, Show Manager of BookCon. "This lineup of celebrated authors appeals to a wide array of fans and helps support our ultimate mission of reinforcing a love and passion for books."

Sarah Dessen will appear at BookCon on the heels of her newest novel, Saint Anything, and is the author of 11 previous novels, among them many New York Times bestsellers. Her first two books, That Summer and Someone Like You, were the basis for the movie How to Deal, starring Mandy Moore.

Gayle Forman (www.gayleforman.com) is an award-winning, internationally bestselling author and journalist. She is the author of the number-one New York Times bestseller If I Stay, the New York Times bestsellers Where She Went, Just One Year, andJust One Day, as well as the newly released New York Times bestseller I Was Here. She lives in Brooklyn, New York, with her husband and daughters.

Tavi Gevinson is the editor-in-chief and founder of Rookie, a website for teenage girls with monthly-themed content that includes life lessons, diary entries, DIY projects, playlists and interviews with cultural icons like Joss Whedon and Lorde. Gevinson's upcoming Rookie Yearbook Four will feature exclusive-to-print content from big name contributors. Previous editions have featured Mindy Kaling and Lena Dunham, among others. Gevinson recently starred in This Is Our Youth on Broadway.

Returning to BookCon for her second year, Marie Lu is the author of the New York Times bestselling Legend trilogy, Legend,Prodigy and Champion, for which CBS Films has acquired film rights. Her upcoming book, The Rose Society, is the sequel toNew York Times bestselling The Young Elites.

Richelle Mead is the #1 internationally bestselling author of both the Vampire Academy and Bloodlines series. The final bookin the Bloodlines series, The Ruby Circle, hits shelves on February 10th, 2015. This fall, Penguin will publish Soundless, Richelle's 25th book and her first ever standalone novel.

Sophia Rossi co-founded HelloGiggles, the popular internet haven for girls of all ages, along with writer Molly McAleer and her real-life best friend, New Girl star and She and Him songstress Zooey Deschanel. She has produced and written for several hit television series, including Fox's Glee and MTV’s The Hills and The City. Born and raised in Los Angeles, Sophia's own personal and professional vision is focused on cultivating positive and safe online communities for young women, and she's particularly fond of blogs and artists that speak to tweens (and everyone's inner tween). Her debut novel, A Tale of Two Besties, will be released in May 2015.

As an original consumer extension of BookExpo America (May 27-29 at the Javits Center), BookCon has unprecedented access to the world's most accomplished authors and most influential publishing houses.  BookCon is designed to appeal to the modern-day book lover with an appreciation for broader pop culture and where these worlds intersect. BookCon will feature a vibrant Show Floor with the world's most influential publishers including ABRAMS, Chronicle Books, Hachette Book Group, HarperCollins, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Macmillan Publishers, Penguin Random House, Simon & Schuster and many more.  In addition to over 250 exhibitors, the Show Floor will house the Downtown Stage, home to innovative content featuring Q&As, Trivia and Illustrator events.

Tickets for BookCon are now on sale. Additional exciting details about BookCon exhibitors, guests and sponsors will be revealed in the coming weeks. For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit www.TheBookCon.com or BookCon’ssocial media pages (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram).