YALLWEST 2025

YALLWEST 2025 is a full day of panels + a Friday preview and a week of giveaways and special events!

full signing guidelines

SANTA MONICA HIGH SCHOOL

aka “samohi”

BARNUM HALL

Santa monica high school

Featured
Opening Keynote with Melissa de la Cruz, Hayley Dennings, and Tricia Levenseller
May 3
Opening Keynote with Melissa de la Cruz, Hayley Dennings, and Tricia Levenseller

sponsored by fierce reads and sourcebooks fire

Purchase Tickets

Maneuvering the Map
May 3
Maneuvering the Map

Creating and navigating a world of words (and illustrations)

Moderated by Marisha Pessl with Kristen Ciccarelli, Tracy Deonn, Akwaeke Emezi, Hafsah Faizal, Laura Gao

Good Luck (fighting dragons), Babe!
May 3
Good Luck (fighting dragons), Babe!

Balancing Magic and Love in Romantasy and Romantic Fantasies

Sponsored by PiqueBeyond

Moderated by Allison Saft with Kristen Ciccarelli, C. B. Lee, Mary E. Pearson, and Amélie Wen Zhao

The Future of SFF
May 3
The Future of SFF

Building Worlds that Matter

Sponsored by Stone Kite

with Margaret Stohl, Ransom Riggs, Tracy Deonn, and special guests!

Afternoon Keynote with Tahereh Mafi and Adam Silvera
May 3
Afternoon Keynote with Tahereh Mafi and Adam Silvera

sponsored by epic reads

Purchase Tickets

Searching for Signs
May 3
Searching for Signs

Fantasy as Escapism and Fantasy as Metaphor

Moderated by Angela Montoya with Tricia Levenseller, F. T. Lukens, Margaret Owen, Mary E. Pearson, and Brad Riew

Holding Space for Defying Gravity
May 3
Holding Space for Defying Gravity

Insurmountable Odds and Teen Resilience in Sci-Fi and Dystopia

Sponsored by Entangled

Moderated by Jill Tew with Lily Braun-Arnold, Chloe Gong, Tahereh Mafi, E. L. Starling, and Andrew Joseph White

The Annual Smackdown
May 3
The Annual Smackdown

Hosted by Comedian Dani Lyle

Purchase Tickets

CAFETERIA

Santa monica high school

Featured
Thank You, Next
May 3
Thank You, Next

Why YA Romance is Such a Mainstay

Sponsored by Simon Teen

Moderated by Eric Geron with Amalie Howard, Zakiya N. Jamal, Jackie Khalilieh, F. T. Lukens, Ali Novak

Fiction Feud
May 3
Fiction Feud

It's like Family Feud...but with Authors!

Moderated by Sarah Mlynowski and Stuart Gibbs with Soman Chainani, Carina Finn, Holly Goldberg Sloan, Kiyash Monsef, Rex Ogle, Lewis Peterson, Raphael Simon, and Brittney Williams

Fictionalizing the Real
May 3
Fictionalizing the Real

Recreating Our World on the Page

Moderated by Gretchen Schreiber with Becky Albertalli, Auriane Desombre, Laura Gao, Jackie Khalilieh, and Crystal Maldonado

MGnopoly
May 3
MGnopoly

A board game where authors need to collect books for their shelves...by answering your questions!

With Janae Marks, Sarah Mlynowski, Kiyash Monsef, Scott Reintgen, and Jill Tew

Don't Look Under the Bed!
May 3
Don't Look Under the Bed!

Monsters, Mysteries, and Why We Have to Know What Happens Next

Moderated by Kayla Ancrum with E. Lockhart, Racquel Marie, Marisha Pessl, Alex Travis, and Andrew Joseph White

Sad Songs, Power Ballads, and Pump Up Playlists
May 3
Sad Songs, Power Ballads, and Pump Up Playlists

Tuning into the Emotions of Tween and Teen Characters

Sponsored by PiqueBeyond

Moderated by Brittany N. Williams with Nidhi Chanani, Auriane Desombre, Sarah Kuhn, Elba Luz, and Janae Marks

GREEK THEATER

Santa monica high school

Featured
Fit for a Printz
May 3
Fit for a Printz

The Graphic Novel That Won YA’s Biggest Award This Year

A Panel About Panels
May 3
A Panel About Panels

How Do You Plan Out a Graphic Novel?

Moderated by Soman Chainani with Johnnie Christmas, Kami Garcia, Robin Ha, Betty C. Tang, and Brittney Williams

It Builds Character!
May 3
It Builds Character!

Creating Dynamic Characters, and Placing Them Together

Moderated by Randy Ribay with Mar Julia, Elba Luz, Rex Ogle, Axie Oh, and Samuel Teer

Putting a Spin on the Recipe
May 3
Putting a Spin on the Recipe

How adjusting ingredients, settings, and preparation makes a perfect retelling or reimagining

Moderated by Fonda Lee with Shannon Lee, Morgan Matson, Danielle Paige, and Allison Saft

I Love This So Much, But Also I Need Money
May 3
I Love This So Much, But Also I Need Money

Spotlight on Careers in Writing and How They Evolve Over Time

Moderated by Adam Silvera with Susan Dennard, Zakiya N. Jamal, Scott Reintgen, and Julia Riew

NORTH GYM

Santa monica high school

full signing guidelines

Featured
Dear Friends and Enemies...
May 3
Dear Friends and Enemies...

Building Character Relationships Outside of Romance

Moderated by Amélie Wen Zhao with Crystal Maldonado, Racquel Marie, Lio Min, Gretchen Schreiber, and Alex Travis

We Need to Have a Serie-s Discussion
May 3
We Need to Have a Serie-s Discussion

Knowing the End Before You Begin...or Making It Up as You Go

Sponsored by Tor Teen/ Flatiron Books/ Wednesday Books

Moderated by Ransom Riggs with Susan Dennard, Hafsah Faizal, Margaret Owen, Axie Oh, and Brittany N. Williams

Tricia Levenseller
May 3
Tricia Levenseller

THIS SIGNING IS TICKETED

Reserve free ticket here starting 4/19 at 1 pm

Chloe Gong
May 3
Chloe Gong

THIS SIGNING IS TICKETED

Reserve free ticket here starting 4/19 at 2 pm

Mary E. Pearson
May 3
Mary E. Pearson

THIS SIGNING IS TICKETED

Reserve free ticket here starting 4/19 at 1:30 PM

Andrew Joseph White
May 3
Andrew Joseph White

THIS SIGNING IS TICKETED

Reserve free ticket here starting 4/19 at 12:30 PM

Susan Dennard
May 3
Susan Dennard
Kristen Ciccarelli
May 3
Kristen Ciccarelli

THIS SIGNING IS TICKETED

Reserve free ticket here starting 4/19 at 12:30 PM

Hafsah Faizal
May 3
Hafsah Faizal

THIS SIGNING IS TICKETED

Reserve free ticket here starting 4/19 at 2:00 PM

Tracy Deonn
May 3
Tracy Deonn

THIS SIGNING IS TICKETED

Reserve free ticket here starting 4/19 at 1:30 PM

Becky Albertalli
May 3
Becky Albertalli

THIS SIGNING IS TICKETED

Reserve free ticket here starting 4/19 at 1:00 PM

Amélie Wen Zhao
May 3
Amélie Wen Zhao

THIS SIGNING IS TICKETED

Reserve free ticket here starting 4/19 at Noon

DISCO QUAD

Santa monica high school

Featured
The Annual YALLWEST Storyball
May 3
The Annual YALLWEST Storyball

Authors Create a Story...with YOUR HELP!

Moderated by Raphael Simon with Nidhi Chanani, Johnnie Christmas, Carina Finn, Stuart Gibbs, Holly Goldberg Sloan, Lewis Peterson, and Betty C. Tang

Super Visible
May 3
Super Visible

Women in Comics, On and Off the Page

Moderated by Margaret Stohl with Kami Garcia, Maurene Goo, Sarah Kuhn, Jeanine Schaefer, and Judy Stephens

Ok, Work With Me Here
May 3
Ok, Work With Me Here

How Writing Changes When Someone's Writing With You

Sponsored by Penguin Teen

Moderated by Judy Stephens with Fonda Lee, Shannon Lee, Brad Riew, Julia Riew, and Jeanine Schaefer

Funhouse Mirrors and the Perception of the Pen
May 3
Funhouse Mirrors and the Perception of the Pen

How Writing Changes Reading and How Fandom Changes Writing

Moderated by E. L. Starling with Becky Albertalli, Kayla Ancrum, Lily Braun-Arnold, Angela Montoya, and Ali Novak

I Feel I Should Bring Up Past Events...
May 3
I Feel I Should Bring Up Past Events...

Writing Historical Fiction and Fantasy in the Modern Day

Moderated by C. B. Lee with Hayley Dennings, Chloe Gong, Robin Ha, Amalie Howard, and Randy Ribay

I Went Through a Third Act Breakup and All I Got Was This T-Shirt
May 3
I Went Through a Third Act Breakup and All I Got Was This T-Shirt

Tropes We Love, Tropes We Hate, Tropes we Love to Hate or Hate to Love

Moderated by Morgan Matson with Eric Geron, Maurene Goo, E. Lockhart, Lio Min, and Danielle Paige

INNOVATION QUAD

Santa monica high school

Featured
Soman Chainani
May 3
Soman Chainani
Melissa de la Cruz
May 3
Melissa de la Cruz
Hayley Dennings
May 3
Hayley Dennings
Morgan Matson
May 3
Morgan Matson
Sarah Mlynowski
May 3
Sarah Mlynowski
Danielle Paige
May 3
Danielle Paige
E. Lockhart
May 3
E. Lockhart
Tahereh Mafi
May 3
Tahereh Mafi

THIS SIGNING IS TICKETED

Reserve free ticket here starting 4/19 at Noon

Eric Geron
May 3
Eric Geron
Alex Travis
May 3
Alex Travis
Amalie Howard
May 3
Amalie Howard
Zakiya N. Jamal
May 3
Zakiya N. Jamal
F. T. Lukens
May 3
F. T. Lukens
Ali Novak
May 3
Ali Novak
Marisha Pessl
May 3
Marisha Pessl
Lio Min
May 3
Lio Min
Adam Silvera
May 3
Adam Silvera
Stuart Gibbs
May 3
Stuart Gibbs
Racquel Marie
May 3
Racquel Marie
Akwaeke Emezi
May 3
Akwaeke Emezi
Raphael Simon
May 3
Raphael Simon
Allison Saft
May 3
Allison Saft
Lewis Peterson
May 3
Lewis Peterson
C. B. Lee
May 3
C. B. Lee
Brittany N. Williams
May 3
Brittany N. Williams
Mar Julia & Samuel Teer
May 3
Mar Julia & Samuel Teer
Johnnie Christmas
May 3
Johnnie Christmas
Fonda Lee and Shannon Lee
May 3
Fonda Lee and Shannon Lee
Auriane Desombre
May 3
Auriane Desombre
Featured
Nidhi Chanani
May 3
Nidhi Chanani
Laura Gao
May 3
Laura Gao
Holly Goldberg Sloan
May 3
Holly Goldberg Sloan
Crystal Maldonado
May 3
Crystal Maldonado
Maurene Goo
May 3
Maurene Goo
Margaret Owen
May 3
Margaret Owen
Lily Braun-Arnold
May 3
Lily Braun-Arnold
Elba Luz
May 3
Elba Luz
Rex Ogle
May 3
Rex Ogle
Kiyash Monsef
May 3
Kiyash Monsef
Jill Tew
May 3
Jill Tew
Betty C. Tang
May 3
Betty C. Tang
Scott Reintgen
May 3
Scott Reintgen
Sarah Kuhn
May 3
Sarah Kuhn
Janae Marks
May 3
Janae Marks
Ransom Riggs
May 3
Ransom Riggs
Kayla Ancrum
May 3
Kayla Ancrum
Carina Finn
May 3
Carina Finn
Axie Oh
May 3
Axie Oh
Judy Stephens and Jeanine Schaefer
May 3
Judy Stephens and Jeanine Schaefer
Robin Ha
May 3
Robin Ha
Jackie Khalilieh
May 3
Jackie Khalilieh
Gretchen Schreiber
May 3
Gretchen Schreiber
Randy Ribay
May 3
Randy Ribay
Angela Montoya
May 3
Angela Montoya
Kami Garcia and Brittney Williams
May 3
Kami Garcia and Brittney Williams

CAFE PATIO

Santa monica high school

Featured
Slush Pile Party with Tor Teen, Wednesday Books, and Flatiron Books
May 3
Slush Pile Party with Tor Teen, Wednesday Books, and Flatiron Books

Treat yourself to a FREE slushie and a stack of the hottest ARCs from Tor Teen, Wednesday Books, and Flatiron Books. Ticketed event only.

Please note this event was originally listed on the website as 1-2pm, it is in fact 2-3pm and has been corrected!

this is a sponsor-run event and space may be limited, we suggest following the sponsor on social media as sponsors usually share how to get tickets the week of the festival.

MPR

Santa monica high school

Featured
Build-a-Bookquet with Underlined
May 3
Build-a-Bookquet with Underlined

Come build your own book bouquet with select ARCs alongside Underlined authors!

this is a sponsor-run event and space may be limited, we suggest following the sponsor on social media as sponsors usually share how to get tickets the week of the festival.

So Charming! with Sourcebooks Fire
May 3
So Charming! with Sourcebooks Fire

Come make bag charms and play trivia with your favorite Fire authors! Light refreshments will be provided. Limited to 30 attendees.

this is a sponsor-run event and space may be limited, we suggest following the sponsor on social media as sponsors usually share how to get tickets the week of the festival.

Epic Pride Bingo with Epic Reads
May 3
Epic Pride Bingo with Epic Reads

It's never too early for Epic Pride! Stop by the Multipurpose Room for a fun queer time of Epic Pride Bingo and prizes, and receive an early copy of Becky Albertalli's next book, AMELIA, IF ONLY!

this is a sponsor-run event and space may be limited, we suggest following the sponsor on social media as sponsors usually share how to get tickets the week of the festival.

PITCH SPACE

Santa monica high school

Featured
Bookish Crafting Hour with Penguin Teen, featuring The Last Tiger
May 3
Bookish Crafting Hour with Penguin Teen, featuring The Last Tiger

Join Penguin Teen for a magical hour of bookish crafts, delicious treats, and a meet and greet with JULIA RIEW and BRAD RIEW, authors of the upcoming romantic fantasy The Last Tiger.

this is a sponsor-run event and space may be limited, we suggest following the sponsor on social media as sponsors usually share how to get tickets the week of the festival.

Books, Bracelets and "Bound By Stars" with Entangled Teen
May 3
Books, Bracelets and "Bound By Stars" with Entangled Teen

Come make friendship bracelets with debut author E.L. Starling, plus grab a signed copy of Bound by Stars - Presented by Entangled.

this is a sponsor-run event and space may be limited, we suggest following the sponsor on social media as sponsors usually share how to get tickets the week of the festival.

GUESS WHO? Audiobook Edition with PRH Audio
May 3
GUESS WHO? Audiobook Edition with PRH Audio

If you love JEOPARDY!, join Penguin Random House Audio and Listening Library for GUESS WHO? Audiobook Edition, a special gameshow featuring classics, as well as brand new listens. Get ready to show off your best trivia skills and discover your next favorite audiobook! Hosted by actor and narrator Oscar Emmanuel Fabela.

this is a sponsor-run event and space may be limited, we suggest following the sponsor on social media as sponsors usually share how to get tickets the week of the festival.

 

SANTA MONICA PUBLIC LIBRARY

 
Featured
Fierce Friday
May 2
Fierce Friday

sponsored by fierce reads

in cooperation with Santa Monica Public Library, Main Branch

Reserve Your Free Ticket Here