Hosted by The Sunday Times bestselling writer, poet and National Year of Reading Ambassador David Larbi, the event will feature an acclaimed lineup of YA authors including Sarah Underwood, Katie Webber, Kate Weston and Amy Mae Baxter.

 The panelists will discuss the growing role reading plays in supporting young people’s wellbeing, creativity and self-expression, as well as the creative journeys behind their own work.

A hands-on creative writing workshop will give attendees the practical tools and guidance to develop their own characters, settings and stories.

The event forms part of Battersea Power Stations year-long A Station of Stories campaign and will take place on Sunday 23rd August inside the iconic Power Station.
Friday 7th August 2026

Battersea Power Station announced today that it will be hosting ‘A Station of Stories: In Conversation with Young Adult Authors’ – a flagship National Year of Reading event in partnership with HarperCollins publishers on Sunday 23rd August between 11am-12:30pm.

Hosted by London-based poet, cultural commentator and Sunday Times bestselling author David Larbi (Frequently Happy), the ticketed event will bring together some of the UK’s leading writers to explore the growing role reading plays in supporting young people’s wellbeing, creativity and self-expression.

The young adult authors joining Larbi are all published with HarperCollins UK and include Sarah Underwood, whose bestselling fantasy novels include Lies We Sing to the Sea; Katherine Webber, author of contemporary YA favourites such as the bestselling Twin Crowns series; Kate Weston, author of the YA dark comedy Coterie of Liars and Amy Mae Baxter, author of The Between-Worlds B&B.

The event, which is part of Battersea Power Station’s year-long A Station of Stories campaign to celebrate 2026 being the National Year of Reading, comes as new research suggests teenagers are rediscovering reading as a form of escapism, creativity and self-expression. The latest National Literacy Trust Annual Literacy Survey, based on responses from more than 125,000 children and young people across the UK, found reading enjoyment increased across every age group between eight and 18, with the uplift among teenagers one of the largest recorded since the survey began in 2005.

Together, the panelists will explore the importance of reading, writing and creativity, sharing the experiences that have shaped their careers, the stories and authors that inspired them, and the creative journeys behind their own work.

Following the discussion, attendees will take part in an interactive creative writing workshop featuring practical exercises, guided writing challenges and an audience Q&A, giving aspiring young writers the opportunity to put their questions directly to the panel.

A Station of Stories: In Conversation with Young Adult Authors will take place at Battersea Power Station on Sunday 23rd August from 11am–12:30pm. Tickets are priced at £10 and are available via Eventbrite – https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/a-station-of-stories-in-conversation-with-young-adult-authors-tickets-1997140662483

To discover more about A Station of Stories at Battersea Power Station, please visit: https://batterseapowerstation.co.uk/events/a-station-of-stories/