YA by the Bay

YA BY THE BAY’s Story Warrior Festival coming to Tampa this month

By Last Updated

One stage. Bestselling authors. A viral influencer. The tools to write your story and own your spotlight. Meet Goosebumps legend R.L. Stine, get the inside scoop from young adult New York Times bestseller Tiffany D. Jackson on crafting page-turners, and be part of a live podcast taping with Instagram powerhouse and viral mindset coach Case Kenny, all under one roof.

It's all happening at YA BY THE BAY’s Story Warrior Festival. As a local news anchor turned novelist, I launched YA BY THE BAY because stories changed my life. As a shy and quiet kid, reading and writing were how I found my voice, and that voice carried me into a career as a reporter and anchor, where storytelling became my life’s work.

Now, as a mom, I get to see that same joy and confidence in my own son as we co-author a middle-grade book based on the Indian mythology of my roots.

Related: Moms to Know: Meet Sorboni Banerjee, founder of YA BY THE BAY

More Than a Book Festival

YA BY THE BAY isn’t your average book festival. It’s part star-studded author meet-up, part creativity bootcamp, part community celebration. We have some of the most incredible authors coming to the Story Warrior Festival.

You might not know that R.L. Stine is just as funny in person as his books are scary. Tiffany D. Jackson is one of the most sincere and inspiring speakers I’ve heard, and her books stay with you long after the last page.

YA by the Bay
Sorboni Banerjee and her son with author R.L. Stine

And through this festival, I’m lucky enough to call Bob, yes, the R.L. Stine,  a friend. He believed in our mission from the start and became a champion for us. In fact, every single author comes for free, no speaker fees, because they believe in what we’re building for the next generation.

What You'll Experience at YA By The Bay:

  • Fireside Chat with R.L. Stine & Tiffany D. Jackson
  • Live Podcast Recording + Q&A with Case Kenny (1 million followers, bestselling author, viral podcaster)
  • College Essay Workshop with America’s writing coach, Roy Peter Clark of The Poynter Institute
  • How to Write a Memoir with Kerry Kriseman
  • Live Children’s Book Illustration with Brudders Books where you can watch art come to life on the page
  • All-Ages Author Panels: So You Want to Be an Author (Kids) & So You Want to Write a Book (Adults)
  • Ongoing “Ask the Author” Stations for up-close, personal advice from your favorite writers

And There's More…

Beyond the stage, the festival bursts with a bustling marketplace featuring a pop-up bookstore, artisan goods, fresh bouquets, fine teas and treasures from local creators, plus stilt walkers, friendly zoo animals and 360-degree photo moments you won’t want to miss.

YA BY THE BAY is where readers become leaders, creativity is currency and every guest leaves with tools to “be the author of your own life.”

Details:

When: Thursday, September 25, 2025, from 4 pm-8 pm
Where: Tampa Convention Center, 333 S. Franklin St., Tampa, FL 33602

LEARN MORE: yabythebay.org and follow on Instagram @yabythebay

Have a little book lover in your life? Check out the new Innovative Tech Resources for Children at Your Public Library.