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2021 VIRTUAL EDITION
THANK YOU EVERYONE WHO JOINED US FOR 2021!
This year we gathered online for one-on-one conversations, exciting panels, virtual readings by your favorite authors, and more!
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LEVAR BURTON
Reading from “The Rhino Who Swallowed a Storm”
In his first children’s book, longtime Reading Rainbow host LeVar Burton gives us an engaging resource to help children express their feelings and navigate through difficult experiences. The “Take a Deeper Look” page at the end of the book even provides discussion questions to facilitate a healing dialogue.
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CONGRATS TO ALL THE 2020 HONOREES
2020 winners announced, WATCH THE CEREMONY and view speeches from winners and finalists.
Meena Harris, "Ambitious Girl"
10:00a
Conversation with Mary McNamara
Anyone who's ever been underestimated or overshadowed will find inspiration in this empowering new picture book from bestselling author Meena Harris. This is a timely and inspiring must-read for every little girl!
Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Co-author of "Food Between Friends: A Cookbook"
2:oop
Conversation with Matt Brennan
Best friends Jesse Tyler Ferguson, star of Modern Family, and recipe developer Julie Tanous pay homage to their hometowns as they whip up modern California food with Southern and Southwestern spins in their debut cookbook.
Richard Thompson, "Beeswing: Losing My Way and Finding My Voice 1967-1975"
5:00p
Conversation with RJ Smith
Richard has graciously agreed to play two songs!
In his memoir, Richard recreates the spirit of the 1960s, where he found, and then lost, and then found his way again. This legendary British folk musician takes us back to the late 1960s, a period of great change and creativity.
Don Lemon, "This is the Fire: What I Say to My Friends About Racism"
Noon
Conversation with Greg Braxton
The host of CNN Tonight with Don Lemon -- America’s only Black prime-time anchor -- brings an urgent, deeply personal, riveting plea, he shows us all how deep our problems lie, and what we can do to begin to fix them. In conversation with L.A. Times staff writer Greg Braxton.
Grammy award-winning singer-songwriter Brandi Carlile, author of "Broken Horses: A Memoir"
6:00p
Conversation with Mikael Wood
In Broken Horses, Brandi Carlile takes readers through the events of her life that shaped her very raw art—from her start at a local singing competition where she performed Elton John’s “Honky Cat” in a bedazzled white polyester suit, to her first break opening for Dave Matthews Band, to many sleepless tours over fifteen years and six studio albums, all while raising two children with her wife, Catherine Shepherd.
Festival of Books Kickoff
10:00a
Presented with USC
Join us for the kick off the 26th Annual Virtual Festival of Books featuring the President of USC, Dr. Carol L. Folt along with surprise appearances by favorite L.A. Times writers, as well as a performance by the USC Trojan Marching Band. Please join in this prelude to the week-long celebration of books with stimulating conversations, panels, children’s and poetry readings and more!
Selfies for Social Change: Claiming Space in Social Media
2:00p
Presented by USC
Creators and influencers who use digital outlets to claim space and empower communities discuss how social media can be used for social good.
Music, Money, and Mindfulness
4:00p
Presented by USC
Authors and experts explore the art and impact of music from multiple angles, including the relationship between music and mindfulness and how to succeed in the industry.
Making History: Media, Stories, History, and Memory
6:00p
Presented by USC
A lively panel of celebrated USC authors discuss their work and the fascinating connections between stories, media, history, and memory.
Eastside Punks, Screening and Conversation
7:00p
Presented by USC
Celebrate the release of Eastside Punks, a series of documentary shorts produced by Razorcake magazine about first-generation East L.A. punk bands. Excerpts of the films will be screened followed by a conversation with the director and subjects.
PARTNERS OF THE FESTIVAL
PRESENTING SPONSOR
GOLD SPONSOR
BRONZE SPONSOR
BRONZE SPONSOR
PRIZE PRESENTER
PRIZE PRESENTER
BOOKSELLERS
- Beverly Allaire
- Karen Hohman Almeida
- Ta-Lecia Arbor
- M Charles
- Chris Conrad
- Colleen Doherty
- Lynn Fero
- Pauline Fischer
- Marco Gomez
- Patti Harris
- Olyvyan Lattea
- Fay McGrew
- Susan Metzger
- Leslie Terpin
- Carol Smith
- Cheryl Stewart
- Debbie Birns
- Kathryn Boettinger
- Natalie Brill
- Heather Cleary
- Rosalba Gonzalez
- Patti Harris
- Cora Kamerman
- Kate Karp
- Kevin King
- Tom Koranda
- Evangeline Obrero
- Nicole Ramsay
- Maryann Seduski
- Moira Shourie
- Stewart Silver