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

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.