The Los Angeles Times Festival of Books welcomes an array of published writers and their works, ranging from poetry to non-fiction narratives. Among the over 500 participants, here are 8 authors to check out at the nation’s largest literary event.
An LGBTQIA+ community icon and native Californian, RuPaul Charles is set to grace the stage and discuss his new autobiography at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books.
Charles has seen immense success as the host and executive producer of the reality competition television series “RuPaul’s Drag Race” — a series that has captivated audiences since 2009 and expanded internationally to the rest of the Americas, Asia, Europe and Australia.
Despite being a 12-time Primetime Emmy Award winner, RuPaul also boasts fame outside of television through his various endeavors as a musician, model, activist and, most recently, the author of his third autobiography, “The House of Hidden Meanings,” released earlier this March — setting this book apart from “Workin’ It!” and “GuRu.” His newest memoir is a candid deep dive into RuPaul’s rise from humble beginnings to fame through a journey of self-acceptance and vulnerability.
Join Charles at Bovard Auditorium from 12:30-1:30 p.m. Saturday for the L.A. Times’ Ideas Exchange series and a discussion of his latest book release.
A science fiction and fantasy writer based in Virginia, Alix E. Harrow uses magic as a tool to bridge the possible and impossible. Her stories have featured spindles, doors and books themselves as portals to fantastical worlds that discuss contemporary issues.
Born in Idaho in 1989 and growing up in Colorado and Kentucky, Harrow studied history at Berea College and The University of Vermont — bolstering her stories’ commentaries on issues including empire, gender and Southern history.
She published her first short story, “A Whisper in the Weld,” in 2014 while working as an adjunct professor at Eastern Kentucky University. Her short stories and novels have been nominated for The Hugo Award, The Nebula Awards and the Locus Awards, including a 2019 Hugo Award win for her work “A Witch’s Guide to Escape: A Practical Compendium of Portal Fantasies.”
She released her third novel, “Starling House,” in October, which examines issues of poverty, class and the history of slavery in Kentucky. The book discusses these topics from a Gothic fiction perspective, and Harrow will discuss contemporary Gothic novels at Norris Cinema Theatre Saturday 4:30 p.m.
Actress, producer and author Lauren Graham returns to the USC campus — once the collegiate set of the comedy series “Gilmore Girls” — for the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books.
Known for her role as the quick-witted Lorelai Gilmore, Graham shares untold anecdotes about her acting career in her New York Times Best Seller “Talking as Fast as I Can: From Gilmore Girls to Gilmore Girls (and Everything in Between).”
The author earned her Bachelor of Arts in English literature at Barnard College and a Master of Fine Arts in acting at Southern Methodist University. Graham has authored multiple memoir-style personal essays — from early-career auditions to reprising her role in “Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life.”
The actress details life, family and a career in the spotlight in her recently published book “Have I Told You This Already? Stories I Don’t Want to Forget to Remember.” Graham will speak at 10:30 a.m. Sunday at Bovard Auditorium to tell stories she hasn’t told yet.
John Densmore, the original drummer for The Doors and one of the last remaining members, will make an appearance at this year’s Los Angeles Times Festival of Books.
John Densmore joined The Doors as their drummer in 1965 before the brand would break through to large audiences in 1967 with their singles “Break on Through (To the Other Side)” and “Light My Fire.” The Doors would go on to become very popular yet very infamous due to Jim Morrison’s behavior onstage.
After the band, Densmore decided to write about his experiences in a couple of novels including “Riders on the Storm: My Life with Jim Morrison and the Doors” and “The Seekers: Meetings With Remarkable Musicians.”
In his 2010 book, “The Doors Unhinged: Jim Morrison’s Legacy Goes on Trial,” Densmore writes of the long court process he underwent with his bandmates. In 2003, he decided to sue fellow musicians Robby Krieger and Ray Manzarek over the use of Tthe Doors’ name, under which the band they had decided to tour without Densmore and the late Jim Morrison.
Densmore will be sitting down with Stephen Perkins, the drummer for Jane’s Addiction and Porno For Pyros, to discuss “The Doors Unhinged.” The event will take place at the L.A. Times Main Stage Sunday from 3-3:40 p.m.
Michele Norris is an experienced journalist, radio host, book author and opinion column writer for The Washington Post. Norris will be speaking about American attitudes on race and proposals to create an equitable future at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books.
Norris’ career started as a correspondent for ABC News, the Chicago Tribune and the L.A. Times. She won an Emmy Award and her first Peabody Award for her work covering 9/11.
Norris’ current role as executive director of The Bridge, a program by The Aspen Institute, reflects her commitment to using storytelling to bridge divides, illuminate complex issues and connect communities.
Beyond reporting, Norris is passionate about fostering open dialogue on race. In 2010, she founded The Race Card Project, a powerful initiative including 500,000 contributors who shared their racial experiences in just six words. Norris turned the stories into a book recently published in January titled “Our Hidden Conversations: What Americans Really Think About Race and Identity” — earning her second Peabody Award.
Norris will be hosting “Un-Whitewashed: Conversations on Radical Reparations, Race, and Retelling History” from 3-4 p.m. Saturday at Norris Cinema Theatre. Tickets are required.
Abigail Hing Wen is an intersectional author discussing love and fiction at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books.
Wen graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Harvard University, a Juris Doctor from Columbia University and a Master of Fine Arts degree from the Vermont College of Fine Arts. Drawing from her experience in the cyber industry, she combines technology with narrative in her works.
One of her most popular works is “Loveboat, Taipei,” which was on The New York Times Best Sellers list. The story revolves around Ever Wong, an 18-year-old from Ohio sent to a summer program in Taiwan to study Mandarin Chinese. However, Wong soon realizes the program is really a marketplace nicknamed “Loveboat” for teens to meet romantic partners. “Kisses, Codes, and Conspiracies” is Abigail’s latest work, set to be released in August.
Wen will be participating in the discussion “Love is in the Air: Coming of Age and Falling in Love in Young Adult Fiction” from 3 to 4 p.m. at the Stark Family Theatre Sunday.
John Green, the globally renowned author of young adult fiction novels, among them the record-breaking “The Fault in Our Stars,” is gearing up to grace the stage at the 2024 Los Angeles Times Festival of Books.
Renowned for his ability to capture the complexities of adolescence with wit and authenticity, Green has amassed a dedicated following worldwide. His roster of most popular novels also boasts such fiction titles as “Paper Towns” and “Looking for Alaska,” though his latest release, “The Anthropocene Reviewed,” is a collection of nonfiction essays. Green’s writing has touched the hearts of millions, earning widespread popularity, critical acclaim and awards including a Printz Medal, a Printz Honor and an Edgar Award.
Beyond his novels, Green is well-known for his irreverent personality and online presence, where he connects with audiences through his YouTube channel and podcast. He has also co-created many online video projects with his brother, Hank, including Vlogbrothers, a twice-weekly video diary alternating between John and Hank, and Crash Course, the educational channel beloved among students.
With his quick humor and sharp commentary to be expected, Green will participate in a panel following the screening of “Turtles All the Way Down,” an upcoming film based on Green’s novel of the same title. The event will take place at Bovard Auditorium from 3-5:30 p.m. Saturday — RSVP required.
Hiking thousands of miles, protecting wildlife and tackling national environmental issues may seem impossible to achieve in one lifetime for most. But for former park ranger Andrea Lankford, it is the impassioned journey on which she has embarked for more than two decades.
Lankford’s books draw from personal experiences of adventurous stories and life-saving expeditions to offer advice for safe exploring while highlighting the thrill of her former job. She has traveled to National Park Service sites across the nation, including Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Zion National Park, Yosemite National Park and Grand Canyon National Park.
While “Biking the Arizona Trail: The Complete Guide to Day-Riding and Thru-Biking” appeals especially to audiences interested in touring nature trails, stories such as “Ranger Confidential: Living, Working, And Dying In The National Parks” and “Haunted Hikes: Spine-Tingling Tales and Trails from North America’s National Parks” cater even to those simply intrigued by the outdoorsy subject. One of her most notable works is “Trail of the Lost: The Relentless Search to Bring Home the Missing Hikers of the Pacific Crest Trail,” an account of the personal rescue missions Lankford has embarked on across some of the most dangerous landscapes in the United States.
Lankford will be hosting “Humans vs. Nature: Conflict with the Natural World” 2-3 p.m. Sunday at the Broccoli Theatre during the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books.
