Book Festival Concludes Today at USC

LOS ANGELES (CNS) - The two-day, 24th annual Los Angeles Times Festival of Books will conclude today at USC with former first daughter Chelsea Clinton among the authors discussing their books.

Clinton will be interviewed at 12:30 p.m. by Los Angeles Times Pulitzer Prize-winning culture critic/columnist Mary McNamara. A ticket is required for admission.

Clinton's most recent book, the children's picture book, “Don't Let Them Disappear” about 12 endangered species from around the world and what can be done to help prevent them from becoming extinct, was published April 2.

Clinton is also the author of “She Persisted: 13 American Women Who Changed the World”; “She Persisted Around the World: 13 Women Who Changed History”; “It's Your World: Get Informed, Get Inspired & Get Going!”; “Start Now!: You Can Make a Difference” and “Governing Global Health: Who Runs the World and Why?”

Three actresses from memorable television series will also be discussing their books -- Danica McKellar (“The Wonder Years”), Justine Bateman (“Family Ties”) and Marion Ross (“Happy Days”).

McKellar will discuss her latest book, “Do Not Open This Math Book,” at 11 a.m. It is aimed at children 6 to 9 years old and teaches addition and subtraction.

Bateman will be interviewed at 2:30 p.m. by Times arts and culture writer Deborah Vankin about her book “Fame: The Hijacking of Reality,” described as an intimate look at the experience of fame.

Ross will discuss her autobiography “My Days, Happy and Otherwise,” at 3:30 p.m. with longtime Times writer and columnist Patt Morrison.

Other speakers include actress Amber Tamblyn (12:30 p.m.); cartoonist Cathy Guisewite (1 p.m.); Atlantic magazine contributing editor Lori Gottlieb (1 p.m.) and University of California president Janet Napolitano (1:30 p.m.)

The festival is billed by organizers as the nation's largest literary festival.

There will be nine outdoor stages and activity areas featuring celebrity authors, family-friendly entertainment, cooking demonstrations, Spanish-language programming, live music and poetry readings.

The festival also includes dozens of expert panels on a variety of subjects, including politics and pop culture; more than 200 exhibitors with books and merchandise for sale; an “Artisanal LA” area with local vendors selling sustainable and homemade goods; and an independent author pavilion with a variety of independent writers and titles.

The festival will be open from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Admission is free. All outdoor events are free. Indoor conversation events require a ticket that includes a small service fee. Ticket are available at https://events.latimes.com/festivalofbooks/tickets/

Parking is $12.

More information on the festival is available at latimes.com/festivalofbooks.


View Full Site