Book calendar events for the week of May 15, 2011

Words & Ideas

SUNDAY

April Dammann: The author of “Exhibitionist: Earl Stendahl, Art Dealer as Impresario” will discuss and sign her new book. Diesel Bookstore, 225 26th St., L.A. 3 p.m. Free. (310) 576-9960.

Betty White: The Emmy-winning actress will present and sign her new book, “If You Ask Me (And of Course You Won’t).” Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 2 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

MONDAY

DeVon Franklin: The author of “Produced by Faith: Enjoy Real Success without Losing Your True Self” will discuss and sign his new book. Eso Won Books, 4331 Degnan Blvd., L.A. 7 p.m. Free. (323) 290-1048.

Tom Sturges: The author of “Grow the Tree You Got: And 99 Other Ideas for Raising Amazing Adolescents and Teenagers” will discuss and sign his new book. Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

TUESDAY

Armed and Insecure: A conversation with Stephen Higgins, a former director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, and Colin Goddard, a survivor of the 2007 shooting at Virginia Tech. Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 443-7000.

Francisco Goldman: Aloud at Central Library presents the author of “Say Her Name” in conversation with novelist Rachel Kushner. Richard J. Riordan Central Library, 630 W. 5th St., L.A. 7 p.m. Free. (213) 228-7025. https://www.aloudla.org.

Edward Humes: The author of “Force of Nature: The Unlikely Story of Wal-Mart’s Green Revolution” will discuss and sign his new book. Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 7 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

Scott O’Connor: The author of “Untouchable” will read and sign his new novel. Skylight Books, 1818 N. Vermont Ave., L.A. 7:30 p.m. Free. (323) 660-1175.

Paul Theroux: The author will discuss and sign his latest, “The Tao of Travel: Enlightenments From Lives on the Road.” Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

WEDNESDAY

Big City Forum: Writers Edition: Grace Krilanovich (“The Orange Eats Creeps”), Lauren Strasnick (“Her and Me and You”) and Times staff writer Margaret Wappler will read and discuss their work; Harold Abramowitz will moderate. Gallery 825/LAAA, 825 N. La Cienega Blvd., West Hollywood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 652-8272. bigcityforum.blogspot.com.

Chaz Bono: The author of “Transition: The Story of How I Became a Man” will discuss and sign his new book. L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center’s Renberg Theatre, 1125 N. McCadden Place, L.A. 7 p.m. $30 (includes copy of book). (310) 659-3110. https://www.booksoup.com.

Carla Malden: The author of “AfterImage: A Brokenhearted Memoir of a Charmed Life” will read and sign her new book. Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

David K. Shipler: The author of “The Rights of the People: How Our Search for Safety Invades Our Liberties” will discuss and sign his new book. Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 7 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

THURSDAY

Roy Blount Jr.: The humorist and author will discuss and sign his new book, “Alphabetter Juice: or, The Joy of Text.” The Crawford Family Forum, 474 S. Raymond Ave., Pasadena. 7:30 p.m. Free with RSVP.

Bret Easton Ellis: The author will read and sign his latest novel, “Imperial Bedrooms.” Skylight Books, 1818 N. Vermont Ave., L.A. 7:30 p.m. Free. (323) 660-1175.

Earlene Fowler: The author of “Spider Web (A Benni Harper Mystery)” will read and sign her new book. Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 7 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

Matthew Gallaway: The author of “The Metropolis Case” will read and sign his debut novel. Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

Joyce Carol Oates: Host Michael Silverblatt will interview the prolific author of, most recently, “A Widow’s Story.” Bookworm, 89.9 KCRW-FM, 2:30 p.m. https://www.kcrw.com.

John Sayles: Aloud at Central Library presents the filmmaker and author of “A Moment in the Sun” in conversation with USC cinema professor Howard Rodman. A cocktail reception with Sayles follows Aloud program at 8:15 p.m. Richard J. Riordan Central Library, 630 W. 5th St., L.A. 7 p.m. Free (full; standby only). Cocktail reception $25. (213) 228-7025. https://www.aloudla.org.

Written in California Reading Series: Authors Doug Nufer (“By Kelman Out of Pessoa”), Stephanie Taylor (“Chop Shop”) and Matias Viegener (“2500 Random Things About Me Too”) will read and discuss their books — each published or forthcoming from the Los Angeles-based Les Figues Press. Pasadena Museum of California Art, 490 E. Union St., Pasadena. 7 p.m. Free with museum admission. (626) 568-3665.

FRIDAY

Geraldine Brooks: The author of “Caleb’s Crossing” will read and sign her new novel. Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 7 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

Julie Orringer: The author of “The Invisible Bridge” will read and sign her novel. Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

Jason Shiga: The author of “Empire State: A Love Story (Or Not)” will present and sign his new graphic novel. Skylight Books, 1818 N. Vermont Ave., L.A. 7:30 p.m. Free. (323) 660-1175.

SATURDAY

Mark Bego: The author of “Paperback Writer: A Memoir” will read and sign his new book. Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 5 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

Laura Munson: The author of “This Is Not the Story You Think It Is … : A Season of Unlikely Happiness” will read and sign her new memoir. Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 5 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

Abby Sunderland: The teen voyager will present and sign her new book, “Unsinkable: A Young Woman’s Courageous Battle on the High Seas.” Barnes & Noble, 160 S. Westlake Ave., Thousand Oaks. 2 p.m. Free. (805) 446-2820.

Telling Our Stories: Life Into Art: A panel discussion featuring authors Sandra Tsing Loh (“A Year in Van Nuys”), Michele Serros (“Chicana Falsa and Other Stories of Death, Identity and Oxnard”) and documentary filmmaker Mary Trunk. Claremont McKenna College faculty member Audrey Bilger will moderate. Booksigning to follow. Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens, 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino. 10 a.m.-noon. Free. (818) 802-7541.

Brian Michael Till: The author of “Conversations With Power: What Great Presidents and Prime Ministers Can Teach Us About Leadership” will present and sign his new book. Diesel Bookstore, 225 26th St., L.A. 4 p.m. Free. (310) 576-9960.

NEXT SUNDAY

Adam Carolla: The humorist will present and sign his new book, “In Fifty Years We’ll All Be Chicks: And Other Complaints From an Angry Middle-Aged White Guy.” Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 4 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.