Book calendar: Author events for the week of September 12, 2010

Words & Ideas

Compiled by Grace Krilanovich.

SUNDAY

William Gibson: The author will read and sign his new novel, “Zero History.” Book Soup 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. Noon. Free. (310) 659-3110.

William Gibson: The author will read and sign his new novel, “Zero History.” Vroman’s Bookstore 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 5 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

Strange Cargo Group Reading: Alumni of the PEN Center’s Emerging Voices fellowship program will present and sign the new anthology of their work. Author Janet Fitch, who wrote the book’s introduction, will introduce the event. Readers include Natashia Deon, Cara Chow, Davin Malasarn, Pireeni Sundaralingam, Monica Carter, Marytza Rubio, Sylvia Sukop, Denise Uyehara and Mehnaz Turner. Skylight Books 1818 N. Vermont Ave., L.A. 5 p.m. Free. (323) 660-1175.

Belle Yang: The author of “Forget Sorrow: An Ancestral Tale” will present and sign her new book at an event held in conjunction with her exhibition at the museum. Pacific Asia Museum 46 N. Los Robles Ave., Pasadena. 2 p.m. Free with museum admission. (626) 449-2742, Ext. 20.

MONDAY

Debra Ollivier: The author of “What French Women Know: About Love, Sex and Other Matters of the Heart and Mind” will present and sign her new book. Book Soup 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

Robert Scheer: The Times columnist and Truthdig Editor-in-Chief will present and sign his new book, “The Great American Stickup: How Reagan Republicans and Clinton Democrats Enriched Wall Street While Mugging Main Street.” Vroman’s Bookstore 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 7 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

TUESDAY

Are Celebrity Chefs Good for Food?: L.A. Weekly food critic Jonathan Gold moderates a panel discussion featuring Nancy Silverton of Mozza, “Top Chef” Season 2 winner Ilan Hall and “Top Chef Masters” stars Ludovic Lefebvre of LudoBites and Susan Feniger of Border Grill and Street. https://www.zocalopublicsquare.org. Skirball Cultural Center 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., L.A. 7:30 p.m. Free. (310) 440-4500.

Rae Armantrout: The Pulitzer Prize-winning poet (“Next Life”) will read and discuss her new collection, “Versed.” Henley Reading Room, Leatherby Libraries at Chapman University, 333 N. Glassell St., Orange. 2:30 p.m. Free. (714) 628-7389.

Father Gregory Boyle: The founder of Homeboy Industries and author of “Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion” will discuss and sign his new book. William H. Hannon Library at Loyola Marymount University, 1 LMU Drive, L.A. 6 p.m. Free. (310) 338-5234.

Edward Ugel: The author of “I’m With Fatty: Losing Fifty Pounds in Fifty Miserable Weeks” will present and sign his new book. Vroman’s Bookstore 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 7 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

WEDNESDAY

Architecture & Beauty Symposium: A panel of acclaimed architects — Sir Peter Cook, Hernan Diaz Alonso, Frank Gehry, Greg Lynn, Thom Mayne and Eric Owen Moss — will discuss their work with author Yael Reisner, whose new book, “Architecture and Beauty: Conversations with Architects About a Troubled Relationship,” features their widely differing positions and opinions. SCI-Arc 960 E. 3rd St., L.A. 7:30 p.m. Free. (213) 356-5312.

Justice Stephen Breyer: Aloud at Central Library presents the Supreme Court Justice in conversation with UC Irvine professor and former Times staff writer Henry Weinstein on the subject of Justice Breyer’s new book, “Making Our Democracy Work: A Judge’s View.” Richard J. Riordan Central Library, 630 W. 5th St., L.A. 7 p.m. Free. Full; standby only. (213) 228-7025. https://www.aloudla.org.

Scott Jacobson and Todd Levin: The authors of “Sex: Our Bodies, Our Junk” will present and sign their new book. Book Soup 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

Joe Mathews and Mark Paul: The authors of “ California Crackup: How Reform Broke the Golden State and How We Can Fix It” will present and sign their new book. Vroman’s Bookstore 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 7 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

Daniel Tiffany: The poet will read and sign his new collection, “The Dandelion Clock.” Skylight Books 1818 N. Vermont Ave., L.A. 8 p.m. Free. (323) 660-1175.

THURSDAY

Rhys Bowen: The author of “Royal Blood” will read and sign the latest book in her Royal Spyness series. Vroman’s Bookstore 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 7 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

Jonathan Franzen: Aloud at Central Library presents the author of “The Corrections” in conversation with author and Times columnist Meghan Daum on the subject of Franzen’s eagerly anticipated new novel, “Freedom.” Aratani/Japan America Theatre, 244 S. San Pedro St., L.A. 8 p.m. $25. (213) 680-3700. https://www.aloudla.org.

Del Howison and Elizabeth Barrial: The authors will present and sign their new books, the coauthored “Vampires Don’t Sleep Alone” and Howison’s “When Werewolves Attack.” Skylight Books 1818 N. Vermont Ave., L.A. 7:30 p.m. Free. (323) 660-1175.

Sue Monk Kidd and Ann Kidd Taylor: The mother-daughter coauthors of “Traveling With Pomegranates” will read and sign their new dual-voice memoir. Monk Kidd is the author of “ The Secret Life of Bees.” All Saints Episcopal Church, 132 N. Euclid Ave., Pasadena. 7 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320. https://www.vromansbookstore.com.

Maile Meloy: Host Michael Silverblatt will interview the author of “Both Ways is the Only Way I Want It.” Bookworm, 89.9 KCRW-FM, 2:30 p.m. https://www.kcrw.com.

Tony Millionaire and Johnny Ryan: The comics artists will present and sign their new books, “Billy Hazelnuts and the Crazy Bird” and “Prison Pit, Book Two,” both published by Fantagraphics Books. Family 436 N. Fairfax Ave., L.A. 7 p.m. Free. (323) 782-9221.

Simon Reynolds: The author of “Totally Wired: Postpunk Interviews and Overviews” will present and sign his new book. Book Soup 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

FRIDAY

Dead Author Readings: 826LA presents a panel featuring authors so dead only time travel could bring them back. “H.G. Wells” (Paul F. Tompkins) will moderate a discussion with “ Lord Byron” (Dana Gould) and “ Norman Mailer” (Frank Conniff). Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre, 5919 Franklin Ave., Hollywood. 7 p.m. $5. (323) 908-8702. https://www.826la.org.

Steven Roby and Brad Schreiber: The authors of “Becoming Jimi Hendrix: From Southern Crossroads to Psychedelic London, the Untold Story of a Musical Genius” will present and sign their new book. Skylight Books 1818 N. Vermont Ave., L.A. 7:30 p.m. Free. (323) 660-1175.

Kristen Schaal: The actress/comedian (“The Daily Show with John Stewart”) will present and sign her new book, “The Sexy Book of Sexy Sex.” Book Soup 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

SATURDAY

Gordon Edgar: The author of “Cheesemonger: A Life on the Wedge” will present and sign his new book. Skylight Books 1818 N. Vermont Ave., L.A. 5 p.m. Free. (323) 660-1175.

Cornelia Funke: This theatrical storytelling event will feature the author of the Inkworld Trilogy performing sections from her forthcoming middle-grade novel “Reckless” with actor Elliot Hill. A Q&A with Funke and “Reckless” co-producer Lionel Wigram (executive producer of the Harry Potter movies), author book-signing and musical performance by Adam Watts round out the evening. Brentwood Theatre, 11301 Wilshire Blvd., Brentwood. 6:30 p.m. Two free tickets with purchase of “Reckless”; $20 without. (310) 576-9960. https://www.dieselbookstore.com.

SEPT. 19

Black Clock Issue 12 Launch: Contributors to the latest, sports-oriented issue of the Los Angeles-based literary magazine will read their work. Participants include authors Richard Rayner, Nina Revoyr, Samantha Dunn, Tod Goldberg, Paul Cullum and Monica Carter. Skylight Books 1818 N. Vermont Ave., L.A. 5 p.m. Free. (323) 660-1175.

Tom McCarthy: The author of the new novel “C” (which was recently shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize) will read and discuss his work with author Chris Kraus. Art Catalogues Bookstore, Ahmanson Building at LACMA. Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 5905 Wilshire Blvd., L.A. 4 p.m. Free. (323) 857-6000.