Festival of Books: Authors and celebrities

Patti Smith talked about her memoir, “Just Kids,” in a conversation with Dave Eggers and David L. Ulin.  (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

L.A. Times writer David Ulin, left, moderated a panel with author Dave Eggers, who explained his need to write his memoir about the death of his parents in “A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius.”  (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

Author Jonathan Lethem, who teaches at Pomona College, talked about his novels.  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Disney’s Choo-Choo Soul Train performed Saturday at the Target Children’s Stage.  (Michael Kovac / Wireimage.com)

Actress Danica McKellar appeared onstage at the festival, later tweeting that her notes blew away in the wind.  (David Livingston / Getty Images)

Columnist Dan Savage of the It Gets Better Project.  (Michael Kovac / Wireimage.com)

Author Sister Souljah, left, and actress Jada Pinkett Smith discussed Souljah’s “Mystery” series during a Saturday session at the festival.  (David Livingston / Getty Images)

L.A. Times writer Robin Abcarian engaged provocateur Andrew Breitbart on Saturday.  (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

Sandy Johnson, left, gets a book signed by fitness guru Jillian Michaels of “The Biggest Loser” fame.  (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

Jamie Lee Curtis wowed the underage crowd Saturday with a reading from her children’s book “My Mommy Hung the Moon.”  (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

Rainn Wilson of “The Office” fame talked about his website-turned-book “SoulPancake” on Saturday.  (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

Father Gregory Boyle of Homeboy Industries and author of “Tattoos on the Heart” chatted with L.A. columnist Steve Lopez at the festival.  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

“Goosebumps” author R.L. Stine.  (Michael Kovac / Wireimage.com)

Mallory Lewis performed Saturday with Lamb Chop at the Target Children’s Stage.  (Michael Kovac / Wireimage.com)

“Hustler” publisher Larry Flynt appeared Saturday. He is co-author of the book “One Nation Under Sex.”  (Michael Kovac / Wireimage.com)

Ted Danson appeared at the festival Sunday. He’s the author of “Oceana: Our Endangered Oceans and What We Can Do to Save Them.”  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Patton Oswalt provided comedic relief during a reading Sunday from his book “Zombie Spaceship Wasteland.”  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)