Book events for the week of July 11, 2010.

Words & Ideas

Compiled by Grace Krilanovich.

SUNDAY

Mary McNamara: The author of “The Starlet” will present and sign her new book. Diesel Bookstore, 225 26th St., L.A. 3 p.m. Free. (310) 576-9960.

The New Short Fiction Series: A book launch for Suzanne Rivecca’s new collection of stories, “Death Is Not an Option.” Barnsdall Art Park, 4800 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood. 7 p.m. $10-$15. (866) 811-4111. https://www.newshortfictionseries.com.

New Texture Nights: Authors Josh Alan Friedman (“Black Cracker”), Chris D. (“A Minute to Pray, a Second to Die”) and Wyatt Doyle (“Stop Requested”) will read and sign their new books, each published by the L.A. indie imprint New Texture. Beyond Baroque Literary Arts Center, 681 Venice Blvd., Venice. 7 p.m. (310) 822-3006. https://www.newtexturenights.blogspot.com.

Not Content: Writers in residence Douglas Kearney and Vanessa Place will read their work as part of the Not Content reading series organized by Les Figues Press in association with LACE’s Public Interest initiative. Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions, 6522 Hollywood Blvd., L.A. 4 p.m. (323) 957-1777.

Slake Magazine Launch: Authors Mark Z. Danielewski (“House of Leaves”), Michelle Huneven (“Blame”), food writer Jonathan Gold and David Schneider will read their work from the premiere issue of the new L.A. lit mag. Skylight Books, 1818 N. Vermont Ave., L.A. 5 p.m. Free. (323) 660-1175.

To Kill a Mockingbird 50th Anniversary Celebration: Kerry Madden, author of “Harper Lee (Up Close),” will discuss and sign her book as part of the landmark work of fiction’s golden anniversary. Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 5 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

MONDAY

Zoe Carter: The author of “Imperfect Endings: A Daughter’s Tale of Life and Death” will present and sign her new memoir. Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 7 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

Justin Halpern: The author of “Sh*t My Dad Says” will present and sign his new book. Skylight Books, 1818 N. Vermont Ave., L.A. 7:30 p.m. Free. (323) 660-1175.

Don Winslow: The author of “Savages” will read and sign his new novel. Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

TUESDAY

Aimee Bender and Glen David Gold: Aloud at Central Library presents a reading and signing with the authors of recent novels “The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake” and “Sunnyside,” respectively. Richard J. Riordan Central Library, 630 W. 5th St., L.A. 7 p.m. Free. (213) 228-7025. https://www.aloudla.org.

Abby Dees: The author of “Queer Questions Straight Talk: 108 Frank, Provocative Questions It’s OK to Ask Your Lesbian, Gay or Bi Loved One” will present and sign her new book. Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 7 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

Steve Duno: The author of “Last Dog on the Hill: The Extraordinary Life of Lou” will present and sign his new book. Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

Susan Jacoby and Nicholas Carr: Ian Masters will moderate a discussion with authors Jacoby (“The Age of American Unreason”) and Carr (“The Shallows: What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains”) as part of the Hammer Forums series. Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Blvd., Westwood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 443-7000.

WEDNESDAY

T. Cooper: The author of “The Beaufort Diaries” will read and sign his new book. Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

Kim Fay and Julie Fay Ashborn: The author and photographer of “Communion: A Culinary Journey Through Vietnam” will present and sign their new cookbook. Traveler’s Bookcase, 8375 W. 3rd St., L.A. 7:30 p.m. Free. (323) 655-0575.

Bruce Henderson: The author of “Hero Found: The Greatest POW Escape of the Vietnam War” will present and sign his new biography of pilot Dieter Dengler. Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 7 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

Salomón Huerta: Zócalo presents the artist in conversation with art critic and Claremont University Art Department chair David Pagel. Museum of Contemporary Art, 250 S. Grand Ave., L.A. 7:30 p.m. Free. https://www.zocalopublicsquare.org.

THURSDAY

Aimee Bender: Host Michael Silverblatt will interview the author of “The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake.” Bookworm, 89.9 KCRW-FM, 2:30 p.m. https://www.kcrw.com.

William Powers: Aloud at Central Library presents the author of “Hamlet’s BlackBerry: A Practical Philosophy for Building a Good Life in the Digital Age” in conversation with Times book editor David L. Ulin. Richard J. Riordan Central Library, 630 W. 5th St., L.A. 7 p.m. Free. (213) 228-7025. https://www.aloudla.org.

Randy Schmidt: The author of “Little Girl Blue: The Life of Karen Carpenter” will present and sign his new biography of the late singer. Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

Leigh Anne & Sean Tuohy: The couple, portrayed in the book and movie “The Blind Side,” will present and sign their new book, “In a Heartbeat: How Cheerful Giving Can Change the World.” All Saints Episcopal Church, 132 N. Euclid Ave., Pasadena. 7 p.m. $5-$24. (626) 449-5320. https://www.vromansbookstore.com.

The West Hollywood Book Fair Pre-Fair: A reading and signing with authors Christopher Rice (“The Moonlit Earth”) and Debra Ollivier (“What French Women Know: About Love, Sex and Other Matters of the Heart and Mind”) and a Bastille Day-themed installment of 826LA’s Dead Author Readings. The author lineup for the ninth annual West Hollywood Book Fair will also be announced. Le Petit Bistro, 631 N. La Cienega Blvd., West Hollywood. 5-7 p.m. Free. (310) 289-9797.

Venus Williams: The tennis star will sign copies of her new book, “Come to Win: Business Leaders, Artists, Doctors and Other Visionaries on How Sports Can Help You Top Your Profession.” Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 1 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

Venus Williams: The tennis star will present and sign her new book, “Come to Win.” Borders Books & Music, 3700 Torrance Blvd., Torrance. 5 p.m. Free. (310) 540-7000.

FRIDAY

Will Alexander and Roger Taus: The poets, whose collections include “gasoline djinny and other poems” and “The Sri Lankan Loxodrome,” will read and discuss their work. Beyond Baroque Literary Arts Center, 681 Venice Blvd., Venice. 7:30 p.m. (310) 822-3006.

Rebecca Chace: The author of “Leaving Rock Harbor” will read and sign her new novel. Skylight Books, 1818 N. Vermont Ave., L.A. 7:30 p.m. Free. (323) 660-1175.

Larry Doyle: The author of “I Love You, Beth Cooper” will read and sign his new novel, “Go, Mutants!” Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

Mike Padilla: The author will read and sign his new book, “The Girls from the Revolutionary Cantina.” Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 7 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

SATURDAY

Joe Mattson and James Greer: The authors of “Empty the Sun” and “The Failure,” respectively, will read and sign their novels. Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 4 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

Olivia Munn: The G4 Network host and new Daily Show correspondent will sign copies of her book, “Suck It, Wonder Woman!: The Misadventures of a Hollywood Geek.” Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 7 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

NEXT SUNDAY

Joseph Mattson and James Greer: The authors of “Empty the Sun” and “The Failure,” respectively, will read and sign their novels. Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 6 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.