Words & Ideas

Compiled by Grace Krilanovich.

SUNDAY
Nada Gordon and K. Lorraine Graham: The poets will read and discuss their work. The Poetic Research Bureau, 951 Chung King Road, L.A. 7:30 p.m. $5.

TUESDAY
Orson Scott Card: The author will read and sign his new fantasy novel, “The Lost Gate.” Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 7 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

WEDNESDAY
Gillian Bagwell: The author of “The Darling Strumpet: A Novel of Nell Gwynn, Who Captured the Heart of England and King Charles II” will read and sign her new book. Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 7 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

THURSDAY
‘The Devil’s Punchbowl’ Launch: Red Hen Press editor Kate Gale and blogger Veronique de Turenne will present and sign their new anthology, “The Devil’s Punchbowl: A Cultural and Geographical Map of California Today.” Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles. 6:30 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

Philip Goldberg: The author of “American Veda: From Emerson and the Beatles to Yoga and Meditation, How Indian Spirituality Changed the West” will discuss and sign his new book. Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 7 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

Anne Rice and Christopher Rice: The mother-son novelists will discuss and sign their new books, “Of Love and Evil” and “The Moonlit Earth,” respectively. Herbert Zipper Concert Hall at the Colburn School, 200 S. Grand Ave., L.A. 8 p.m. $12.50-$25. (213) 621-2200.

Salman Rushdie: Host Michael Silverblatt will interview the author on the subject of his new novel, “Luka and the Fire of Life.” Bookworm, 89.9 KCRW-FM, 2:30 p.m. https://www.kcrw.com.

FRIDAY
Nikki Giovanni: The poet will read and sign her two recent books, “Hip Hop Speaks to Children” and “The 100 Best African American Poems,” which she edited. Eso Won Books, 4331 Degnan Blvd., L.A. 7 p.m. Free. (323) 290-1048.

Susan Wiggins: The author of “Cupcake Nation” will present and sign her new novel. Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

SATURDAY
Laurie David: The author of “The Family Dinner: Great Ways to Connect With Your Kids, One Meal at a Time” will discuss and sign her new book. Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 5 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

Jason Flores-Williams: The author of “The Last Stand of Mr. America” will read and discuss his work. Stories, 1716 Sunset Blvd., L.A. 8 p.m. Free. (213) 413-3733.

Spike Lee: The acclaimed filmmaker will present and sign “Spike Lee: Do the Right Thing,” a new companion book to the 1989 film. Eso Won Books, 4331 Degnan Blvd., L.A. 7 p.m. Free. (323) 290-1048.

Teresa Strasser: The author of “Exploiting My Baby: A Memoir of Pregnancy and Childbirth” will present and sign her new book. Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles. 5 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

NEXT SUNDAY
The 100 Best African American Poems: Poet Nikki Giovanni, editor of “The 100 Best African American Poems,” will read and discuss the new anthology with Jawanza Dumisani, Douglas Kearney, Corrie Greathouse, S.A. Griffin, Conney Williams, Ana Reyes, Bryan Sanders, Peter J. Harris and V. Kalli. Beyond Baroque Literary Arts Center, 681 Venice Blvd., Venice. 6 p.m. $5-$7; free with purchase of book. (310) 822-3006.

Mary Cappello: The author of “Swallow: Foreign Bodies, Their Ingestion, Inspiration and the Curious Doctor Who Extracted Them” will present and sign her new book. Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles. noon. Free. (310) 659-3110.

Spike Lee: The filmmaker will present and sign his new book, “Spike Lee: Do the Right Thing.” Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles. 3 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

Ken Sharp and John Borack: The authors of “Starting Over: The Making of John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s Double Fantasy” and “John Lennon: Life Is What Happens,” respectively, will present and sign their new books. Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles. 5 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

Vermin on the Mount Reading Series: Jim Ruland hosts a night of irreverent readings with Chiwan Choi (“The Flood”), Antonia Crane, Jeanne Darst, Danielle Dutton (“S P R A W L”) and Patrick O’Neil. https://www.vermin.blogs.com. Mountain Bar, 473 Gin Ling Way, L.A. 8 p.m. Free.