Book calendar events

Words & Ideas

Compiled by Grace Krilanovich.

SUNDAY

Demons Group Reading: Editor John Skipp will be joined by contributors to the new anthology, “Demons: Encounters with the Devil and His Minions, Fallen Angels and the Possessed”: Laura Bahr, Cody Goodfellow, R.C. Matheson, Zak Jarvis and Mercedes M. Tardley. Dark Delicacies, 4213 W. Burbank Blvd., Burbank. 2 p.m. Free. (818) 556-6660.

Five Points Reading Series: Authors Travis Diehl, Alex Kitnick and Rachel Kushner will read their work. Workspace, 2601 Pasadena Ave., L.A. 6:30 p.m. Free. (323) 223-8086.

Christopher B. Krebs: The author of “A Most Dangerous Book: Tacitus’ Germania from the Roman Empire to the Third Reich” will discuss and sign his new book. Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 4 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

The New Short Fiction Series: A dramatic reading of Ron Burch’s “How It Is” featuring performers Kevin Brief, Elena Fasan and Shaun Shimoda. The Writers Junction, 1001 Colorado Ave., Santa Monica. 7 p.m. $10-$15. (866) 811-4111. https://www.newshortfictionseries.com.

Red Hen Press at the Ruskin: Authors and poets William Archila, Lory Bedikian, Mary Estrada, Douglas Kearney, Jackie Tchakalian, Charles Harper Webb and Rolf Yngve will read their work. Ruskin Art Club, 800 S. Plymouth Blvd., L.A. 2 p.m. $5-$10. (323) 755-3530. https://www.redhen.org.

Jerry Shirley: A launch party for the drummer’s new memoir, “Best Seat in the House: Drumming in the ‘70s with Marriott, Frampton and Humble Pie.” The Echo, 1822 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles. 6 p.m. Free. (213) 413-8200.

Adam Winkler: The author of “Gunfight: The Battle over the Right to Bear Arms in America” will discuss and sign his new book. Diesel Bookstore, 225 26th St., L.A. 3 p.m. Free. (310) 576-9960.

MONDAY

The Exegesis of Philip K. Dick: Aloud at Central Library presents a panel discussion with Jonathan Lethem, Pamela Jackson, Isa Dick Hackett and Laura Leslie on the subject of the author’s final work, which Lethem and Jackson edited. Times book critic David L. Ulin will moderate. Richard J. Riordan Central Library, 630 W. 5th St., L.A. 7 p.m. Free. (213) 228-7025. https://www.aloudla.org.

Martin Fletcher: The longtime NBC news Middle East correspondent will discuss and sign his new book, “The List.” American Jewish University, 15600 Mulholland Drive, Bel Air. 7:30 p.m. $20. (310) 440-1246.

Judith Halberstam: The author of “The Queer Art of Failure” will discuss and sign her new book. Skylight Books, 1818 N. Vermont Ave., L.A. 7:30 p.m. Free. (323) 660-1175.

Karen Karbo: The author of “How Georgia Became O’Keeffe: Lessons on the Art of Living” will discuss and sign her new book. Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

Telling Stories: Woman’s Building Writers Workshop: Jesse Holcomb, Barbara Keegan and Sally Shore will perform works by Bia Lowe, Deena Metzger and Terry Wolverton. Annenberg Community Beach House, 415 Pacific Coast Hwy., Santa Monica. 6:30 p.m. Free. https://www.newshortfictionseries.com.

TUESDAY

Amiri Baraka: The author, playwright and poet, also known as LeRoi Jones, will discuss his work. Eso Won Books, 4331 Degnan Blvd., L.A. 7 p.m. Free. (323) 290-1048.

Harlan Ellison: The wildly prolific science fiction novelist and short story writer will discuss his work writing for television (“The Outer Limits,” “Alfred Hitchcock Presents,” “Star Trek”). Screening will follow. Cinefamily at the Silent Movie Theatre, 611 N. Fairfax Ave., Los Angeles. 7:30 p.m. $10; members, free. (323) 655-2520.

Anthony Horowitz: The author of “The House of Silk: A Sherlock Holmes Novel” will read and sign his new book. Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

Jonathan Lethem: The author will discuss and sign his new book of essays, “The Ecstasy of Influence: Nonfictions, Etc.” Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 7 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

John Jeremiah Sullivan and Mark Richard: The authors of “Pulphead” and “ House of Prayer No. 2” will discuss and sign their respective new books. Skylight Books, 1818 N. Vermont Ave., L.A. 7:30 p.m. Free. (323) 660-1175.

WEDNESDAY

Amiri Baraka: An evening of poetry, performance and conversation with the author and poet. Ronald Tutor Campus Center at USC, 3800 S. Figueroa St., Los Angeles. 7 p.m. Free. RSVP required. visionsandvoices@usc.edu.

Joan Didion: Aloud at Central Library presents the author, most recently of the memoir “Blue Nights,” in conversation with Times book critic David Ulin. Part of the citywide Pacific Standard Time initiative. Vibiana, 214 S. Main St., Los Angeles. 8 p.m. Sold out (a limited number of tickets available at door). (213) 228-7025. https://www.aloudla.org.

Katerine Karlin: The author of “Send Me Work: Stories” will read and sign her new collection. Skylight Books, 1818 N. Vermont Ave., L.A. 7:30 p.m. Free. (323) 660-1175.

Rachel Kushner and Ariana Reines: The authors of “Telex from Cuba” and “Coeur de Lion” will discuss their respective books. Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 443-7000.

Steve Sem-Sandberg: The author of “The Emperor of Lies” will read and sign his new novel. Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 7 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

The Speed and Cocaine Chronicles Group Reading: Contributors to the two new anthologies — “The Speed Chronicles” and “The Cocaine Chronicles” — will read their work: James Greer, Joseph Mattson, Gary Phillips and Jervey Tervalon. Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

Susan Straight: The novelist (“Take One Candle Light a Room”) will read and discuss her work. Otis College of Art and Design, 9045 Lincoln Blvd., L.A. 7:30 p.m. Free. (310) 527-6847.

THURSDAY

Ann Beattie: Host Michael Silverblatt will interview the author of “Mrs. Nixon.” Bookworm, 89.9 KCRW-FM, 2:30 p.m. https://www.kcrw.com.

Dennis Cooper: The author will read and sign his new novel, “The Marbled Swarm.” Skylight Books, 1818 N. Vermont Ave., L.A. 7:30 p.m. Free. (323) 660-1175.

Mike Edison: The author of “Dirty! Dirty! Dirty!: Of Playboys, Pigs and Penthouse Paupers — An American Tale of Sex and Wonder” will present and sign his new book. The Last Bookstore, 453 S. Spring St., L.A. 7 p.m. Free. (213) 488-0599.

Friends of the USC Libraries Literary Luncheon: Adrienne Sharp: The author of “The True Memoirs of Little K” will discuss and sign her historical novel. Doheny Memorial Library at USC, 3550 Trousdale Parkway, Los Angeles. 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. $50-$65; 1 p.m. lecture only, free. RSVP to https://www.usc.edu/esvp. (213) 821-1153.

Darrell Hammond: The longest-tenured SNL cast member in the show’s history will discuss and sign his new memoir, “God, If You’re Not Up There, I’m F*cked: Tales of Stand-Up, Saturday Night Live and Other Mind-Altering Mayhem” with actor Fred Willard. Track 16 Gallery, 2525 Michigan Ave. Bergamot Station, Santa Monica. 8 p.m. $25-$95. (310) 264-4678. https://www.livetalksla.org.

Richard Polsky: The author of “The Art Prophets: The Artists, Dealers and Tastemakers Who Shook the Art World” will discuss his new book with artist Shepard Fairey. Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

Laurie Sandell: The author of “Truth and Consequences: Life Inside the Madoff Family” will discuss and sign her new book. Diesel Bookstore, 225 26th St., L.A. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 576-9960.

Peter Sis: The author of “The Conference of the Birds” will present and sign his new book. Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 7 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

FRIDAY

Anna Lefler: The author of “The Chicktionary: From A-line to Z-snap, the Words Every Woman Should Know” will present and sign her new book. Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

Randall Robinson: The author of “Makeda” will read and sign his new novel. Eso Won Books, 4331 Degnan Blvd., L.A. 7 p.m. Free. (323) 290-1048.

Tony Trigilio: The poet (“Historic Diary,” “The Lama’s English Lessons”) will read and discuss his work. The Poetic Research Bureau, 3706 San Fernando Blvd, Glendale. 7:30 p.m. Free.

Wim Wenders: The filmmaker will present and sign his new photography book, “Places, Strange and Quiet.” Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 4 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

SATURDAY

Lisa Solis Delong: The author of “Blood Brothers: A Memoir of Faith and Loss While Raising Two Sons with Cancer” will discuss and sign her new book. Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 4 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

How Los Angeles Invented the World: Zocalo and the Getty Center present a half-day conference consisting of three panel discussions: “How Los Angeles Created the Good Life,” with Tom Crow, Kirse Granat May, Eric Avila and Jennifer Watts; “How Life Imitated Art,” with Times staff writer Reed Johnson, William Friedkin, Richard Schickel, Times film critic Kenneth Turan and Thom Andersen; and “The Past and Future of L.A.’s Global Image,” with Warren Olney, Wim Wenders, John Singleton, Richard Rodriguez and Eric Owen Moss. Getty Center, 1200 Getty Center Drive, L.A. 2-7 p.m. Free. (310) 440-7300. https://www.zocalopublicsquare.org.

Kurt Loder: The critic and MTV “Week in Rock” host will present and sign his new book, “The Good, the Bad and the Godawful: 21st-Century Movie Reviews.” Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 3 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

Ziggy Marley and Jim Mahfood: The authors of “Ziggy Marley’s Marijuanaman” will present and sign their new comic. Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

Steven Naifeh and Gregory White Smith: The Pulitzer Prize-winning biographers will discuss and sign their new book, “Van Gogh: The Life.” Bing Theater at LACMA, 5905 Wilshire Blvd., L.A. 2 p.m. Free. (323) 857-6010.