Words & Ideas

Words & Ideas

Compiled by Grace Krilanovich.

SUNDAY

10th Annual West Hollywood Book Fair: A full day of literary festivities, featuring 12 stages,125 exhibitor booths and the Writing Room, where workshops will be held all day. Authors include Meredith Baxter, Marcia Clark, Jackie Collins, Florence Henderson, Christopher Rice, Lisa See, Susan Straight, Justin Torres and others. West Hollywood Park, 647 N. San Vicente Blvd., West Hollywood. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Free. https://www.westhollywoodbookfair.org.

Michael Buckley: The author of “NERDS: Book Three: The Cheerleaders of Doom” will present and sign his new book for middle readers. Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 4 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

Jane Lynch: Live Talks Los Angeles presents the actress (“Glee”) in conversation with actor Adam Scott on the subject of her new memoir, “Happy Accidents.” Club Nokia at L.A. Live, 800 West Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles. 7 p.m. (VIP reception from 5:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m.) $29-$125. https://www.livetalksla.org.

Ben Markovits: The author of “Childish Loves” will read and sign the third in his trilogy of novels based on the life of Lord Byron. Skylight Books, 1818 N. Vermont Ave., L.A. 5 p.m. Free. (323) 660-1175.

Michael Starr: The author of “Black and Blue: The Red Foxx Story” will discuss and sign his new biography of the comedian. Eso Won Books, 4331 Degnan Blvd., L.A. 2 p.m. Free. (323) 290-1048.

MONDAY

Lawrence Dorr: The author of “Die Once Live Twice” will read and sign his new thriller. Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 7 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

Leymah Roberta Gbowee: Aloud at Central Library presents the founder of the Women of Liberia Mass Action for Peace and author of “Mighty Be Our Powers: How Sisterhood, Prayer and Sex Changed a Nation at War” in conversation with the Rev. Dr. Gwynne Guibord. Richard J. Riordan Central Library, 630 W. 5th St., L.A. 7 p.m. Free. (213) 228-7025. https://www.aloudla.org.

Morteza & Karen Khaleghi: The authors of “The Anatomy of Addiction: Overcoming the Triggers That Stand in the Way of Recovery” will discuss and sign their new book. Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

L.A. vs. San Francisco: Who Runs California? Zocalo presents a panel discussion featuring L.A. Observed creator and publisher Kevin Roderick, founding editor of Buzz Magazine Allan Mayer, author Gray Brechin and historian Margaret O’Mara. Moderated by NBC4 reporter Conan Nolan. MOCA, 250 S. Grand Ave., L.A. 7:30 p.m. Free. (213) 626-6222. https://www.zocalopublicsquare.org.

TUESDAY

John Baldessari and Christopher Knight: The artist will discuss his career and work with Times art critic Knight. Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 443-7000.

Alma Katsu: The author of “The Taker” will read and sign her debut novel, a romantic supernatural historical thriller. Mysterious Galaxy, 2810 Artesia Blvd., Redondo Beach. 7:30 p.m. Free. (310) 542-6000.

Claire LaZebnik: The author of “Families and Other Nonreturnable Gifts” will read and sign her new novel. Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 7 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

Hector Tobar: The Times columnist and author of “The Barbarian Nurseries” will read and sign his new novel. Skylight Books, 1818 N. Vermont Ave., L.A. 7:30 p.m. Free. (323) 660-1175.

Alan Watt: The author of “The 90-Day Novel: Unlock the Story Within” will discuss and sign his new book. Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

WEDNESDAY

Mary Jo Bang and Eleni Sikelianos: The poets will read and discuss their work. Otis College of Art and Design, 9045 Lincoln Blvd., L.A. 7:30 p.m. Free. (310) 665-6892.

Richard Banks: The author of “Is Marriage for White People?” will discuss and sign his new book. Davidson Conference Center at USC, Jefferson and Figueroa Ave., L.A. 4 p.m. Free. (213) 821-1239.

Can Direct Democracy Be Saved? Zocalo presents a panel discussion featuring former Associate Justice of the California Supreme Court Carlos Moreno, Small Business Action Committee president Joel Fox, Center for Governmental Studies president Robert Stern and Peter Schrag, former editorial page editor of the Sacramento Bee. Moderated by Trudy Schafer. Downtown Independent Theater, 251 S. Main St., L.A. 7:30 p.m. Free. https://www.zocalopublicsquare.org.

John Landis: The director will present and sign his new book, “Monsters in the Movies: 100 Years of Cinematic Nightmares.” Dark Delicacies, 4213 W. Burbank Blvd., Burbank. 7 p.m. Free. (818) 556-6660.

Julie Newmar: TV’s original Catwoman will present and sign her new book, “The Conscious Catwoman Explains Life on Earth.” Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

Jim Newton: Los Angeles Times Editor at Large and author of “Eisenhower: The White House Years” will discuss and sign his new book. Skylight Books, 1818 N. Vermont Ave., L.A. 7:30 p.m. Free. (323) 660-1175.

R.A. Salvatore: The author of “Neverwinter” will read and sign his new science fiction novel. Myterious Galaxy, 2810 Artesia Blvd., Redondo Beach. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 542-6000.

Hector Tobar: The Times columnist will read and sign his new novel, “The Barbarian Nurseries.” Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 7 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

THURSDAY

Richard Banks: The author of “Is Marriage for White People?: How the African American Marriage Decline Affects Everyone” will discuss and sign his new book. Eso Won Books, 4331 Degnan Blvd., L.A. 7 p.m. Free. (323) 290-1048.

Russell Banks: Writers Bloc presents the novelist in conversation with Times columnist and author Meghan Daum on the subject of Banks’ latest, “Lost Memory of Skin.” MGM Screening Room, 10250 Constellation Blvd., Century City. 7:30 p.m. $20. https://www.writersblocpresents.com.

Deborah Blum: The Pulitzer Prize-winning author of “The Poisoner’s Handbook: Murder and the Birth of Forensic Medicine in Jazz Age New York” will discuss and sign her recent book. Harlyne Norris Research Tower, Aresty Conference Center at USC Health Sciences Campus, 1450 Biggy St., L.A. 4:30 p.m. Free. (323) 442-1130.

David M. Kennedy and Charlie Beck: Aloud at Central Library presents the award-winning criminologist — who orchestrated the “Boston Miracle” — in conversation with L.A. Police Chief Beck on the subject of Kennedy’s new book “Don’t Shoot: One Man, a Street Fellowship and the End of Violence in Inner-City America.” Robin Kramer will moderate. Richard J. Riordan Central Library, 630 W. 5th St., L.A. 7 p.m. Free. (213) 228-7025. https://www.aloudla.org.

L.A.’s Unsung Hometown Oracles: Libros Schmibros at the Hammer presents a discussion about L.A. with Sharon Sekhon, Susana Chavez-Silverman and Mike Sonksen. Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles. 5:30 p.m. Free. (310) 443-7000.

John Lithgow: The actor will discuss his new memoir, “DRAMA: An Actor’s Education” as part of the Live Talks Los Angeles series. Aero Theatre, 1328 Montana Ave, Santa Monica. 8 p.m. $25-$95. (VIP reception from 6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m.). https://www.livetalksla.org.

Amy Sonnie & James Tracy: The author of “Hillbilly Nationalists, Urban Race Rebels and Black Power: Community Organizing in Radical Times” will discuss and sign their new book. Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

Nicolle Wallace: The author of “It’s Classified” will read and sign her new novel. Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 7 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

SATURDAY

Peter Gizzi: The Poetic Research Bureau presents a reading by poet Peter Gizzi, whose new collection is “Threshold Songs.” Charlie James Gallery, 975 Chung King Road, L.A. 7 p.m. Free. (213) 687-0844. https://www.poeticresearch.com.

Group Signing: Authors David Del Valle (“Lost Horizons: Beneath the Hollywood Sign”), Pat Jankiewicz (“You Wouldn’t Like Me When I’m Angry!: A Hulk Companion”), Josh Pryor (“Fade to Black”) and Peter H. Brothers (“Devil Bat Diary: The Journal of Johnny Layton,” “Mushroom Clouds and Mushroom Men: The Fantastic Cinema of Ishiro Honda”) will present and sign their books. Dark Delicacies, 4213 W. Burbank Blvd., Burbank. 2 p.m. Free. (818) 556-6660.

Paul Koudounaris: The author of “The Empire of Death: A Cultural History of Ossuaries and Charnel Houses” will discuss and sign his new book. The Folk Tree, 217 South Fair Oaks Ave., Pasadena. 2 p.m. Free. (626) 795-8733.

Michael Lindsay-Hogg: The director will present and sign his new memoir, “Luck and Circumstance: A Coming of Age in Hollywood, New York and Points Beyond.” Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 5 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

Scott Pasfield: The author of “Gay in America” will present and sign his new photography book. Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 4 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

John Sandford: The author of “Shock Wave” will read and sign his new thriller. Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 7 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

Gary Taxali: The artist will present and sign his books “I Love You, OK?” and “Mono Taxali.” La Luz de Jesus Gallery, 4633 Hollywood Blvd., L.A. 7 p.m. Free. (323) 666-7667.