Book calendar events for the week of March 13, 2011

Words & Ideas

Compiled by Grace Krilanovich.

SUNDAY

826LA Adult Writing Seminar Series: TV Writing: A series of panel discussions featuring industry professionals will cover multiple aspects of writing for television. Panelists include Emily Cutler, David Fury and Jeff Greenstein on March 13; John Enbom, Dan Harmon and Steven Levitan on March 20; Jane Espenson, Drew Z. Greenberg and Damon Lindelof on March 27. Meltdown Comics, 7522 W. Sunset Blvd., L.A. Today, next Sun. 7 p.m. $12-$15 per installment; $36 for the full series. (213) 413-3388. https://www.826la.org.

MONDAY

Andre Dubus III: The author will read and sign his new book, “Townie: A Memoir.” Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

Steve Hodel: The author of “Black Dahlia Avenger: The True Story” and “Most Evil: Avenger, Zodiac and the Further Serial Murders of Dr. George Hill Hodel” will discuss and sign his books. Altadena Public Library, 600 E. Mariposa St., Altadena. 7 p.m. Free. (626) 798-0833.

TUESDAY

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

James Gleick: Zocalo presents a discussion and signing with the author of “The Information: A History, a Theory, a Flood.” Petersen Automotive Museum, 6060 Wilshire Blvd., L.A. 7:30 p.m. Free. https://www.zocalopublicsquare.org.

Susan Meiselas and William T. Vollmann: The documentary photographer, whose most recent book is “Nicaragua,” will discuss her work with National Book Award-winning author Vollmann (“Europe Central”). Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 443-7000.

Annie Murphy Paul: Aloud at Central Library presents the author of “Origins: How the Nine Months Before Birth Shape the Rest of Our Lives” in conversation with Dr. Michael Lu, professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at UCLA. Richard J. Riordan Central Library, 630 W. 5th St., L.A. 7 p.m. Free. (213) 228-7025. https://www.aloudla.org.

Robert Rosenstone: The author of “Red Star, Crescent Moon: A Muslim-Jewish Love Story” will read and sign his new novel. Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 7 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

WEDNESDAY

Maya Angelou: The acclaimed author and poet will read and discuss her work. Royce Hall, UCLA, 340 Royce Drive, L.A. 8 p.m. $33-$63 (sold out). (310) 825-2101.

James Brown and Victoria Patterson: The authors of “This River: A Memoir” and “This Vacant Paradise: A Novel” will read and sign their respective new books. Skylight Books, 1818 N. Vermont Ave., L.A. 7:30 p.m. Free. (323) 660-1175.

Mark Feldstein: The author of “Poisoning the Press: Richard Nixon, Jack Anderson and the Rise of Washington’s Scandal Culture” will discuss and sign his new book. Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

Alicia Silverstone: The actress will present and sign her recent book, “The Kind Diet: A Simple Guide to Feeling Great, Losing Weight and Saving the Planet.” Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 7 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

THURSDAY

Andrew Foster Altschul: The author of “Deus Ex Machina” will read and sign his new novel. Skylight Books, 1818 N. Vermont Ave., L.A. 7:30 p.m. Free. (323) 660-1175.

Carlos Fuentes: Part One of host Michael Silverblatt’s interview with the author of, most recently, “Destiny and Desire.” Bookworm, 89.9 KCRW-FM, 2:30 p.m. https://www.kcrw.com.

Susan Straight: The author of “Take One Candle Light a Room” will read and sign her new novel. Glendale Public Library, 222 E. Harvard St., Glendale. 7 p.m. Free. (818) 548-2040.

Colin Thubron: Aloud at Central Library presents the author of “To a Mountain in Tibet” in conversation with author Pico Iyer. Richard J. Riordan Central Library, 630 W. 5th St., L.A. 7 p.m. Free. (213) 228-7025. https://www.aloudla.org.

FRIDAY

Ted Danson: The actor will present and sign his new book, “Oceana: Our Endangered Oceans and What We Can Do to Save Them.” Skirball Cultural Center, 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., L.A. 8 p.m. Free. (310) 440-4500.

Julia Stein, Lee Boek and Lynne Bronstein: Contributors to the new anthology “Walking Through a River of Fire: 100 Years of Triangle Fire Poetry” will read their work. Skylight Books, 1818 N. Vermont Ave., L.A. 7:30 p.m. Free. (323) 660-1175.

SATURDAY

Catherine Hardwicke: The director will present and sign “Red Riding Hood: From Script to Screen,” the companion book to the new film adaptation of the classic tale. Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 5 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

Jim Miller: The author of “Niceness in the Nineties: An Indie Music Memoir” will present and sign his new book. La Luz de Jesus Gallery, 4633 Hollywood Blvd., L.A. 6 p.m. Free. (323) 666-7667.

Michael Jacob Rochlin and Thornton Harriss Sully: The authors of “The Magnificent Minotaur of Pueblo Los Diablos” and “The Boy With a Torn Hat,” respectively, will read and sign their new novels. Skylight Books, 1818 N. Vermont Ave., L.A. 5 p.m. Free. (323) 660-1175.

Sister Spit: Authors Michelle Tea (“Rent Girl”), Kirk Read (“How I Learned to Snap: A Small Town Coming-Out and Coming-of-Age Story”), Mari Naomi (“Kiss & Tell”), Ali Liebegott (“The IHOP Papers”), Blake Nelson (“Recovery Road”), Amos Mac and Myriam Gurba (“Dahlia Season”) will read and discuss their work. The Echo, 1822 W. Sunset Blvd., L.A. 6 p.m. $5. (213) 413-8200.

Word Theatre: Jeff Goldblum, Jessalyn Gilsig, Sharon Lawrence and Emily Bergl will give dramatic readings of stories by T.C. Boyle (“When the Killing’s Done”) and Michelle Latiolais (“Widow”). Book signing with authors will follow program. M Bar, 1253 N. Vine St., Suite 1, Hollywood. 7:30 p.m. $22-$28. (310) 915-5150. https://www.wordtheatre.com.

NEXT SUNDAY

Sammy Hagar: The rocker will present and sign his new book, “Red: My Uncensored Life in Rock.” Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 5 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.