It was heaven for book nerds! The Los Angeles Times Festival of Books at the USC campus drew thousands of fans and more than 500 authors for a weekend of living and breathing books. The lineup included former astronaut Buzz Aldrin, U.S. poet laureate Juan Felipe Herrera, “Top Chef” host Padma Lakshmi, YA author Ransom Riggs, religious scholar Reza Aslan, Newbery Award winner Kwame Alexander and many more.
On Saturday night, The Times hosted its annual Book Prizes, during which Herrera received the Robert Kirsch Award and James Patterson was given the Innovator’s Award. See the full list of winners. And on Sunday, Carrie Brownstein and Arianna Huffington joined the festivities as part of the L.A. Times’ Ideas Exchange Series.
Sleep deprivation is not something to be proud of, argues Arianna Huffington
Arianna Huffington talked about sleep, sex (it’s “Mother Nature’s Ambien,” she said) and Donald Trump during her conversation with Times columnist Robin Abcarian at Sunday’s Festival of Books. Her new book, “The Sleep Revolution,” makes the case for getting more shut-eye -- advice she especially wants our leaders to follow. Here are three highlights from the conversation:
Arianna Huffington talks with Times columnist Robin Abcarian about sex at the Festival of Books at USC.
Arianna Huffington talks with Times columnist Robin Abcarian about leadership at the Festival of Books at USC.
Arianna Huffington talks with Times columnist Robin Abcarian about Donald Trump at the Festival of Books at USC.
Carrie Brownstein argues that limitations are good for artistry
Carrie Brownstein’s Sunday conversation with The Times’ Lorraine Ali was a charming session about art and creativity. Here are three video highlights:
Carrie Brownstein talks with Times writer Lorraine Ali about what draws her to artists at the Festival of Books at USC.
Carrie Brownstein talks with Times writer Lorraine Ali about her creative expression in Sleater-Kinney and Portlandia at the Festival of Books at USC.
Carrie Brownstein talks with Times writer Lorraine Ali about making it in television at the Festival of Books at USC.
And in case you missed it, here’s a book recommendation from Brownstein:
What’s the magic of books?
What book changed your life?
Watch these adorable cub reporters at the Festival of Books
Deputy Director of Audience Engagement Michelle Maltais sent her cub reporters out to the Festival of Books to ask attendees why they read and write. Prepare to clutch your heart as you watch these adorable dispatches.
What’s wrong with Donald Trump? Arianna Huffington has a theory
Arianna Huffington discussed her new book, “The Sleep Revolution,” during her conversation with Times columnist Robin Abcarian.
Huffington, who has often said people should “sleep their way to the top” when discussing the importance of sleep (hey look, it’s even written on one of her pillows!) is no stranger to creating tweetable moments. So it’s no surprise she gave the audience this perfect quote for Twitter:
What was your favorite book in high school?
Our young friends at HS Insider are on the case:
Here’s the list of books they got:
And here’s what a few current high schoolers had to say:
Michael Connelly hearts #bookfest
Michael Connelly, the popular detective novelist and the man behind Amazon’s “Bosch,” was among this weekend’s special guests. Earlier today, he joined “Bosch” star Titus Welliver at Bovard Auditorium to discuss how the show is made. But Connelly didn’t just stop by for his event. He spent the weekend with us, spreading the #bookfest love.
Sunday inspiration from Kwame Alexander: ‘I’m a say yes person’
Newbery Award Kwame Alexander was among the most anticipated authors at this weekend’s Festival of Books, and he did not disappoint.
Alexander is both a poet and children’s book author. His latest, “Booked,” combines both disciplines and is about a young soccer player whose life goes into upheaval when his parents separate.
And you don’t have to be a kid to read it:
What stimulated your interest in reading? USC’s Tom Sayles tells what book touched him
Carrie Brownstein: What book are you reading right now?
What book means the most to you?
Carrie Brownstein’s disarming charm and her thing for George Michael
The audience for The L.A. Times Ideas Exchange session featuring musician and actress Carrie Brownstein in conversation with staff writer Lorraine Ali seemed almost equally divided between fans of her riot grrrl band, Sleater-Kinney, and her sketch comedy series, “Portlandia.”
Brownstein displayed a disarming charm as she discussed her various projects, including her recent memoir, “Hunger Makes Me a Modern Girl.”
She gave revealing insights into her creativity, talking about her band:
It saved me countless times.
And her series:
It allowed me to show more colors.
She also referred to the devotional following of Sleater-Kinney, and how she was influenced at an early age by the star power of George Michael:
A lot of my friends wanted to be with him. I wanted to BE him.
The Fonz delights the crowd with Hank Zipzer
Instead of a leather jacket, the Fonz wore a magenta sweater and green pants. His hair still tumbled down his neck in a luxuriant mane — but it was gray.
The Fonz is no longer a lovable ruffian but a children’s book author.
Henry Winkler, the actor who portrayed Fonzie on the popular television series Happy Days, read excerpts from his books at the Los Angeles Times Book Festival on Sunday morning.
The main character is a boy named Hank Zipzer, “the world’s greatest underachiever,” who, like Winkler, has dyslexia. The books are written in a special font that is easier for dyslexics to read, said Winkler’s co-author, Lin Oliver.
With titles like “Barfing in the Backseat” and “The Curtain Went Up, My Pants Fell Down,” the books appeal to kids’ silly side.
Some in the audience were too young to remember the Fonz, but they laughed at Winkler’s schtick.
For a moment, Winkler grew serious about the unlikelihood of becoming a published author after struggling to read as a child.
“I can’t believe there’s a name on it, and it’s mine,” he said of his books, urging the children to recognize the greatness in themselves.
Then, Winkler pleased the grownups by trotting out his Fonzie voice.
“You can’t wear a fart T-shirt to school. It’s uncool,” the Fonz said.
Louise Byrne of El Segundo said Winkler’s humor is right up her two children’s alley. William, 8, has has problems with reading, so she plans to introduce him to the Hank Zipzer books.
Byrne’s husband, Brian, said it was inspiring to see Winkler reinvent himself as a children’s book author.
“It was a treat to see the Fonz,” he said. “The way he’s making books, it’s fun to see.”
What book changed your life?
Cute swag for book nerds
What book most inspires you?
ICYMI: O.J. Simpson prosecutor Marcia Clark steals the spotlight during ‘crime fiction’ panel
“More truth can be written in fiction than can ever be written in nonfiction,” Marcia Clark said while participating in a “crime fiction” panel. The prosecutor made famous during the O.J. Simpson murder trial is also an author now and she has a lot of thoughts about storytelling — notably, lawyers shaping narratives to suit client needs.
Writing about the event, The Times’ Garrett Therolf noted that Clark worried questions about the recent FX television series “The People vs. O.J. Simpson” would “hijack” the talk away from her fellow crime writers on the panel. But panelist Lee Goldberg said, “Oh, we’re curious too.”
“I think its an amazing miniseries,” Clark replied. “Did they get everything right? No.”
There you have it.
Why do you love the Festival of Books?
I come here because you can have an interesting conversation with every person you meet, and that’s because people who read books are different.
— Don Cannon, a 69-year-old mechanical engineer
It’s just nice to see this huge group of people that is different from any other you might see in Los Angeles.
— Monique Owens, 29-year-old retail sales clerk and visual artist
L.A. Times editor-in-chief Davan Maharaj welcomes guests to the Book Prizes, the ‘annual rite of spring’
The Book Prizes are about to begin!
Stay tuned: We’ll be live blogging this year’s L.A. Times Book Prize winners. Here’s the full list of nominees>
Dallas Clayton’s ‘big rainy day mural’ brings sunshine to art lovers at the Festival of Books
Dallas Clayton’s mural was a social media hit at Saturday’s #bookfest, with revelers stopping by to chronicle and pose with the live “street art” installation.
Clayton’s mural is one of several art installations at the Festival of Books taking shape in real time. After the festival, the works will go to Robert F. Kennedy Community Schools in Koreatown. Here’s a look at two more:
The tiniest Buzz Aldrin fan
“Space futurist” Buzz Aldrin drew a tremendous crowd to the main stage, where he was interviewed by Books editor Carolyn Kellogg, about his new book “No Dream Is Too High: Life Lessons From a Man Who Walked on the Moon.” Among the attendees, this tiny fan dressed to impress:
He arrived with his daughter. (Also, check out his awesome t-shirt.)
And he got a pretty great intro:
Among the topics of conversation: “Urine Collection Device,” which he played for laughs:
The sweetest little dogs at the Festival of Books
ICYMI: Slow-motion drive-by at the #Bookfest
‘Space futurist’ Buzz Aldrin on the two books that had the biggest impact on him
L.A., the city of poetry
I’m amazed at Los Angeles, how many poets there are. ... This city is so vibrant with poetry. It hasn’t been seen that way. There’s very little media on it, but I’m trying to bring it out, because it’s there.
— Luis J. Rodriguez, author of ‘Borrowed Bones’ and the poet laureate of Los Angeles
The power of journalism and storytelling
I saw first-hand the power of journalism, the power of telling stories and educating and hopefully, effecting change. It just hit me that I was spending my life telling other people’s stories and not my own family’s, and … I felt this incredible responsibility.
— Dawn Anahid MacKeen, author of “The Hundred-Year Walk”
Read MoreMacKeen will appear on the “Past to Present: The Echoes of War” panel today at 4:30 p.m.
The Times’ Jevon Phillips on the first book that excited him
Attica Locke explains why ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ left such an impression on her as a young person
Stan Lee shows up at the Festival of Books... and even the Property Brothers are starstruck
As he has done so often in comic books, Stan Lee had the crowd cheering at his every word. Hundreds turned out, huddled at an outdoor venue in the middle of a wet USC campus for his Festival of Books appearance. Speaking about his graphic novel-style memoir — “Amazing Fantastic Incredible Stan Lee” — Lee recounted the response he got when he came up with Spider-Man (“No! People are scared of spiders!”), how he was enlisted to draw images while in the military (“I showed people how to use an M-16.”) and what started him reading comics:
There were no comic books, just comic strips like Prince Valiant.
— Stan Lee
There were also stories about the X-Men and advice given to writers and artists. With his recognizable voice booming through the microphone, the crowd swelled and laughed and took what could’ve been thousands of photos and videos.
As he made his way to the small autograph booth, that crowd followed and dozens of hands shot out to shake the hand of the man who brought the Fantastic Four to life. His fast-moving autograph line snaked around and through the building that houses the School of International Relations.
With fan selfies galore, including a photo request from The Property Brothers Drew and Jonathan Scott and even staunch security personnel giddily reaching out to shake hands, Lee was whisked in and out of the Festival of Books in what seemed to be a short amount of time. But, as he tends to do, he left an impression.
Rainn Wilson on the first book that blew his mind
Seeing the Property Brothers at the Festival of Books: More exciting than the Oscars, says fan
Here we are behind the scenes with the Property Brothers, Drew and Jonathan Scott, talking about pop-up books (ouch!) and the rain.
But the rain didn’t keep super fans from the event, hosted by The Times’ Yvonne Villarreal.
This super fan was beyond psyched:
The book that sparked Padma Lakshmi’s love of reading
Oh, hey, we’re also on Snapchat!
PSA for #Bookfest super fans: In addition to live blogging the Festival of Books, we’re tweeting at @latimesbooks and Snapchatting at LosAngelesTimes. See you there!
T.C. Boyle likens writing to OCD and addiction
I’ve described what I do as an obsessive-compulsive disorder. I just can’t stop. It’s a kind of addiction. When [writing a book] ends properly, beautifully, the exhilaration is staggering. Like any junkie, you have to do it again.
— T.C. Boyle
The cryptogram that got Mark Leyner writing books again
Author Mark Leyner, whose latest novel is “Gone with the Mind,” explains to PBS host Rich Fahle what got him writing books again after a long hiatus:
“I was hit by a car in Culver City. ... I took [it] to be a sign. I read the world as a kind of cryptogram. Everything is a sign for me to decipher. So I took that to mean that I should go back to New York and write books again.”
Little ones at #Bookfest
What book changed your life?
USC’s cheerleaders and marching band bring it on
What’s the most memorable book you’ve read?
Times Books editor defends L.A.’s literary cred
In an interview with Jeffrey Brown of “PBS NewsHour,” Times Books Editor Carolyn Kellogg defended Los Angeles’ literary credibility:
“Think about some of the writers who have cut their teeth here: Raymond Chandler, Thomas Pynchon. OK, sure, Los Angeles killed Fitzgerald, but Faulkner lived here for a while. Dorothy Parker.”
Book Prizes: Juan Felipe Herrera receives the Robert Kirsch Award
The U.S. poet laureate has written more than 30 books, including the poetry collections “Notes of the Assemblage” and “187 Reasons Mexicanos Can’t Cross the Border.” Herrera was awarded the L.A. Times Book Prizes’ 2015 Robert Kirsch Award for lifetime achievement.
Book Prizes: James Patterson receives the Innovator’s Award
Bestselling author and philanthropist Patterson has written or co-written 152 books, including the popular Alex Cross thrillers. In 2015 he launched a series of YA books and a website that aims to get children excited about reading.
#Bookfest in the rain: Style edition
Also, how awesome is this librarian:
Book Prize winner: Marilyn Nelson for Young Adult Literature
Nelson’s collection of poems, “My Seneca Village,” takes place in an imagined version of the titular New York City neighborhood — a multiethnic community significant for its African American population — that was bulldozed in 1857 to make way for Central Park.
Book Prize winner: Andrea Wulf for Science and Technology
Wulf’s “The Invention of Nature: Alexander von Humboldt’s New World” is a look at the life and legacy of the 18th century German naturalist who helped change the way we look at the world around us and helped inspire the rise of environmentalism.
Book Prize winner: Chigozie Obioma receives the Art Seidenbaum Award for First Fiction
The Nigerian-born writer’s debut novel, “The Fishermen,” centers on four brothers whose bonds are tested when they come across an ominous prophecy.
Book Prize winner: Jorie Graham for Poetry
The Pulitzer Prize-winning Graham helped redefine American poetry in the postwar era and into the new millennium. Her style’s evolution is reflected in “From the New World: Poems 1976-2014,” a collection which covers nearly 40 years of work.
Book Prize winner: Don Winslow for Mystery/Thriller
With “The Cartel,” the follow-up to “The Power of the Dog,” Winslow continues his unflinching look at the ongoing war on drugs, in what James Ellroy called “the ‘War and Peace’ of dopewar books.”
Book Prize winner: Dan Ephron for History
Ephron’s deeply researched tome, “Killing a King: The Assassination of Yitzhak Rabin and the Remaking of Israel,” recounts the events of Rabin’s assassination and how it affected Middle Eastern geopolitics.
Book Prize winner: Riad Sattouf for Graphic Novel/Comics
The first volume of a planned trilogy, “Arab of the Future: A Childhood in the Middle East, 1978-1984: A Graphic Memoir” reflects on the author’s childhood in troubled times, growing up under the rule of Libya’s Moammar Kadafi, Syria’s President Bashar Assad and, most significantly, his own father.
Columnist Chris Erskine on the magic of books on a soggy day
I marvel at good books in the same way the ancients once rejoiced over rainbows. Which makes this week’s L.A. Times Festival of Books one of my favorite events of the year. Don’t mind the threat of rain. On a soggy day, there is nothing better than browsing for a good read.
— Chris Erskine, L.A. Times columnist
At 2:30 p.m., Erskine will be talking with Roy Blount Jr. about his latest book. He promises it’ll “feature the mirth and magic of Blount, one of the most successful humor writers in America.”
Book Prize winner: Valeria Luiselli for Fiction
“The Story of My Teeth,” Luiselli’s “novel-essay” translated by Christina MacSweeney, follows a retired Mexican auctioneer on a quest for new teeth.
Book Prize winner: Hayden Herrera for Biography
Herrera’s “Listening to Stone: The Art and Life of Isamu Noguchi” presents a portrait of the well-traveled and highly influential Japanese American artist and designer who specialized in what he dubbed the “sculpturing of space.”
Book Prize winner: Sarah Chayes for Current Interest
In “Thieves of State: Why Corruption Threatens Global Security,” Chayes, a former reporter and Joint Chiefs of Staff adviser, zeroes in on the roots and effect of widespread corruption in global governments.
Reza Aslan on religion and the power of pop culture
I truly believe the best way to shift perceptions in this country is through pop culture. It’s always the most efficient way of doing so. We’re trying to develop television shows, feature-length films, projects that work to create a different perception of the people, the cultures, the stories, of the Greater Middle East. Part of that involves simply having Muslims and Middle Easterners being normal on TV. [With] ‘Rough Draft,’ I wanted people to see a Middle Easterner being a host and talking about writing and not talking about politics or religion. ‘Believer’ is my attempt to take the work I’ve done for the last two decades and present it in a very accessible, fun, participatory way that still allows you to see someone else’s religious faith in the hopes that you realize that it’s all just different metaphors for the same emotion.
— Religious scholar Reza Aslan
Read MoreAslan will appear on Sunday’s 3 p.m. panel “Thinking About Religion in Today’s World” alongside Tom Bissell, author of “Apostle.”
Marcia Clark’s morally ambiguous new character
Marcia Clark is best known as the prosecutor in the O.J. Simpson murder trial, but did you know she also writes crime novels? Her latest, “Blood Defense,” comes out May 1 and focuses on a “morally ambiguous” defense attorney.
Here’s what she recently told The Times:
The prosecution has to go with the evidence and the facts and tell the story as it happened. ... The defense has more creative freedom. All you have to do is look for a defense that works. But it doesn’t have to be the truth. Sometimes you get lucky and it is, but sometimes you don’t, and either way it doesn’t matter. You’re there to defend the client, and that’s your job.
— Marcia Clark
Clark will appear on the “Crime Fiction” panel Saturday at 1 p.m.
Melissa de La Cruz’s religious inspiration
In the Philippines our religion wasn’t as restrictive; what I remember was learning the stories of all the saints and the gospels as superhero stories. And I learned that these beliefs and stories have so much power. Loving mythology definitely came from the Catholic education, and believing in the power of stories became part of my DNA. I think there are a lot of Mormon fantasy writers for the same reason—you’re steeped in this religious education that is asking you to believe in something you can’t see, which readily translates into fantasy and myths.”
— Melissa de La Cruz
The YA author will appear at the Festival of Books today at 11 a.m.
Art in real time
In addition to author conversations, panels and book signings, The Times has invited artists to complete six street art installations this weekend. After the festival, the works will go to Robert F. Kennedy Community Schools in Koreatown.
Setting up!
Books editor Carolyn Kellogg on what she’s most excited about this weekend
How to survive a rainy Festival of Books
Literary Death Match tonight with ‘Silicon Valley’ star Thomas Middleditch
The first day of Festival of Books may be over, but the night is young. There are several events tonight, including the 10-year anniversary of Literary Death Match taking place at Largo at the Coronet.
Four writers will read their work in seven minutes or less for a panel of judges that includes “Silicon Valley” star Thomas Middleditch. Two will be eliminated and then the ‘death match’ will begin. Doors are at 7 and the show starts at 8:30.
Want to pregame? Check out our amusing interview with Middleditch last year.
Coming up this hour: Festival of Books comes to a close with Japanese drum performance
USC’s Kazan Taiko will do a Japanese drum performance at the USC stage at 4:20 p.m. Also on the agenda:
- 4 p.m. The poetry stage will feature James Ragan, Donna Prinzmetal, Douglas Kearney and Ruth Madievsky.
- 4 p.m. Recording artist Jose Luis Orozco will be at the Hoy Stage.
- 4:30 p.m. “The Nick & Jen Show” will perform at the Reading by 9 Children’s Stage.
Arianna Huffington, Reza Aslan and more coming up this hour
Times columnist Robin Abcarian will interview Arianna Huffington as part of our Ideas Exchange conversation series. In addition to helming the Huffington Post, Huffington is the author of 15 books including “The Sleep Revolution: Transforming Your Life, One Night at a Time.” The event starts at 3 p.m. at the Bovard Auditorium. Also on the agenda:
- 3 p.m. “Thinking about Religion in Today’s World” with Reza Aslan, Tom Bissell, Susan Jacoby and moderator Scott Martelle at Ronald Tutor Campus Center.
- 3 p.m. “Publishing Industry: The New & the Now” at the Hancock Foundation.
- 3 p.m. “Young Adult Fiction: Teenage Wasteland” at the YA Stage.
- 3:40 p.m. Kimberly Williams-Paisley, author of “Where The Lights Gets In,” at the main stage.
Kwame Alexander, Pico Iyer and more coming up this hour
If you missed Kwame Alexander in conversation with Joel Arquillos at 11:30 a.m., here’s another chance to see him. He’ll be at the Poetry Stage at 2:30 p.m. “I’m really excited to come full circle and share with L.A., where I started my writerly journey,” he tells The Times. Also on the agenda:
- 2 p.m. “Memoir: Struggle & Strength” moderated by Joy Press at Taper Hall 101.
- 2:15 p.m. “The Art of Travel Writing: Pico Iyer in conversation with Thomas Curwen,” at the Travel Smart stage.
- 2:30 p.m. Tavis Smiley, author of “50 for Your Future: Lessons from Down the Road,” at the main stage.
Michael Connelly, Titus Welliver, Jonathan Gold, Sylvia Day and more coming up this hour
Author Michael Connelly and actor Titus Welliver of Amazon’s “Bosch” will be in conversation at 1 p.m. at Bovard Auditorium. Also on the agenda:
- 1 p.m. “Covering Diversity in Hollywood: Roundtable with LA Times Film & TV Reporters” at L.A. Times Central.
- 1:20 p.m. Charlotte Rae and Larry Strauss, authors of “The Facts of My Life,” in conversation at the main stage.
- 1:30 p.m. “Food Futures” with Jonathan Gold, Sarah Smith, Alice Waters and David Mas Masumoto at Town & Gown.
- 1:30 p.m. Sylvia Day in conversation with Beth Yarnall at Norris Theater.
Alison Sweeney and more coming up this hour
The Times’ Health and Home editor Rene Lynch will interview Alison Sweeney, author of “Opportunity Knocks,” at 12:10 p.m. on the main stage. Also on the agenda:
- 12 p.m. Anna Quindlen in conversation with Sara Nelson at Town & Gown.
- 12 p.m. Amy Goodman in conversation with Karen Grigsby Bates at the Ronald Tutor Campus Center.
- 12:30 p.m. Matt Rodbard, author of “Koreatown: A Cookbook,” at the Acura Cooking Stage along with with demo from Chris Oh.
- See the full schedule>
Carrie Brownstein and more coming up this hour
Carrie Brownstein of Sleater-Kinney and “Portlandia” fame, and author of “Hunger Makes Me A Modern Girl: A Memoir,” is joining the Festival as part of The Times’ Ideas Exchange series. She will be in conversation with The Times’ Lorraine Ali at 11 a.m. at Bovard Auditorium. Also on the agenda:
- 11 a.m. Holly Robinson Peete, author of “Same But Different,” with special guests Ryan and R.J. Peete, interviewed by Times columnist Patt Morrison at the main stage.
- 11 a.m. “Essential Politics: Stories from the Trail,” with Christina Bellantoni, Kurtis Lee and Michael Finnegan at L.A. Times Central.
- 11 a.m. “Thank You & Good Night: Eras of Music,” moderated by Times music writer Mikael Wood.
- 11:30 a.m. Kwame Alexander in conversation with Joel Arquillos at Seeley G. Mudd.
Susan Orlean, Henry Winkler, Tahereh Mafi and more coming up this hour
Welcome back for day two of the Festival of Books. Here’s what’s on the agenda at 10 a.m.
- 10 a.m. Henry Winkler and Lin Oliver, authors of “Here’s Hank #7: You Can’t Drink A Meatball Through A Straw,” will be at the Reading By 9 Children’s Stage.
- 10 a.m. “Middle Grade Fiction: Epic Adventures,” with Soman Chainani, M.A. Larson, Tahereh Mafi and Ridley Pearson, at Seeley G. Mudd (SGM 123).
- 10:30 a.m. Susan Orlean in conversation with Times Books editor Carolyn Kellogg at Town & Gown.
- 10:30 a.m. “Jonesy’s Jukebox LIVE!” at Norris Theater.
Stay with us for live coverage of The Times’ 2016 Book Prizes; here are the nominees
The fun’s not over yet. The Times is hosting its 36th annual Book Prizes ceremony at USC’s Bovard Auditorium from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The categories include biography, fiction, graphic novel/comics and history.
Two of this year’s winners have already been announced and will be honored tonight. They are U.S. poet laureate Juan Felipe Herrera, who will be presented with the Robert Kirsch Award for lifetime achievement.
“It’s nice to be getting this award from the L.A. Times. I started back in the ‘60s. I’m humbled to be representing those who are no longer with us. I’m talking about people like Luis Omar Salinas, Francisco X. Alarcón, and Gloria Anzaldúa. It’s in that spirit, hermano. There’s so much creative energy out there that we need to tap, and I accept this award in honor of those voices we have yet to hear from too.”
— Juan Felipe Herrera
The other is bestselling author James Patterson, recipient of the Innovator’s Award for his work to inspire a lifelong love of reading in children and his support of independent bookstores nationwide.
On such innovation: His new publishing venture BookShots — short books of no more than 150 pages.
“Look around you, the world is going fast,” Patterson says. “A lot of people don’t want to read books that are long. These books are inspired by the novella.”
Here are all of tonight’s nominees:
BIOGRAPHY
- Terry Alford, “Fortune’s Fool: The Life of John Wilkes Booth” (Oxford University Press)
- Hayden Herrera, “Listening to Stone: The Art and Life of Isamu Noguchi” (Farrar, Straus and Giroux)
- Charlotte DeCroes Jacobs, “Jonas Salk: A Life” (Oxford University Press)
- Patrick McGilligan, “Young Orson: The Years of Luck and Genius on the Path to Citizen Kane” (HarperCollins)
- John Norris, “Mary McGrory: The First Queen of Journalism” (Viking)
CURRENT INTEREST
- Sarah Chayes, “Thieves of State: Why Corruption Threatens Global Security” (W.W. Norton & Co.)
- Joe Domanick, “Blue: The LAPD and the Battle to Redeem American Policing” (Simon & Schuster)
- Sam Quinones, “Dreamland: The True Tale of America’s Opiate Epidemic” (Bloomsbury Press)
- Sandy Tolan, “Children of the Stone: The Power of Music in a Hard Land” (Bloomsbury USA)
- Stephen Witt, “How Music Got Free: The End of an Industry, the Turn of the Century, and the Patient Zero of Piracy” (Viking)
FICTION
- Anne Enright, “The Green Road” (W.W. Norton & Co.)
- James Hannaham, “Delicious Foods” (Little, Brown & Co.)
- Adam Johnson, “Fortune Smiles” (Random House)
- Valeria Luiselli, “The Story of My Teeth,” translated by Christina MacSweeney, (Coffee House Press)
- Helen Phillips, “Beautiful Bureaucrat” (Henry Holt and Co.)
GRAPHIC NOVEL/COMICS
- Sam Alden, “New Construction: Two More Stories” (Uncivilized Books)
- Julian Hanshaw, “Tim Ginger” (Top Shelf Productions, an imprint of IDW Publishing)
- Riad Sattouf, “Arab of the Future: A Childhood in the Middle East, 1978-1984: A Graphic Memoir” (Metropolitan Books)
- Maggie Thrash, “Honor Girl” (Candlewick)
- Carol Tyler, “Soldier’s Heart: The Campaign to Understand My WWII Veteran Father: A Daughter’s Memoir” (Fantagraphics)
HISTORY
- Mary Beard, “SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome” (Liveright / W.W. Norton & Co.)
- Jonathan Bryant, “Dark Places of the Earth: The Voyage of the Slave Ship Antelope” (Liveright / W.W. Norton & Co.)
- Dan Ephron, “Killing a King: The Assassination of Yitzhak Rabin and the Remaking of Israel” (W.W. Norton & Co.)
- David Maraniss, “Once in a Great City: A Detroit Story” (Simon & Schuster)
- Mark Molesky, “This Gulf of Fire: The Destruction of Lisbon, or Apocalypse in the Age of Science and Reason” (Alfred A. Knopf)
MYSTERY/THRILLER
- Lou Berney, “The Long and Faraway Gone” (William Morrow)
- Viet Thanh Nguyen, “The Sympathizer” (Grove Press)
- Brian Panowich, “Bull Mountain” (G.P. Putnam’s Sons)
- Richard Price, “The Whites” (Picador)
- Don Winslow, “The Cartel” (Alfred A. Knopf)
POETRY
- Rick Barot, “Chord” (Sarabande Books)
- Jorie Graham, “From the World: Poems 1976-2014” (Ecco/HarperCollins)
- Robin Coste Lewis, “Voyage of the Sable Venus” (Alfred A. Knopf)
- Fiona Sze-Lorrain, “The Ruined Elegance” (Princeton University Press)
- Jean Valentine, “Shirt in Heaven” (Copper Canyon Press)
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
- John Markoff, “Machines of Loving Grace: The Quest for Common Ground Between Humans and Robots” (Ecco / HarperCollins)
- David Morris, “The Evil Hours: A Biography of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder” (Eamon Dolan / Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)
- Beth Shapiro, “How to Clone a Mammoth: The Science of De-Extinction” (Princeton University Press)
- Jonathan Waldman, “Rust: The Longest War” (Simon & Schuster)
- Andrea Wulf, “The Invention of Nature: Alexander von Humboldt’s New World” (Alfred A. Knopf)
THE ART SEIDENBAUM AWARD FOR FIRST FICTION
- Sarah Gerard, “Binary Star” (Two Dollar Radio)
- Ben Metcalf, “Against the Country” (Random House)
- Sara Novic, “Girl at War” (Random House)
- Chigozie Obioma, “The Fishermen” (Little, Brown and Company)
- Andrew Roe, “The Miracle Girl” (Algonquin Books)
YOUNG ADULT LITERATURE
- Don Brown, “Drowned City: Hurricane Katrina and New Orleans” (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Books for Young Readers)
- Marilyn Nelson, “My Seneca Village” (namelos)
- Jason Reynolds, “The Boy in the Black Suit” (Atheneum Books for Young Readers)
- Laura Amy Schlitz, “The Hired Girl” (Candlewick)
- Steve Sheinkin, “Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War” (Roaring Brook Press)
Coming up this hour: music and poetry before The Times’ Book Prizes at 6:30 p.m.
Small Shelter will be performing at the USC stage at 5:30 p.m. Also on the agenda:
- 5 p.m. Andy Harkness, author of “Bug Zoo,” at the Reading By 9 Children’s Stage.
- 5 p.m. Ross Gay, author of “Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude,” at the Poetry Stage.
- 5:30 p.m. Holly Prado Northup, author of “Oh, Salt/Oh, Desiring Hand”, and Harry Northup, author of “East Hollywood: Memorial To Reason” at the Poetry Stage.
T.C. Boyle, Rachel Roy and more coming up this hour
The Times’ Thomas Curwen will introduce T.C. Boyle at 4 p.m. at the Ronald Tutor Campus Center. Also on the agenda:
- 4 p.m. “So You Want to Be a Travel Writer? Eleven Things You Need to Know” at the Travel Smart Stage.
- 4:30 p.m. “Fiction: Lives Unraveling” with panelists Mona Simpson, Vendela Vida, Karolina Waclawiak at Hoffman Hall.
4:30 p.m. “San Bernardino: Covering the Story,” a conversation with The Times’ Sarah Parvini, Paloma Esquivel, Joe Mozingo and Jack Leonard and moderated by Megan Garvey at L.A. Times Central.
4:30 p.m. “Past to Present: The Echoes of War” moderated by former Times op-ed columnist Jim Newton at Hancock Foundation.
- 4:50 p.m. Rachel Roy, author of “Design Your Life: Creating Success Through Personal Style,” interviewed by Adam Tschorn.
Buzz Aldrin and more coming up this hour
Times Books editor Carolyn Kellogg will interview astronaut Buzz Aldrin about his book “No Dream Is Too High: Life Lessons From a Man Who Walked on the Moon” on the main stage at 3:40 p.m. Also on the agenda:
3 p.m. “State of Education: Where We Are; Where We’re Going” moderated by The Times’ Howard Blume at Hancock Foundation.
3 p.m. “Religion, Politics, and Violence: The Middle East and Beyond” at Wallis Annenberg Hall.
3:30 p.m. “Middle Grade Fiction: From All Sides” with panelists Kathi Appelt, Ally Condie, Jake Gerhardt and Alison McGhee at Seeley G. Mudd (SGM 124).
U.S. Poet Laureate Juan Felipe Herrera and more coming up this hour
U.S. Poet Laureate Juan Felipe Herrera will be on the Poetry Stage at 2:30 p.m. Also on the agenda:
- 2 p.m. Tal Ronnen and Scot Jones, authors of “Crossroads: Extraordinary Recipes from the Restaurant That Is Reinventing Vegan Cuisine,” are doing a cooking demonstration at the Acura Cooking Stage.
- 2:30 p.m. Rainn Wilson, author of “The Bassoon King: My Life in Art, Faith, and Idiocy,” on the main stage. (You may also know him from “The Office.”)
- 2:30 p.m. Roy Blount Jr. in conversation with Chris Erskine at Town & Gown.
Padma Lakshmi and more coming up this hour
Padma Lakshmi will talk about her new book, “Love, Loss, and What We Ate: A Memoir,” with L.A. Times Test Kitchen Director Noelle Carter at 1:20 p.m. on the main stage. Also this hour:
- 1 p.m. A conversation with Times columnist Steve Lopez at L.A. Times Central.
- 1 p.m. Sen. Barbara Boxer in conversation with Patt Morrison at Ronald Tutor Campus Center.
- 1:30 p.m. “Science, Technology, & the Human Condition” at Hancock Foundation with Times columnist Michael Hiltzik.
The Property Brothers and more are coming up this hour
The Times’ Yvonne Villarreal will interview Jonathan and Drew Scott, a.k.a. the Property Brothers, on the main stage at 12:10 p.m. Also on the agenda:
- Noon: “Fiction: The Underbelly” with Times critic-at-large Viet Thanh Nguyen at Hoffman Hall.
- Noon: “Are Presidential Primaries Good for Democracy?” at Wallis Annenberg Hall.
- 12:30 p.m.: Cassandra Clare in conversation with Alex Cohen, plus a book signing of “Lady Midnight” at Bovard Auditorium.
Stan Lee and more coming up this hour
The Times’ Jevon Phillips will interview comics icon Stan Lee, author of “Amazing Fantastic Incredible: A Marvelous Memoir,” on the L.A Times main stage at 11 a.m. Also on the agenda:
11 a.m. “Experience Incredible India” at the Travel Smart Stage.
11 a.m. “Essential Politics: The State of the Race and California’s Role” at L.A. Times Central.
11:30 a.m. John Scalzi, one of The Times’ new critics-at-large, in conversation with Charlie Jane Anders at Ronald Tutor Campus Center.
Joyce Carol Oates and more coming up this hour
The USC Trojan Marching Band kicks off the Festival of Books at 10 a.m. Also on the agenda:
- 10 a.m. “Illustrating Lives: The Art of the Graphic Novel” at Salvatori Computer Science Center.
- 10:30 a.m. Joyce Carol Oates in conversation with Michael Silverblatt.
- 10:30 a.m. “Publishing: The Big Picture” at Hancock Foundation.
- 10:30 a.m. “Global Ideas: Shaping the Past, Shaping the Future” at Hoffman Hall.
In conversation with Carrie Brownstein and Arianna Huffington
In addition to the Festival of Books’ author panels, live muralists, music and food trucks, The Times is hosting its Idea Exchange, a conversation series with notable personalities. Sunday’s special guests are:
- Carrie Brownstein of Sleater-Kinney and “Portlandia” fame and author of “Hunger Makes Me A Modern Girl: A Memoir,” in conversation with Lorraine Ali at the Bovard Auditorium at 11 a.m.
- Arianna Huffington, president and editor-in-chief of the Huffington Post and author of 15 books, including “The Sleep Revolution: Transforming Your Life, One Night at a Time,” in conversation with Robin Abcarian at the Bovard Auditorium at 3 p.m.
Think of it as an event within an event. Follow the link in the above tweet to purchase tickets.
Padma Lakshmi’s new memoir might not be what you expected; she’ll be talking about it today
Padma Lakshmi, best known as the host of TV’s “Top Chef,” will discuss her new book “Love, Loss, and What We Ate: A Memoir” on the L.A. Times main stage today at 1:20 p.m.
In a recent article, Times writer Meredith Blake described Lakshmi’s book as deeply personal. “Woven throughout the book are stories of food, most of them far removed from the haute cuisine she regularly samples on ‘Top Chef.’ There’s the kumquat and ginger chutney that comforted her in the dark days after her separation from [Salman] Rushdie, the cream cheese and ketchup sandwiches she ate as a homesick child newly arrived in America, and kichidi, a simple lentil and rice stew she lived on while nursing her infant daughter.”
Lakshmi told Blake: “I wanted to write a proper book that would be respected, so people wouldn’t say, ‘She’s a cookbook writer.’ They would just say, ‘She’s a writer.’”
Her inspirations: M.F.K. Fisher, Mary Karr, Joan Didion and Judith Moore’s memoir “Fat Girl.”
The book’s title began as a joke between Lakshmi and her friend, the late Nora Ephron, who’d often ask how ‘Love, Loss, and What We Ate’ was going — a reference to Ephron’s stage play ‘Love, Loss, and What I Wore.’ It stuck.
Writing advice from erotica writer Sylvia Day
Sylvia Day will join Beth Yarnall at the Norris Theater on Sunday at 1:30 p.m.