The two-day, 21st annual Los Angeles Times Festival of Books will conclude today at USC, with actor Henry Winkler, actress Holly Robinson Peete, talk show host Tavis Smiley and Pulitzer Prize winners Jonathan Gold and Anna Quindlen among the participants in the nation’s largest literary festival.
Winkler will appear at 10 a.m. on the Reading by 9 Children’s Stage to discuss the latest entry in the series of children’s books he has co-written with Lin Oliver, “You Can’t Drink a Meatball Through a Straw.” Winkler has called joining Oliver in writing the Hank Zipzer series his proudest accomplishment.
The books are about the everyday adventures of a bright boy with learning challenges. Winkler was diagnosed with a learning disability.
Peete will be joined by her daughter Ryan and son R.J. at 11 a.m. on the Los Angeles Times Stage to discuss “Same But Different: Teen Life on the Autism Express.”
Smiley will take to the Los Angeles Times Stage at 2:30 p.m. to discuss his book “50 for Your Future: Lessons From Down the Road,” described as “50 nuggets of wisdom he’s gleaned while rising from humble roots to become a critically acclaimed host of television and radio as well as an impactful philanthropist.”
Gold will be part of a panel discussion at 1:30 p.m. in Town & Gown on “Food Futures.” The Los Angeles Times columnist and restaurant critic won the Pulitzer Prize for criticism in 2007 while writing for LA Weekly.
Quindlen will field questions from Amazon.com Editorial Director Sara Nelson at noon in Town & Gown. Quindlen’s latest book is “Miller’s Valley,” a novel about a woman coming of age as she unearths secrets about her family and unexpected truths about herself. Quindlen won the Pulitzer Prize for commentary in 1992.
Other authors appearing today include Susan Orlean (10:30 a.m.); Tom Hayden (11:30 a.m.); Charlotte Rae (1:20 p.m.); and Kimberly Williams-Paisley (3:40 p.m.).
Today’s schedule also includes the Ideas Exchange speakers series, which is “designed to put insightful minds together in inspiring conversation,” according to organizers.
Author, actress and musician Carrie Brownstein will discuss her recent memoir “Hunger Makes Me a Modern Girl” with Lorraine Ali, a senior writer with the Los Angeles Times Calendar section, at 11 a.m.
Arianna Huffington, the president and editor-in-chief of The Huffington Post, will discuss her latest book, “The Sleep Revolution” with Los Angeles Times columnist Robin Abcarian at 3 p.m.
Separate tickets are required for both Ideas Exchange sessions.
The festival features authors, celebrities, musicians, artists and chefs leading conversations and giving live performances and demonstrations.
The festival also includes performances, demonstrations and question and answer sessions on nine outdoor stages; more than 100 discussions on topics ranging from the presidential election to the art of the short story; live recordings of podcasts and radio shows; large-scale street art style installations; and hundreds of exhibitors with books and merchandise for sale.
The festival will be open from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. today. Admission is free. Tickets are not required for outdoor programming. Indoor conversations require free tickets, with a limited number of tickets distributed at the festival ticketing booth. The booth will open at 9 a.m. today and Sunday.
Parking is available for $12 at various USC lots, and $15 in Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Lots 1 and 2. Free shuttle service is provided from the USC Parking Center at 35th Street and Grand Avenue and Coliseum Lot 2.
People taking Metro to the festival will receive a 10 percent discount on merchandise, including mugs and T-shirts.
More information on the festival at latimes.com/festivalofbooks.
