Guide for Maximizing Your Festival Book Experience

🔥 Hollywood Heavyweights to Smash Up Festival of Books! 🔥

Attention all bookworms! Get ready for a literary extravaganza like no other as some of Tinseltown's most famous faces unleash their wisdom at this year's Festival of Books! On Sunday, April 27, Los Angeles will become a hotbed of genius as we check out the mind-blowing events lined up for you.

🎤 Let's start the day off right with Wilmer Valderrama, the acting powerhouse and political activist, chatting with De Los editorial director, Fidel Martinez, on the Main Stage at 11:30 a.m. Valderrama's mastery extends across the silver screen and into the realm of political activism.

🚀 Following suit will be the legend that is Robyn Hitchcock, who'll weave a tale of music and creativity with award-winning author, Jonathan Lethem, at 11 a.m.

🎬 Aspiring filmmakers won't want to miss the magic of Jon M. Chu, the director behind the smash-hit "Wicked," talking with Times reporter Ashley Lee at 1:30 p.m.

👋 Chelsea Handler, who recently turned 50, will make waves as she discusses her Netflix special, the powerful growth and independence of women, and more with reporter Yvonne Villarreal on the Main Stage at 1:50 p.m.

🎉 We'll also celebrate the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen's birth with a special screening of "Miss Austen" at 10 a.m. You'll catch writer Gill Hornby and the show's executive producer, Christine Langan, in attendance.

📚 If you adore wandering into magical realms, join Pemi Aguda as she joins a diverse panel of authors to talk about the phenomena at 10:30 a.m.

💰Venture into the world of politics with the emotive panel, "Unequal Ground," probing the war against the poor and marginalized at 10:30 a.m., featuring Melissa Ann Chadburn, Bernadette Atuahene, Sarah Jones, and Andrea Freeman.

🌍 Mind-expanding conversations on trans identity, fiction, and a changing world await at the "Under My Skin" panel happening at noon. Join Emily St. James, Rax Will, Daniel Lavery, and Zee Carlstrom for a powerful discussion.

🏆 The legendary Percival Everett, winner of the 2024 National Book Award, will share his insights with Héctor Tobar at a one-on-one discussion. Be sure not to let this opportunity pass you by!

🔥 Safety, climate, and creativity are on the agenda with "Red Flag Warning" discussion on California wildfires at 1:30 p.m. Join Obi Kaufmann, Manjula Martin, Jordan Thomas, Jack Dolan, and Lucero Chavez-Ramirez as they delve into the challenges facing the Golden State.

🌱 Take a step towards a greener future by dropping by The Times' Native Plants booth at this year's fest. Learn about pollinator gardens and grab free sunflower seeds to support bird-friendly gardening.

đšī¸ Prime bird migration time is upon us, so why not learn a thing or two about avian pals with Amy Tan's "The Backyard Bird Chronicles"? Lili Taylor's "Turning to Birds: The Beauty and Power of Noticing" will also hit the shelves next week.

🔥 Keep the literary love going with books by Octavia Butler, Matthew Specktor, and Mary Annette Pember. Explore their unique voices and discover a new favorite storyteller.

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The “It” Celebs Spilling Knowledge at the Party of Books!

Buckle up, bibliophiles! Lose yourself in a literary bash like none other as some of Tinseltown's most illustrious luminaries let their brilliance shine at this year's Festival of Books! On Sunday, April 27, the City of Angels will transform into a hotspot for genius, as we explore the unmissable events lined up for your entertainment.

đ answers Let's kick things off right with Wilmer Valderrama, multi-talented thespian and political crusader, teaming up with De Los editorial director, Fidel Martinez, for an enlightening chat on the Main Stage at 11:30 a.m.

đ© Jetting straight from that? Robyn Hitchcock, the musical maestro, will weave a tale with award-winning novelist Jonathan Lethem at 11 a.m.

đ¤ Aspiring directors, don't want to miss the magic of Jon M. Chu, the wizard behind "Wicked", chatting with Times journalist Ashley Lee at 1:30 p.m.

đ Lusting for a tête-à-tête with Chelsea Handler? You've got it! She'll be sharing the Main Stage at 1:50 p.m., discussing her recent Netflix special, the burgeoning power of women, and more with our journalist, Yvonne Villarreal.

đ Get ready to celebrate 250 years of Jane Austen's birth with a special screening of "Miss Austen" at 10 a.m. Join writer Gill Hornby and the show's executive producer, Christine Langan, for this delightful event!

đč If you're all about enchanting realms, don't miss the 'The Oddities of Earthlings: Magical Realism in Contemporary Fiction' panel happening at 10:30 a.m. Joining Pemi Aguda will be Hilary Leichter, Muriel Leung, and Claire Stanford.

đ¸ Be a fly-on-the-wall during the emotive 'Unequal Ground' panel, exploring the hidden war against the disenfranchised and marginalized, at 10:30 a.m., featuring Melissa Ann Chadburn, Bernadette Atuahene, Sarah Jones, and Andrea Freeman.

đ Worlds collide during the 'The Call is Coming from Inside the House' panel, happening at noon. Join Danzy Senna, Edan Lepucki, Ashley Whitaker, and Nnedi Okorafor for a riveting discussion on writers penning books about writers.

đ The 'Under My Skin: Gender and Identity in Fiction' panel will take place at a time when the transgender community is facing all kinds of challenges. Scheduled for 12:00 p.m., this thought-provoking panel will feature Emily St. James, Rax Will, Daniel Lavery, and Zee Carlstrom. Dig deeper into their work tackling gender identity, belonging, and more in a complex, evolving world.

đ Percival Everett, sculptor of modern literature, captivates audiences with a one-on-one discussion with Héctor Tobar at 1:30 p.m. This event won't last forever, so grab your tickets pronto!

đĸ The frightening reality of forest fires rocking California takes center stage in the 'Red Flag Warning' panel at 1:30 p.m. Let experts Obi Kaufmann, Manjula Martin, Jordan Thomas, Jack Dolan, and Lucero Chavez-Ramirez guide you through the present and future challenges posed by climate change.

đ± Head to The Times' Native Plants booth at this year's fest, transforming a backyard full of invasive weeds into a pollinator haven boasting native flowers, PLUS free sunflower seeds for a bird-friendly garden.

đŽī¸ It's prime bird migration season! Fancy learning more about your fine-feathered friends? Why not dive into Amy Tan's 'The Backyard Bird Chronicles' or Lili Taylor's 'Turning to Birds: The Beauty and Power of Noticing', hitting shelves soon.

đ?” Love for the written word doesn't stop there! Discover the voices of Octavia Butler, Matthew Specktor, and Mary Annette Pember and find a new favorite storyteller.

[1] Los Angeles Times. (2025). Festival of Books: Chelsea Handler on Turning 50 and Women's Power. [online] Available at: https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/people/story/2025-04-24/chelsea-handler-50-women-power-latimes-book-interview[2] Los Angeles Times. (2025). Festival of Books: Schedule & Guide | Spring - [L.A. Times]. [online] Available at: https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/books/story/2025-04-23/festival-of-books-schedule-guide-spring[3] Los Angeles Times. (2025). Festival of Books: 27-Apr-2025 - The New York Times. [online] Available at: https://www.nytimes.com/events/festival-of-books[4] Los Angeles Times. (2025). How The Times Is Combating Climate Anxiety - [L.A. Times]. [online] Available at: https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/books/story/2025-04-23/festival-of-books-climate-anxiety-the-times-native-plants[5] Los Angeles Times. (2025). Food Personalities and Cookbook Authors to Appear at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books. [online] Available at: https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2025-04-22/food-personalities-and-cookbook-authors-to-appear-at-the-los-angeles-times-festival-of-books

Head to the Festival of Books on April 27 in Los Angeles for an extravaganza that promises mind-blowing events.
Wilmer Valderrama, a multitalented powerhouse, chats with Fidel Martinez on the Main Stage at 11:30 a.m. about extending his mastery across politics and film.
At 11 a.m., Robyn Hitchcock weaves a tale with Jonathan Lethem, an award-winning author.
Catch Jon M. Chu, the director behind "Wicked," discussing his work with Times journalist Ashley Lee at 1:30 p.m.
Chelsea Handler, celebrating her 50th birthday, discusses her Netflix special and the growth of women's power with reporter Yvonne Villarreal at 1:50 p.m. on the Main Stage.
The 250th anniversary of Jane Austen's birth will be celebrated with a special screening and the attendance of Gill Hornby and Christine Langan.
If you love magical realms, join Pemi Aguda for a discussion on the phenomenon at 10:30 a.m.
The emotive panel, "Unequal Ground," explores the war against the poor and marginalized at 10:30 a.m. featuring Melissa Ann Chadburn, Bernadette Atuahene, Sarah Jones, and Andrea Freeman.
"Under My Skin" panel at noon explores trans identity, fiction, and a changing world, featuring authors Emily St. James, Rax Will, Daniel Lavery, and Zee Carlstrom.
Don't miss a discussion with Percival Everett, winner of the 2024 National Book Award, sharing insights with Héctor Tobar at a one-on-one discussion.
"Red Flag Warning" panel at 1:30 p.m. delves into the challenges of wildfires in California and the climate crisis with experts Obi Kaufmann, Manjula Martin, Jordan Thomas, Jack Dolan, and Lucero Chavez-Ramirez.