BookSwell

Come hear LA’s finest writers share their words. Fiction, Nonfiction, Memoir, Poetry. featured Spot + 10 Open Mic Spots (6 mins)Words… A Literary Reading and Open Mic every 2nd Saturday 3:30-5:00 pm @theglendaleroom Host: Erica Blumfield One featured reader + 10 Open Mic Spots (6 mins) Come hear LA’s finest writers share their words. Fiction, Nonfiction, Memoir, Poetry. Put your name in the hat for the chance to read up to 6 minutes.Erica Blumfield is a Los Angeles-based writer who moved to LA with one suitcase and a hatbox. She never looked back. She is the producer and host of Revealed (a true and personal storytelling show). She is the co-host of the Telling Mental Health podcast. She most recently was awarded a writing grant through the Degroot Foundation and was the 2023 recipient of the New Voices Fellowship through lighthouse writers workshop.

This literary conversion and reading during National Poetry Month explores how poetry shapes our sense of self and connection to the world.What role does poetry play in shaping our sense of self and our connection to the world? How can poetic expression illuminate identity, belonging, and universal truths? Join us for an inspiring National Poetry Month discussion between two celebrated poets whose work explores the intersection of identity, culture, and human connection. This engaging conversation will delve into their creative processes, their perspectives on poetry as a transformative art form, and the ways their experiences have shaped their work. The event will feature: • Richard Blanco, the fifth Presidential Inaugural Poet, selected by President Obama, and a National Humanities Medal recipient. As a poet, memoirist, and advocate, Blanco’s work—including How To Love a Country and Homeland of My Body—reflects on cultural identity, belonging, and the human spirit, earning him widespread acclaim and recognition as a voice for diversity and justice. • Kim Dower, former City Poet Laureate of West Hollywood, whose six acclaimed poetry collections—including her newest, What She Wants, Poems on Obsession, Desire, Despair, Euphoria as well as the bestselling I Wore This Dress Today for You, Mom—are known for blending humor and Read More ...

Robert Crumb & Dan Nadel in conversation with Matt Groening discussing, "Crumb: A Cartoonist's Life"Please note:-- Tickets are non refundable and are not transferable.-- Tickets cannot be re-sold on re-seller platforms. Re-sold ticket will not be honored.-- All ticket holders should be ready to show ID at the event.-- The name(s) you provide during registration will be on a will-call list at the event, where you will check-in and get your ticket to enter the theatre.----------------------------------------------------------Join us for an in-person and virtual* Live Talks Los Angeles event:Wednesday, April 23, 2025, 8pm*Virtual event airs on April 29 at 6pm PT/6pm ETRobert Crumb & Dan Nadelin conversation with Matt Groeningdiscussing, Crumb: A Cartoonist's LifeTICKETS:$100--One Premium Orchestra Section ticket + 2 signed books(signed copy of Crumb's biography*; and a signed copy of Groening's book, The Art of Futurama)$80--Two Orchestra Section tickets + 1 signed copy of the Crumb biography*$60--One Orchestra Section ticket + 1 signed copy of the Crumb biography*$30--One Balcony Ticket (book not included)*signed by Crumb and NadelAdditional signed copies of the Crumb biography available for purchase at event.Face masks recommendedThe virtual version of this event airs on April 29, 2025, at 6pm PT/9PM ET and is available on video-on-demand for five Read More ...

Join us for an evening of conversation between filmmaker, artist, and writer Miranda July and interviewer Paul Holdengräber.Join us for an evening of conversation between filmmaker, artist, and writer Miranda July and acclaimed interviewer and cultural interlocutor Paul Holdengräber.Miranda's videos, performances, and web-based projects have been presented at sites such as the Museum of Modern Art, the Guggenheim Museum and in two Whitney Biennials. July wrote, directed and starred in Me and You and Everyone We Know(2005), which won a special jury prize at the Sundance Film Festival and four prizes at the Cannes Film Festival, including the Caméra d'or. Me and You and Everyone We Know has been released as a BluRay/DVD by the Criterion Collection. In 2011 she wrote, directed and starred in The Future. She also co-starred in Josephine Decker’s Madeline’s Madeline. In 2019 July directed the Sleater-Kinney video for ‘Hurry On Home.’ July's feature film, Kajillionaire, produced by Plan B and Annapurna and starring Evan Rachel Wood, Richard Jenkins, Debra Winger and Gina Rodriguez was theatrically released in late 2020 to favorable reviews. In 2021 she narrated the documentary Fire of Lovedirected by Sara Dosa.Her fiction has appeared in The Paris Review, Harper’s, and The New Read More ...

Barbara Costello discussing her cookbook, "Every Day with Babs: 101 Family-Friendly Dinners for Every Day of the Week." ."Please note:-- Tickets are non refundable and are not transferable.-- Tickets cannot be re-sold on re-seller platforms. Re-sold ticket will not be honored.-- All ticket holders should be ready to show ID at the event.-- The name(s) you provide during registration will be on a will-call list at the event, where you will check-in and get your ticket to enter the theatre.----------------------------------------------------------Join us for an in-person and virtual* Live Talks Los Angeles event:Tuesday, April 29, 2025, 8pm*Virtual event airs on May 6 at 6pm PT/9pm ETAn Evening with Barbara Costellodiscussing her cookbook, Every Day with Babs:101 Family-Friendly Dinners for Every Day of the WeekTICKETS:$55 General Admission ticket + signed book$25 General Admisison ticketAdditional signed books available for purchase at eventFace masks recommendedThe virtual version of this event airs on May 6, 2025, at 6pm PT/9PM ET and is available on video-on-demand for five days.Tickets for the virtual event can be purchased here (includes the signed book)ASL interpreter provided upon request.Free parking at the venueEverybody’s favorite grandmother is here to answer the age-old question "What's for dinner?" with 101 tried-and-true recipes, plus genius Read More ...

José Andrés discussing his book, "Change the Recipe: Because You Can't Build a Better World Without Breaking Some Eggs"Please note:-- Tickets are non refundable and are not transferable.-- Tickets cannot be re-sold on re-seller platforms. Re-sold ticket will not be honored.-- All ticket holders should be ready to show ID at the event.-- The name(s) you provide during registration will be on a will-call list at the event, where you will check-in and get your ticket to enter the theatre.----------------------------------------------------------Join us for an in-person and virtual* Live Talks Los Angeles event:Sunday, May 4, 2025, 4:30pm*Virtual event airs on May 12 at 6pm PT/6pm ETAn Afternoon with José Andrésdiscussing his book, Change the Recipe: Because You Can't Build a Better World Without Breaking Some EggsTICKETS:$75 Two General Admission tickets + ONE book with signed book plate$50 General Admission ticket + book with signed book plateAdditional copies of the the book with signed book plates available for purchase at event.Face masks recommendedThe virtual version of this event airs on May 12, 2025, at 6pm PT/9PM ET and is available on video-on-demand for five days.Tickets for the virtual event can be purchased here (includes the signed book)ASL interpreter provided upon request.Paid parking available Read More ...

Christie Brinkley discussing her memoir, "Uptown Girl."Please note:-- Tickets are non refundable and are not transferable.-- Tickets cannot be re-sold on re-seller platforms. Re-sold ticket will not be honored.-- All ticket holders should be ready to show ID at the event.-- The name(s) you provide during registration will be on a will-call list at the event, where you will check-in and get your ticket to enter the theatre.----------------------------------------------------------Join us for an in-person and virtual* Live Talks Los Angeles event:Monday, May 5, 2025, 8pm*Virtual event airs on May 12 at 6pm PT/9pm ETAn Evening with Christie Brinkleydiscussing her memoir, Uptown GirlTICKETS:$55 General Admission ticket + signed copy of the book$80 Two General Admisison tickets + one sigend bookAdditional signed books available for purchase at eventFace masks recommendedThe virtual version of this event airs on May 12, 2025, at 6pm PT/9PM ET and is available on video-on-demand for five days.Tickets for the virtual event can be purchased here (includes the signed book)ASL interpreter provided upon request.Free parking at the venueIn 1974, a twenty-year-old Christie Brinkley was “discovered” outside a Paris phone booth, which set off a meteoric modeling career that would land her on the covers of hundreds of magazines and cement Read More ...

An Evening with Ed Helms discussing his book, "SNAFU: The Definitive Guide to History’s Greatest Screwups"Please note:-- Tickets are non refundable and are not transferable.-- Tickets cannot be re-sold on re-seller platforms. Re-sold ticket will not be honored.-- All ticket holders should be ready to show ID at the event.-- The name(s) you provide during registration will be on a will-call list at the event, where you will check-in and get your ticket to enter the theatre.----------------------------------------------------------Join us for an in-person and virtual* Live Talks Los Angeles event:Wednesday, May 6, 2025, 8pm*Virtual event airs on May 13 at 6pm PT/9pm ETAn Evening with Ed Helmsdiscussing his book, TSNAFU: The Definitive Guide to History’s Greatest ScrewupsTICKETS:$25 General Admission ticket$50 General Admisison ticket + sigend bookAdditional signed books available for purchase at eventFace masks recommendedThe virtual version of this event airs on May 13, 2025, at 6pm PT/9PM ET and is available on video-on-demand for five days.Tickets for the virtual event can be purchased here (includes the signed book)ASL interpreter provided upon request.Free parking at the venueFrom actor, comedian, writer, and host of the hit history podcast SNAFU, Ed Helms brings you an absurdly entertaining look at history’s biggest blunders, complete with Read More ...

An Evening with Lili Taylor discussing her book, "Turning to Birds: The Power and Beauty of Noticing."Please note:-- Tickets are non refundable and are not transferable.-- Tickets cannot be re-sold on re-seller platforms. Re-sold ticket will not be honored.-- All ticket holders should be ready to show ID at the event.-- The name(s) you provide during registration will be on a will-call list at the event, where you will check-in and get your ticket to enter the theatre.----------------------------------------------------------Join us for an in-person and virtual* Live Talks Los Angeles event:Wednesday, May 7, 2025, 8pm*Virtual event airs on May 14 at 6pm PT/9pm ETAn Evening with Lili Taylordiscussing her memoir, Turning to Birds: The Power and Beauty of NoticingTICKETS:$25 General Admission ticket$48 General Admisison ticket + sigend bookAdditional signed books available for purchase at eventFace masks recommendedThe virtual version of this event airs on May 14, 2025, at 6pm PT/9PM ET and is available on video-on-demand for five days.Tickets for the virtual event can be purchased here (includes the signed book)ASL interpreter provided upon request.Free parking at the venueEye-opening essays about searching for peace in the cacophony of birds and discovering a world of meaning in small moments—from award-winning actor Lili Taylor.Lili Read More ...

Come hear LA’s finest writers share their words. Fiction, Nonfiction, Memoir, Poetry. featured Spot + 10 Open Mic Spots (6 mins)

Carl Hiaasen with Dennie Lehane discussing his novel, "Fever Beach"Please note:-- Tickets are non refundable and are not transferable.-- Tickets cannot be re-sold on re-seller platforms. Re-sold ticket will not be honored.-- All ticket holders should be ready to show ID at the event.-- The name(s) you provide during registration will be on a will-call list at the event, where you will check-in and get your ticket to enter the theatre.----------------------------------------------------------Join us for an in-person and virtual* Live Talks Los Angeles event:Wednesday, May 21, 2025, 8pm*Virtual event airs on May 26 at 6pm PT/9pm ETCarl Hiaasen with Dennis Lehanediscussing his novel, Fever BeachTICKETS:$25 General Admission ticket$50 General Admisison ticket + signed bookAdditional signed books available for purchase at eventFace masks recommendedThe virtual version of this event airs on May 26, 2025, at 6pm PT/9PM ET and is available on video-on-demand for five days.Tickets for the virtual event can be purchased here (includes the signed book)ASL interpreter provided upon request.Free parking at the venueAnother instant classic from Carl Hiaasen—laugh-out-loud funny, tackling the current chaotic and polarized American culture (following in the path of Squeeze Me), with two wonderful Hiaasen heroes.Carl Hiaasen was born and raised in Florida. He is the author Read More ...

An Evening with Dave Barry discussing his memoir, "Class Clown: The Memoirs of a Professional Wiseass: How I Went 77 Years Without Growing "Please note:-- Tickets are non refundable and are not transferable.-- Tickets cannot be re-sold on re-seller platforms. Re-sold ticket will not be honored.-- All ticket holders should be ready to show ID at the event.-- The name(s) you provide during registration will be on a will-call list at the event, where you will check-in and get your ticket to enter the theatre.----------------------------------------------------------Join us for an in-person and virtual* Live Talks Los Angeles event:Thursday, May 22, 2025, 8pm*Virtual event airs on May 27 at 6pm PT/9pm ETDave Barry with Paul Levinediscussing his memoir, Class Clown: The Memoirs of a Professional Wiseass: How I Went 77 Years Without Growing UpTICKETS:$25 General Admission ticket$50 General Admisison ticket + sigend bookAdditional signed books available for purchase at eventFace masks recommendedThe virtual version of this event airs on May 27, 2025, at 6pm PT/9PM ET and is available on video-on-demand for five days.Tickets for the virtual event can be purchased here (includes the signed book)ASL interpreter provided upon request.Free parking at the venueAmerica’s most beloved wiseass finally tells his life story with Read More ...

Srishti Jain and Andrea Aliseda in Conversation for Make it Plant-Based! Book signing and meet and greet to follow.Srishti Jain and Andrea Aliseda, authors from the Make it Plant-Based! series in conversation with Jocelyn Ramirez, chef / founder of Todo Verde. Book signing and meet and greet to follow.Make it Plant-Based! IndianWhether new to the world of plant-based cooking or already acquainted and looking for easy vegan versions of beloved dishes, Make It Plant-Based! Indian shows how easy it is to make plants the star of the plate. Using store-bought pantry staples, fresh vegetables and fruit, and meat-free and dairy-free alternatives, it’s simple to make richly flavored dishes such as:*Chile “Cheese” Lentil Pancakes*Tofu Tikka*Fluffy Onion-Stuffed Flatbread*Oat Milk Chai*Roasted Strawberry-Almond Milk Rice PuddingAnd much more!Make it Plant-Based! MexicanWhether new to the world of plant-based cooking or already acquainted and looking for easy vegan versions of beloved dishes, Make It Plant-Based! Mexican shows how easy it is to make plants the star of the plate. Using store-bought pantry staples, fresh vegetables and fruit, and meat-free and dairy-free alternatives, it’s simple to make richly flavored dishes such as:*Cabbage and Poblano Flautas*Squash Blossom Tempura*Zucchini Baja Fried “Fish” Tacos*Plant-Based Buttercream Tres LechesAnd much more!The book Read More ...

In conversation with Jon Favreau and Jon LovettHEALTH & SAFETY: WE ASK THAT YOU PLEASE WEAR A FACE MASK WHILE INDOORS FOR OUR EVENTS. THANK YOU.Who in President Biden's administration knew about his decline in health and mental acuity? It's well known and documented that his family and senior staff encouraged him to run for a second term, notwithstanding his 2020 promise to serve one term. Biden's shocking debate performance on June 27, 2024 made it painfully clear to the nation that Biden was unbearably off. But this performance was just another painful episode in the President's long decline, according to Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson. In their new book, Original Sin, Jake Tapper, Chief Washington Correspondent for CNN and CNN's DC anchor, and journalist Alex Thompson, show through dozens of interviews that Biden staffers at all levels, from the highest to the lowest, knew of his diminishment throughout his presidency. Tapper and Thompson offer evidence that family and staff covered for the President's disabilities, even as he opted to run for a second term. Tapper and Thompson ask, who else knew about this willful deception to conceal the president's waning health?Jon Lovett and Jon Favreau, both co-hosts of Pod Read More ...

Bonnie Solomon takes us through her debut novel, the riotous LGBTQ fantasy Pearly Gates!Join us at Village Well Books & Coffee for the launch of Bonnie Solomon's debut novel Pearly Gates!At a time when LGBTQ+ voices are being silenced, Pearly Gates offers a bold, affirming, and heartfelt story that champions diverse perspectives and celebrates the resilience, creativity, and inclusiveness of the queer community - just in time for Pride Month. So come celebrate Pride Month with Bonnie and pals, and dive into Pearly Gates, a "heartfelt," "playful romp"! (Kirkus Reviews)About the author:Bonnie Solomon is a novelist and screenwriter with a passion for crafting humorous, uplifting stories in magical settings. Cozy fantasy and hopepunk are her favorite genres.A Midwest native and seasoned Hollywood professional, Bonnie brings a wealth of experience in feature film development with industry giants like Walden Media and DreamWorks Animation. Her notes have gone into many DWA movies, including Puss in Boots: The Last Wish and The Wild Robot. As a creative consultant, she’s written film and TV treatments/scripts, edited novels, and coached writers from outlines through final drafts.As a queer writer, Bonnie is committed to authentic and aspirational LGBTQ representation – which she believes is even more Read More ...

Jeffrey Seller with Josh Groban discussing his book, "Theater Kid: A Broadway Memoir"Please note:-- Tickets are non refundable and are not transferable.-- Tickets cannot be re-sold on re-seller platforms. Re-sold ticket will not be honored.-- All ticket holders should be ready to show ID at the event.-- The name(s) you provide during registration will be on a will-call list at the event, where you will check-in and get your ticket to enter the theatre.----------------------------------------------------------Join us for an in-person and virtual* Live Talks Los Angeles event:Thursday, June 5, 2025, 8pm*Virtual event airs on June 12 at 6pm PT/9pm ETJeffrey Seller with Josh Grobandiscussing his book, Theater Kid: A Broadway MemoirTICKETS:$25 General Admission ticket$50 General Admisison ticket + signed bookAdditional signed books available for purchase at eventFace masks recommendedThe virtual version of this event airs on June 12, 2025, at 6pm PT/9PM ET and is available on video-on-demand for five days.Tickets for the virtual event can be purchased here (includes the signed book)ASL interpreter provided upon request.Free parking at the venueTheater Kid is a coming-of-age tale from Jeffrey Seller one of the most successful theatrical producers of our time-- the only producer to have mounted two Pulitzer Prize–winning musicals—Hamilton and Rent.Jeffrey Seller Read More ...

Taylor Jenkins Reid (Daisy Jones & The Six, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo) discusses her newest novel: Atmosphere with Laura Dave.NOTE: This is a conversation and Q&A only with no signing to follow. Admission to the event includes a PRE-SIGNED copy of Atmosphere from Taylor!From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and Daisy Jones & The Six comes an epic new novel set against the backdrop of the 1980s space shuttle program about the extraordinary lengths we go to live and love beyond our limits.Joan Goodwin has been obsessed with the stars for as long as she can remember. Thoughtful and reserved, Joan is content with her life as a professor of physics and astronomy at Rice University and as aunt to her precocious niece, Frances. That is, until she comes across an advertisement seeking the first women scientists to join NASA’s space shuttle program. Suddenly, Joan burns to be one of the few people to go to space.Selected from a pool of thousands of applicants in the summer of 1980, Joan begins training at Houston’s Johnson Space Center, alongside an exceptional group of fellow candidates: Top Gun pilot Hank Redmond Read More ...

Rep Club & TreePeople present an evening of poetry with aja monet to celebrate the launch of her poetry collection Florida WaterWHO & WHAT: An evening under the trees with Grammy-nominated poet aja monet & Robin D. G. Kelley to celebrate the launch of her newest book Florida Water, an intimate collection of lyrical poetry.WHEN: Doors at 6:15pm, event starts at 7pm.WHERE: TreePeople 12601 Mulholland Drive, Beverly Hills, CA 90210HOW:EARLY BIRD TICKET W/ BOOK: This ticket guarantees a seat along with a signed copy of Florida Water at 15% off, available for pick up at the event.TICKET W/ BOOK: This ticket guarantees a seat along with a signed copy of Florida Water available for pick up at the event.GA Ticket (no book): This ticket guarantees a seat, however no book is included. Additional copies may be available for purchase on-site.SIGNED BOOKS ONLY: Can't make it IRL but want signed copies? Order directly from our site. Get signed copies of aja's books here!Please email us at info@reparations.club if you have any additional needs, questions, or accessibility concerns.About aja & Robinaja monet is a surrealist blues poet, storyteller, and organizer born and raised in Brooklyn, NY. She won the legendary Nuyorican Poets Read More ...

Our book for the spring is Dream Count by celebrated author Chimamanda Ngozi AdichieOur book for the spring is Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie‘s much anticipated Dream Count. We’ll be discussing the entire book for this coming session.Join us in exploring themes of resilience friendships, and self love, aligned with our current exhibition, Navigating the Heart in 2025, on view in the gallery.

Molly Jong-Fast's new book, How to Lose Your Mother, is deeply and utterly personal. Jong-Fast is the daughter of wildly famous Erica Jong.HEALTH & SAFETY: WE ASK THAT YOU PLEASE WEAR A FACE MASK WHILE INDOORS FOR OUR EVENTS. THANK YOU.While it would be so interesting and fun to be the child of the wildly famous and groundbreaking author and literary lion, Erica Jong, it presented some painfully difficult challenges to Molly Jong-Fast, Erica's daughter.Jong-Fast has her family's great creative DNA, being a brilliant writer herself,who is now focusing on political writing and podcasting. But her new book, How to Lose Your Mother, is deeply and utterly personal. It is impossible to put down. Molly Jong-Fast reveals the struggle with her internationally renowned mother's dementia, while dealing with her own husband's cancer diagnosis at the same time.How can this be funny and unique? Trust us. Jong-Fast knows how to tell a tough story with searing honesty and stunning humor , weaving in the complications and struggles of being Erica Jong's daughter. The ravages of memory loss and ageing are cruel facts of life. But in Molly Jong-Fast's hands, they're something new altogether.In conversation with comedy queen Lisa Kudrow. You know Read More ...

Jacinda Ardern discussing her memoir, "A Different Kind of Power"Please note:-- Tickets are non refundable and are not transferable.-- Tickets cannot be re-sold on re-seller platforms. Re-sold ticket will not be honored.-- All ticket holders should be ready to show ID at the event.-- The name(s) you provide during registration will be on a will-call list at the event, where you will check-in and get your ticket to enter the theatre.----------------------------------------------------------Join us for an in-person and virtual* Live Talks Los Angeles event:Tuesday, June 10, 2025, 6:30pm*Virtual event airs on June 16 at 6pm PT/9pm ETAn Evening with Jacinda Arderndiscussing her memoir, A Different Kind of Power*interviewer to be addedTICKETS:$48 General Admission ticket + signed copy of the book$73 Two General Admisison tickets + one sigend bookAdditional signed books available for purchase at eventFace masks recommendedThe virtual version of this event airs on June 16, 2025, at 6pm PT/9PM ET and is available on video-on-demand for five days.Tickets for the virtual event can be purchased here (includes the signed book)ASL interpreter provided upon request.Free parking at the venueFrom the former prime minister of New Zealand, then the world’s youngest female head of government and just the second to give birth in Read More ...

In honor of Juneteenth, join us for a powerful discussion with Aida Mariam Davis and Dr. Kai Mathews.Author, organizer, and designer Aida Mariam Davis—niece of activist and scholar Angela Davis—presents Kindred Creation, a bold philosophical guidebook rooted in African lifeways and Black liberation. Through the themes of Remember, Refuse, and Reclaim, Davis examines the enduring impacts of settler colonialism and empire—offering a visionary blueprint for intergenerational Black joy, dignity, and freedom.Davis will be in conversation with Dr. Kai Mathews, educator and founder of The Liberatory Classroom, for a dynamic dialogue on designing better worlds on Black terms.Join the Friends of the Santa Monica Public Library for an author discussion on Wednesday June 11th, at the Main Library, MLK Jr Auditorium (601 Santa Monica Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90401.) Event starts at 6 p.m. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Books will be available for purchase on site via Zibby’s.

Bel Canto Books is delighted to celebrate GAYSIANS, a new adult graphic novel by Filipinx author and illustrator Mike Curato (GAYSIANS).Bel Canto Books is delighted to celebrate GAYSIANS, a new adult graphic novel by Filipinx author and illustrator Mike Curato, at KUBO LB. Mike will be in conversation with Rasheed Newson, author of MY GOVERNMENT MEANS TO KILL.Kindly RSVP so we can plan accordingly. Please stay home if you feel sick.This event will be held indoors at KUBO LB (3976 Atlantic Avenue, Long Beach CA).EVENT SCHEDULE6:45pm - Event check-in begins7:00pm - Welcome & event start7:15-8:00pm - Author reading, conversation, and Q&A8:00pm-9:00pm - Book signing & shopping time9:00pm - Event endsABOUT THE AUTHORMike Curato is the author and illustrator the children’s book series Little Elliot. He has also illustrated What If… by Samantha Berger, All the Way to Havana by Margarita Engle, Worm Loves Worm by J.J. Austrian, The Power of One written by Trudy Ludwig, If I Were a Fish by Corook and Olivia Barton, and contributed to What’s Your Favorite Color? by Eric Carle and Friends, Sunny Day: A Celebration of the Sesame Street Theme Song, and Dear Heartbreak: YA Authors and Teens on the Dark Side of Love. Read More ...

John Birdsall in converesation with Meghan McCarron for What is Queer Food? Book signing and meet and greet to follow.John Birdsall, author and James Beard award-winning food and culture writer, in conversation for What is Queer Food? How we Served a Revolution. Moderated by Meghan McCarron, award-winning journalist. Book signing and meet and greet to follow. A celebrated culinary writer’s expansive, audacious excavation of the roots of modern queer identity and food culture.The food on our plates has long been designed, twisted, and elevated by queer hands. Piecing together a dazzling mosaic of queer lives, spaces, and meals, beloved food writer John Birdsall unfolds the complex story of how, through times of fear and persecution, queer people used food to express joy and build community—and ended up changing the shape of the table for everyone.Tracing the evolution of queer food from the early decades of the twentieth century through the LGBTQ civil rights movement of post-Stonewall liberation and the devastation of AIDS, Birdsall fills the gaps between past and present. He channels the twin forces of criticism and cultural history to propel readers into the kitchens, restaurants, swirling party houses, and buzzing interior lives of James Baldwin, Alice B. Toklas, Read More ...

Join Rep Club for a discussion on 'Undesirability & Her Sisters' with author Tiffany E. Barber & moderator Vanessa E. WilliamsWHO & WHAT: Join Rep Club for a discussion on Undesirability and Her Sisters Black Women's Visual Work and the Ethics of Representation with author Tiffany E. Barber & Vanessa E. WilliamsWHEN: Doors at 6:30pm, event promptly at 7pm.WHERE: Reparations Club, 3054 S. Victoria Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90016HOW:TICKET w/ BOOK: This ticket guarantees a seat including a signed book available for pick up at the event.FREE RSVP (No Book Included): This Free RSVP DOES NOT include a copy of the book and entry is based strictly on capacity at the door. Books may be available for purchase in-store.SIGNED BOOK ONLY: Can't make it IRL but still want a signed copy? Order directly from our site!Please email us at questions@reparations.club if you have any additional needs, questions, or accessibility concerns.About the Book:How Black women's visual work functions in an era of new racial and gender meaningIn the wake of contemporary art's post-Black turn and the mainstreaming of intersectionality, Undesirability and Her Sisters charts a new genealogy of Black women's art that exposes the unfinished project of racial and gender empowerment Read More ...

NYT bestselling author, S.A. Cosby, discusses and signs copies of his newest book: King of AshesAward-winning, New York Times bestselling author S. A. Cosby returns with King of Ashes, a Godfather-inspired Southern crime epic and dazzling family drama.When eldest son Roman Carruthers is summoned home after his father's car accident, he finds his younger brother, Dante, in debt to dangerous criminals and his sister, Neveah, exhausted from holding the family--and the family business--together. Neveah and their father, who run the Carruthers Crematorium in the run-down central Virginia town of Jefferson Run, see death up close every day. But mortality draws even closer when it becomes clear that the crash that landed their father in a coma was no accident and Dante's recklessness has placed them all in real danger.Roman, a financial whiz with a head for numbers and a talent for making his clients rich, has some money to help buy his brother out of trouble. But in his work with wannabe tough guys, he's forgotten that there are real gangsters out there. As his bargaining chips go up in smoke, Roman realizes that he has only one thing left to offer to save his brother: himself, and his own Read More ...

Join us for a lively discussion with author Reba Birmingham in celebration of Pride Month!Pride Month Author Talk: Reba Birmingham Come join us for a special event celebrating Pride Month with author Reba Birmingham! Get ready to hear about Reba's journey as an LGBTQ+ writer and listen to her share insights into her latest work. This in-person event will be held at the Signal Hill Public Library. Don't miss this unique opportunity to connect with a talented author and celebrate diversity in literature!

An exploration of Los Angeles' most obscure pop culture landmarks.LA's dizzying array of attractions can be hard to make sense of, but now there's a better way. Join tour guide, former Atlas Obscura Field Agent, and author Adam Papagan for an exploration of the region's most obscure attractions. In the first part of an ongoing series taking place at historic sites across Southern California, Adam will lead a virtual tour of little known landmarks in close geographic proximity to where the events are taking place. He'll also share the research methods he uses to find the places most guidebooks leave out. Copies of Adam's new book "Behind the Scenes in Los Angeles: A Pop Culture History Tour" will also be available for purchase.Adam Papagan’s work examines the intersection of history, pop culture, and entertainment. He has served as curator of The O.J. Museum, creator of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Tour and The Curb Your Enthusiasm Tour, co-host of the web series Dead in Hollywood, and has produced programs that have aired on community television stations nationwide. His new guidebook “Behind The Scenes in Los Angeles: A Pop Culture History Tour” draws on his decades plus experience as a Read More ...

Come hear LA’s finest writers share their words. Fiction, Nonfiction, Memoir, Poetry. featured Spot + 10 Open Mic Spots (6 mins)

Join Rep Club for a discussion on 'Marsha: The Joy and Defiance of Marsha P. Johnson' with author TourmalineWHO & WHAT: Join Rep Club for a discussion on Marsha: The Joy and Defiance of Marsha P. Johnson with author TourmalineWHEN: Doors at 6:00pm, event promptly at 6pm.WHERE: Reparations Club, 3054 S. Victoria Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90016HOW:TICKET w/ BOOK: This ticket guarantees a seat including a signed book available for pick up at the event.FREE RSVP (No Book Included): This Free RSVP DOES NOT include a copy of the book and entry is based strictly on capacity at the door. Books may be available for purchase in-store.SIGNED BOOK ONLY: Can't make it IRL but still want a signed copy? Order directly from our site!Please email us at questions@reparations.club if you have any additional needs, questions, or accessibility concerns.About the Book:Black transgender luminary Tourmaline brings to life the first definitive biography of the revolutionary activist Marsha P. Johnson, one of the most important and remarkable figures in LGBTQIA+ history, revealing her story, her impact, and her legacy.“Thank god the revolution has begun, honey.” Rumor has it that after Marsha P. Johnson threw the first brick in the 1969 Stonewall Uprising, she Read More ...

Sahil Bloom discussing his book, "The 5 Types of Wealth: A Transformative Guide to Design Your Dream Life"Please note:-- Tickets are non refundable and are not transferable.-- Tickets cannot be re-sold on re-seller platforms. Re-sold ticket will not be honored.-- All ticket holders should be ready to show ID at the event.-- The name(s) you provide during registration will be on a will-call list at the event, where you will check-in and get your ticket to enter the theatre.----------------------------------------------------------Join us for an in-person and virtual* Live Talks Los Angeles event:Monday, June 16, 2025, 8pm*Virtual event airs on June 23 at 6pm PT/9pm ETAn Evening with Sahil Bloomdiscussing his book, The 5 Types of Wealth: A Transformative Guide to Design Your Dream LifeTICKETS:$25 General Admission ticket$50 General Admisison ticket + sigend bookAdditional signed books available for purchase at eventFace masks recommendedThe virtual version of this event airs on June 23, 2025, at 6pm PT/9PM ET and is available on video-on-demand for five days.Tickets for the virtual event can be purchased here (includes the signed book)ASL interpreter provided upon request.Free parking at the venueReject the default path, define your priorities, and achieve lasting happiness with this transformative guide to your dream life—a life centered Read More ...

You've seen Larry Charles' name all over film and  TV credits for decades.  He's a writer, producer, and director on beloved TV shows.HEALTH & SAFETY: WE ASK THAT YOU PLEASE WEAR A FACE MASK WHILE INDOORS FOR OUR EVENTS. THANK YOU.You've seen Larry Charles' name all over film and TV credits for decades. He's a writer, producer, and director on some of the most beloved shows on TV.He was in the writers' room from the beginning of Seinfeld, and stayed for years. He subsequently developed Mad About You into one of the more popular sitcoms of the era, and was executive producer of the wildly popular biting comedy/drama series, Entourage.And he produced and directed dozens of episodes of Curb Your Enthusiasm. Larry strayed into movies, directing the outrageous satires, Bruno, Borat, and The Dictator, and so many others.In his new book, Comedy Samurai, Larry Charles goes a lot deeper than telling us stories about his singular experiences with iconic figures in American comedy. He gives us example after example of great sketches, and how they came to be. They're not only really funny, but they define singular eras of pop culture in America. And he doesn't hide the darker side Read More ...

Chris Guillebeau in conversation with Michael discussing his book, "Time Anxiety: The Illusion of Urgency and a Better Way to Live"Please note:-- Tickets are non refundable and are not transferable.-- Tickets cannot be re-sold on re-seller platforms. Re-sold ticket will not be honored.-- All ticket holders should be ready to show ID at the event.-- The name(s) you provide during registration will be on a will-call list at the event, where you will check-in and get your ticket to enter the theatre.----------------------------------------------------------Join us for an in-person and virtual* Live Talks Los Angeles event:Tuesday, June 17, 2025, 8pm*Virtual event airs on June 24 at 6pm PT/9pm ETChris Guillebeau with Michael Gervaisdiscussing his book, Time Anxiety: The Illusion of Urgency and a Better Way to LiveTICKETS:$25 General Admission ticket$50 General Admisison ticket + sigend bookAdditional signed books available for purchase at eventFace masks recommendedThe virtual version of this event airs on June 24, 2025, at 6pm PT/9PM ET and is available on video-on-demand for five days.Tickets for the virtual event can be purchased here (includes the signed book)ASL interpreter provided upon request.Free parking at the venueA powerful antidote to deadline dread, time guilt, and chronic rushing—from the New York Timesbestselling author of The $100 Read More ...

Black Film Archive creator & curator Maya S. Cade leads an intimate conversation with celebrated author and filmmaker Bridgett M. DavisThe Philosophical Research Society, in co-presentation with Black Film Archive (BFA), is incredibly proud to present a very special evening of powerful conversation.In celebration of Juneteenth, Bridgett M. Davis—award-winning filmmaker and celebrated author— and Maya S. Cade— Black Film Archive curator, writer, and newly-minted film distributor— will gather for an intimate conversation on writing as freedom and the ways Davis has used her craft to chronicle Black truth and the intricacies of our soul through her career as a memorist (The World According to Fannie Davis) and filmmaker (Naked Acts, 1996). Join Davis and Cade as they discuss the Black writing tradition and the ways writers like Davis use the form as an expression of truth, as they dive into her latest book Love, RitaABOUT BRIDGETT M. DAVISBridgett M. Davis is the author of two memoirs, Love, Rita, (Harper Books) and the best-selling The World According To Fannie Davis: My Mother’s Life In The Detroit Numbers, a New York Times Editors’ Choice and featured as a clue on Jeopardy! She is author of two novels, Into the Go-Slow, and Shifting Read More ...

Actor, author, and activist George Takei signs his new graphic memoir It Rhymes with TakeiNOTE: This is a BOOK SIGNING ONLY. There will be no presentation or reading from the author. Please review the event guidelines below.---------------------------------------------Following the award-winning bestseller They Called Us Enemy, George Takei’s new full-color graphic memoir reveals his most personal story of all—told in full for the first time anywhere!George Takei has shown the world many faces: actor, author, outspoken activist, helmsman of the starship Enterprise, living witness to the internment of Japanese Americans, and king of social media. But until October 27, 2005, there was always one piece missing—one face he did not show the world. There was one very intimate fact about George that he never shared…and it rhymes with Takei.Now, for the first time ever, George shares the full story of his life in the closet, his decision to come out as gay at the age of 68, and the way that moment transformed everything. Following the phenomenal success of his first graphic memoir, They Called Us Enemy, George Takei reunites with the team of Harmony Becker, Steven Scott, and Justin Eisinger for a jaw-dropping new testament. From his earliest childhood crushes and Read More ...

Join us for an eye-opening discussion on the challenges and struggles faced by undocumented individuals in our community.Welcome to THE COST OF BEING UNDOCUMENTED Author Event at Octavia’s Bookshelf! Join us for an insightful discussion with co-authors Alix Dick and Antero Garcia about the challenges faced by undocumented individuals. Drawing on Alix's experience as an activist and filmmaker, the authors lay bare the realities of structural oppression in America. Don't miss this opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the issues at hand and be in community around such a critical topic.Reserve your spot now- This event REQUIRES an RSVP to attend!