Los Angeles Times Festival of Books April 24th & 25th at UCLA

Books, Authors, Music, Comedy, Food and Fun Overflow at the 15th Annual Los Angeles Times Festival of Books April 24th & 25th at UCLA

(LOS ANGELES) Abounding with book enthusiasts, families in search of weekend entertainment and fans of comic books; wafting with the aromas of tasty treats; and buzzing with the rollicking sounds of local musicians, the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books roars to life on April 24th & 25th on UCLA’s campus.

The largest public literary festival in North America will mark its 15th anniversary by once again delivering an exciting and diverse world of culture and amusement under the beautiful Southern California sun to more than 130,000 people of all ages. The ever-expanding palate of things to do, see and experience at the free-to-the-public festival celebrates everything the written word inspires. Seven outdoor stages will feature everything from celebrity and author readings, book signings and Q&A’s, live music, comedy and children’s activities to cooking shows, culinary demonstrations, a mobile scavenger hunt and unique food and drink (check for program updates).

Highlights of the weekend include the new YA Stage and appearances by Young Adult-genre luminaries such as Meg Cabot and Kate DiCamillo and a return of The Hero Complex pavilion presenting comic book, graphic novel and manga buffs with access to numerous exhibitors and retailers as well as appearances by industry legends Mark Waid and Ed Brubaker. In addition, the ever-popular Target Children’s Stage will offer kids, families and the young at heart an array of entertainment and book readings by John Carter Cash, Holly Robinson Peete, Bernadette Peters, Carl Reiner, R.L. Stine, Shawn & Marlon Wayans, Henry Winkler, Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul and Mary and many more. Nearly 100 panel discussions and readings featuring more than 400 authors blend with hundreds of exhibitors representing booksellers, publishers, literacy and cultural organizations to make the Festival of Books one of the city’s most cherished and engaging institutions.

Kicking off the festival weekend will be the exclusive 30th Annual Los Angeles Times Book Prizes ceremony on Friday, April 23rd at The Times’ Chandler Auditorium in downtown L.A.. Two new categories will be included this year: a first-time-ever major American book award honoring the graphic novel genre, and the inaugural Innovator’s Award being presented to author and publisher David Eggers for his forward-thinking work to bring storytelling into the future via new business models, technology and applications of narrative art.

General event information can be found at latimesfestivalofbooks.com or by calling 1-800-LA-TIMES, ext. 7BOOK. Admission is free. Tickets are required to attend author/panel discussions and lectures due to limited seating and will become available on Sunday, April 18, 2010, at 12 noon through Ticketmaster.com for a nominal fee. Information is also available and frequently updated on the Festival of Books Facebook Fan Page and through the official Twitter stream (@latimesfob).

NOTE TO EDITORS: Advance registration is required for working media planning to cover the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books. Registration deadline is April 16. There will be no walk-up, day-of registration. The registration form and directions are posted online at latimes.com/festivalofbooks/mediacenter.html. Media credentials pick-up instructions will be included in confirmation email; credentials will NOT be issued on-site and must be picked up in advance. Special arrangements can be made for visiting media. For information, please contact: fobpress@rogersandcowan.com.

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About the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books

The Los Angeles Times Festival of Books was created in 1996 to promote literacy, celebrate the written word, and bring together those who create books with the people who love to read them. Between 130,000 and 140,000 people attend the event annually.

General event information is available online at latimesfestivalofbooks.com or by calling 1-800-LA TIMES, ext. 7BOOK. Detailed speaker and event information will be provided in the official festival program, which will be published in the April 18th edition of the Los Angeles Times.

About Los Angeles Times

The Los Angeles Times is the largest metropolitan daily newspaper in the country, with a daily readership of 2 million and 3 million on Sunday, and a combined print and interactive local weekly audience of 4.5 million. The fast-growing latimes.com draws over 10 million unique visitors monthly. The Los Angeles Times Media Group (LATMG) businesses and affiliates also include The Envelope, Times Community Newspapers, Brand X, LA, Los Angeles Times Magazine, Hoy and California Community News and -- combined with the flagship Los Angeles Times -- reach approximately 5.9 million or 44% of all adults in the Southern California marketplace. The Pulitzer Prize-winning Times has been covering Southern California for over 128 years and is part of Tribune Company, one of the country's leading media companies with businesses in publishing, the Internet and broadcasting. Additional information is available at http://latimes.com/aboutus.