L A Times Festival

All’s Fun at the Festival of Books

Written by Charles L. Chatmon

Contributor for Empire Beat Magazine

Under a bright sky, thousands of book lovers descended upon the UCLA campus for a late April weekend filled with celebrities, authors, poets and books. The annual L.A. Times Festival of Books was in full swing again in the midst of a changing literary landscape.

Of course, there was a forum or two dealing with the advances of technology affecting the future of the book and the diverse choices readers will have with devices such as the Ipad and Kindle, but it was also a celebration of what it is present now –writers describing the various methods of their craft, civic figures offering their views on the political landscape of the moment, cooks displaying their recipes in front of a hungry crowd, everything you’ve come to expect at the event attracting over 150,000.

Walking along the long stretch of tents stationed next to each other, you noticed mainstream publishers continuing to have a presence here – while the new Print on Demand companies also showed up encouraging aspiring authors to give them a try. For entertainment, you had the Target stage with fun programs aimed for the next generation. Dancing bears, puppet shows and interesting characters put a smile on every child’s face enjoying the moment. On the main stage, you heard actors such as Louis Gossett, jr and Todd Bridges talk about the pitfalls and joys they’ve experienced in front of packed crowds. Carol Burnett, Sarah Silverman, Trisha Yearwood and others were also in attendance.

You also had the chance to meet a network of authors called the Premiere Writers at the Festival with books ranging from fiction, self-help, personal experience; you name it. Up and coming publishing companies paraded their writers while groups such as the Independent Writers of Southern California held contests for lucky participants and to receive the latest goings-on with their organizations. Then you met authors such as Trina Bryer, who didn’t have a tent but with her support staff, spoke about her new children’s book, Jack and the Powerful Seven, flashing a smile as you listened to her.

There were hints after last year’s Festival of Books that the largest literary event on the West coast would not be around this year. Judging by the numerous participants standing in lines for an autographed book copy or hearing the words of the youthful and dynamic performers of the poetic group Get Lit, it seems this festival will be around for years to come. For those of us who enjoy literature and support the arts, it’s a good thing.

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