Third Annual Los Angeles Times Festival of Books Announced

Posted on April 6, 1998

Elmore Leonard, Isabel Allende, Sidney Sheldon, and Terry McMillan are just a few of the top authors who will be on hand to meet and greet book lovers of all ages and backgrounds at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, which is being presented in association with UCLA the weekend of April 25-26 at UCLA's Dickson Plaza.

Admission to the Festival is free to the public, and parking on campus is $5. Hours are from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Last year's Los Angeles Times Festival of Books drew approximately 100,000 people from all segments of the Southern California community.

"The Festival of Books has become Southern California's major literary event," said Narda Zacchino, The Times' associate editor and vice president, and Festival co-chair. "The Festival is the only event of its kind in Southern California, and it truly reflects the region's diversity."

"Our goal is to bring people together to celebrate the joys of books and reading in a festive atmosphere," said Lisa Cleri Reale, Festival co-chair and director of community affairs at Times Mirror, The Times' parent company. "Book lovers from all areas look forward to this event because it provides something for everyone."

The 1998 Festival of Books will feature more than 60 author panel discussions held in UCLA classrooms and lecture halls. The panels will focus on diverse topics such as: The Politics of War; Violence in the Media; Parenting and Child Development; The Art of Fiction; and Hollywood, Page to Screen. Also included will be panels featuring African-American, Asian-American and Latino authors, as well as the winners of The Times Book Prizes.