Five Highlights and Four Photos from the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books 2019

Let's start with photos!

The panel I moderated, at the signing tent. (Left to right): Brendan Reichs, Ally Condie, Carlos Hernandez, me (!), and Quinn Sosna-Spear

I got to sign copies of "Queer as a Five-Dollar Bill" that folks purchased!

I was also asked to sign a canvas bag and someone's hand (all of the panelists signed both)!

My name! My books! At the festival!!! (so cool.)

Some quotes from our panel that are still resonating:

5. "Friends help you reveal part of yourself, and become a better version of yourself." —Carlos Hernandez

4. "Characters are collections of motivations." —Brendan Reichs

Some quotes from another YA panel I attended that jumped up to be written down:

3. "Good reviews are like crack. Bad review are like poison. Neither help you." —advice Jennifer Nielsen passed along.

2. "What I can control is the page." I need to write what I want to say. —Dhonielle Clayton

And

1. most of all, moderating a wonderful panel.

What a great day! Thanks to my panelists Quinn, Carlos, Brendan, Ally, and to all the organizers and volunteers and staff behind pulling off the amazing 2019 Los Angeles Times Festival of Books.

The light in me recognizes and acknowledges the light in you,
Lee

Come See Me (and some famous authors) at The LA Times Festival of Books, This Saturday April 13, 2019 at Noon)

I'll be moderating the middle grade fantasy panel, Middle Grade Fiction: Magic and Mysteries with Ally Condie and Brendan Reichs (about their book "The Darkdeep," Carlos Hernandez (about their book "Sal and Gabi Break the Universe") and Quinn Sosna-Spear (about their book "The Remarkable Inventions of Walter Mortinson.")

Here's our panel description from the festival schedule:

From mysterious islands to for-real magicians to unusual contraptions, these books stretch kids' imaginations. Join the authors for a conversation on their fantastical middle grade books "The Darkdeep," "Sal and Gabi Break the Universe" and "The Remarkable Inventions of Walter Mortinson."

I'm really looking forward to this -- we're going to have a great conversation! And if you'll be there, swing by the YA Stage and join us!

The light in me recognizes and acknowledges the light in you,
Lee

I'll be moderating a graphic novels panel at the LA Times Festival of Books this weekend!

I'm so looking forward to this!

I'll be moderating the Young Adult Graphic Novels: Drawing You In panel on the YA stage, Saturday at noon.

The panelists are author Cecil Castellucci (speaking about her "Soupy Leaves Home"),

Author/Illustrator Faith Erin Hicks (speaking about the second book of her The Nameless City triology, "The Stone Heart")

and
Author/Illustrator Matt Phelan (speaking about his "Snow White: A Graphic Novel.")

Here's the announcement from the festival website:

If you're there, say "Hi!"

I'm moderating the "Drawing The Imagination" Picture Book Panel at the 2014 LA Times Festival of Books on Saturday, April 12!

I'm really honored to once again be moderating a panel at the LA Times Festival of Books!

It's called "Drawing the Imagination" and my panelists are rock star author/illustrators:

Jon J. Muth

whose new picture book is "Hi, Koo! A Year of Seasons"

Salina Yoon (who is sure to have a fun angle on the discussion)

whose new picture book is "Found"

Gianna Marino, 

whose new picture book is "Following Papa's Song"

and

Joe Cepeda,

whose newest picture book is "Two Bunny Buddies" (written by Kathryn O. Galbraith)

Of course, I'll be asking Jon, Salina, Gianna and Joe all kinds of questions, about their latest works and some of their previous titles, about character and story development, series work, and so much more!

(I'm already having a blast reading stacks of their books from the library!)

I hope you can join us for what's going to be a brilliant discussion and exploration of "Drawing the Imagination!"

Details:

Saturday April 12
1:30 pm
Salvatori Computer Science Center (SAL 101)
USC Campus

Tickets are free and available here.

Namaste (the light in me recognizes and acknowledges the light in every one of you),
Lee