Lineup announced for 2022 L.A. Times Festival of Books: Janelle Monáe, Amanda Gorman and more

Singer Janelle Monáe, poet Amanda Gorman, novelist Jonathan Franzen and actor Billy Porter are among the many authors set to seem on the Los Angeles Instances’ Pageant of Books this yr.

On Wednesday, The Instances unveiled its lineup for the annual literary celebration, which can characteristic greater than 500 writers, musicians, artists and cooks unfold out throughout USC’s 226-acre campus.

For the primary time for the reason that starting of the COVID-19 pandemic, the occasion will happen in particular person, April 23 and 24, within the coronary heart of the Downtown Arts and Training Hall.

“It’s again to what it was,” stated Ann Binney, affiliate director of occasions at The Instances. “We discovered a lot in the course of the digital pageant, and it was so nice, but it surely’s loads more durable to … produce every part nearly.”

There have been some advantages to going digital, Binney conceded. “On the one hand, it’s simpler to get folks to do it, as a result of … as an writer, you possibly can take part from wherever you might be on the earth,” and “you possibly can attain lots of people that approach.”

But there isn’t a substitute, she stated, for the sensation of assembly and listening to authors in particular person.

Gorman — the primary American Nationwide Youth Poet Laureate, who floored the nation together with her verse at President Biden’s 2021 inauguration — will headline the pageant’s L.A. Instances Guide Membership occasion.

Gorman, 24, who grew up in Westchester and infrequently attended the Pageant of Books as a younger poet, will talk about her 2021 assortment “Name Us What We Carry” on The Instances’ principal stage. Additionally set to seem on the primary stage is Porter, the Emmy-winning star of “Pose,” whose memoir, “Unprotected,” hit cabinets in September.

“We had been so excited once we confirmed Amanda Gorman and Billy Porter,” Binney stated. “They’re the right additions to our superb lineup.”

As a part of The Instances’ “Concepts Alternate” collection, musician and actor Monáe will reply questions on her upcoming assortment of science fiction quick tales, “The Reminiscence Librarian: And Different Tales of Soiled Laptop,” at USC’s Bovard Auditorium — the biggest efficiency venue on campus.

Different notable figures set to take part embody Valerie Bertinelli, Meena Harris, Ziggy Marley, Tony Alva, Terry Crews, Adam Schiff, Rachel Lindsay, Josh Peck, Chrishell Stause and Kelly Rowland.

Celebrated authors on the itinerary embody crime novelists Michael Connelly, Megan Abbott, Don Winslow and Attica Locke; literary luminaries Jonathan Lethem, Roxane Homosexual and Amor Towles; and lots of extra, starting from Jasmine Guillory and Akwaeke Emezi to Imani Perry and Jean Chen Ho.

Along with the primary stage programming, a lot of actions — together with movie star writer interviews, family-friendly leisure, cooking demonstrations, Spanish-language content material, professional panels, reside music and poetry readings — might be held on levels designated for the L.A. Instances en Español, cooking, poetry, kids’s authors and YA in addition to USC and USC Mates and Neighbors.

One other stage will characteristic the continuing Instances collection Ask a Reporter, by which reporters, editors, photographers and podcasters discuss their work and reply reader questions. Employees set to seem embody Instances Government Editor Kevin Merida, columnists Carolina Miranda, Gustavo Arellano and Robin Abcarian and lots of others.

Greater than 250 exhibitors have additionally been tapped to supply an array of giveaways, merchandise and books on the market.

“In its twenty seventh yr, the Pageant of Books continues to have fun the variety of voices and types of storytelling that enrich all of our lives,” stated Anna Magzanyan, head of technique and income and chief of employees to the manager chairman at The Instances, in an announcement.

“We’re thrilled to welcome everybody to one in every of L.A.’s most beloved group occasions.”

The night earlier than the pageant begins, The Instances will current the Robert Kirsch Award for lifetime achievement to Luis J. Rodriguez and the Innovator’s Award to Reginald Dwayne Betts. A dozen different literary works will even obtain Guide Prizes from The Instances main as much as the primary occasion.

Normal admission to The Instances’ Pageant of Books is free, whereas tickets for particular person writer conversations might be out there April 17 by way of the occasion web site.

An additional sampling of the 550 individuals is listed beneath:

• David Duchovny
• Justine Bateman
• T.C. Boyle
• Veronica Roth
• Father Greg Boyle
• Rumaan Alam
• Amelia Brodka
• Alton Brown
• Janelle Brown
• Mark Harris
• DJ Envy
• S.A. Cosby
• Eric Dickerson
• Sharon Gless
• Max Greenfield
• Gilbert and Jaime Hernandez
• Ali Hazelwood
• Craig Johnson
• Laila Lalami
• Casey McQuiston
• Nnedi Okorafor
• John Scalzi
• Gina Schock
• Michael Schur
• Lisa See
• Clint Smith
• Hector Tobar
• Kenneth Turan
• Marcela Valladolid
• Claire Vaye Watkins
• Pleasure Williams
• Ibi Zoboi
• Susan Straight