June 20, 2013

7th Annual Leimert Park Book Fair pays Homage to the 1960’s

By Troy Tieuel

LAWT Contributing Writer

 

“It was books that taught me that the things that tormented me most were the very things that connected me with all the people who were alive, or who had ever been alive,” said the American novelist, playwright, poet and social critic James A. Baldwin, the 2013 Legacy Honoree for the 7th Annual Leimert Park Book Fair, occurring June 29 in the Vision Theater’s back lot.

The Leimert Park Book Fair, founded in 2006, promotes literacy in the African American community.  Cynthia Exum, Founder and Executive Director of the Leimert Park Book Fair, has prepared a quality line up of events for this year’s fair, which includes celebrities, well known authors, and outstanding political officials.  This year’s book fair also pays homage to the legacy of the 1960’s featuring the music, politics, and of course notable writings and writers of that era.

Among this year’s Featured Authors are actress Victoria Rowell, Judge Mablean Ephriam, Associate Professor of Economics at Loyola Marymount University Robert Singleton, author Gary Phillips, and Rev. James Lawson who will speak about “Martin Luther King Jr.’s Legacy in the Era of Obama.”

The Fair will host five literary pavilions that will feature poetry performances, writers, publishers and a storytelling stage along with the Memphis-based “Stax Museum of American Soul Music” that will provide the sound track of 1960’s that helped inspire the Civil Rights Movement.

Panels include “From Page to Screen: Adapting Books Into Screenplays” moderated by Janice Rhoshalle Littlejohn, journalist, author and producer.  The panel is designed to offer tips to aspiring and established writers on how to transform novels, non-fiction books and articles into scripts for television and feature films.

“This panel is a very unique one for the book fair this year as it focuses both on the creative process of writing as well as the business end of Hollywood” added Littlejohn. “I am very excited to have author Mishna Wolff on the panel. Her bestselling memoir, ‘I’m Down’ was one of my favorite summer reads a few years ago.”

For additional information on this free event call 323.730.0628 or visit the website at www.leimertparkbookfair.com.

Category: Arts & Culture