The 17th Annual Los Angeles Times Festival of Books is just over a month away! These times especially, I miss living in LA the most. Go if you can fellow book lovers and I will live through you in spirit!

Authors and Panelists scheduled to appear at this year’s festival include: Judy Blume, John Green, Julie Andrews, Taye Diggs, Bethenny Frankel, Gil Garcetti, Florence Henderson, Ricki Lake, Molly Shannon, and Wil Wheaton to name a few. Detailed speaker and event information will be available in the official festival program online on March 22nd.

The Los Angeles Times Festival of Books was created in 1996 to promote literacy, celebrate the written word, and bring together writers with people who love to read. The largest and most prestigious book festival in the country with over 140,000 attendees and more than 400 authors, journalists and celebrities and hundreds of exhibitors. Eight outdoor stages and dozens of venues in the heart of USC’s campus host author readings, book signings, Q&As, lively panel discussions, live music, cooking demonstrations, abundant dining options and more. The Los Angeles Times Festival of Books is presented in association with USC and presenting sponsor Target.

Admission to the festival is free; writer’s workshop tickets and panel passes will be available for purchase after March 22. I think at the rate that social media is going, a select few panels should stream online next year. What do you think?

The 17th Annual Los Angeles Times Festival of Books will take place at the University of Southern California (USC) April 21-22, 2012 from 10AM – 5PM.