Los Angeles is many things to many people but seems to carry a torch with the written word. For the 17^th year in conjunction with the Los Angeles Times, the occasion is simply titled as the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books to be held at the University of Southern California (USC).

The complete schedule has yet to be released, but promises to be just as exciting as 2011. 1,140,000 people turned out to celebrate the sounds of text hosted by more than 200 international exhibitors and authors. 

The annual literary gathering is open to the public and considered one of the country’s largest outdoor book fairs. This year’s event is organized by returning sponsor Target Stores. They donated four thousand books to a donation station last year to benefit classrooms and libraries.

Prior to the event’s date of April 21^st to 22^nd, the Los Angeles Times Book Prizes is scheduled for April 20, 2012. The honors bestowed will be given out at USC’s Bovard Auditorium.  Finalists and winners have been preselected by a three writer board with experience in the chosen genre they are judging.

The coveted Robert Kirsch Lifetime Achievement Award will go to Rudolfo Anaya, author of such books as “Bless Me, Ultima” and “The Man Who Could Fly and Other Stories,”

The late Robert Kirsch, the man behind the award ceremony, worked for year at the LA Times as the newspaper’s book critic. In addition to his critiques, Kirsch was a novelist, editor and teacher.

Come face to face with hundreds of authors on numerous panels that are planned to take place. 2011 was the first time that USC was used as the venue. The large campus proved to be a rousing success by waving in a sea of students and visitors.

Attending the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books is free of charge.

Planning a trip:

Secure accommodations for Los Angeles and be near to the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books by visiting LosAngeleshotels.org.

Location of venue: The USC is at the intersection of Exposition Blvd and S Figueroa St, Los Angeles  

To visit the LA Book Festival, use any of the following:

Shuttle Bus: Target provides free shuttles that will run continuously. Known as the Bullseye Bus, it will run between Union Station, Los Angeles Convention Center and USC.   

By Metro: The Red, Purple, Gold lines stop at Union Station. Take the free Bullseye Bus to USC.

The Blue Line heads to the Pico/Convention Center stop. Pick up the Bullseye Bus there.

By Dash: The DASH “F” line reaches the USC campus.