The Los Angeles Times Festival of Books began in 1996 with a simple goal: to bring together the people who create books with the people who love to read them. The festival was an immediate success and has become the largest and most prestigious book festival in the country, attracting more than 130,000 book lovers each year.

Susan Carpenter is currently a feature writer for the Los Angeles Times and a senior contributor to Jane magazine. Her writing has appeared in various publications. Carpenter is the author of 40 Watts from Nowhere: A Journey into Pirate Radio.

Alison Bell is the author of 10 nonfiction books for teens and the Zibby Payne fiction series that chronicles the adventures of a spunky sixth-grade girl. Zibby Payne & the Red Carpet Revolt is Bell's most recent book. She lives in South Pasadena.

Patrick Carman is the award-winning author of many books for young adults and children, including Skeleton Creek. Carman spends his free time supporting literacy campaigns and community organizations.

Paul Feig is the creator of the acclaimed TV show "Freaks and Geeks" and author of the adult memoirs Kick Me: Adventures in Adolescence and Superstud. Ignatius MacFarland: Frequenaut! is his first novel for young readers.

Susan Patron specialized in Children's Services for 35 years at the Los Angeles Public Library before retiring in 2007, the same year her novel The Higher Power of Lucky was awarded the John Newbery Medal. The sequel, Lucky Breaks, is now available.