ANNA QUINDLEN is a novelist and journalist whose work has appeared on fiction, nonfiction, and self-help bestseller lists. Her book “A Short Guide to a Happy Life” has sold more than a million copies., and while a columnist at The New York Times she won the Pulitzer Prize. Her memoir “Lots of Candles, Plenty of Cake”(2012), was a #1 New York Times bestseller.

P. J. O’Rourke, one of America’s premier political satirists, is the best-selling author of fifteen books. He has also written for as Automobile, The Weekly Standard, House and Garden, Foreign Policy, The New York Times Book Review, Forbes FYI , Rolling Stone and The Atlantic Monthly. He is a regular panelist on National Public Radio’s Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me.

One of Los Angeles’ most beloved chefs, Suzanne Goin, cooks with a palette of colors and flavors that showcase the best farmers and producers from the Southern California markets. She received a James Beard Award for her first book, “Sunday Suppers at Lucques.” In “The A.O.C. Cookbook,” she shares recipes turning the small-plate, shared-style dishes into main courses for the home chef.

Grammy Award-winning singer Gloria Gaynor took the music world by storm in the 1970s, striking platinum with her disco hit “I Will Survive”. Her book, “We Will Survive: True Stories of Encouragement, Inspiration and the Power of Song,” celebrates the 35th anniversary of the award winning tune.

After three acclaimed novels, Gary Shteyngart turns to memoir in a candid, witty, deeply poignant account of his life so far. Shteyngart shares his American immigrant experience, moving back and forth through time and memory with self-deprecating humor, moving insights, and literary bravado. His novels: The Russian Debutante’s Handbook, Absurdistan and Super Sad True Love Story.

Mitch Albom is a best-selling author, screenwriter, playwright and nationally-syndicated columnist. The author of five consecutive No.1 New York Times bestsellers, his books have collectively sold more than 33 million copies in forty-two languages worldwide. Tuesdays with Morrie, spent four straight years atop the New York Times list.

Doris Kearns Goodwin is the author of the runaway bestseller Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln. She won the Pulitzer Prize in history for No Ordinary Time: Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt: The Home Front in World War II and is also the author of the bestsellers Wait Till Next Year, The Fitzgeralds and the Kennedys, and Lyndon Johnson and the American Dream

Turow returns to Live Talks LA with his new novel, Identical. Over twenty years ago, Turow wrote Presumed Innocent – the #1 bestseller that invented the legal thriller. The novel remained on The New York Times bestseller list for 45 weeks and not only launched his career, it also marked the beginning of one of the most successful categories in the suspense genre.

Before Hannah from Girls, Anastasia Steele from Fifty Shades of Grey, and Carrie Bradshaw from Sex and the City, there was Isadora Wing, the uninhibited, outspoken protagonist of Erica Jong’s revolutionary novel. Forty years later, Isadora’s honest and exuberant retelling of her sexual adventures—and misadventures—continues to provoke and inspire, and stands as an iconic tale of self-discovery, liberation, and womanhood.

Boulud is a world-renowned French chef based in New York with restaurants in New York, Miami, Palm Beach, London, Toronto, and Singapore. He has won James Beard Foundation awards for “Outstanding Restaurant” (for Daniel in 2010), “Outstanding Restaurateur” (2006), “Best Chef, New York City” (1992), and “Outstanding Chef of the Year” (1994).