REMINDER: City of West Hollywood and LA County Library Invite Community to Attend the 2026 Next Chapter Writers’ Summit & Book Fair on Saturday, November 14 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The City of West Hollywood and LA County Library invite the community to attend the 2026 Next Chapter Writers' Summit & Book Fair on Saturday, November 14, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at West Hollywood Library, West Hollywood Park, and the West Hollywood Park Aquatic and Recreation Center, all located in and around 625 N. San Vicente Boulevard. This free daylong celebration will unite storytellers, book enthusiasts, and lovers of all things literary.

The event begins at 10 a.m. for a full day of author talks, panel discussions, book signings, and networking sessions with industry professionals. Attendees can also explore the book fair, engage with literary vendors, check out some bookish crafts, and enjoy interactive entertainment. Under this year's theme, Celebrating the Art of the Story, the event will commemorate the power of narrative to bridge cultures, inspire change, and unite communities.

The West Hollywood Park Stage will feature multiple panels including:

• The Business (& Art) of Publishing with Kait Feldmann & Eden Railsback at 10:15 a.m.;
• Write It with Your Whole Chest headliner discussion will feature LA County Librarian and Director Dr. Skye Patrick in conversation with the inimitable Roxane Gay to discuss the power of storytelling at 11:30 a.m. A book signing will follow the discussion;
• The Joy of Writing: Exploring the Art of Storytelling with Gabrielle Civil, Jazz Smollett, and Alice Wynne, moderated by Sheila Kuehl will take place at 12:45 p.m. A book signing will follow the discussion;
• The Anatomy of a Phenomenon headliner discussion will take place at 2:30 p.m. and will feature Dr. Skye Patrick in conversation with bestselling author Taylor Jenkins Reid for a discussion on her popular works and what makes a book pop. A book signing will follow the discussion.;
• Shelf Awareness: Where Book Trends are Headed with Olivie Blake, Tod Goldberg, and Bridget Morrissey will take the stage at 3:45 p.m. A book signing will follow the discussion; and
• Fall (Back) In Love with Reading with Cindy Schweich Handler and Mary Williams will begin at 5 p.m. A book signing will take place before the discussion.

The summit will also recognize winners of LA County Library's 2026 Next Chapter Writers' Summit Flash Fiction Contest. Teen and adult writers ages-13-and-older were invited to submit original flash-fiction stories of up to 750 words. Three winning entries will be featured on LA County Library's BiblioBoard for one year, and winners will be recognized on stage.

For additional information, event updates, and to register for the event, please visit the LA County Library's Next Chapter webpage at https://lacountylibrary.org/nextchapter or contact LA County Library Public Information Officer Marnae Theus at [email protected].

LA County Library belongs to our communities and serves as a portal to learn, grow, and succeed. Founded in 1912, it is one of the largest and most innovative library systems in the United States and was awarded the nation's highest honor - the National Medal for Museum and Library Service - in 2023. Dedicated to reducing barriers and increasing access for all through culturally responsive and dynamic collections, programs, and services, LA County Library serves 3.6 million residents across 3,000 square miles through its 87 libraries and 15-vehicle mobile fleet, including Bookmobiles, MākMō maker mobiles, Reading Machines, and outreach vehicles. To learn more, visit LACountyLibrary.org.

The City of West Hollywood has a long-standing commitment to amplifying underrepresented and historically overlooked voices. This is the second year the City has co-sponsored this event. This event reflects the City's dedication to enhancing local artistic richness and creativity.

For more information, please contact Andi Lovano, City of West Hollywood Community & Legislative Affairs Manager, at (323) 848-6333 or at [email protected]. For people who are Deaf or hard of hearing dial 711 or 1-800-735-2929 (TTY) or 1-800-735-2922 (voice) for California Relay Service (CRS) assistance.

For up-to-date information about City of West Hollywood news and events, follow @wehocity on social media, sign-up for news updates at www.weho.org/email, and visit the City's calendar of meetings and events at www.weho.org/calendar. Receive text updates by texting "WeHo" to (323) 848-5000. Read feature articles about people, places, and City events at www.helloweho.com. City programs and services information is available at www.weho.org.

For reporters and members of the media seeking additional information about the City of West Hollywood, please contact the City of West Hollywood's Public Information Officer, Sheri A. Lunn, at (323) 848-6391 or [email protected].