2025 OC Book Fair- volume 2 Schedule
MAIN STREET STAGE
Located Outside on El Camino Real at Main Street
10:00AM- ROMANCE AUTHOR PANEL with Melissa Whitney, Gissane Sophia and Victoria Lum
Moderator: Lian Dolan
11:00AM- Where Characters & Stories Come From, a Conversation with Barbara DeMarco-Barrett, Stefanie Leder, Eric Beetner and Aaron Philip Clark
12:00PM- MULTIRACIAL AUTHOR PANEL presented by Multiracial Americans of Southern California with Lauren Ling Brown and Jasmin 'lolani Hakes
Moderator: Delia Douglas
1:00PM- DEBUT AUTHOR PANEL with Sophie Stava, Kristen Berry, Melissa Pace and Lauren Ling Brown
Moderator: Samantha Dunn
2:00pm- AUDIOBOOK NARRATION PANEL with Ferdelle Capistrano, Bridget Crocker, Deva Gregory, Vikas Adam and Dominic Hoffman
Moderator: Michelle Pierce
3:00PM- People’s Guide to the OC, a conversation with Thuy Vo Dang, Elaine Lewinnek and Gustavo Arrellano
4:00PM- WOMEN IN LIT PANEL with Annette Chavez Macias, Sandra Chwialkowska and Shahed Ghanimati
Moderator: Samantha Sophia
SECOND STREET STAGE
Located Outside on El Camino at Second Street
10:00AM- COZY MYSTERY AUTHOR PANEL with Camille Cabrera, Jennifer J. Chow and Marjorie McCown
Moderator: Leslie S. Klinger
11:00AM- SPOKEN WORD POETRY with Orange County School of Arts Creative Writing Conservatory Students
12:00PM- POETRY PANEL led by Josh Wood, Douglas Manuel, Raundi Moore-Kondo, Jeremiah Cobra and Wendy Van Camp
2:00PM- STORIES IN THE OPEN AIR - Step into a circle of creativity with Breath of Fire Latina Theater Ensemble as we bring live playwriting into the streets! For one hour, our playwrights will write, read, and perform short, spontaneous scenes inspired by the people, books, and energy of the OC Book Fair. Audiences are invited to stop by, offer a word, a story, or a spark of inspiration, and watch it come alive before their eyes.
3:00PM- ROMANTASY AUTHOR PANEL with Cee Yang, Jessica Nahas and Lauren Sanatra
Moderator: Georgia K. Boone
4:00PM- DISABLED VOICES IN LITERATURE AUTHOR PANEL with Kristen Lopez, Melissa Whitney and Ana Cortes
Moderator: Marleena Barber
THIRD STREET STAGE
Located Outside on El Camino at Third Street
10:00AM- SUPER STAR STORY TIME: Author, Hannah Shafiroff, reading her book “My Little Book of Big Jewish Holidays”
10:30AM- SUPER STAR STORY TIME with Speak Up Stories, student led book club featuring:
"Just Ask! Be Different, Be Brave, Be You" by Sonia Sotomayor
"We Move Together" by Anne McGuire & Kelly Fritsch
"Make it All Go Away" by Helen Docherty
"All of Us: A First Conversation About Disability" by Dr. Megan Pamela Ruth Madison
11:00AM- SUPER STAR STORY TIME: Author, Jenna Elyse Johnson, reading her book “Every Body Move!” -an original singalong celebrating kids with disabilities and the tools that help them access our world!
11:30AM- SUPER STAR STORY TIME: Myrna Bohan of OC Equality Coalition reading:
"Prince & Knight" by Daniel Haack & Stevie Lewis
"Jack (Not Jackie)" by Erika Silverman
"Tango Makes Three" by Justin Richardson
"No One Owns the Colors" by Gina Davy
12:00PM- SUPER STAR STORY TIME:
Author, Mikki Hernandez, reading her book “Cake Mix: Learning to Love all Your Ingredients” - A Heartwarming Story About Identity, Diversity, and Self-Acceptance
12:30PM- Theatrical SUPER STAR STORY TIME - with the Orange County School of the Arts (OCSA) Thespians Society performance of:
“Chicka Chicka Boom Boom” by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault
“Where the Wild Things Are” by Maurice Sendak
1:30PM- SUPER STAR STORY TIME: Empowering Readers OC, a program of Parentis Foundation reading “Piggie Bear's Power of Happiness” by Mara James with Piggie Bear will be on stage during the reading offering an interactive mindfulness activity for children using Piggie Bear Power Cards.
2:00PM- SPORTS AUTHOR PANEL with Jeff Fletcher, Mark Whicker and Ray Hartjen
Moderator: Tony Wong
3:00PM- SUPER STAR STORY TIME:
Author, Heidi Rojas, reading her book “I am Enough: Soy Fuerte Ya”
3:30PM- SUPER STAR STORY TIME with Michelle Pierce reading multiple titles
4:00PM- FANTASY AUTHOR PANEL with Leanne Schwartz, Foz Meadows and Gabriel Garcia
Moderator: Lauren Groen
SYNERGY PARKING LOT
Located on El Camino before Third Street
IN ADDITION TO EXHIBITORS, WE WILL ALSO BE FEATURING:
10:00AM-2:00PM- OC Animal Allies Canine Literacy: Interact with & read to dogs. Books provided for all different reading levels.
10:00AM-11:00AM and 2:00PM-3:00PM: Meet Dog Man!! Dog Man will be giving out drawing activities for kid’s to learn how to draw many of Dog Man’s characters and be available for photos.
MOVED INSIDE TO ARVIDA BOOK CO. STAGE AREA
ILLUSTRATORS’ CORNER- a place where creativity connects artists and readers of all ages.
11:00AM - Leah Khoury author of "Benny on the Move: Tokyo" and "Benny on the Move: Paris"
12:00PM- Hannah Shafiroff author and illustrator of “My Little Book of Big Jewish Holidays”
1:00PM- Andy Cox, author & Richard Kinsey, illustrator of "The Alphabet Grand Prix"
2:00PM- Shiho Pate illustrator of “Ramen for Everyone”, “Periodic Table” and “Rocks and Minerals”.
3:00PM- Emmanuel Guerrero illustrator of “Cactus Kid”
Tustin Senior Center
10:00AM- Super Star Story Time- author, Leah Khoury, reading her books "Benny on the Move: Tokyo" and "Benny on the Move: Paris".
11:00AM- Multiracial Americans of Southern California (MASC) Community Talk: Multiracial Representation in Literature and Media Led by MASC Teen Interns Featuring Author, Mikki Hernandez.
12:00PM- Super Star Sensory-Friendly Story Time with Speak Up Stories, student led book club
1:00PM - POETRY WORKSHOP by Groundswell- "I Am": The Power of Story In this creative and reflective workshop, participants will craft their own “I Am” poems to explore identity, culture, and lived experience. Through guided prompts and storytelling, we will celebrate the many layers that shape who we are, and how our individual stories connect to community, belonging, and justice. Together, we’ll use poetry and dialogue to honor difference, affirm voice, and build empathy. This space invites connection, reminding us that when we share our stories, we help create a world where everyone feels seen and valued. Attendees will have opportunities to display/share out their poems.
Led by Gagandeep Kaur Mann-Saechao & Marco Antonio Ortega of Groundswell
Located on C Street between Third Street and Second Street
11:00AM-2:00PM- LIVING LIBRARY
Living Library is inspired by the Human Library, a Danish concept whereby people have one-on-one conversations with each other. It’s like you are checking out a book, but, instead, it is a real person (aka a Living Chapter) who shares their own stories with you.