This past weekend, I attended the Los Angeles Times Festival
of Books. It’s by far the biggest book fair in the country, showcasing the
works of wordsmiths from around the USA and the world. For two days each
spring, it overtakes the entire campus of the University of Southern
California. As a literary agent, I enjoy the networking opportunities there.
This year, for the first time, I also attended the annual book prizes ceremony that takes place the night before. Recent years have seen a growing demand for diversity in our business, and I was delighted at what I found: The field of nominees, and of winners, was about as diverse as anyone could ask: They were male and female, young and old, gay and straight. White, black, Latino, Chinese, and Pakistani. Jewish, Christian, Muslim, and probably more.
