Tag: written arts

James Ellroy—the “Godfather of crime fiction”—is the internationally acclaimed, award-winning author behind L.A. Confidential, The Black Dahlia, American Tabloid, and most recently, Perfidia, which The Guardian called “an awe-inspiring vision of social, moral and human chaos.” 

In candid talks, he shares the historical inspiration behind his books, and the quirks of a genre he proved could be literary. Leading audiences through tales of neon-lit American history, gossip, and the criminal element that inspires him, Ellroy’s talks are uniquely engaging: funny, frightening, and brilliantly told. 

In the video below he speaks about “growing up in the film noir epicenter at the height of the film noir era,” and how that informed, and continues to inform, his life and work. 

To book James Ellroy for your next event, contact The Lavin Agency. 

Featured on the TED homepage, Gabby Rivera’s TED Salon on writing America Chavez—the first queer, Latinx super hero—has reached over 500,000 views (and climbing.) She explains how growing up as a queer Puerto Rican in the Bronx informed America’s narrative: “that myth of having to go it alone and having to be tough doesn’t serve us. America Chavez is a whole superhero, and she still needed a team of support to help her find herself.” 

Set 15 years after The Handmaid’s Tale, Margaret Atwood’s sequel, The Testaments, was inspired by all of the questions fans had about Gilead—the fictional regime that has taken over America in the original book. “The other inspiration,” she says, “is the world we’ve been living in.” 

With over sixty books, forty translations, and some of the literary world’s most prestigious awards, Atwood’s legacy can’t be overstated. Her keynotes are layered, witty, provocative, compassionate, and always informed by her sharp insight into our cultural moment. 

To book Margaret Atwood for your next speaking event, contact The Lavin Agency.   > > >

The House of the Spirits author Isabel Allende received the National Book Award’s lifetime achievement medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters, joining previous winners Toni Morrison, John Updike and Joan Didion. “Allende’s work is proof that stories about women written with women in mind are not only good business, but also represent crucial contributions to the literary landscape,” says the foundation’s executive director.

One of literature’s most prestigious honors, this medal recognizes writers who have made an exceptional impact on America’s literary heritage. Allende is the first Spanish-language author to be recognized with the DCAL honor, and only the second, since Saul Bellow, to be born outside the United States.

Allende’s books have sold nearly 70 million copies worldwide, and have been adapted into films, plays and television shows. Her talks are candid, funny, insightful reflections on her life and career. Her TED talk, about pursuing a passionate life, has been viewed over 3 million times.

Here is Allende catching up and celebrating at the event, without our founder and CEO David Lavin: