Five speakers hailing from La Jolla will help celebrate storytelling during the sixth annual San Diego Writers Festival, which is set to return to the Coronado Public Library and surrounding areas on Saturday, April 5.
The free festival from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. will feature food, live music, poetry and nearly 120 speakers, including Emmy Award-winning journalist and bestselling author Hank Phillippi Ryan; actor, author and activist Ed Begley Jr.; and book influencer and actress Anneliese Judge.
Of the five speakers with La Jolla ties, two are returning participants. Here’s a look at each.
Zoe Ghahremani
: “Tips for Writing Impactful Books for Children”11 a.m. to noon, Room 509
Writing for children is fairly new for Ghahremani, but poetry and prose have been lifelong ions for her.
After teaching at Northwestern University and running a dental practice in Evanston, Ill., Ghahremani retired and became a full-time writer. She has lived in La Jolla the past 25 years.
Ghahremani made her picture book debut in 2024 with “Memory Garden,” illustrated by her daughter Susie. A follow-up picture book about Persian New Year is expected in 2026.
“Thanks to better parenting, good education and smarter kids, the concept of children’s books — especially picture books — has changed,” Ghahremani said.
During the festival , Ghahremani and fellow author Virginia Loh-Hagan will explore the paths they took in their careers and what is in demand and enjoyed by young readers.
Ghahremani also participated in the 2024 festival.
Elle Jauffret
: “Commercial Fiction: What It Is and Why It Sells”11 a.m. to noon, Room 504
As the Writers Festival pieced together its lineup of speakers, Jauffret approached organizers with a idea and a lineup of authors. It was approved, and the “Commercial Fiction” came to fruition.
“My … explores the nature of commercial fiction, its key characteristics and the reasons behind its popularity in the literary market,” Jauffret said. “We delve into the genre’s definition, what sets commercial fiction apart from other types of literature, such as literary fiction.”
The also will explore how to make stories accessible to wide audiences across genres, what enables books to become commercially successful and how to monitor trends in the industry.
Jauffret, who is serving as the ’s , said she hopes the audience will feel “inspired, connected and empowered.”
Jauffret released “Threads of Deception” last year, the first novel in a three-book deal with Level Best Books. She said each book “is set in a different world” and addresses different social issues, many of them inspired by life in San Diego County.
Matt de la Peña
: “The Writer’s Life: Building a Sustainable Creative Career”12:45-1:45 p.m., Grand Room
De la Peña’s career took many turns before he landed where he is now. He will describe his journey and what he has learned during the .
De la Peña was the first person in his family to go to college after he earned a basketball scholarship. While there, his ion for books and writing took off. Since then, he has written 19 books and currently teaches in San Diego State University’s master of fine arts program.
De la Peña lived in Brooklyn, N.Y., for 15 years after growing up in San Diego County. But his goal was always to return. Now he lives in Bird Rock with his wife and children.
The festival is an amazing way to celebrate literature and promote unity, he said.
“I hope it’s an opportunity for us all to come together,” de la Peña said. “I also hope parents come with their little ones. Mine will be there! Having a world-class book festival in our beautiful city is such a gift!”
Scott Sigler
: “Fear Factor: Getting to the Heart of Horror and Thrillers”2:15-3:15 p.m., Black Box Theater
Sigler always wanted to write. And in third grade, he found his subject of choice.
He was first drawn to horror writing during a class project called “Tentacles, Tentacles and More Tentacles.” After earning a bachelor’s degree in journalism and working in small-town newspapers and customer , he became a full-time novelist.
The festival he will participate in, “Fear Factor,” explores the intrigue of horror stories.
“‘Fear Factor’ is a discussion about why people devour books that frighten them, that leave them shaking with dread,” said Sigler, who also spoke at last year’s festival. “Fear is a primitive instinct, innate in all of us for reasons both common to all and individual to each.”
His latest work, “Shakedown, The Crypt Book 1,” is “a deep dive into the terrors of deep space,” echoing the fears and trials that World War II submariners faced. It’s the first of five stories in his new “Crypt” series.
Lilly Ghahremani
: “Ask an Agent Anything”3:45-4:45 p.m., Theater Arts Room 101
The San Diego Writers Festival will be a family affair of sorts, as Zoe Ghahremani’s daughter Lilly also is a ist.
While not an author, Lilly Ghahremani is deeply entrenched in the publishing industry and is a self-proclaimed “bookaholic.”
Nearly 20 years ago, she and Stefanie Sanchez Von Borstel co-founded Full Circle Literary, a literary agency that says it is dedicated to representing “an inclusive family of authors and artists whose books break barriers and stand the test of time.”
In “Ask an Agent Anything,” Ghahremani and co-host Anne Bomke will try to help people navigate a publishing world that can be big and intimidating.
“I hope people will take the time to hear many of these compelling authors speak about their books,” Ghahremani said. “And I hope aspiring authors who attend will learn not only how to publish but also how to sustain a career in publishing.”
To learn more about the San Diego Writers Festival and its participants, visit sandiegowritersfestival.com. ♦
