Oliver Stone (‘JFK,’ ‘Platoon’) among top-selling authors at PB Book Festival Saturday at FAU

Movie mogul and author Oliver Stone is one of four writers scheduled to appear Saturday, March 12, at Florida Atlantic University’s fifth Palm Beach Book Festival. The event takes place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the University Theatre, 777 Glades Road on the Boca Raton campus.

Oliver Stone (Photo by Michael Segal)

Also slated to appear are Garret M. Graff, Alan Cumming and Imani Perry, Ph.D.

Stone, the multiple Oscar-winning writer and director of “Platoon,” “JFK,” “Born on the Fourth of July,” “Natural Born Killer” and “Midnight Express,” among many others, will discuss “Chasing the Light” at 2:15 p.m., with screenwriter Allan Loeb as moderator. 

This intimate memoir by the controversial and outspoken director and screenwriter examines his first 40 years, chronicling his time in Vietnam where he was wounded as an infantryman, to his years working odd jobs in Manhattan, to the highs and lows of working in Hollywood.

Imani Perry, Ph. D. (Photo courtesy of author)

Among other speakers is Imani Perry, author of “South to America.” Her address during a panel at 10 a.m. will jumpstart the festival and will be moderated by Leigh Haber, Oprah’s Book Club editor.

Perry, the Hughes-Rogers professor of African American Studies at Princeton University, has written a number of books, including “Looking for Lorraine: The Radiant and Radical Life of Lorraine Hansberry,” winner of the 2019 Bograd-Weld Biography Prize from the Pen America Foundation; “Breathe: A Letter to My Sons;” “Vexy Thing: On Gender and Liberation;” and “May We Forever Stand: A History of the Black National Anthem.” 

A native of Birmingham, Ala., she grew up in Cambridge, Mass. as well as Chicago, and currently lives outside of Philadelphia with her two sons.  

The second panel features Cumming with his book “Baggage” at 11:15 a.m. and will be moderated by Joseph Papa. 

Alan Cumming

Cumming’s many awards for his stage and screen work include the Tony, Olivier, BAFTA and Emmy. He is the author of two children’s books, a tome of photographs and stories, a novel, and the No. 1 New York Times’ bestselling memoir, “Not My Father’s Son.”

Garret Graff (Photo by Andy Duback)

Graff, the third author, will talk about his newly released “Watergate: A New History.” The session will be moderated by Mark Thompson, CEO of The New York Times. 

A journalist and bestselling historian who has spent more than a dozen years covering politics, technology and national security, Graff is director of cyber initiatives for The Aspen Institute and is a contributor to “Wired,” CNN, and “Politico.” He’s written for several publications and edited two of Washington’s most prestigious magazines, “Washingtonian” and “Politico Magazine.” 

Graff is the author of multiple books, including “The Threat Matrix,” the national bestseller “Raven Rock” and the New York Times bestseller, “The Only Plane in the Sky.”

The event will include a lunch break from noon to 1 p.m., with lunch available for purchase with tickets prior to the event. Lunch will not be for sale at the event, though Starbucks and Chick-Fil-A have locations on campus.

Tickets are $25 per session and can be purchased at www.fauevents.com or by calling 561-297-6124. All students are admitted free, and FAU faculty and staff tickets are $10. Parking is included with cost of admission.

Information at 561-297-6124