The National Book Festival

Stephen L. Carter is a professor of law at Yale, where he has taught since 1982. He has published seven books on topics ranging from affirmative action to religion and politics. His first novel, The Emperor of Ocean Park, became a bestseller. His latest, a thriller, is New England White. Mysteries & Thrillers 12:40 p.m. Signing 2 p.m.

Cat Cora, the first female on the Food Network's smash hit "Iron Chef America," is president and co-founder of Chefs for Humanity, which spearheaded relief efforts in New Orleans and her native Mississippi after the ravages of Hurricane Katrina. Her latest book is Cooking from the Hip. Home & Family 2 p.m. Signing 3 p.m.

Deborah Crombie wrote her first novel, A Share in Death, after living in England and Scotland. Her books since have been nominated for the Agatha, Macavity and Edgar awards. Her fifth, Dreaming of Bones, has been cited as one of the 100 best crime novels of the century. Her latest is Water Like a Stone. Mysteries & Thrillers 10:40 a.m. Signing 12 p.m.

Carmen Agra Deedy, a native of Havana, is the author of many books for children, including The Yellow Star, which won a Parents' Choice Gold Award. Her newest picture book is Martina the Beautiful Cockroach. Children 3:40 p.m. Signing 1 p.m.

Elizabeth Drew is the award-winning author of 13 books, including her latest, Richard M. Nixon 1969-1974, a volume in the American Presidents series. She is a regular political correspondent for the New York Review of Books and a former Washington correspondent for the New Yorker. History & Biography 12:55 p.m. Signing 2 p.m.

Jan Spivey Gilchrist is recipient of the Coretta Scott King Award for Nathaniel Talking and the Coretta Scott King Honor for Night on Neighborhood Street. Her latest book of children's poems is My America, co-illustrated with Ashley Bryan. Children 1:25 p.m. Signing 3 p.m.

Jan Crawford Greenburg is a legal correspondent for ABC News. She previously served as the Supreme Court analyst for PBS and CBS and was the chief legal affairs writer for the Chicago Tribune. Her latest book is Supreme Conflict: The Inside Story of the Struggle for Control of the United States Supreme Court. History & Biography 10 a.m. Signing 11 a.m.

Sanjay Gupta is a neurosurgeon at Grady Memorial Hospital and assistant professor at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta. The Emmy award-winning chief medical correspondent at CNN, he is also a columnist for Time and a contributor to the CBS Evening News. His latest book is Chasing Life: New Discoveries in the Search for Immortality. Home & Family 12 p.m. Signing 1 p.m.

Brian Haig, a former special assistant to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, is the bestselling author of five novels featuring attorney Sean Drummond. His most recent book is Man in the Middle. Mysteries & Thrillers 11:20 a.m. Signing 12 p.m.

Carolyn Hart is the creator of the "Henrie O" and "Death on Demand" series. Her books have won multiple Agatha, Anthony and Macavity awards. Her latest novel is Set Sail for Murder. Mysteries & Thrillers 1:20 p.m. Signing 2 p.m.

Francisco Hern¿ndez has published over 20 prize-winning books of poetry in Spanish, among them Mar de fondo and Diario sin fechas de Charles B. Waite. Several of his poems have been translated into English and appear in anthologies such as Connecting Lines: New Poetry from Mexico. Poetry 1:45 p.m. Signing 2:30 p.m.

Jennifer L. Holm is the author of several novels including the "Boston Jane" trilogy, the "Babymouse" series and Penny from Heaven. Her most recent is Middle School Is Worse Than Meatloaf. Teens & Children 10:40 a.m. Signing 12 p.m.