The Contra Costa Jewish Book Festival, featuring a 13-day line-up of author readings, kids’ activities and books for sale, kicks off Tuesday, Nov. 9. With the exception of a Saturday evening concert, all other events will take place at the Contra Costa Jewish Community Center, 2071 Tice Valley Blvd., Walnut Creek.

At 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 9, Marthe Cohn discusses her book “Behind Enemy Lines.”

At 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 10, Joel ben Izzy reads from his book “The Beggar King and the Secret of Happiness.

At 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 11, Jonathan Sarna reads from his book “American Judaism: A History.”

At 10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 12, Cindy Stein Gershen shares cooking tips from her book “Healthy Jewish Cooking.”

At 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 13, the Jerusalem Lyric Trio performs at Congregation B’nai Shalom, 74 Eckley Lane, Walnut Creek.

Starting at noon Sunday, Nov. 14, KIDZCorner takes place. At 7 that evening, Michael Berenbaum reads from “Old Symbols, New Messages: Anti-Semitism in the 21st Century.”

At noon Monday, Nov. 15, Alex Frankel discusses his book “Word Craft: The Art if Turning Words into Big Business.”

At 10 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 16, Tyrone Guller explores “The Merchant of Venice.” That night at 7:30, Rodger Claire reads from “Raid on the Sun.”

At 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 17, Rochelle Krich and Sheldon Siegel host “Mystery Night.”

At 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 18, Robert Shoen and Dawn Kepler discuss “What I Wish My Christian Friends Knew About Judaism.”

At 10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 9, Mark Dollinger reads from “California Jews.”

At 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 20, Fred Rosenbaum discusses his new book, “Taking Risks: A Jewish Youth in the Soviet Partisans and his Unlikely Life in California.”

At 10 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 21, Andrea Aelion Brooks reads from “Russian Dance: A True Story of Intrigue and Passion in Stalinist Moscow.”

The fair is presented by the CCJCC and the Center for Jewish Living and Learning of the Jewish Community Federation

of the Greater East Bay.

Information: (510) 839-2900, ext. 253, www.jfed.org/bookfestival/bookfest.html, or [email protected].