We try to squeeze in as many books, authors and general literary goodness into the three days of the Big Orange Book Festival as we can, but sometimes there just aren’t enough hours to go around. That’s why we’re happy to highlight several great bookend events happening before and after our favorite book fest.

WordTheatre Comes to OC – Beginning September 16

WordTheatre brings together some of the world’s finest actors and authors in unique literary performances. Previously only in LA, New York and London, WordTheatre is coming to OC with a fall series at Chapman University that will see celebrities and student performers give voice to the works of some of the finest contemporary authors. On Monday, Sept. 16, actors Lesley Nicol (Mrs. Patmore on Downton Abbey) and Cassidy Freeman (Longmire, Smallville) will read stories by North Carolina-based writer Jill McCorkle. In the two ticketed events following, David Means will join the program from New York on Monday, Oct. 14; and Percival Everett and Danzy Senna will wrap up the series on Nov. 4

Tabula Poetica Presents C.K. Williams – October 15

One of America’s most acclaimed living poets, having won virtually every major poetry prize and published books of poetry, essays, a memoir, and children’s books, C.K. Williams will speak as part of Tabula Poetica’s fall speaker series. He will talk on Autobiography with Translation as well as giving a reading from his latest book of poetry, Wait.

John Fowles Center Presents Isabel Allende – October 25

Award-winning author Isabel Allende will speak as part of the fall speaker series at Chapman’s John Fowles Center for Creative Writing. Her works include the international bestseller House of the Spirits and no less than 18 other novels and memoirs including her latest Maya’s Notebook (2011) El Cuaderno de Maya. Ms. Allende is a humorous and engaging speaker as evidenced by the 2M+ views of her recent TED talk.