Humorist and journalist Henry Alford is the author of a book about manners called “Would It Kill You to Stop Doing That? A Modern Guide to Manners” (Twelve). His previous books include How to Live: A Search for Wisdom from Old People (While They Are Still on This Earth), and Big Kiss: One Actor’s Desperate Attempt to Claw His Way to the Top, which won a Thurber Prize. He has written for the New Yorker, and currently writes for Vanity Fair and the New York Times.

Cathy Alter’s feature articles, essays, and reviews have appeared in local and national newspapers and magazines including The Washington Post, Washingtonian, The Atlantic, The Huffington Post, Self, McSweeney’s, and SMITH Magazine. Her book, “Virgin Territory: Stories from the Road to Womanhood” was released in 2004 and her memoir, “Up for Renewal: What Magazines Taught Me About Love, Sex, and Starting Over,” was released in July 2008. She holds an M.A. from Johns Hopkins University, where she is currently a faculty member and nonfiction advisor.

Larry Doyle is one of America’s foremost humorists.  His first novel, “I Love You, Beth Cooper” won the 2008 Thurber Prize for American Humor – and that came on the heels of a four-year stint as a writer and producer of The Simpsons.

Doyle’s latest book is “Deliriously Happy” (Ecco), a collection of his humor pieces published in The New Yorker and elsewhere.  In addition to his work as a columnist and author, Doyle wrote the films “Duplex,” “Looney Tunes: Back in Action,” and “I Love You, Beth Cooper.”

According to his bio, Doyle does not keep live monkeys in his house, which would be illegal.   And more, mostly reliable information can be found at larrydoyle.com.

Judah Friedlander is the star of NBC’s “30 Rock” and the author of the hilarious instructional karate book, “How to Beat Up Anybody.”

Onstage Friedlander is The World Champion. He is the best athlete in the world, greatest martial artist, the sexual desire of every woman, and a role model to children. Let’s face it, Judah is the greatest comedian in the world… And the most humble. Judah is an extra-dark blackbelt in karate.

Judah’s hilarious instructional karate book “How To Beat Up Anybody” is based on his stand-up act.  It has hundreds of photos all taken by or directed by Judah, along with countless jokes. It is the greatest book in karate history.

Friedlander started doing stand-up in 1989 and has been doing it just about every night ever since. He has made over 30 movies and you can see him as “Frank Rossitano” on the Emmy-winning “30 Rock”. He’s also made multiple appearances on Letterman, Conan, Fallon & The Daily Show. Judah was nominated for Best Supporting Actor at the 2003 Independent Spirit Awards for his role in the Sundance-winning “American Splendor”.

This year Judah will be coming out with both a stand-up album and is also making a stand-up concert movie.  And yes, Judah will make more books one day.

Jen Lancaster is the New York Times bestselling author of five memoirs published by NAL, and most recently, the novel “If You Were Here.” Her newest memoir, “Jeneration X: One Reluctant Adult’s Attempt to Unarrest Her Arrested Development, or Why It’s Never Too Late for Her Dumb Ass to Learn Why Froot Loops are Not Dinner,” comes out this May.

Jen’s loyal fans have followed her as she recounts the woes of job loss, sucky city living, weight loss attempts and 1980s nostalgia in her hilarious memoirs, including, “Bitter is the New Black,” “Such A Pretty Fat,” and “My Fair Lazy.” A nationally syndicated monthly columnist for Tribune Media Services’ Humor Hotel, Jen Lancaster lives outside Chicago .  She still blogs at the blog where it all started: www.jennsylvania.com.

Jen Lancaster will be appearing in conversation with author Sarah Pekkanen.

Jenny Lawson (aka The Bloggess) is the author of the #1 New York Times best-seller, “Let’s Pretend This Never Happened (A Mostly True Memoir)” (Amy Einhorn Books/Putnam) as well as a columnist and blogger. Her personal blog (www.thebloggess.com) is extremely popular, averaging over a half million page views per month and continuing to grow. She is one of the most popular bloggers on twitter (with over 225,000+ followers and growing daily). Jenny has been a regular contributor to the online Houston Chronicle since 2006 and also writes a popular advice column and satirical sex column. Jenny lives in Texas Hill Country with her husband and daughter.

Matthew Norman is the author of “Domestic Violets” (Harper Perennial), his debut novel.

“Reminiscent of Richard Russo’s earlier work, Norman’s refreshingly witty style is perfectly suited to articulating the trials of a middle-aged cynic. Wonderfully fast-paced, hilariously genuine, difficult to put down, Domestic Violets is an ideal first novel.”  - Booklist

Norman has an MFA from George Mason University and works as an advertising copywriter. He lives with his wife and daughter in Baltimore and sporadically writes on his blog, The Norman Nation.

Baratunde Thurston is the author of “How to Be Black” (Harper).   He is the director of digital at The Onion, the cofounder of Jack & Jill Politics, a stand-up comedian, and a globe-trotting speaker. Thurston was named one of the 100 most influential African Americans of 2011 by The Root, one of the 100 most creative people in business by Fast Company magazine, and will be giving the opening keynote address at SXSW Interactive 2012. Then-Senator Barack Obama called him “someone I need to know.” Baratunde resides in Brooklyn and lives on Twitter (@baratunde).