Rancho Mirage Writers Festival kicks off 7th year with 2020 election theme

The 7th annual Rancho Mirage Writers Festival kicked off Tuesday evening with its Angel Night event featuring exclusive speakers at the Rancho Las Palmas Resort and Spa.

The festival focuses on the upcoming 2020 election, offering politically themed sessions and speakers including Senator Jeff Flake, Robin Wright, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Jon Meacham, Karl Rove, James Carville, Frank Luntz, Bret Stephens and Max Boot.

Tuesday night's speakers include the world's bestselling author James Patterson, interviewed by author and journalist Carl Hiaasen. Esteemed presidential historians Doris Kearns Goodwin and Jon Meacham are speaking Tuesday as well. Angel Night is only open to the festival's 1,250 "Angels," or donors who make the festival possible.

"This is something really special," said James Fallows, a correspondent with The Atlantic magazine. "It's a great thing when people get together and celebrate books. As a country we need to read more, especially the kids."

Fallows is speaking at the festival Wednesday night.

There will be 73 sessions with 40 authors and 1,000 readers from around the world — congregating at the Rancho Mirage Library and Observatory.

The festival officially opens to ticket holders January 29 and runs through January 31.

Tickets are sold out already, but you can find wait list information here.

You can reach Jake on Twitter, Facebook or email him at jake.ingrassia@kesq.com.