Literary Women Celebrates 40th Anniversary With 2022 Festival of

Literary Women’s annual Long Beach Festival of Authors will be held March 19, 2022 at the Long Beach Convention Center, 110 S. Pine Avenue. Featuring seven authors each year, the event is a star attraction for book lovers and aspiring authors alike. Founded in 1982 by Harriet Williams and Virginia Laddey, this year marks the all-volunteer organization’s 40th anniversary.

“We are excited to be able to host the event live this year with our traditional crowd-pleasing agenda,” said the organization’s Chairwoman Barbara Wilde. “We will have four authors featured to speak to the entire group in the ballroom, and three breakout sessions featuring authors who will share with a smaller group.”

The three breakout sessions happen simultaneously. Registrants choose one of those three authors who will present in a smaller breakout room with about one-third of the traditionally sold-out crowd.

Literary Women is proud to present the 2022 authors (listed here alphabetically): Alexandra Andrews, Who is Maud Dixon?; Kendra Atleework, Miracle Country; Amaryllis Fox, Life Undercover Coming of Age in the CIA; Sarah Gailey, Echo Wife; Ladee Hubbard, The Rib King; Megha Majumdar, A Burning; and Dorothy Wickenden, The Agitators.

To support future female authors, each year Literary Women’s Harriet Williams Emerging Writer Program sponsors seven promising writers from California State University Long Beach, Long Beach City College, Chapman University and PEN America. With the help of a grant from the Port of Long Beach, Literary Women gives each emerging writer free admission seated at one of the author’s tables.

Literary Women also provides funds to the Long Beach Public Library to purchase multiple copies of the books written by the festival’s authors.

Online registration is open to the public now. The Festival of Authors will operate in accordance with the Control of COVID-19 health orders of the City of Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services. For the well-being of all attendees, proof of vaccination will be verified for admission to the Festival, no exceptions. In addition, all individuals will be required to wear masks when not actively eating or drinking. Updates may be provided closer to the event date. Visit the Literary Women website www.literarywomen.org to make a reservation and choose one breakout session. Don’t wait to register. Tickets are $115 each and include lunch.

ABOUT LITERARY WOMEN

The Literary Women Long Beach Festival of Authors began in 1982 when two Long Beach women, Harriet Williams and Virginia Laddey, concerned with the scarcity of women authors represented on the reading lists of local high schools, decided to create a festival showcasing contemporary women authors. For more information about this year’s authors and to register, visit https://www.LiteraryWomen.org

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