LITERARY WOMEN

Celebrating Women Authors Since 1982

RECENT BOOKS FROM PAST FESTIVAL AUTHORS

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Castle Shade: A Novel of Suspense, by author Laurie King
Laurie King, author of Castle Shade: A Novel of Suspense

Castle Shade: A Novel of Suspense

by Laurie King

In Laurie King’s chilling new work of historical fiction…just released in June… Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes are called to the castle of the beautiful queen Marie of Roumania to investigate the “shadowy figures and vague whispers” that abound. Since first meeting this award-winning author at our 1999 Festival of Authors, she has kept our mystery readers in suspense with her absorbing thrillers.

1999 Festival of Authors

Purchase from Creating Conversations › Visit Laurie King’s website ›
The Plot, by author Jean Hanff Korelitz
Jean Hanff Korelitz, author of The Plot

The Plot

by Jean Hanff Korelitz

This “satisfyingly twisty thriller” about writers and writing unravels the tangled truth behind third-rate MFA teacher Jacob Finch Bonner’s bestselling novel and the plot he stole to write it. It is a gripping read that propels the reader towards the finale; a journey of discovery that is reminiscent of Jean Hanff Korelitz’s absorbing literary mystery from our 2016 Festival, You Should Have Known.

2016 Festival of Authors

Purchase from Creating Conversations › Visit Jean Hanff Korelitz’s website ›
The Souvenir Museum: Stories, by author Elizabeth McCracken
Elizabeth McCracken, author of The Souvenir Museum: Stories

The Souvenir Museum: Stories

by Elizabeth McCracken

In 2001 Elizabeth McCracken joined us for the Festival with her eccentric debut novel, The Giant’s House. Over the years this award-winning author has continued to enrich our reading lives with her witty, vibrant, and heart-rending observations. Her virtuoso skills as a short story writer are on display in her recently released The Souvenir Museum that explores the “mysterious bonds of family.”

2001 Festival of Authors

Purchase from Creating Conversations › Visit Elizabeth McCracken’s website ›
It's Not All Downhill From Here, by author Terry McMillan
Terry McMillan, author of It's Not All Downhill From Here

It's Not All Downhill From Here

by Terry McMillan

It was 1989 when Terry McMillan joined Literary Women to share her touching, often funny, first novel, Mama!, about the struggles of a young black mother to raise her five children. In her recently published tenth novel, It’s Not All Down Hill From Here, we join the busy lives of a group of 60-something black women who are dealing “with loss, illness… and the never-ending challenges of diet and exercise.”

1989 Festival of Authors

Purchase from Creating Conversations › Visit Terry McMillan’s website ›
Weather, by author Jenny Offill
Jenny Offill, author of Weather

Weather

by Jenny Offill

In this “dazzling response to climate crisis,” Jenny Offill introduces us to former librarian Lizzie Benson who is hired to answer questions about ecological disaster and global heating for the podcast, Hell and High Water. With its pared down writing style Weather recalls the taut paragraphs packed with quirky observations from her novel, Dept. of Speculation, that so delighted us at the 2015 Festival.

2015 Festival of Authors

Purchase from Creating Conversations › Visit Jenny Offill’s website ›

View our complete Reading List or our archive of Festival Authors



Latest News & Events

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SUPPORT LITERARY WOMEN!

Literary Women is excited to be participating in Long Beach Gives on Thursday, September 22. This is an annual citywide fundraising event that allows our community to show their support for their favorite nonprofit organization.

For forty-one years, Literary Women has showcased “women’s voices, dreams, and achievements in writing” at our annual Festival of Authors. Our Harriet Williams Emerging Writer Program allows us to honor our co-founder and encourage a select group of aspiring writers.

We hope you will choose to support Literary Women!

Donate to Literary Women Starting September 14th

HARRIET WILLIAMS EMERGING WRITER PROGRAM

In honor of our co-founder, Harriet Williams, Literary Women Committee created the EMERGING WRITER PROGRAM to focus on our mission to support and encourage new writers of talent and promise. We are proud of the outstanding young women who have participated over the years and invite you to view this year’s selection.

View this year’s writers ›
Harriet Williams