Nearly 800 people were in attendance for Literary Women’s annual Long Beach Festival of Authors, which showcased a cohort of newcomers and veteran female authors from a variety of genres.
The group Literary Women has organized the festival since 1982 as a way to spotlight female authors.
The festival lineup on Saturday, Feb. 11, consisted of seven authors sharing their books:
- Aamina Ahmad, “The Return of Faraz Ali” (novel);
- Nina De Garmont, “The Christie Affair” (historical fiction/mystery);
- Laurie Frankel, “one two three” (novel);
- Xochitl Gonzalez, “Olga Dies Dreaming” (novel);
- Nana Nkweti, “Walking on Cowrie Shells” (short stories);
- Nita Prose, “The Maid” (mystery); and
- Mary Roach, “Fuzz” (nonfiction/science).
Chairwoman Anne Emigh said she was looking forward to people getting to know the authors behind the words on the pages.
“Everyone is at the edge of their seats because authors are our rock stars,” Emigh said.
Sharing women’s voices through literature is important, she added, because it shows people a different perspective and “encourages more people to speak up and share their voices and points of view.”
Attendees had the opportunity to hear four of the authors – Gonzalez, Prose, Frankel and Roach – speak in the Long Beach Convention Center’s main ballroom.
The authors spoke of their process and thoughts behind creating and writing their books to a sea of book-lovers. Authors like Gonzalez and Prose also shared what inspired them to write their novels, and how although the stories are fiction, contain aspects of people and experiences in the real world.
“I have been looking forward to this for quite some time, and I’m really happy to be here at this festival today,” Prose said after taking the stage. Her debut novel, “The Maid,” was a No. 1 New York Times bestseller, a Good Morning America Book Club Pick, and an international bestseller.
“My intention with this book was not to recreate…
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