Celebrating Authors. Inspiring Readers. Supporting Literary Programs.
The Pasadena Festival of Women Authors founders, Susan Long and Elsie Sadler, launched the first festival in 2009 at the Pasadena Senior Center where it was hosted for 7 years.
The event became so popular that in 2016 the committee established its own 501(c)(3). This allowed us to host the sold-out annual event, that features 7 women authors of literary fiction, at locations that would accommodate a larger audience. In addition, we were able to expand our granting efforts to literary programs.
To bring the community authors of all kinds on a year-round basis, the Open Book author series was launched in 2017. These successful events ran for 10 years and expanded the organization’s literary reputation and community awareness.
The founders felt that book lovers in the Pasadena area would embrace the experience of a literary event and would make generous donations. They were right as evidenced by the popularity of our events, the eminent authors that we have featured, and the financial support that we have given to literary programs in the community.
Board of Directors
2027
- Norah MorleyPresident
- Denise Graham
- Kathryn Kay
- Charlotte Maya
- Katy McCollum
- Alison Moller
- Colleen Murray Peyton
- Joan Raney
- Heidi Simpson-Sandoval
- Amy Ulmer
- Rosa White
- Arlene Withers
- Leslie Zasa
Committee
2027
- Monica Bachner
- Sally Buckley
- Kathy Carter
- Marta Castro
- Sue Davenport
- Cristina Finney
- Tina Forrestel
- Elisa Garin
- Brooke Larsen Garlock
- Meg Grant
- Peggy Gregerson
- Samantha Heer
- Mary Fauvre Holmes
- Kathryn Kay
- Betty Madden
- Charlotte Maya
- Katy McCollum
- Amy McGinnis
- Julia Miller
- Alison Moller
- Teresa Payton
- Boni Peluso
- Colleen Murray Peyton
- Katie Poole
- Ellen Portantino
- Leah Porter
- Michelle Scannell
- Kitty Schaller
- Heidi Simpson-Sandoval
- Shelley Thompson
- Amy Ulmer
- Emily Vitan
- Rosa White
- Arlene Withers
- Stephanie Wolf
- Leslie Zasa
Advisors
2027
- Kathy Baker
- Jennifer Bigelow
- Louise Brinsley
- Margaret Grossman
- Georgia Jeffries
- Dorothy Juett
- Susan Long
- Andrea Nagata
- Anne Peterson
- Jill Polsby
- Grace Russak
- Betty Sargent
- Judy Wilson