Founded in 2018 at the height of the #MeToo movement, Women Lit was created to elevate women’s voices. This membership-based program has blossomed into many opportunities for you: an A-list literary event series; a society of book-lovers who meet up in beautiful places to connect with each other and to meet renowned authors; and, in the era of shelter-in-place, a lifeline that brings inspiration, broadens horizons, builds bonds, and (much needed these days) simply helps keep us all sane.
About Women Lit in 2022…
Your membership (new or renewed), also will bring you a whole slate of other benefits in 2022:
- Fabulous author events, both in-person and virtual, that all members of any level can attend, either exclusive to members or free (ticketed for the public)
- A regular newsletter full of interviews and literary treasures
- For higher-level members: free books, private salons (in person and virtual), and pre-event receptions with authors (see detailed benefits here)
What else is new? In 2021, we held a lot of live virtual events — remember Ann Patchett, Patti Smith, Helen Macdonald, Lisa See, and more? — that were free to members (but ticketed for everyone else). In summer, we returned to in-person events at our favorite bookstore, Sausalito Books by the Bay, owned by a core Women Lit member and partner. Now, at last, after a helluva year for everyone, we’re thrilled to welcome you to a much fuller slate of programs–just for you! Stay tuned for updates on our Upcoming Events page and in your inbox.
“Women Lit Rocks! Thanks for all the great events these past MANY months. You’ve been integral to my sanity!”
Emily Sellers, Women Lit member, Fall 2020
Click to Join Women Lit
Women Lit is also the ideal “gift-that-keeps giving” for the book-loving women in your life. Click here to gift a year-long membership for someone special today!
Women Lit
Where women’s words remake the world.
Women Lit featured in Writer’s Digest — click here to read the interview with Executive Director Cherilyn Parsons.
What’s Women Lit? A Place for Literature, Growth, and Community
“Here’s what I love about Women Lit: it’s a special opportunity that people usually don’t get. You get that personal slant from the author about why they wrote what they wrote. Such a fabulous resource for women writers and readers.”
–Cheryl Popp, Women Lit member and owner of Sausalito Books by the Bay
- Literature: Women Lit members get special access to a year-round series of live conversations with top women authors—iconic trailblazers like Gloria Steinem, Eve Ensler, and Patti Smith; wisdom bearers such as Terry Tempest Williams and Sharon Salzberg; and exciting voices in the literary vanguard such as Rachel Cusk, Jenny Offill, and Valeria Luiselli. Members at higher levels join authors for pre-event intimate receptions (when we can meet in person) and salons (in-person or virtual). All members get exclusive access to Literary Lighthouse (check out the inaugural issue here), a monthly Women Lit newsletter with author interviews, glimpses of the lives (and bookshelves) of the fascinating women who make up the Women Lit community, curated literary news and personalized reading recommendations, and more.
- Growth: Women Lit is where we all—authors and Women Lit members—shine a light, up close and personal, on what it means to live a creative life. We embark upon change-making, perspective-shifting conversations about books, life, art, work, and everything in between.
“Women Lit is a huge source of growth and empowerment.”
–Jennifer Risher, author and Women Lit member
“Literary community doesn’t just drop in your lap. I do have a big social network in the Bay Area, but I realized: how many people do I usually talk to about writing and books? [Women Lit] is the feeling of finding your tribe.”
–Megan Vered, writer and Women Lit member
- Community: In “normal” times, Women Lit members and authors meet up in gorgeous, luxe venues like the Pines mansion in Sausalito, the Battery in San Francisco, and lovely private homes. In shelter-in-place times, we’ve had to get more creative about building community, but it’s no less meaningful. In interactive virtual events, you can dialogue with blockbuster authors and chat with each other in real time. We’ve even brought our intimate Women Lit salons—small personal gatherings that have been described as soul-nourishing—online! Now we’re launching new features that make that Women Lit magic happen, including our Women Lit Member Hub, an online portal where members can reserve their spot for author events, view live events in real time, access the entire Women Lit archive, and get to know one another in a secure members-only environment.
How do I join?
It’s easy. Just choose your level of membership below, sign up, and presto, you’re an official Women Lit member! You’ll immediately receive a welcome email with all the details you need. You’re in for a whole year of amazing events (including free or special-rate admission to some of our most high-profile year-round events with major authors) and the support and camaraderie of an extraordinary community of women.
Choose your membership level (and your benefits)!
Follow a manual added link
Voice
$50
- Early access and free admission to all Women Lit events*
- Monthly “Literary Lighthouse” letter, only for Women Lit members**
- Access to Women Lit portal to connect with other members
- One general-admission wristband to ALL indoor programs at the annual Bay Area Book Festival, May 7 and 8, in Berkeley
- Access to the exclusive Women Lit author salon on Saturday afternoon, May 7, at the Bay Area Book Festival in Berkeley
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Esteem
$100
- Early access and free admission to all Women Lit events*
- Monthly “Literary Lighthouse” letter, only for Women Lit members**
- Access to Women Lit portal to connect with other members
- Two general-admission wristbands to ALL indoor programs at the annual Bay Area Book Festival, May 7 and 8, in Berkeley
- Access to the exclusive Women Lit author salon on Saturday afternoon, May 7, at the Bay Area Book Festival in Berkeley
Follow a manual added link
Integrity
$500
- Early access and free admission to all Women Lit events*
- Monthly “Literary Lighthouse” letter, only for Women Lit members**
- Access to Women Lit portal to connect with other members
- Access to the exclusive Women Lit author salon on Saturday afternoon, May 7, at the Bay Area Book Festival in Berkeley
- Two general-admission wristbands to ALL indoor programs at the annual Bay Area Book Festival, May 7 and 8, in Berkeley, plus six Priority tickets for guaranteed admission to those particular events
- PLUS: Invitation to intimate, exclusive, virtual literary salons with a notable author
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Fearlessness
$1000+
- Early access and free admission to all Women Lit events*
- Monthly “Literary Lighthouse” letter, only for Women Lit members**
- Access to Women Lit portal to connect with other members
- Two general-admission wristbands to ALL indoor programs at the annual Bay Area Book Festival, May 7 and 8, in Berkeley, plus eight Priority tickets for guaranteed admission to those particular events
- Access to the exclusive Women Lit author salon on Saturday afternoon, May 7, at the Bay Area Book Festival in Berkeley
- Invitation to intimate, exclusive, virtual literary salons with a notable author
- PLUS: Get a complimentary copy of the featured book with event registration!*
*Fearlessness members can receive their complimentary book by registering for a “General Admission + Book” ticket to the chosen event.
**Our inspiring members-only publication with author interviews, WL member profiles, fascinating literary news items and curiosities, book reviews and more! Read an example of the newsletter here.
Join Women Lit!
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