Statement from the Board of Directors regarding the departure of Norah Piehl

May 22, 2023

The Bay Area Book Festival is sad to announce that Director of Literary Programs Norah Piehl is leaving the organization on June 7 to accept another position. Norah has served with distinction over the past 18 months, elevating the scope, range, and diversity of the festival’s offerings. She was also in line to serve as interim executive director following the upcoming departure of our current Founder/Executive Director Cherilyn Parsons.

Looking ahead, we are eager to recruit new leadership to support the Board and staff in shaping our 10th anniversary and beyond. Meanwhile, the day-to-day operations of the organization will continue to be managed by the festival’s Managing Director, Samee Roberts.

Coming off the heels of an extraordinarily successful festival May 6 & 7 ─ which brought thousands to sold-out author panels and our bustling annual outdoor fair ─ we are excited to collaborate with long-standing partners and supporters to continue presenting programs and festivals in support of our mission to foster a love of books and reading for all.

Brooke Warner, Board Chair