Cherilyn Parsons

Cherilyn Parsons (b 1963, Los Angeles) is the founder and executive director of the Bay Area Book Festival (launched in 2015 in Berkeley, California), which is one of the most international literary festivals in the United States.

Parsons also created Women Lit, which elevates women’s voices through events featuring notable female authors and nurtures literary community among women. Previously she helped build the field of nonprofit journalism (notably at the Center for Investigative Reporting) and has worked as a fundraiser, travel writer, and book reviewer. She has a Master’s in Professional Writing from the University of Southern California.