Authors Guild Foundation’s 2021 Virtual Gala

The Authors Guild Foundation, the charitable and educational arm of the Authors Guild, the largest and oldest non-profit organization for professional writers in the United States, will hold its 29th Annual Gala & Benefit on May 18, 2021. The event will be virtually streamed and open to the public free of charge.

The theme of the 2021 Gala & Benefit is “Books That Inspire Change” and transform the world. To that end, the Authors Guild Foundation will honor Ibram X. Kendi with its Literature That Inspires Change Author Award and One World publisher and editor-in-chief Chris Jackson with its Literature That Inspires Change Publisher Award. It will also honor Louise Erdrich with the Distinguished Service to the Literary Community Award for expanding the American literary canon to include stories that reflect the Native American experience and foster a better understanding of Native arts and culture.

Hosted by comedian Samantha Bee of TBS’ Full Frontal with Samantha Bee, the gala will also feature special guests talking about a book that changed their lives or the world, including: Isabel Allende, David Baldacci, Rita Dove, Isaac Fitzgerald, John Grisham, Paula Hawkins, Gish Jen, Morgan Jerkins, Christina Baker Kline, Janet Mock, Jason Reynolds, Margot Lee Shetterly, Gloria Steinem, Jia Tolentino, Alice Wong and Kao Kalia Yang.