2026 Authors Guild Foundation Gala

Thank you to everyone who joined us on Monday, April 20, in celebrating our remarkable honorees, Percival Everett, Dr. Carla Hayden, and Amy Tan. More than 400 writers, publishers, agents, and supporters of the written word gathered as we honored the indelible impact our honorees have had on the literary community, and highlighted the importance of the work of the Authors Guild and Foundation.

It was a truly unforgettable evening, marked by deeply moving and powerful remarks that captured both the urgency of this moment and the enduring importance of writers’ voices. More than anything, it reflected the extraordinary strength of this community and its shared commitment to protecting writers’ work and rights, and ensuring that literature can continue to reach and resonate with readers everywhere.

Honoring

Percival Everett

Baldacci Award for Literary Activism

Dr. Carla Hayden

Champion of Writers Award

Amy Tan

Preston Award for Distinguished Service to the Literary Community

Special Guests

Cord Jefferson
Academy Award-Winning Writer and Director

Christian Cooper
Emmy Award-Winning Television Host and Bestselling Author

Honorary Chair

Master of Ceremonies

Dakota Johnson
Actor and Producer

Josh Gondelman
Emmy Award-Winning Writer and Comedian

2026 Sponsors

History Sponsors

Suzanne Collins & Charles Pryor · Spotify for Authors

Novel Sponsors

Anonymous · Charleston Literary Festival · Hachette Book Group · HarperCollins Publishers · Penguin Random House · The Preston Family

Anthology Sponsors

Audible · Books-A-Million · KPJR Films · Lesher Family Foundation · Macmillan Publishers · Sourcebooks

Biography Sponsors

Amazon Literary Partnership · Marie Arana & Jonathan Yardley · Brisa & Mark Carleton · Patti Callahan Henry · Leon Levy Foundation · Libby, the library app · Susanna Porter & James Clark · RBmedia · Karyn Schoenbart, Duo Partners · Scholastic Inc. · Simon & Schuster · R.L. & Jane Stine · Writers House

2026 Gala Committee

Co-Chairs

Marie Arana · Brisa Carleton · Patti Callahan Henry · Meredith Lesher
Honorary Co-Chair: Christina Baker Kline

Lucy Ferriss · Amity Gaige · Vanessa LeFebvre · Steph Opitz ·Susanna Porter · Jessica Shattuck · Joanna Stone · Randy Winston

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