Cherilyn Parsons

San Francisco may be the epicenter of girlhood, but it also contains the shadows of inequality. Edgarian shines a light on both sides of her beloved home city, and she doesn’t shy away from confronting human existence in its various complexities. 

For Parsons, seeing the literary community come together in this time of strife has been especially gratifying.

The festival will celebrate its fifth year on May 4 and 5 in Downtown Berkeley, its home since the beginning.

Beyond its rich history as a literary landmark, the Bay Area has undoubtedly proven itself to be a pioneer in its work to change the industry — to promote diversity, amplify underrepresented voices and draw much-needed attention to foreign literature.

Last Saturday and Sunday, Downtown Berkeley played host to the annual Bay Area Book Festival, which featured hundreds of authors and exhibitors.

The third annual Bay Area Book Festival captivated readers this weekend, as more than 200 authors from around the world met with readers and activists to achieve the common goal of literary activism.

In addition to the hundreds of exhibitor booths — publishers, distributors and news organizations — that will line the streets, the festival features a multitude of panels and talks hosted by about 220 authors under the theme of “literary activism.”

On the weekend of June 6 and 7, 150 authors from around the world will participate in the first-ever Bay Area Book Festival in Downtown Berkeley.