Rancho Mirage Writers Festival hosts Angel Night to honor its sponsors
The 9th Annual Rancho Mirage Writers Festival kicked off its first night by honoring its sponsors.
The sold out 3-day event begins Wednesday.
After a years long pause due to the pandemic, the city says they’re excited to welcome it back.
The festival welcomed more than 600 people on Angel Night, a time to honor those who help make the event possible.
“Celebrating the written word here at Angel night," said Executive Director Aaron Espinosa. "Our angels fund over 89% of our budget for every Writers Festival.”
Espinosa says years of hard work have led up to this moment.
“We treat them like royalty as they should be being an author. They get to meet their colleagues, they get to meet their idols," Espinosa explained. "Then you get the other authors that come in and have told some of their stories, to watch them have conversations is absolutely terrific.”
Angel night kicked off with special guest, Admiral William McRaven, who’s background consists of several achievements. Adm. McRaven is a Four-Star Navy SEAL who served as Commander of the U.S. Special Forces Command. He oversaw the 2011 Pakistan raid of that killed then Al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden.
Starting Wednesday, the 3-day festival is expected to bring in around 1,100 attendees.
“They allow us to even bring in students from 4 Valley high schools," said Debbie Green Miller who is the Executive Producer of the festival. "Hopefully come back to the classroom and share their experience with others.”
The festival this year has over 81 sessions and 85 writers and special guest from all over the world.
“It's connecting with, with readers and encouraging people to read," said author Sally Bedell Smith. "Great programs, fabulous interviews panels. I'm looking forward to the two that I'm doing this week.”
“I think the quality of the authors is extraordinary. And it's not just the prizes they've won. It's the depth of their research, their scholarship, their political acumen," said author Susan Eisenhower.
Writers say it’s a great way to bring creative minds together – all in one place.
“There's always a little bit of a contemporary flair to everything, even the books of historic nature. And that makes it very special," Eisenhower said.
