HISTORY
The genesis of the idea to start a Literary Society in Arizona originated from Northern Trust partner Frank Nejdl. He brought the idea to another Northern Trust partner, Harold Dorenbecher, and together they championed the concept. Through their determined efforts, the Literary and Prologue Society of the Southwest became an official non-profit corporation in 2005. The inaugural Literary Society luncheon was held in November 2007 with Author J. A. Jance presenting her book, a murder mystery, Web of Evil.
There were originally three chapters: Valley [Central Phoenix], Pinnacle Peak [North Scottsdale/Desert Mountain], and in Tucson. In 2010, a fourth chapter was created in the Southeast Valley. This Chapter eventually transitioned to the Camelback chapter to handle the demand in the Phoenix area. Currently, Valley, Pinnacle Peak, Tucson, and Camelback are the present-day chapters that we know and enjoy. Harold Dorenbecher took on the role and responsibility of the president and stayed in that role from that first luncheon in 2007 until March 1, 2020. Without his vision, passion, and dedication to this nonprofit organization it would not exist today, and Northern Trust has been the proud sponsor of this organization since its inception.
Over the past 15 years, the Literary Society has grown to enjoy a membership of more than 600 people. In the spring of 2020, Northern Trust officially transitioned its sponsorship and the leadership of the organization to a member-run board of directors. The new board remains committed to hosting new and seasoned authors to present their works at luncheons in the Phoenix and Tucson areas. They also enthusiastically embrace the Literary Society’s mission of promoting literacy and philanthropy in the community.
Annual Report to Members
The LSSW fiscal year ended June 30, 2020. The report highlighting the financial and managerial outcomes for the year can be found here and the Federal 990 tax return can be found here.
Past Authors
2019-2020 Season
2018-2019 SEASONCharmaine Craig – Miss Burma Tayari Jones – An American Marriage Susan Orlean – The Library Book Madeline Miller – Circe Willy Vlautin – Don’t Skip Out on Me Evan Thomas – First: Sandra Day O’Connor: An Intimate Portrait of the First Woman Supreme Court Justice 2017-2018 SEASONKate Moore – The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America’s Shining Women Tracy Kidder – A Truck Full of Money: One Man’s Quest to Recover from Great Success Joshua Hammer – The Bad-Ass Librarians of Timbuktu: And Their Race to Save the World’s Most Precious Manuscripts Ellen Umansky – The Fortunate Ones: A Novel Ronald White – American Ulysses: A Life of Ulysses S. Grant Victor Lodato – Edgar & Lucy 2016-2017 SEASONAnthony Marra – The Tsar of Love and Techno Ann Goldstein translated for Elena Ferrante – Frantumaglia: A Writer’s Journey Paula McClain – Circling the Sun Douglas Waller – Disciples: The World War II Missions of the CIA Directors Who Fought for Wild Bill Donovan Allison Pataki – Sisi: Empress on Her Own Janice Nimura – Daughters of the Samurai: A Journey from East to West and Back 2015-2016 SEASONKaren Joy Fowler – We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves Eric Foner – Gateway to Freedom: Hidden History of the Underground Railroad Greg O’Brien – On Pluto: Inside the Mind of Alzheimer’s Aline Ohanesian – Orhan’s Inheritance Dean Jobb – Empire of Deception: The Incredible Story of a Master Swindler Elizabeth Berg – The Dream Lover 2014-2015 SEASONMeg Wolitzer – The Interestings Peter Heller – The Painter Melanie Benjamin – The Aviator’s Wife Laila Lalami – The Moor’s Account Scott Anderson – Lawrence In Arabia 2013-2014 SEASONMark Helprin – In Sunlight and in Shadow Colum McCann – Transatlantic: A Novel Sena Jeter Naslund – The Fountain of Saint James Court Vaddey Ratner – In the Shadow of the Banyon B. A. Shapiro – The Art Forger 2012-2013 SEASONAmor Towles – Rules of Civility Tatjana Soli – The Forgetting Tree Geraldine Brooks – Caleb’s Crossing Robert Massie – Catherine the Great Luis Alberto Urrea – Queen of America 2011-2012 SEASONJennet Conant – A Covert Affair Thrity Umrigar – The Space Between Us Arthur Phillips – The Tragedy of Arthur James Robertson – The Untold Civil War Alexandra Fuller – Cocktail Hour Under the Tree of Forgetfulness 2010-2011 SEASONPaul Harding – Tinkers Paul Theroux – A Dead Hand Billy Collins – Ballistics Alice Hoffman – The Red Garden Daniel Okrent – Last Call 2009-2010 SEASONNancy Horan – Loving Frank Vince Flynn – Pursuit of Honor Elizabeth Strout – Olive Kitteridge Michael Gross – Rogues’ Gallery Julia Glass – I See You Everywhere |
Author Vaddey Ratner with Gail Bradley, board member, at Arizona Biltmore Resort in 2014. |
Passion and purpose for literary enlightenment in Arizona for over 15 years |
MISSIONLiterary Society of the Southwest supports the appreciation of contemporary literature by providing a forum where members can interact with authors to better understand the authors’ works and their creative process. The Society hopes to increase literary awareness by providing grants to promote literacy. | LITERARY SOCIETY OF THE SOUTHWEST(480)658-0539 4980 S. Alma School Rd, Ste A2-510 Chandler, AZ 85248 |
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