Meet the Team
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Founder and DirectorLeslie Zemeckis is a best-selling author, award-winning actress, and award-winning documentarian whose work spotlights formerly marginalized and stigmatized trailblazing women on our pop culture. Her books including the Amazon Editor’s pick Behind the Burly Q, Goddess of Love Incarnate and Feuding Fan Dancers. She has acting opposite Steve Carell Tom Hanks, Richard Lawson, and Colin Firth.
She is a founder of Stories Matter, a mentorship initiative supporting emerging female storytellers sponsored by ENTITY Magazine and the SBIFF. She writes a monthly book column in the Montecito Journal is a TedX speaker and was honored with the Ellis Island Island Medal of Honor in part for “sharing and preserving stories of women.
Zemeckis’s extensive experience as a writer and producer of acclaimed literary events and film projects is an invaluable asset to the Santa Barbara Literary Festival.
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Director of Cuisine & Zine ProgrammingNinette Paloma is a producer, writer, and creative director with over two decades of leadership experience in the arts and culture field. Her food, travel, art, and wine articles have been published in the Santa Barbara Independent, Santa Barbara Magazine, Santa Barbara DANCEworks, and American Riviera Magazine. She has curated and directed art exhibitions, international festivals, and performing arts productions throughout the United States and Europe. In 2021, Paloma launched American Riviera Media and ARM Studio, a quarterly arts and culture publication and salon gallery in downtown Santa Barbara. Her curations have led her across the globe, where she has produced, directed, eaten, slept and written her way around an unforgettable experience.
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Assistant Program ManagerAngela Urrecheaga is a fourth-year college student from Los Angeles, California studying Communication and Professional Writing with a focus on Multimedia Communication at UCSB. Through Urrecheaga’s diverse experience in the arts & entertainment as a musician, performer, public speaker, writer, and mentor to young children in the arts and public schools, she has understood that stories are all around us, with every individual having a tale to tell. As a proud Venezuelan-American, she believes in the importance of uplifting underrepresented voices through the power of storytelling, which is why most of her pieces tie to themes of culture and identity.
Urrecheaga spends much of her time watching films. Her participation in the 2024-2025 Rosebud Program at SBIFF sparked the continuation of her participation within the organization as an Education Intern, and working in the Ticketing Department for the festival.
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Venue Coordinator
Donnalee Austen is a Line Producer and Clothing Designer. She began her film career working on commercials, documentaries, and music videos with award winning directors including Ridley Scott, Leslie Zemeckis, Paul Feig and Sofia Coppola. After working as an Associate Producer for an Emmy nominated series, she joined the ImageMovers team to work on Feature films.
Throughout her career, she has collaborated on projects involving everything from Jet Fighter planes to NASCAR, navigating unique logistical challenges. Her expertise has made her a trusted collaborator across film, documentary, commercial, and animation projects.
In addition to her work in production, her clothing line is designed and made in Los Angeles, reflecting her commitment to craftsmanship and local manufacturing. Her pieces can be found in several boutiques throughout the West Coast, showcasing her dedication to California based creation.
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Literary Judge for Pacific Pages
Marci Darling is a writer, filmmaker, and educator. Her documentary, The Nita & Zita Project has garnered multiple awards and is now streaming on AppleTV. She has written five bestselling books and her research has been published in academic journals. Her writing has also appeared in distinguished publications such as the NYTimes, Boston Globe.
She holds degrees from UCLA, Harvard, and Stanford.
Marci currently teaches writing and cinema at Bunker Hill Community College.
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Special Advisory Director
PAMELA DILLMAN is an award-winning actor, narrator, and audiobook producer. Daughter of legendary actor Bradford Dillman, Pamela currently resides in Santa Barbara, California where she narrates for countless publishers and authors, and produces audiobooks with her company Unforgotten Books.
Ms. Dillman’s theatre credits range from the iconic Broadway/National tour of “Aren’t We All?” with Rex Harrison and Claudette Colbert, to the US premiere of Ray Cooney’s “Two Into One” with Tony Randall and Millicent Martin. Her film and television credits include “Bye, Bye Love” with Matthew Modine, and memorable guest appearances on “Seinfeld,” “The Nanny,” and “Sabrina, the Teenage Witch,” among many others. She co-stars in the upcoming feature film “Relatively Normal” with Chloe Coleman.
Pamela’s voiceover work can be heard on over a hundred audiobook titles across every genre. She is a three-time SOVAS nominee, a SOVAS winner for best audiobook humor, and a two-time AUDIE Finalist. She is a passionate advocate for social justice and arts in education; and is a board member of Creative Network, alongside her fundraising work for numerous non-profit organizations throughout Santa Barbara County.
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Volunteer CoordinatorMary is an experienced Global Human Resources leader who is passionate about people, connection, and community. With a strong background in building collaborative, high-performing teams, she brings a thoughtful and organized approach to her role as Volunteer Coordinator for the Santa Barbara Literary Festival.
Mary loves bringing people together and creating meaningful experiences, whether through her professional work or in the community. She has lived and worked internationally, giving her a broad, inclusive perspective and a deep appreciation for different voices and stories.
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Board of Director
Jennifer Schwab Wangers is President of Learning Source, an edtech business based in Austin, Texas. Prior to Learning Source, Jennifer was Founder and CEO of ENTITY Academy (www.EntityAcademy.com). Founded in 2016, ENTITY became a leading EdTech brand for upskilling and mentoring thousands of women into tech careers. In 2025, Learning Source acquired ENTITY Academy’s B2B business.
Jennifer has been a longtime leader in EdTech and workforce development.
Throughout her career, she has been frequently quoted in the media and has served as an op-ed columnist. She has appeared in outlets such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, CNBC, The Chicago Tribune, The Miami Herald, The Huffington Post, and Forbes. She was also a regular guest on Good Morning America, WSJ Lunch Break, NBC, CBS, and Fox News.
Jennifer holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the Sam Walton School of Business at University of Arkansas, a Master’s degree in Urban Planning from the University of California, Irvine, and has studied Environmental Design at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena.
In her free time, Jennifer follows design avidly and is a twin-engine private pilot. She is an active multi-sport athlete and cherishes time with her husband and stepdaughters. She is also active in a variety of non-profit and philanthropic activities including the Santa Barbara Literary Festival.
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Board Member
Sara DiVello is an author, interviewer, reader, and passionate advocate for books. Her most-recent book, Broadway Butterfly: A Thriller, was a CBS New York Book Club Pick, an Entertainment Weekly Most Anticipated Book, featured in Vanity Fair and earned starred reviews from Booklist and Library Journal.
Sara serves as the co-chair for the Nantucket Book Festival and on the board of the Nantucket Book Foundation, on the literary committee for the Boston Book Festival, as a board member for the Friends of the South End Library (part of the Boston Public Library), as the curator and host of the South End Author Series, as the host of Mystery and Thriller Mavens, and as co-host of the Plotpoint Podcast. She has spoken and taught at literary festivals around the world and is thrilled to join the board of the Santa Barbara Literary Festival.
Mission
To gather writers, readers, and the creative-curious in celebration of literature in all its forms. To create opportunities for intimate conversations, serendipitous encounters, and lasting connection in the luminous heart of downtown Santa Barbara.
Vision
To kindle a cultural experience in the heart of Santa Barbara: a world-class literary gathering that does things differently, with joy, intimacy, and imagination. A place where global voices meet local spirit, where lifelong connections are forged, and where stories of every kind are not only heard but allowed to leave their mark—because stories have the power to transform us all.
Values
We believe literature is a catalyst for connection, a spark that draws us together in deeper, more meaningful ways. We foster a vibrant community where the art of writing and the joy of reading entwine, where emerging voices and acclaimed authors connect in a spirit of generosity and discovery. We believe all stories matter. We champion curiosity, creativity, inclusion, and the power of all voices, cultivating a space where stories can take root, bloom, and find their audience.
