Female Characters Who Break The Rules : Santa Barbara Literary Festival

This panel celebrates characters who defy the roles assigned to them—whether in a royal court, a glittering socialite society, a gritty London gang, a 1960s suburb, a corporate office, or today’s digital age. These women captivate us not only for their daring actions, but for the inner strength, wit, and vulnerability that make them unforgettable. Join leading authors of women’s and historical fiction as they discuss the heroines and anti-heroines who dare to be bold, the beauty found in their complexity, and the bravery it takes to stand apart. Together we’ll explore why readers are irresistibly drawn to women who break convention and how their stories mirror our own struggles with identity, resilience, and reinvention—and why such rule-breaking heroines continue to inspire us long after the final page is turned.

Eliza Knight is an award-winning, USA Today and international bestselling author. Eliza is an avid history buff and her love of history began as a young girl when she traipsed the halls of Versailles. She writes women’s contemporary fiction as Michelle Brandon. Eliza is the creator of the popular historical blog, History Undressed, and host on the History, Books and Wine podcast. Her books have been translated into multiple languages, and most recently, her co-authored title A Day of Fire was optioned for film. Knight lives on the suncoast with her husband, three daughters, two dogs and a turtle.

Heather Webb is the award-winning, USA Today, and international bestselling author of eleven historical novels, including her upcoming,The Hope Keeper and her other recently published, Queens of London, The Next Ship Home, and Christmas with the Queen. In 2015, Rodin’s Lover was a Goodreads Top Pick, and in 2018, Last Christmas in Paris won the Women’s Fiction Writers Association STAR Award. Meet Me in Monaco, was selected as a finalist for the 2020 Goldsboro RNA award in the UK, as well as the 2019 Digital Book World’s Fiction prize. Three Words for Goodbye was a Prima Magazine’s 2022 Book of the Year. Heather is also a freelance editor and teacher of many years. To date, Heather’s books have been translated to twenty languages. She lives in New England with her family and two mischievous cats.

The Santa Barbara Literary Festival brings together readers and writers of every genre for a two day celebration of storytelling and inspiration. Engaging panels, enlightening workshops, pop-up events, and welcoming social gatherings, bring together established authors, emerging writers, and passionate readers in a uniquely intimate setting that fosters community centered around a shared love of the literary arts.

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