Curators of world-class literary events that build community.
The Tahoe Literary Festival brings together writers, poets, songwriters, creatives and readers to explore the power of place in shaping narrative through our signature events - the Tahoe Literary Festival and the Truckee Literary Crawl.
Founded by Katherine Hill and Priya Hutner, two long-time champions of the creative community, our events are committed to celebrating diverse voices, fostering literary culture in our region, and creating meaningful engagement among literary artists and audiences.
Whether you’re an avid reader, an emerging writer, or someone who loves the magic of stories, Tahoe Literary Festival welcomes you to join us in nurturing the written word and the wild places that inspire it.
Meet the team whose passion and creativity has brought the Tahoe Literary Festival to life.
Katherine Hill
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Katherine E. Hill is an award-winning editor, publisher, and creative strategist who co-founded the Tahoe Literary Festival to champion the literary community. With decades of experience in publishing and journalism, Katherine is also the publisher and editor-in-chief of Tahoe Guide, a digital media platform dedicated to connecting people with the culture, nature, and community of Tahoe. Her background includes leadership roles in editorial direction, magazine publishing, content strategy, and nonprofit communications, giving her a unique lens on how stories shape community identity and regional voice. She is also the Executive Director of the Tahoe City Downtown Association.
Through her work with the festival, Katherine fosters inclusive, creative spaces that honor diverse perspectives and deepen the connection between art and environment. Her vision for the Tahoe Literary Festival reflects a lifelong dedication to storytelling — not only as a craft but as a tool for connection, transformation, and cultural preservation. @tahoeguide
Priya Hutner
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Priya Hutner is a writer, teacher, entrepreneur, and passionate advocate for the literary arts. She is the co-founder of the Tahoe Literary Festival and the Truckee Literary Crawl, two events that celebrate storytelling and creative expression in the Sierra Nevada region.
Her work has appeared in Tahoe Guide, Moonshine Ink, Muse Magazine, and Tahoe.com, where she writes about the arts, culture, food, and issues that impact the Tahoe region. She is the Arts and Culture Editor for Tahoe Guide. Priya facilitates transformative writing and breath meditation workshops and retreats that explore creative flow and self-discovery. As the owner of The Seasoned Sage Catering Company, her team blends culinary passion with a love for fresh seasonal cuisine.
Chasing Nirvana: A Seeker’s Story of Love, Loss, and Liberation, is a memoir that chronicles her epic adventure to attain enlightenment, her devotion to a charismatic guru from Brooklyn and her eventual quest to break free from the cult-like community she was lived in. @priyahutner | priyahutner.com
Jeff Brunings
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Jeff Brunings joined the Tahoe Literary Festival in 2025 as Development Director, working alongside Katherine and Priya to expand the festival’s impact and reach. With more than a decade of experience leading strategic growth initiatives for nonprofits and government agencies including The Tahoe Fund, Make-A-Wish Foundation, Outdoor Industry Association, and Utah’s Dixie National Forest, Jeff blends 30 years of corporate development with a lifelong passion for the written word to help elevate the festival to become a premier literary event.
He has written for numerous publications, including Backpacker Magazine and San Jose Metro. He most recently ghostwrote Elemental, a visual and narrative collaboration with Olympic Valley photographer Keoki Flagg.
Jeff is currently working on The Road Provides, a narrative nonfiction book chronicling the stories, insights, and transformational journeys of nomadic travelers who find healing, growth, and connection on the open road and in North America’s wildest places. When not traveling, he calls Truckee home. @jeff.brunings
Wendy Voorsanger
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Born and raised on the American River in Sacramento, Wendy Voorsanger is an award-winning author of the historical novel, Prospects of a Woman. Voorsanger has long held a BA in journalism from California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo and an MFA from the Vermont College of Fine Arts. She has attended Hedgebrook, the Squaw Valley Writers Workshop, and Lit Camp. She has also worked as a lifeguard, ski instructor, and radio disc jockey. Wendy lives in the Sierra Nevada mountains with her husband and two boys. Learn more at www.wendyvoorsanger.net.
Ella Clifford
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Ella is a 22-year-old from Truckee, California, where she grew up with a front-row seat to the magic of the Eastern Sierras — and she still can’t get enough of it. You’ll usually find her outside chasing some mix of rock walls, sunshine, snow, or peace and quiet where her adventures and experiences inspire her writing. She is an aspiring journalist who lives for spontaneous adventures, good books, and making valuable connections along the way.