Isabel Allende

Internationally acclaimed author of more than two dozen beloved novels

The Sonoma Valley Authors Festival welcomes Isabel Allende to discuss My Name, Emilia del Valle. A literary powerhouse, a master storyteller whose words electrify the soul and ignite the imagination, Allende’s books have sold more than 79 million copies. With more than 25 acclaimed books, including three books for children, her works transcend boundaries, merging history, magic, and raw human emotion. Allende’s storytelling is visceral and bold, tapping into universal themes of love, loss, and resilience. She doesn’t just write stories—she crafts worlds, each alive with rich, unforgettable characters and deeply rooted in the textures of Latin American culture.

My Name, Emilia Del Valle, is set in San Francisco in 1866; an Irish nun is abandoned following a torrid relationship with a Chilean aristocrat and gives birth to a daughter named Emilia Del Valle. Raised by a loving stepfather, Emilia grows into an independent thinker and a self-sufficient young woman. She is willing to defy societal norms to pursue her passion for writing. At 16, she begins to publish pulp fiction under a man’s pen name. When these fictional worlds no longer contain her sense of adventure, she turns to journalism, convincing an editor at the San Francisco Examiner to hire her. There, she is paired with another talented reporter, Eric Whelan.

As she proves herself, her restlessness returns until an opportunity arises to cover a brewing civil war in Chile. She seizes it, along with Eric, and while there, begins to uncover the truth about her father and the country that represents her roots. But as the war escalates, Emilia finds herself in danger and at a crossroads, questioning her identity and destiny.

A riveting tale of self-discovery and love from one of the most masterful storytellers of our time, My Name Is Emilia del Valle, introduces a character you will never forget. 

Allende’s books have been translated into 42 languages, and she has received 15 honorary international doctorates, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, 60 awards from 15 countries, and two feature-length films. She also founded The Isabel Allende Foundation, which empowers women and girls worldwide. The foundation pays homage to Paila Frias, her daughter, who passed away at 29 years old.