[photo credit: Pasadena Literary Alliance]
Cauley, author of the satirical heist novel “The Payback,” comes to Lineage Performing Arts Center on February 3, 2026 for an Open Book conversation presented by the Pasadena Literary Alliance.
The event pairs her with Irene Marquette, a Second City-trained comedy writer and producer who now leads development at Federal Engineering, the production company behind “Mrs. America.”
“The Payback” follows Jada Williams, a former Hollywood stylist working minimum wage at the Glendale Galleria, who teams up with two coworkers to plan a heist targeting their student loan company. The novel imagines a near-future America where “Debt Police” physically pursue borrowers who fall behind on payments. The Los Angeles Times called the book “a terrifically fun book that made me laugh out loud at least once every chapter.”
Cauley’s path to comedy writing was unconventional. After practicing antitrust law in Manhattan, she pivoted to television, writing for “The Daily Show with Trevor Noah,” “The Great North,” and “Pod Save America” on HBO. Her first novel, “The Survivalists,” a dark comedy about Brooklyn doomsday preppers, was longlisted for the Center for Fiction First Novel Prize and named a best book of 2023 by the BBC, Today Show, and Vogue.
She approaches humor methodically. “All comedy has a rhythm, whether it’s spoken, physical, or written down,” Cauley said in an interview. “Setup, twist, landing. I don’t think a joke is done until you’ve read it out loud a few or more than a few times and adjusted the wording for rhythm.”
Marquette brings her own comedy credentials to the conversation. A veteran of Chicago’s iO and Second City theaters, she has appeared in sketch revues directed by improv legends Mick Napier and TJ and Dave. She served as associate producer on Amazon Prime’s “Cinderella” and now oversees development for television projects at Federal Engineering.
The Open Book series, launched by the Pasadena Literary Alliance in 2018, pairs authors with conversation partners in settings designed to encourage dialogue rather than traditional readings. Past events have featured writers including Ed Zwick, Michelle Huneven, and Sabaa Tahir, winner of the National Book Award for Young People’s Literature.
Cauley, who lives in Los Angeles, has said she finds humor in the gap between American promises and American realities. “I think there’s a lot of inherent humor in our situation even if American life can be depressing at times,” she told NPR. “Things like a two-minute ambulance ride costing $8,000 is awful but also hilarious.”
Reception begins at 6:30 p.m., with the program at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $45 for general admission and $30 for students and educators.
Lineage Performing Arts Center is located at 920 E. Mountain St., Pasadena. Free parking is available in the CVS lot at the corner of Mountain and Lake avenues. Tickets are available at pasadenaliteraryalliance.org.
