“Tutti a tavola a mangiare!”  Wordfest’s Imagine on Air presents beloved TV chef and bestselling cookbook author Lidia Bastianich with her newest cookbook Lidia’s a Pot, a Pan, and a Bowl. The one-hour conversation will start at 11:00 AM MT (just in time for lunch!), and will be hosted by food writer Julie Van Rosendaal. (The pre-show will begin at 10:50 AM MT.)

The stars have aligned! Ever since Torrey Peters took the publishing world by storm with her debut novel Detransition Baby, everyone from Brooklyn to Berlin has been waiting for her to be in conversation with Casey Plett, whose new collection of short stories is the long-awaited follow-up to her Lambda and Amazon First Novel Award-winning Little Fish. Plett, who is adored in her native Canada, also won the Firecracker Award, and if you’ve watched the trajectory of Peters’ career, you know that adjective applies to the American supernova too.

Imagine On Air presents the incomparable Jonathan Franzen with his highly anticipated new novel, Crossroads. The one-hour live show will be hosted by Shelley Youngblut, Wordfest’s CEO & Creative Ringleader, and airs at 7:00 PM MT. (The pre-show will begin at 6:50 PM.) Tickets are $40 (plus tax) and include your ticket, a copy of Crossroads, and shipping in Canada. 

Amitava Kumar’s many fans include the best living American writers, which made narrowing down who would have the honour of appearing with him very challenging. How marvelous then, that the equally charming and brilliant Jenny Offill is going to be his virtual stage mate. As much as we celebrate our homegrown talents, it’s a thrill to be able to bring you two of the finest minds and most expansive hearts creating south of the border.

An unexpected publishing hit about defiant, independent, kick-ass old women living their best lives. A joyful celebration of Japanese cultural traditions and body positivity for all ages. First-time graphic novelist Hiromi Goto and children’s author Kyo Maclear artfully avoid the cliches of subject matter and genre in their work and in conversation. This will be sublime.

Imagine On Air is thrilled to present Susan Orlean and her new collection of non-fiction stories, On Animals. You know her  from her work at The New Yorker and amazing backlist, including the sublime Library Book – not to mention her fabulously entertaining presence on Twitter. Now we invite you to go deeper: into the big generous brain of Susan Orlean.

Jesse Wente maintains that Reconciliation will never be a realistic path forward – storytelling in all its forms is one of Indigenous peoples’ best weapons in the fight to reclaim their rightful place. Drew Hayden Taylor called upon Indigenous writers, elders, and youth to envision a future that is jolting in the very best sense. Leave the clichés and settler comfort zones behind. Listen instead as these generous writers explore the bracing rethinks that fuel two of fall 2021's most anticipated memoirs and anthologies.

Well, this is going to be the most fun: Terry Fallis and Linden MacIntyre at the top of their game, in total control of their art, in the event their avid fans have been longing for. Two of Canada's most masterful – and beloved – storytellers on the same virtual stage, regaling us with tales of political tomfoolery, indomitable humanity, and sublime insights into the workings of our outer and inner worlds.

Wordfest's Imagine On Air presents chefs Noor Murad and Yotam Ottolenghi to celebrate the Canadian launch of their highly anticipated new cookbook series, Ottolenghi Test Kitchen: Shelf Love. This exclusive one-hour event, hosted by chef Eden Grinshpan (Top Chef Canada) and recorded in the actual Ottolenghi test kitchen, will air at 7pm MT/9pm ET/6pm PT (the pre-show will begin at 6:50pm MT.)

Tickets are $40 (plus tax) and include your ticket, a copy of Ottolenghi Test Kitchen: Shelf Love, and shipping anywhere in Canada.

Why should the fiction writers have all the fun? 2021 marks the year of Louise Penny (okay, it’s always Louise Penny’s year), with publication of the 17th installment of the Inspector Gamache series and a thriller co-written with Hillary Clinton. And could there be a more perfectly unexpected stage mate for our beloved Louise than American chef Dorie Greenspan, whose delight in the kitchen is matched only by her ebullient persona? It’s the grand finale of 26@26, an unforgettable writerly feast.

Wordfest's Imagine On Air presents Canadian comic genius Rick Mercer in celebration of his new, guaranteed bestseller: Talking to Canadians. The one-hour conversation will start at 7:00 PM MT and will be hosted by Mercer’s BFF and frequent comedy foil, Jann Arden. (The pre-show will begin at 6:50 PM.)