Don't miss this special PEN Canada event, beamed out to you by Wordfest! John Irving and Randy Boyagoda are novelists who love to make us laugh, even as their fiction critiques serious, sensitive and, for some, even sacred matters. From God, faith and family to politics and sex, nothing seems to be off limits in their work. In this conversation, two literary friends—a believer and a nonbeliever—discuss how humour in fiction can challenge our cherished beliefs.

To kick off our new season, Wordfest is thrilled to be able to showcase 2022's hottest new book, The Maid.

Last year, we paired Ashley Audrain (whose debut thriller, The Push, topped all the 2021 International bestseller lists) with Karma Brown (author of 2019's breakout hit, Recipe for a Perfect Wife). On January 25th, Audrain will share the virtual stage with her close friend Nita Prose, author of The Maid – a whodunnit so sizzling the movie adaptation is already in the works starring Florence Pugh and everyone from the New York Times and Glamour to Good Morning America and NPR can't stop raving. 

We're calling this exclusive yearly event The Hot Book Handoff, and are delighted to be partnering again in 2022 with Penguin Random House Canada.

*BONUS 2022 PREVIEW*

Stay at the end of the conversation for an exclusive preview of what Wordfest is dreaming up for 2022, lead by our always enthusiastic Creative Ringleader Shelley Youngblut. 

Imagine On Air's Big Generous Brain series kicks off its 2022 season with the incomparable Heather O’Neill, celebrating her latest novel, When We Lost Our Heads. This special one-hour event on Wordfest.com will be hosted by Wordfest's Creative Ringleader Shelley Youngblut. (The pre-show will begin at 6:50 PM MT.) It's free – and if you RSVP we'll send you a reminder on the day of the show, as well as our unique Digital Doggie Bag the next day with bonus extras sparked by the conversation.