/media/images/events/wordfest/images/ce62a626-ae6.png)
Wordfest Presents Debbie Travis
Prepare to be delighted, inspired, and transported! Debbie Travis is coming to Calgary to celebrate her new book, Laugh More: Stories from an Unexpected Life. Snortingly funny, poignant, inspirational and full of the human foibles Debbie loves so much, Laugh More is a warm and cozy book to curl up with, and even better to read aloud. And since memories are so often ignited by great eating, Debbie has added a bonus: 15 of her favourite, seasonal recipes. And who better to host this special event than Calgary's beloved Julie Van Rosendaal.
We are grateful to Penguin Random House Canada for making it possible to connect you with Debbie Travis.
WHAT TO EXPECT
- Each ticket includes a first-edition copy of Laugh More
- Post-show signing and author selfies
- 75-minute conversation
- Audience Q&A
- Dandy Bar with non-alcoholic options
About Laugh More: Stories from an Unexpected Life
Lifestyle pioneer and bestselling author Debbie Travis is back with a book of ridiculously funny, touching and true stories drawn from her own life and dedicated to everyone in desperate need of a good laugh.
A decade ago, Debbie Travis gave up her hectic life as the producer and star of several hit TV shows to move to a 13th-century crumbling farmhouse and vast olive orchard in Tuscany, which she and her husband then turned into the boutique hotel and wellness retreat. That was a big change in direction – and Debbie’s shared the best of what she learned on that journey in two bestselling books full of humane, heartfelt and sensible advice on pursuing your true passion (Design Your Next Chapter) and making room for happiness, health and connection (Joy: Life Lessons from a Tuscan Villa).
Now, in Laugh More, Debbie digs down to what really keeps her going, especially when the going gets tough: her talent for telling a good story and sharing a good laugh. Organizing them around the passing of the seasons at the Villa Reniella, Debbie gathers up a brilliant mix of stories from her daily life and from her past—growing up headstrong in a struggling family in northern England (her mum perfected dog-food shepherd’s pie), travelling the world as a model (not so glamorous), becoming one of the first home renovation TV stars (by the seat of her overalls) and encountering the famous and the delightful (especially her wicked and wonderful grandmother, Joyce).
About Debbie Travis
Debbie Travis is an international television host and producer, a bestselling author, a sought-after public speaker, and the designer of the Debbie Travis Home Collection. Her shows—Debbie Travis’s Painted House, Debbie Travis’s Facelift, From the Ground Up, All for One, and La Dolce Debbie—have been seen in Canada, the United States, and 80 other countries. She has authored 11 previous books (eight on decorating) and currently co-hosts a podcast, Trust Me, I’m a Decorator, with television personality and designer Tommy Smythe, drawing guests such as Rachael Ray and Marilyn Denis. After stepping back from TV producing, she renovated a 13th-century farmhouse on a 100-acre farm in Tuscany, turning it into a luxury boutique hotel where she offers wellness retreats and classic car rallies.
About Host Julie Van Rosendaal
Julie Van Rosendaal is a cookbook author, food journalist, and broadcaster, and the author of 13 best-selling cookbooks. She has been talking about food on CBC Radio across Canada for more than 18 years. Julie writes about food every weekend in the Globe and Mail, as well as for other publications. She does regular cooking segments on TV, teaches cooking classes, and speaks and cooks at culinary schools and events across the country. She is an involved advocate for an accessible, sustainable food system, initiating and participating in initiatives that facilitate food supports in her own community and across the country. Julie also has a very engaged audience on her social media channels and website, Dinner with Julie. She lives in Calgary with her son, Willem, and their dog, Ramone.
