This 30th Anniversary pairing of Guy Gavriel Kay and J. M. Miro (the fantasy nom de plum of Steven Price) promises to be as exquisite as the fine whiskey you’ll be tasting at this spirited conversation, ringlead by Wordfest’s Shelley Youngblut. Miro describes Kay’s newest bestseller, Written in the Dark, as a masterpiece: “An absolutely astonishing novel about poetry, and war, and what it means to be human, by our greatest living writer of the fantastic.” Not sure what to expect? Think "Hebridean Baker experience," but with a fantastical twist. Your ticket includes a premium tipple, audience Q & A, and book signing fuelled by Owl’s Nest Books. You can pre-order both featured books—Written in the Dark and Ordinary Monsters—and the authors’ back lists here. READ MORE

Wordfest turns 30 this year and we’re throwing a lively bash to celebrate the Calgarians who helped build Wordfest. It’s our way of thanking writers, readers, and community builders for helping to spark our thriving literary scene. And what better way to showcase this city’s range of wordy goodness than inviting seven of our finest storytellers to share a seven-minute tale about the relationship between their art and their hometown, in its all its contradictions, complexities, and connections. Join us for The Way We… Calgary’d, featuring Ali Bryan, Marcello Di Cintio, Will Ferguson, Cheryl Foggo, Richard Harrison, Joshua Whitehead, and Teresa Wong, with a special performance by Tom Phillips. READ MORE

This is the show Wordfest has been waiting all year to announce. Join us for an exclusive opportunity to see British writer, naturalist, and Nobel Prize contender Robert Macfarlane. He's coming to Calgary as part of his North American tour to celebrate Is a River Alive?, which is not just Macfarlane's latest literary masterpiece, but a rallying cry and a catalyst for change. It is a book that will open hearts, spark debates and challenge perspectives. A clarion call to re-centre rivers in our stories, law and politics, it invites us to radically re-imagine not only rivers but life itself. At the heart of this vital, beautiful book is the recognition that our fate flows with that of rivers—and always has. No one understands that better than Albertans, and we are thrilled to have Canadian writer and naturalist Kevin Van Tighem hosting the conversation, which will followed by an audience Q&A and book signing fuelled by Shelf Life books. You can  pre-order your copy of Is a River Alive?, as well as Macfarlane’s extensive back list (which includes the international publishing phenomenon The Lost Words), here. READ MORE

Wordfest and Calgary Public Library are excited to announce the return of Reading in the Wild, Calgary’s outdoor Read-A-Thon! Imagine our city's most beautiful inner-city park bursting with people of all ages enjoying the simple pleasure of reading outside. This free event is for everyone—children, teens, seniors, friends, neighbours, colleagues, even well-behaved dogs. Readers of all ages are welcome to bring a blanket and book (or borrow one on site!) to read amongst fellow readers in the wild. This free, all-ages community event takes place on June 24 in Central Memorial Park, home to Alberta’s oldest library. Opened in 1912 with funding from Andrew Carnegie, it is now a still-thriving national historic site as well as Wordfest’s year-round performance space, where we connect the world’s best writers with the world’s best readers. You can bring your current read or we’ll supply the magic: You can choose from a specially curated selection from the Library's collection, organized by age and interests, which you are welcome to check out at any time from the fabulous Memorial Park Library staff. Don’t have a library card? You can sign up for a free one on the spot! READ MORE

Directed by Naomi Jaye, executive produced by Charlie Kaufman, and adapted from Baillie’s Giller Prize nominated novel The Incident Report, the Hollywood Reporter describes Darkest Miriam as “a small wonder of a film, eloquent and captivating.” Says lead actor Britt Lower (Severance), “When I read this script, I knew Miriam was for me. When I met Naomi and Martha, I knew we were in the same creative family… I can’t wait for you to see this story about a librarian who falls in a hole and opens her heart.” Discover more about the transformation of the book to the film here. Following the screening, Martha Baillie will join Wordfest’s Creative Ringleader Shelley Youngblut for a conversation, which includes an audience Q&A. Shelf Life books will be on site with copies of The Incident Report and Dandy Brewing Company will have libations. And yes, there will be complimentary popcorn, courtesy of Calgary Public Library. READ MORE