Festival Book Club

Podcaster Carly Watters, a literary agent, representing award-winners and bestsellers in a variety of categories, will spill the tea on what she thinks makes for a great read as she and Mary Taggart, author and founder of #marysmustread book club discuss what makes a good book club pick. They’ll also share their top book club recommendations.

Then, Mary takes the stage for a conversation with two of the country’s hottest authors, Mai Nguyen and Kerry Clare, to get a taste of their newly released books and find out how they bring a story to life.

Mai Nguyen’s Cleo Dang Would Rather Be Dead is a darkly humorous yet uplifting novel about a grieving mother who starts working at a funeral home and discovers that the best way to honor the dead is to live. All Cleo has ever wanted was to be a mother. The day she discovers she’s pregnant is the happiest of her life, but something goes very, very wrong. Now a grieving Cleo must navigate life after losing her baby. Forced to quit her demanding job as an actuary, Cleo manages to find a job at a funeral home where she meets a revolving door of bereaved locals and discovers the power of confronting grief.

A novel about friendship, community, and church jumble sales, Definitely Thriving by Kerry Clare, is a celebration of people who are perfectly imperfect, and all the love and support that’s required for one woman to make it on her own. After accidentally-on-purpose exploding her listless marriage, Clemence returns to her hometown resolved to build a life for herself. It’s supposed to be Eat, Pray, Love, without the love part. But no woman is an island, and soon Clemence finds herself embroiled in neighbourhood drama.

This special event will not be live-streamed. Tickets include welcome beverage and nibbles – cash bar available.

Books are available for purchase from our friends at Perfect Books.

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