Presented by The Chang School of Continuing Education

Join authors Laura Calder (Kitchen Bliss) and Beth Kaplan (Loose Woman) for a discussion and Q&A session on writing memoir!

Kitchen Bliss (Simon & Schuster)

During the years of the global pandemic, Laura Calder, like many home cooks, found herself being drawn into the kitchen and becoming reacquainted with the power that the room can have to restore us when the going gets tough. In Kitchen Bliss, she reflects on how and why the kitchen and the dining table have held such an important place in her life and indeed taught her about happiness.

Laura has spent her life considering the life-enhancing pleasures of food: cooking, eating, and feeding. The pandemic gave her a new sense of urgency to share what she has learned. She says, “Life isn’t always a candy shop of delights, pandemic or no pandemic. Often we find ourselves in uncomfortable places and we must learn to create sweetness for ourselves out of whatever it is we’ve got—and that sometimes can seem like nothing but a whole lot of lemons. Well, at least that’s a start! We all know where to find the lemons: in the kitchen.”

This is a delightfully entertaining book full of memories, insights, good advice, and humor that will inspire readers to get in the kitchen, tie on an apron, and discover their own form of kitchen bliss.

Loose Woman (Iguana Books)

The memoir Loose Woman: my odyssey from lost to found tells how a quasi-alcoholic actor came to spend four astonishing months living and working among men with severe disabilities at a L’Arche community in Provence, and how the experience opened her heart and transformed her life.

The book brings to life the late seventies, when feminism and sexual liberation were ascendant, and a single woman had to come to terms with what this new kind of freedom meant. It gives a backstage view of the triumphs and miseries of a successful actor, celebrates daily life in France — tradition, argument, cheese — and shows a daughter struggling to emerge from the shadow of her powerful, flawed parents.

Loose Woman illuminates how, with the help of six damaged Frenchmen, a gifted, damaged young woman begins, at last, to trust and forgive herself, to live loosely, and to set off in a surprising new direction.

Presented by Wattpad

Ever wondered how to get started in writing for online platforms? Curious about alternate publishing avenues? This is the friendly deep-dive you’ve been waiting for!

Join panelists from Wattpad as they discuss what’s new at Wattpad, the type of stories that readers love, and how they’re working to support authors to grow global audiences and make money from their stories. Bring your questions!

Presented by The Chang School of Continuing Education

Join author Judy I. Lin (A Magic Steeped in Poison) and editor Gillian Rodgerson for a virtual discussion and Q&A session on editing speculative fiction and fantasy! How do you go from a first draft to a polished manuscript – especially with a whole secondary world to keep track of? Tune in to find out!

A Magic Steeped in Poison (Feiwel & Friends)

Judy I. Lin’s sweeping debut A Magic Steeped in Poison, first in a duology, is sure to enchant fans of Adrienne Young and Leigh Bardugo.

I used to look at my hands with pride. Now all I can think is, “These are the hands that buried my mother.”

For Ning, the only thing worse than losing her mother is knowing that it’s her own fault. She was the one who unknowingly brewed the poison tea that killed her—the poison tea that now threatens to also take her sister, Shu.

When Ning hears of a competition to find the kingdom’s greatest shennong-shi—masters of the ancient and magical art of tea-making—she travels to the imperial city to compete. The winner will receive a favor from the princess, which may be Ning’s only chance to save her sister’s life.

But between the backstabbing competitors, bloody court politics, and a mysterious (and handsome) boy with a shocking secret, Ning might actually be the one in more danger.

Presented by The Chang School of Continuing Education

Trying to figure out how to balance writing with all your other life obligations? Join our panel of authors as they discuss how they manage creative projects alongside children, households, day jobs, and more! This session will be choc-full of tips, tricks, rituals, and mindsets to help you make time and space for your very own writing career. Bring a notepad!

The 34th Annual Word On The Street Festival returns to Queen’s Park this spring on May 27th & 28th! Hosted annually since 1990 in downtown Toronto, “WOTS” is a FREE community street festival that celebrates the stories that connect us.

Featuring Canadian and Indigenous authors, an outdoor marketplace for books and magazines, and dedicated children’s programming, WOTS was named Best Local Festival (Platinum) in the 2022 Toronto Star Readers Choice Awards.

The 2023 programming lineup will be announced on April 27th—sign up for the WOTS newsletter to be among the first to know! Festival programming will include featured authors, panel discussions, and readings across multiple stages:

• Festival Mainstage, featuring bestselling authors, exciting debuts, and panels on some of the hottest topics in contemporary life
• Vibrant Voices of Ontario, highlighting the home-grown talent of Ontario-based authors and publishers
• KidStreet, presenting the best of contemporary children’s literature alongside exciting, family-friendly activities
• Twist Endings, investigating thrilling tales and captivating capers by top mystery and thriller writers (Saturday only)
• Love & Letters, celebrating the most beloved authors and publishers in romance (Saturday only)
• Across the Universe, exploring the limitless imagination of science fiction, fantasy, and horror writing (Sunday only)
• Big Ideas, inspiring discussions about designing a meaningful everyday life with the latest non-fiction and lifestyle titles (Sunday only)

If you would like to learn more or support our festival, please visit check out the links below:

Festival Sponsors

Code of Conduct & Accessibility Policies

Become a Monthly Donor

Presented by Taryn Diamond Yoga

The Word On The Street is excited to have Taryn Diamond Yoga hosting Stretch Before The Fest! This event is a special fundraiser to support the festival’s charitable mandate and operational costs.

Be sure to reserve a spot in advance — registration is by donation! *Suggested $20 min.

Expect challenging and progressive work, wrapping up with some sweet breath and awareness exercises. Following this class, you’ll be ready to take the festival by storm!

We invite you to grab your yoga mat, water bottle and join us to Stretch Before The Fest on May 28th at 10:00 AM in Queen’s Park.