There are plenty of things for women to be terrified about—from reproductive rights erasure to violence in rising temperatures, to wrinkles, friendship betrayals, and even things that go bump in the night. These three hugely popular writers have a knack for uncovering the uncanny, and finding thrilling points of tension in both the mundane and bizarre. They share their penchant for this—and what makes for a gripping read—in a discussion likely to be warm, funny, and ever so clever. Join the exceptional Ashley Audrain (The Whispers), Mona Awad (Rouge) and Silvia Moreno-Garcia (Silver Nitrate) for an unforgettable discussion. Moderated by Jael Richardson.

Event Participants:

Ashley Audrain

ASHLEY AUDRAIN’s debut novel, The Push, was a New York Times, Sunday Times (UK), and #1 international bestseller, and a Good Morning America Book Club pick. It has sold in more than forty territories, and a limited television series is currently in development. Audrain previously worked as the publicity director of Penguin Books Canada, and prior to that she worked in public relations. She lives in Toronto, where she and her partner are raising their two young children. The Whispers is her second novel.

Mona Awad

MONA AWAD is the author of Bunny, named a Best Book of 2019 by Time, Vogue, and the New York Public Library. It was a finalist for the New England Book Award and a Goodreads Choice Award for Best Horror. It is currently under option for film with Bad Robot Productions. Awad’s first novel, 13 Ways of Looking at a Fat Girl, was a finalist for the Scotiabank Giller Prize and winner of the Colorado Book Award. Her third novel, All’s Well, was longlisted for the International Dublin Award and was a finalist for a Goodreads Choice Award for Best Horror. Rouge is currently optioned for film by Fremantle and Sinestra. She teaches in the creative writing program at Syracuse University and is based in Boston.

Silvia Moreno-Garcia

SILVIA MORENO-GARCIA is the author of the novels Velvet Was the Night, Mexican Gothic, Gods of Jade and Shadow, and a bunch of other books. She has also edited several anthologies, including the World Fantasy Award–winning She Walks in Shadows (a.k.a. Cthulhu’s Daughters). She has been nominated for the Locus Award for her work as an editor and has won the British Fantasy Award and the Locus Award for her work as a novelist.

Jael Richardson

JAEL RICHARDSON is the executive director of the FOLD literary festival, the books columnist on CBC Radio’s q, and an advocate on issues of diversity. She is the author of The Stone Thrower: A Daughter’s Lesson, a Father’s Life, and Gutter Child, a finalist for the Amazon Canada First Novel Award.