In the few short years since Mona Awad published her debut novel, Bunny, the author has received cult-like status for her playful, darkly funny, and original stories that explore modern life for women… with a twist. She returns to the Festival after multiple sold-out events to discuss her body of work, and her latest novel, Rouge: a horror-tinted, gothic fairy tale about a lonely dress shop clerk whose mother’s unexpected death sends her down a treacherous path in pursuit of youth and beauty. Snow White meets Eyes Wide Shut in this surreal descent into the dark side of beauty, envy, grief, and the complicated love between mothers and daughters. Don’t miss what’s sure to be a fun, clever evening of conversation with one of our favourite page-turning writers. Moderated by Lisa Christiansen.

Event Participants:

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.

Lisa Christiansen

LISA CHRISTIANSEN is the reporter/editor for CBC Vancouver’s The Early Edition. She is the co-host of the feminism and pop culture podcast Pop This! and a two time Polaris Music Prize grand juror.