33. The World We Long For with Vivek Shraya and Kai Cheng Thom

Join two of Canada’s most beloved trans authors as they celebrate the release of two works of fiction exploring dystopian and utopian worlds that are frightening, fantastical, and not so far away from the world we live in today: Vivek Shraya’s The Hystericals, and Kai Cheng Thom’s The Shapeshifter’s Guide To Gym Class. As communities around the world face the ongoing impacts of social, political, economic and environmental crises, visionary stories such as these are more important than ever. Trans and queer communities will be celebrated at this powerful and healing event, and all allies and book lovers are welcome.

A note from the authors: “Kai Cheng and Vivek’s new novels explore emotionally powerful and socially charged topics, including prejudice, mental health, and violence. Audience members are warmly encouraged to take care of themselves and others as needed. No graphic descriptions of violence or injury will be included in this event.”

Presented in partnership with Vancouver Queer Film Festival.

More information about the Festival:
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Event Participants:

Vivek Shraya

VIVEK SHRAYA is an artist whose body of work crosses the boundaries of music, literature, visual art, theatre, TV, film, and fashion. A three-time Canadian Screen Award winner, Vivek is the creator and writer of the CBC Gem Original Series How to Fail as a Popstar, which had its international premiere at Cannes. Her best-selling book I’m Afraid of Men was heralded by Vanity Fair as “cultural rocket fuel.” Most recently, Vivek released an alter ego visual album entitled VIVICA and her 13th book, a speculative novel, The Hystericals, will be published in Fall 2026 by McClelland & Stewart.

Kai Cheng Thom

KAI CHENG THOM is a Chinese-Canadian writer, performance artist, mental health community worker, youth counsellor, and former social worker. Thom, a non-binary transgender woman, has published five books. She won the Dayne Ogilvie Prize for LGBTQ2S+ Emerging Writers and was a finalist for a Lambda Literary Prize twice.