About this Event
You're cordially invited to an intimate evening celebrating the launch of , the highly anticipated third volume in the beloved Better Next Year anthology series which collect stories that are as horrible as they are true, offering a refreshing and authentic perspective on the often-chaotic holiday time of year.
This will be an informal and relaxed gathering, designed for connection and conversation. Guests will enjoy a few readings from authors, a delightful assortment of treats and beverages...and who knows? You might even find the perfect moment to share your own "Worst Christmas Ever" story.
The evening will be hosted by series editor and former CBC broadcaster, JJ Lee. Come and join us for a fine night of stories, laughter, and a renewed sense of connection to the true spirit of the season. This is a free event, but please RSVP here for your spot as capacity is limited. Books will be on hand for sale and signing!
More about the host:
JJ Lee’s debut book was the memoir The Measure of a Man: The Story of a Father, a Son, and a Suit (McClelland & Stewart). For 10 years, he was a contributor reporter, producer, and host for CBC Radio. In addition to editing Better Next Year and Upon a Midnight Clear, he leads a nonfiction workshop at the Writer’s Studio at Simon Fraser University.
More about the contributors:
Lynn Easton writes from unceded Katzie territory in Maple Ridge. Her writing has appeared in periodicals, anthologies, and literary magazines, including Beyond Blue (Caitlin Press), A Gelato a Day (Guernica Editions), The Fiddlehead, The Globe and Mail, and The Malahat Review, where she was awarded the Constance Rooke Creative Nonfiction Prize.Julie Gordon lives in Victoria. She is the author and producer of the coffee table book and podcast series BC People and author of the commissioned book Musqueam: A Living Culture. Her journalism and creative nonfiction have appeared in The Narwhal, Broadview, Metropolitan, and Language Magazine.
Subbu Govindarajapuram is a Canadian banker and passionate artist, known for resilience, community involvement, and a flair for writing. Multilingual and science-literate, he values change, creativity, and connection. He volunteers, promotes fitness, supports technology for kids, and shares his musings online through subbugee.com.
Jennifer Lutes writes true stories of the beauty and humour found in life’s most bittersweet moments. She’s been published in The Globe and Mail and performed at the 2022 Fringe Festival. A mother to three daughters, she makes a mean AeroPress, swims in the ocean year-round, and finds inspiration in tarot cards.
Renu Parmar is a writer, psychotherapist, and teacher. She was featured in Situate Magazine as best emerging writer. Her coming-of-age novel The Colour of Snow (2019) explores identity, grief, and ancestral trauma. It was a First Novel finalist for the Independent Authors Network in 2020. Currently, she is exploring other genres, including essay, prose poetry, and the short story.
Jennifer Pownall has works published in The New York Times, The Globe and Mail, several anthologies, and a chapbook compilation—to gather—which she also edited. She serves on her local arts council as the Director of Literary Arts and currently has a short story displayed along the Donald Pathway as part of a public art installation. Jennifer is passionate about checking items off her ever-expanding bucket list.
Courtney Racicot is a Timmins-based comedian and writer who blends sharp wit with heartfelt storytelling. Her work explores women’s voices, mental health, and personal growth through humour and honesty. In 2017, she was longlisted for the CBC Nonfiction Prize for her essay Mirror Images. She continues to shape her craft through performance, prose, and a healthy disregard for small talk.
A former writer for This Hour Has 22 Minutes, Tetsuro Shigematsu’s theatrical solo work Empire of the Son was described by theatre critic Colin Thomas as, “one of the best shows ever to come out of Vancouver. Ever.” His other solo-work, 1 Hour Photo, was named as a finalist for the 2019 Governor General’s Award for Drama.
Vincent Ternida is the author of The Seven Muses of Harry Salcedo. His work has been featured in The Polyglot, Voice and Verse Poetry Magazine, and Magdaragat: An Anthology of Filipino-Canadian Writing, and was longlisted for the CBC Short Story Prize in 2019. He is based in Vancouver.
Thi Tran is a freelance writer and editor based in Vancouver. She’s currently writing The H Is Silent, a memoir-in-essays that reimagines the “how-to” manual through sharp, funny, and emotionally resonant stories about surviving a world stacked against you. A real-life subversion of the model minority myth, it explores Asian rebellion, female rage, and the intersections of class and race. She lives with her husband and elderly cat.
Deb Williams is an award-winning actor, playwright, producer, and comedian. She co-created and starred in the Mom’s The Word plays and is the artistic producer of The Flame, Vancouver’s premiere storytelling event. She is also a personal narrative teacher, coach, and facilitator, collaborating with thousands of tellers of all ages, genders, sexual orientations, cultural identities, and mental and physical abilities to find their voice and share entertaining and meaningful stories from their fascinating lives.
More about Upstart & Crow:
Upstart & Crow is a not-for-profit creative studio and literary incubator that champions writers, readers and stories, and the role they play in shaping our lives. We develop original programs, support artists and revel in creative projects focused on literature in translation, climate solutions, poetry, civic dialogue, community and skills building, all with the aim of elevating the role of literature and storytelling in our lives. Find us on Granville Island, Gibsons and online at upstartandcrow.com.
Accessibility:
The main studio of our shop is accessible for folks with mobility aids. There is a washroom on the main floor available for attendees.
Questions: hello[at].
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Upstart & Crow, 1387 Railspur Alley, Vancouver, Canada
CAD 0.00
