The Book Drunkard Literary Festival

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Featured Event

Quill and ink

In Conversation with Matt Haig

Uxbridge Music Hall - September 9 | 2024 - 7:00 pm

Celebrate the beginning of our 2024 festival season with bestselling author, Matt Haig, visiting from the UK.  Join us on September 9 at the Uxbridge Music Hall as Matt takes us on an adventure with his new novel: The Life Impossible. Tickets include a copy of the book.  

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"An International Festival Done Local"

Hoping to catch more than one event this year?

We hope you do, and would love to offer additional savings with our 2024 Book Drunkard Festival package.

This year’s bundle includes four fantastic events for $215 (full value $230) with a deeper discount for Matt Haig ticket holders. Purchase a Matt Haig ticket through Star Ticketing and you will receive a discount code to purchase our festival bundle for $200!

Purchase Your Bundle Here

"I am simply 'a book drunkard.' Books have the same irresistible temptation for me that liquor has for its devotee. I cannot withstand them." - Lucy Maud Montgomery

Spilled ink bottle

“The Book Drunkard Beer” by The Second Wedge is back!

The Second Wedge Brewing Co. is excited to be brewing up The Book Drunkard Festival beer — a rich, malty but elegantly restrained märzen (the traditional beer of Oktoberfest). The beer will be available on tap and in cans at The Second Wedge beginning soon!

 

The “Maud” Raspberry Cordial Hard Cider by Banjo Cider

When Anne came back from the kitchen Diana was drinking her second glassful of cordial; and, being entreated thereto by Anne, she offered no particular objection to the drinking of a third. The tumblerfuls were generous ones and the raspberry cordial was certainly very nice.

 

Inspired by Anne of Green Gables and our historic tie to L.M. Montgomery, we are thrilled to collaborate with Banjo Cider and bring ‘Maud’ to The Book Drunkard Festival this year! Slow-fermented from organic apples and delicately infused with raspberries, this cider is one that warrants generous pours and third glasses!

We also welcome back “Cider House Rules” cider by Slabtown Cider Co.

Inspired by the bold style of John Irving, this special edition cider is aged with a precise amount of cinnamon and cloves with a surprising note of orange zest. Cider House Rules is a celebration of apple harvest, stories and the legends that accompany it.

The “Kindred Spirits” Chocolate Bar by DesBarres Chocolate Returns This Year!

Introduced during our inaugural festival in 2019, this bar is in honour of L. M. Montgomery who penned many of her books a few kilometres away from Blue Heron Books and DesBarres chocolate factory. The bar combines the smooth and chocolatey richness of 70% Dominicana with tart freeze-dried raspberries and a hint of fresh lemon peel. Munch on this bar while re-reading the story of Anne Shirley, Diana Barry and the rascally “raspberry cordial.” You will fall in love with Anne and the Kindred Spirits bar!

Available for purchase at Blue Heron Books.

(Fun fact! The inner liner of your Kindred Spirit Raspberry Cordial bar is a beautiful bookmark, designed by artist Tracy Walker!)

More Events

In Conversation with Hollay Ghadery and Molly Peacock
A Book Launch with Lucy EM Black
Make ‘em Laugh: Comedy Writing Workshop with Terry Fallis and Rod Carley
In Conversation with Heather O'Neill
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In Conversation with Hollay Ghadery and Molly Peacock

Join internationally beloved poet and biographer Molly Peacock and award-winning multi-genre author Hollay Ghadery for an absorbing conversation on exploring creativity, selfhood, and how joy can coexist with grief through the lenses of their newest books, The Widow’s Crayon Box (Peacock, W.W. Norton & Co.) and Widow Fantasies (Ghadery, Gordon Hill Press).  

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A Book Launch with Lucy EM Black

Join us October 22 at Scugog Library as we celebrate the launch of Lucy Black’s latest book, Class Sessions: Stories of Vulnerable Youth.  

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Make ‘em Laugh: Comedy Writing Workshop with Terry Fallis and Rod Carley

Award-winning novelists Terry Fallis and Rod Carley will lead a workshop on humour writing covering a range of topics, including why writing funny is hard, how to transfer humour to the page, humour techniques, the importance of timing and judgment, accepting that not every reader will “get you,” and who to read if you want to learn and laugh. Speaking of laughs, you’ll have a few along the way.

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In Conversation with Heather O'Neill

Join us for an evening with award-winning author, Heather O’Neill. On October 2 at Wooden Sticks Golf Club, Heather takes us on an epic journey with her new novel: The Capital of Dreams. Tickets include dessert and coffee and a copy of Heather’s latest novel, The Capital of Dreams. 

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Celebrating 30 Years in 2019 – Blue Heron Books

In bookselling, 30 years is something worth celebrating. Small business is tough and bookselling even tougher. But Blue Heron Books succeeded! And the future is looking very bright indeed.

To mark this auspicious occasion, Blue Heron Books inaugurated The Book Drunkard Literary Festival in 2019. A longtime dream of owner Shelley Macbeth, the festival embraces all things dear to booklovers – great books and authors, great theatre, great food and drink and great music. You can count on being impressed by the depth and breadth of the festival. There truly is something for everyone!

In addition, 30 Random Acts of Book Kindness was Blue Heron’s way of acknowledging this milestone by giving back to the community that supported the store through thirty years of ups and downs. Blue Heron committed to undertake 30 acts of book kindness – big and small –to initiate or enhance the reading life of many. One of these projects, spearheaded and still implemented by the amazing Lucy Black, was establishing a read-aloud program at local nursing homes.

As well, a Facebook campaign to nurture indie bookseller love across the country was ushered in to encourage Canadian readers to continue supporting the indie bookstore in their neighbourhood.

And finally, what’s a milestone without a party? Blue Heron Books opened its doors to former staff and all customers during the fall of 2019, where an anniversary scrapbook was on display with LOTS of memorabilia. Stories were shared – a common occurrence at Blue Heron Books – and guests came armed with theirs!

View 2019 Festival Gallery