Lee Kvern is an award-winning author of short stories and novels. Her stories in 7 Ways To Sunday have won the CBC Literary Award, Western Magazine Award, Hazel Hilles Memorial Short Fiction Prize, and the Howard ‘O’ Hagan Award. Afterall was selected for Canada Reads (Regional) and nominated for Alberta Books Awards. The Matter of Sylvie was nominated for Alberta Book Awards and the Ottawa Relit Award and Alberta Magazine Awards. Her work has been produced for CBC Radio,and published in Funicular, Grain, Event, Descant, Air Canada enRoute, Tishman Review, Globe&Mail, and subTerrain.
Bluesky: @leekvern.bsky.social
Instagram/Threads: @leekvern
“If gambling intrigue, bear attacks, and political kleptocracy are at all your pet subjects, this may be the book you’ve been waiting for.” -Jean Marc Ah-Sen, author of In the Beggarly Style of Imitation
Named a Most Anticipated 2025 Spring Fiction pick by 49th Shelf.
In 1983, Elle is a blackjack dealer at an Alberta casino. At the same time, Amado is a baggage handler in Manila. When Amado witnesses the assassination of a prominent political figure in Manila, he flees to Canada and ends up in the same casino as Elle; a disgruntled Hollander, Erik; and a card counter and stalker, Regrettable Russell.
Over the next 30 years, the characters remain intimately connected as their stories and histories intersect. Told from alternating points of view, this puzzle-in-progress brings each character’s pieces together that make up a whole picture that examines how everything from political espionage to intimate partner violence affects not only its direct participants but also its bystanders and witnesses.
Barbara Gowdy has called Lee Kvern “one of those generous writers who leaves her heart and intelligence on every page. And what a big heart it is. What a marvellously vibrant, wholly original intelligence.” See for yourself when Kvern comes to Wordfest with Catch You on the Flipside, her intriguing new novel about casino culture (the author is a veteran dealer and pitt boss!). Hosted by Calgary writer Barb Howard, the conversation starts at 7PM MT and includes an audience Q & A and book signing, fuelled by Shelf Life Books. Wordfest is going all-in on creating an unforgettable audience experience with casino-inspired cookie designs from our friends at Mom’s Cookie Jar. You can also pre-order your copy of Catch You on the Flipside, as well as copies of Kvern’s back list at the link here. And we’ve created a limited-edition tote bag featuring an alternate book cover design with stunning visuals by Kvern’s talented husband, artist Paul Rasporich. Purchase onsite pre- or post-show or add to your ticket order at checkout.
In the spirit of reconciliation, we acknowledge that we live, work and play on the traditional territories of the Blackfoot Confederacy (Siksika, Kainai, Piikani), the Tsuut’ina, the Iyarhe Nakoda Nations, the Otipemisiwak Métis Government of the Métis Nation within Alberta District 6, and all people who make their homes in the Treaty 7 region of Southern Alberta.
