From her soundproof closet to the Wordfest stage comes Calgary’s own Josie Balka and her debut book of heartwarming poetry, I Hope You Remember: Poems on Loving, Longing and Living. Radio host by day, content creator and writer by night, Balka’s poems are at turns relatable, humorous, and poignant. Josie shares herself genuinely and generously with her hundreds of thousands of followers, and she’s ready to charm her hometown in this authentic and uplifting conversation hosted by Nicola MacNaughton.
We’d like to thank Simon & Schuster for making it possible to connect you with Josie Balka.
Conversation
Libations Bar, with non-alcoholic options
Audience Q&A
Book Signing & Author Selfies
75 minutes. No intermission.
HarperCollins Canada
This book is a gift to the world, and I’m honored to share in its magic.” -John Stamos, actor and NYT bestselling author of If You Would Have Told Me
For fans of Rupi Kaur and Cleo Wade, this first collection of poetry from the viral TikTok poet Josie Balka, evokes themes of nostalgia, love, envy, and hope, speaking to the universal longings that live deep in our souls.
Conversation
Libations Bar, with non-alcoholic options
Audience Q&A
Book Signing & Author Selfies
75 minutes. No intermission.
HarperCollins Canada
Nicola MacNaughton is the co-owner of Slow Burn Books, Canada’s first brick-and-mortar romance bookstore. With a degree in Marketing and Business Technology Management from UBC, MacNaughton initially worked in sales and marketing; however she couldn’t resist the pull of opening a romance bookstore with her sister Shannon, a venture that aligned perfectly with her love of the genre. Slow Burn Books is a testament to their dedication to fostering a community-focused, safe space for romance readers. MacNaughton’s eclectic taste in romance spans sports, contemporary, dark, fantasy, and even a bit of monster romance. Her ideal day consists of getting lost in the pages of a captivating book. Follow Slow Burn Books on Instagram @slowburn.booksyyc.
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.
