Save the date! On Jan 31, 2026, Sharp Words returns to Bridgeworks for its fourth year! Join us at this free event to discover fabulous new books from innovative writers and publishers, to talk to authors and artists, and to celebrate writing in our city. RSVP today to ensure your access.  The book fair will be open from 11:00am to 5:00pm and will feature great independent presses, artists, comic book creators and writers along with talks about publishing, the writing life and more.

FREE WITH ADVANCE REGISTRATION – CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS!

The book fair will be open from 11:00am to 5:00pm and will feature great independent presses, artists, comic book creators and writers along with talks about publishing, the writing life and more.

Vendors are slated to include Book*hug Press, Bonkd Comics, The City & the City Books, Gordon Hill Press, gritLIT, The Hamilton Children’s Collective, Hamilton City Magazine, Hamilton Public Library,  Mark Leslie Lefebvre, David Lee, The Literary Press Group, Little Ghost Books, Jeff Cottrill,  Mawenzi House, Pinhole Poetry, Porcupine’s Quill,  Serif of Nottingham,  Stelliform Press, Stephen Pearl, Telling Tales Festival, and Wolsak and Wynn.

Sharp Words respects, supports and encourages the wearing of masks at our in-person events.

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EVENT SCHEDULE

11:00 am // Doors Open

11:00 am to 12:00 pm // The Subtle Art of Book Publicity

Join Hollay Ghadery of River Street Writing and independent publicist Heather Wood to learn about how book publicity really works, why review copies are your friend and the best and worst ways to get the word out about books.

12:30 to 1:30 // What’s Love Got to Do With It: Charting the Rise of Romance Across our Pages and Screens

From Heated Rivalry to romantasy it seems that romance, always a popular genre for readers, is truly having a moment. Join cultural reporter Sue Carter, award-winning author Anjua Varghese and publishing professional Brianna Wodabek to talk about why they think readers are looking for love in all sorts of places and how authors are responding to this enthusiasm.

2:00 to 2:45pm // Rose City by any Other Name Would Be – Hamilton

Brad Smith has long been known for great dialogue and award-winning writing, but Billy Crawford’s Double Play is a departure from the mysteries and westerns he’s penned in the past. Following an aging baseball player coerced into running for a local election, the novel is a send up of much of what’s wrong with politics today. Join Brad Smith and Jamie Tennant as they discuss this smart and funny political satire, and why it happens in Rose City, a place that feels awfully familiar.

3:30 to 4:30pm // Hamilton Literary Awards Reading and Discussion

Join the 2025 winners of the Hamilton Literary Awards as we bring them together at Sharp Words to celebrate their awards and learn about their work. Linzey Corridon, Sylvia McNicholl, Margaret Nowaczyk and Ben Robinson will read from their award-winning books, with a discussion about their writing and how our city helped shape it to follow. The event will be moderated by gritLIT artistic director and author Jessica Rose.