Musician, writer, and visual artist, Vivek Shraya, will share about her new dystopia novel, The Hystericals, followed by a moderated conversation, audience Q&A, and a book signing.
About The Hystericals
When Sarah Munroe is sexually assaulted on her university campus and her attacker walks free, she makes a devastating choice: she publicly takes her own life in a final act of defiance against a regime that has stripped women of their rights.
Her final message ignites a radical movement called #FreeToo. Soon, masses of women are taking up “Sarah’s Call” and “freeing” themselves as extreme acts of protest. As these deaths multiply across the state, the government declares the movement a contagion. Overnight, all women are reclassified as “hystericals.”
Forced into a new reality where her very existence is criminalized, Sarah’s sister, Kennedy, struggles with her own grief, guilt, and anger. And as the regime tightens its grip, she will have to reckon with her sister’s legacy—and decide whether to surrender or survive.
Author
Vivek Shraya is an artist whose body of work crosses the boundaries of music, literature, visual art, theatre, TV, film, and fashion.
A three-time Canadian Screen Award winner, Vivek is the creator and writer of the CBC Gem Original Series How to Fail as a Popstar, which had its international premiere at Cannes. She was nominated for the Polaris Music Prize and has collaborated with musical icons Jann Arden, Peaches, and Jully Black. Her best-selling book I’m Afraid of Men was heralded by Vanity Fair as “cultural rocket fuel.”
Vivek has been a brand ambassador for MAC Cosmetics and Pantene, a guest host on The Social and CBC’s q, and she is a director on the board of the Tegan and Sara Foundation.
Most recently, Vivek released an alter ego visual album entitled VIVICA and her 13th book, a speculative novel, The Hystericals, will be published in Fall 2026 by McClelland & Stewart.
Moderator
Hudson Lin (she/her) writes heartfelt, gritty romances featuring queer people of color. The New York Times has called Lin’s writing “splashy and dazzling and high-intensity,” and Book Riot has said that her dramatic plot lines “would make Shonda Rhimes proud.”
Her latest book, Dragon Boats & Doctor’s Notes is a sapphic Asian romance featuring an overworked obstetrician and a non-binary dragon boat team captain. Her duology featuring queer Asian finance bros, Hard Sell and Going Public, was published by Carina Press.
Based in Toronto, Lin currently serves as the Program Coordinator at the Festival of Literary Diversity and is the co-host of the Into the FOLD podcast.
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