Wordfest Presents Colson Whitehead
Tuesday, September 15, 2026
Wordfest is thrilled to welcome back two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Colson Whitehead with the hotly anticipated Cool Machine, the conclusion of the “whole dang Harlem saga.” Publishers Weekly calls it a “transcendent and wildly entertaining novel” and “the greatest New York novel in years.”
The show includes a lively conversation, hosted by podcaster and politico Zain Velji, followed by a book signing. Cool Machine comes out on July 24 and you can pre-order it now, along with Whitehead’s award-winning backlist, from Shelf Life Books and pick it up directly at the store. If you prefer to wait until show day, Shelf Life will also be at the Bella Concert Hall with Whitehead’s books. We’re still talking about his 2023 Calgary show, so you’ll want to secure your seats now!
Wordfest is thrilled to welcome back two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Colson Whitehead with the hotly anticipated Cool Machine, the conclusion of the “whole dang Harlem saga.” Publishers Weekly calls it a “transcendent and wildly entertaining novel” and “the greatest New York novel in years.”
The show includes a lively conversation, hosted by podcaster and politico Zain Velji, followed by a book signing. Cool Machine comes out on July 24 and you can pre-order it now, along with Whitehead’s award-winning backlist, from Shelf Life Books and pick it up directly at the store. If you prefer to wait until show day, Shelf Life will also be at the Bella Concert Hall with Whitehead’s books. We’re still talking about his 2023 Calgary show, so you’ll want to secure your seats now!
