Awfully Hilarious Books aims to smash stigma and amplify marginalized voices.

New Westminster publisher Tidewater Press and the Whistler-based Awfully Hilarious Project are pleased to announce the launch of Awfully Hilarious Books, a new imprint that will use humour to open conversations about taboo topics. The first anthology from the new imprint is Pillow Talk: Real Stories. Real People. Real Awkward, to be released in February of 2026. The book brings together writers who share wide-ranging, intimate, true sexual experiences with humour and candour.

The brainchild of clinical counsellor Heather Hendrie, the Awfully Hilarious Project is a playfully provocative movement committed to destigmatizing mental health through storytelling and humour. Two self-published volumes and a line of “sassy” merchandise has established an international community that continues to grow. “It’s been amazing to witness the laugh-along, head-nodding engagement of our audiences, and to see how these true stories are facilitating ground-breaking conversations.”

For Tidewater publisher Lynn Duncan, creating a new imprint is another opportunity to use personal experience to examine significant cultural issues. “Given the meaningful overlap in our missions, we look forward to collaborating with the Awfully Hilarious Project and expand on its initial success,” she explained. “We want to help readers validate their painful, awkward or embarrassing experiences, while giving emerging writers a platform to help us shift social narratives together.”