Word on the Street: Brian Francis and Missed Connections

11 Jun 2022 - photos supplied by publicist

"It feels awesome," says author Brian Francis of being shortlisted for the 2022 Trillium Book Awards. "You can’t put too much emphasis on award nominations. Otherwise, it’s easy to get down on yourself if you’re not nominated. You should always feel proud of your work, even if it bypasses awards juries. But when that recognition happens, it’s always appreciated because that kind of recognition is never a guarantee." The nomination is for Francis's novel Missed Connections, the book version of his rapturously received and very moving play Box 4901."I tried to keep the core of Box 4901 in the book, but given the different medium, I had to pay closer attention to the writing," says Francis. "The book format also gave me room to dive deeper into the material. It was an interesting experience moving between the two. The play was so visual. You don’t have that luxury when it’s words on a page."

Francis will be reading from Missed Connections at Word on the Street, the outdoor 'vibrant marketplace for books, magazines, comics, and more by Canadian and Indigenous authors' with 'readings and panels featuring more than 100 authors on five stages over two full days.' I would add that Word on the Street is a great place to browse new books, find bargains, and spot celebrity authors. Francis himself played an integral onstage role in Box 4901 and displayed, or skillfully acted, an amiable and endearing nervousness. "Trust me, there was no feigning nervousness," he says. "Being in a performance was totally out of my comfort zone. But I loved the energy of it, night after night. I’ve come away thinking about how I do readings now, and how I can be better at them. It’s really about giving the audience an experience so I’m keeping that in mind as much as possible."

Missed Connections may be Francis's most recent book but he is also renowned for Fruit (a personal favourite and a seminal gay text), Natural Order and Break in Case of Emergency, so this is not his first appearance at Word on the Street. "The memory is a bit blurry these days," he says, "but I think this might be my third or fourth festival." Regardless, he is looking forward to meeting fans of any of the books. "Given the past couple of years, it’s a welcome experience. I feel like I’ve been in a cocoon since 2020 so any opportunities to meet 3-D people is pretty fantastic." And if you unfortunately miss his actual reading he says, " I think there’s a signing tent where all the authors go following their event. So I’ll likely be there. If there’s a hot dog vendor on site, you can probably find me there, too. I’ll be happy to sign any books and promise to keep ketchup off the pages."   

The big news about Word on the Street is it's return to Queen's Park after years in exile at Harbourfront. "While I loved the festival being at Harbourfront Centre," says Francis diplomatically. "I also really love that it’s back in a park setting and in the downtown core. I even remember Word on the Street when it was along Queen Street West. But I’m dating myself. Here’s hoping the weather holds out." 

Francis's work displays a sure grasp of the borderline vicious quips and judgements that gay men are expert at and drag queens have raised to an art form, balanced by a deep empathy and affection for the human condition. I ask if that extends to encounters with his fans amidst a freewheeling festival. "Absolutely," he says. "I’m always striving to find that balance between empathy and what could be perceived as biting humour. I grew up critical of gay men because that’s what society had taught me to do. It’s taken me years to unravel that. I think we all need to work at being kinder to one another. But we also need to laugh at ourselves, too." I also have to wonder if any of the men in Missed Connections who answered his personal ad have revealed themselves, and if he regrets not responding to that ad. "None that I’m aware of," he says. "At least, no one has come up to me. So, no regrets. Unless I’m approached by someone one day who says, 'I know I signed my letter as “Dave,” but my real name is Ryan Reynolds.'”