April marks one year since Rachel Phan published her bestselling memoir, Restaurant Kid: A Memoir of Family and Belonging.
On the surface, this looks like a dream publishing success story, beginning with an essay accepted by CBC and leading quickly to an agent, a book deal, a manuscript, and bestseller status within a week of publication.
But there’s always more to a story than what we see on the surface.
Behind the scenes, Rachel was navigating self-doubt, isolation, and deep anxiety—during the writing process, through publication, and beyond. By staying true to the work and leaning into community, she learned some hard-won lessons:
How to believe in herself even when it felt impossible.
How to throw out most of what she'd been taught and write this book on her own terms.
How to accept help instead of trying to do it alone.
To celebrate Restaurant Kid's first bookiversary, we're inviting you to an intimate evening exploring the fine art of believing in ourselves. Rachel will be in conversation with Firefly coach Kim Abrahamse—who was her writing coach for much of this journey—about the joys and struggles of the book-writing process, the parts no one talks about, and the essential role of community in creative work.
Always honest, generous, and willing to be vulnerable, Rachel will mark this milestone with our community, inspiring us to loosen our grip on how we think we "should" write—and to trust ourselves as our own guides.
If you'd like to read Restaurant Kid in advance, you can get it at any local independent bookstore or online here.
See more about Rachel here.
Event Details:
Date: Tuesday, March 31, 2026
Time: 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM EDT
Location: Online via our members platform, Fireside, (When you sign up, you’ll get access to a space created just for this event).
Note: If you’re already a member of Fireside Community for Writers, you don’t need a ticket for this event! You already have free access.
Step 1: Make a donation to our fundraiser with Indigenous Youth Roots
Click here or the button below to donate to our fundraiser with Indigenous Youth Roots. This event is a Pay-What-You-Can fundraiser, meaning you can contribute the amount that works for you. Our suggested donation is $10-$20 CAD.
If you don’t have a credit card, or can’t currently afford to donate, let us know, and we’ll gladly find a way to make it work.
Once you’ve donated, you’ll get a confirmation email from CanadaHelps with an 8-digit Confirmation Number. This is what you’ll use for the next step.
Step 2: Use your confirmation number to sign up for the event
Copy your 8-digit Confirmation Number and click here (or the button below) to register for the event.
Once you register, you’ll get an email from us with a link to join the event page, where you can access the video streaming link, and a place to chat with other attendees if you wish.
The event page is on our Fireside Community For Writers members platform. If you’re not currently a Fireside member, you’ll only have access to this one part of the platform. If you are already a member, you don’t need to buy a ticket for this, you’ve already got access.
Need a hand?
If you run into any issues getting registered, please reach out to Sydney at sydney@fireflycreativewriting.com.