Author Mary Novik celebrated the launch of her first novel, Conceit (Doubleday Canada), at Cafe TrafiQ in West Vancouver on Sept. 8. (Photos courtesy of Keir Novik)

Mary Novik reads from Conceit.

The assembled crowd at Vancouver’s Cafe TrafiQ listens to Novik.

Novik shares a laugh with a friend.

Novik’s SPiN writing group friends Jen Sookfong Lee and June Hutton help her celebrate.