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When Words Collide - 1 Week Away!

8/7/2026

We're now ONE WEEK AWAY from the start of When Words Collide, a huge literary festival in Calgary, Alberta. I'm so excited! In case you're wondering what it is, here's a little blurb from their website:

"When Words Collide is Canada's largest multi-genre, writer/reader/fan/ festival. Meet artists and publishers of commercial and literary fiction, including genre, YA, children's books, poetry, and more, from across Canada and the world. When Words Collide supports writers in the craft and business of writing, exploring all avenues of the writing process, publishing and storytelling, while building a strong literary community. We love to bring local writers (Alberta and Canada) to the attention of book lovers."

I'm one of the speakers, and I'll be all over the convention doing some volunteering as well as talking on panels. Here are the panels and events where you can find me, and a little information about what each one is about:

Image by Mo Farrelly

The AI Argument (Friday @ 3pm)
Since AI emerged, writers and other creatives have been debating about whether or not it has a place in their work. There have been many benefits and drawbacks listed for both sides of the argument, in business and in the creative process. This panel attempts to explain the difference between AI-assisted and AI-generated work and why AI-generated work does not have a place in the creative realm.

Other authors on the panel will include: D.G. Valdron, Jason Pearce, and Cleodel Khrishna.

Wordbridge Table (Friday @ 2:45pm-4:15pm)
Wordbridge is Lethbridge's annual writing conference, which will run from April 3-4 next year. I've been a speaker there this year and two years ago, and I've always had a wonderful time chatting with other readers, writers, and artists.

I volunteered to man the Wordbridge table at When Words Collide for a couple of hours, so please feel free to swing by the vendors' room and say hi!

Photo by Lucas George Wendt

Blue Pencil (Friday @ 4:30pm-5:50pm)
I'm one of several editors and publishers who are diving into the imaginative worlds created by When Words Collide writers! If you don't know what these sessions are, Blue Pencils are designed to provide authors with one-on-one feedback on their manuscripts. They get to present a 1,000-word sample of their pages for personalized feedback from an editor. Then they get 15 minutes for feedback, discussion, and questions.

If you're interested in one of these sessions, you have to book them in advance. You can do so on the When Words Collide page HERE.

Asian Science Fiction and Fantasy (Saturday @ 10:30am)
Join us for a dynamic panel discussion on Asian Science Fiction and Fantasy, where we explore the ideas, traditions, and artistic worlds created by Asian authors and writers from different ethnic backgrounds.

This panel will examine how science fiction and fantasy serve as powerful spaces for incorporating Asian mythology and culture, re-imagining history, and imagining alternative futures shaped by diverse perspectives. This panel offers an engaging opportunity to deepen your understanding of how Asian voices are reshaping science fiction and fantasy today, and how you can incorporate it into your writing.

I'm the moderator for this panel, and other authors will include: Zeva Mah, Camilla Tracy, Cleodel Khrishna, and Jasmine Sidhu.

Live Action Slush: Romance (Saturday @ 3pm)
The Slush Pile is the magical pile of unsolicited manuscripts that editors and publishers comb through to discover great new work. A Live Action Slush event is just a slush pile in real time. A panel of editors and publishers listen to a cold reader tackling an anonymous first page of a manuscript. The panelists raise their hands at the moment they would stop reading. When all hands are raised, the reader stops and the discussion begins. At the end, the submitter may choose to identify themselves, or stay under the radar.

Other authors on the panel will include: Nicole Roche, Mira Landry, and Carly Watters.

Photo by Jacques Gaimard

Power Dynamics in Fantastical Worlds (Sunday @ 1:30pm)
In many tales, plot dynamics hinge on who has power and who doesn't. How are some characters marked and how does that affect their agency in a fantasy or science fiction world? How can you use viewpoint to emphasize power dynamics? Panelists will talk about how to handle power ebbs and flows when writing speculative fiction.

Other authors on the panel will include: Susan Forest, Randy McCharles, Kim Cheel, and Blake Ravenhart.

Shared Authors' Table (Sunday @ 3pm-4pm)
Looking for your next great read? Loved what you heard on the panels you attended? Stop by the Merchant Room at When Words Collide, where you can find books from the panelists at the Shared Authors' Table. I'll be taking a volunteer shift from 3pm-4pm on Sunday, so drop in to say hi!

Photo by Nemo Jo

Cross-Genre Careers: Keeping Series & Voice Coherent (Sunday @ 4:30pm)
In today’s dynamic literary landscape, many authors are venturing beyond the confines of a single genre.

But how can multi-genre writers effectively manage their diverse narratives while maintaining a coherent voice and a loyal readership? Join us for an enlightening panel featuring experienced multi-genre authors who will unravel the complexities of branding, reader expectations, and audience engagement.

Discover practical techniques for creating clear entry points into your various works, enabling readers to transition from one genre to another without feeling lost or confused.

Other authors on the panel will include: Jennifer Sommersby, Alexis Marie Chute, and P.D. Workman.

As you can see, I'll be a busy bee next weekend. If you see me buzzing around the convention, please feel free to say hi!

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