When Words Collide 2019

It’s that time of year again! I’ll be participating in Calgary’s annual When Words Collide writers festival this weekend, August 9-11, and I’m stoked to check out the panels and meet some very cool people!

I’ll be appearing on five panels this year, on Friday and Sunday, as follows:

Friday, 6 pm (Parkland): Real People as Story Characters

How do you turn historical figures or people living now into characters in a story? Why would you do this? Where do you go for research? How accurate do you need to be? What are the ethics of representing someone’s life without his or her consent?

Sunday, 11 am (Willow Park): Live Action Slush - Mystery

Bring the 1st page of your manuscript to be anonymously read aloud and receive comments from our editors.

Sunday, 12 pm (Willow Park): Live Action Slush - High Fantasy

Bring the 1st page of your manuscript to be anonymously read aloud and receive comments from our editors.

Sunday, 3 pm (Willow Park): Live Action Slush - Urban Fantasy

Bring the 1st page of your manuscript to be anonymously read aloud and receive comments from our editors.

Sunday, 4 pm (Bonavista): Beyond the Realm of Rationalism

Is your detective limited to rational and scientific methods to solve the crime? Panellists compare notes on imaginative ways for your crime-solving character to assemble the puzzle pieces. How deep can you go into the unconventional or supernatural while still holding your readers?

I’m especially looking forward to Live Action Slush, which is always a lot of fun! If you’re attending the festival, be sure to stop by one of these panels, or hit me up on social media and we can grab coffee, sign books, chat, whatever! And as always, the fine folks at Owl’s Nest Books and the Sentry Box will have copies of some of my books for sale, so be sure to check them out if you’re looking to top up your collection.

See you there!