When Words Collide 2026: Full Schedule

A Festival for Writers, Readers, and Fans

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9:00am MDT

Feminine Solutions in Science Fiction and Fantasy

Saturday August 15, 2026 9:00am - 10:15am MDT

The rise of the third wave of feminism has spawned a new heroine: the tough chick—whether anachronistically set in a historical fantasy or whipping through the galaxy in a stolen one-woman Millennium Falcon—who out-fights the toughest monster or mercenary. Does the female protagonist have to be a kickass who wins through masculine aggression, or does she use alternate solutions to the universe's problems?

Moderators

Susan Forest

Editor, Laksa Media Groups

Susan Forest is the author of dual Aurora Award-winners Bursts of Fire and Flights of Marigold as well as over 25 internationally-published short stories (Analog, Asimov's, Beneath Ceaseless Skies). She edits an award-winning anthology series for Laksa Media Groups, and was Edito... Read More →

Presenters

Krista Wallace

Writer, actor, musician, audiobook narrator

Krista is a fantasy writer, jazz & rock musician, audiobook narrator, actor, podcaster, mother, Gran, a lover of pie, dark chocolate, and fine single malt scotch. She hails from Port Coquitlam, BC, where she writes and records in a closet, emerging occasionally to sing with the big band... Read More →

Sarah Johnson

Bonnie Jacoby

Author, CosmicDragon Press

Bonnie Jacoby is the author of the YA fantasy series, Dragon Descendants of Drakkoia, featuring rebellious teen dragons and adventurous teens. Her debut book, Dreams of a Dragon Girl, was awarded 5 stars by IndieReader. She has travelled through the query trenches and the intricacies of indie publishing. Over the years she has joined many writing communities, both as a participant and a presenter. Currently she offers monthly blue pencil sessions, runs a week... Read More →

Camilla Tracy

Author, Asian Romantic Fantasy

Camilla is a lover of many mediums of storytelling. She loves to write Asian YA fantasy with strong heroines who triumph, find love, and adventure with their animals sidekicks. She always has projects on the go and loves to consume stories of all kinds – books, shows, movies, plays... Read More →

Saturday August 15, 2026 9:00am - 10:15am MDT
Hyatt Regency Calgary - Herald

Panel

9:00am MDT

Fractured Realities: Time Loops, Parallel Worlds, and What Breaks Between

Saturday August 15, 2026 9:00am - 10:15am MDT

Hyatt Regency Calgary - Doll

Parallel universes and time travel let stories bend reality—and test the limits of cause, choice, and consequence. This panel explores how creators use multiple dimensions and non-linear time to examine identity, fate, and responsibility, from paradox-driven thrillers to deeply personal narratives. Panelists will discuss the rules that make these concepts compelling, common pitfalls, and why audiences remain fascinated by worlds where time refuses to behave.

Moderators

Valerie L. King

member, IFWA

Valerie L. King was a teacher, specializing in kindergarten, special needs, and the deaf.

She has been an IFWA (imaginative fiction writer’s association) member for 30 years. With IFWA she was involved in their many projects, the IFWA Players plays and radio shows, bedtime stories with IFWA, IFWA at the Improv, public readings at the Calgary Public Library, and more... Read More →

Presenters

Michael Gillett

President, IFWA

Michael Gillett is currently president (for life) of IFWA and enjoys writing as well as
hanging around with writers. He has multiple short stories published (with an Aurora
nomination for one of them) along with three urban fantasy novels, all available through
various on-line marke... Read More →

Ron S. Friedman

Writer, Shaw Communications

Ron S. Friedman is an award-winning science fiction author and AI & energy futurist based in Alberta, Canada. His Amazon.ca #1 bestselling novel Typhoon Time, short story collection Escape Velocity, and Aurora Award-finalist story "Game Not Over" highlight his achievements, with works... Read More →

Randy McCharles

Randy McCharles is a full-time author of crime and speculative fiction.

He is the recipient of several Aurora Awards (Canada's most prestigious award for speculative fiction), and in 2013 his short story Ghost-B-Gone Incorporated won the House of Anansi 7-day Ghost Story Contest.

His most recent publications include the Connecticut Gumshoe trilogy from Tyche Books, and the Peter Galloway soft-boiled detective series. Previous publications include Much Ado about Macbeth (also from Tyche Books), Capone's Chicago, a multi-dimensional alternate history romp, and the YA space o... Read More →

Saturday August 15, 2026 9:00am - 10:15am MDT
Hyatt Regency Calgary - Doll

Panel

9:00am MDT

Writing Beyond the Self: Creating Characters Outside Our Lived Experience

Saturday August 15, 2026 9:00am - 10:15am MDT

Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 5

Can writers create authentic, respectful characters outside their own race, gender, orientation, culture, or identity? Should they? In this conversation, our panelists will explore how to write characters beyond personal experience — with empathy, research, and nuance. We'll talk about representation, sensitivity reads, and the difference between inclusion and appropriation. This panel is for anyone interested in writing across differences.

Moderators

James Downe

James is a writer and designer in Scarborough, Ontario. Raised on Lego, Nintendo, fantasy books, and tabletop role-playing games, he has been creating worlds for as long as he can remember. He is the author of the Sisters of Jade Trilogy (Sisters of Jade, Sorrow & Shroud, and The... Read More →

Presenters

Robert J. Sawyer

SFWriter.com Inc.

Robert J. Sawyer — called “the dean of Canadian Science Fiction” by both the Ottawa Citizen and the CBC — has won the Hugo, Nebula, and John W. Campbell Memorial Awards for Best Novel of the Year; a record-setting 17 Canadian Science Fiction and Fantasy Awards (“Auroras... Read More →

Huck Kahng

NestBooks

Huck Kahng is a Korean translator and author living in Canada. He has translated many popular titles for the Korean audience, including the Harry Potter series, The Wheel of Time series, and Project Hail Mary: he’s also published several books in Korean, and most recently self... Read More →

Finnian Burnett

Dr. Finnian Burnett is a writer whose work explores the intersections of the human body, mental health, the gorgeousness of human complexity, and gender identity. They are a recipient of a Canada Council for the Arts grant and a finalist in the 2023 CBC nonfiction prize. Finnian is... Read More →

Saturday August 15, 2026 9:00am - 10:15am MDT
Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 5 700 Centre St S, Calgary, AB T2G 5P6, Canada

Panel

10:30am MDT

Asian Science Fiction and Fantasy

Saturday August 15, 2026 10:30am - 11:45am MDT

Hyatt Regency Calgary - Herald

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.

Panelists will discuss how mythology, folklore, colonial histories, migration, and rapid technological change influence their storytelling. From futuristic cities to magical realms inspired by different cultures, Asian science fiction and fantasy offer narratives that challenge Western genre norms while expanding what speculative fiction can be. The discussion will also address themes such as identity, language, and more, highlighting how these stories speak to both local experiences and global audiences.

Whether you are a long-time reader of speculative fiction or new to the genre, 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.

Moderators

Alison McBain

Alison McBain is a biracial author whose novels have received over 13 awards, including the Foreword INDIES. Her work has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize, shortlisted for the Alpine Fellowship, and a finalist for Best of the Net in 2025. When not writing for herself, she’s... Read More →

Presenters

Zeva Mah

Zeva Mah reads, writes, and revises near the Rocky Mountains. She has been a member of the Alexandra Writer's Centre since 2019. Her writing features speculative fiction, often with near future technology. She is keen to read and write diverse BIPOC women characters in fiction.

Camilla Tracy

Author, Asian Romantic Fantasy

Cleodel Khrishna

Cleodel is an aspiring romantasy writer, known for her lyrical and engaging worldbuilding. Furthermore, her penchant for stortelling extends to her writing comedy channel where she posts her writing spirals, instead of writing. With a Filipino immigrant background, she provides unique... Read More →

Jasmine Sidhu

Writer/Author

Jasmine Sidhu is the author of the YA fantasy dystopian novel World of Lost Souls, a story that follows a girl with a hidden healing ability trapped on an apocalyptic earth full of man-eating demons. Jasmine has been a member of the Alexandra Writers' Centre since 2024. She hopes... Read More →

Saturday August 15, 2026 10:30am - 11:45am MDT
Hyatt Regency Calgary - Herald

Panel

10:30am MDT

Creating a Unique Detective Figure

Saturday August 15, 2026 10:30am - 11:45am MDT

Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 5

Creating a compelling and exciting detective figure can draw readers into the world of crime fiction. Whether it's a cozy armchair detective, a nosy neighbour, a police officer, or a private eye, the role of the detective guides readers through solving the crime. The figure has evolved from the original Sherlock Holmes, yet there are still traces of this style of detection in many modern figures like Benoit Blanc from Knives Out. Hear from crime writers and how they choose to create a detective figure.

Moderators

Chris Carolan

Presenters

Juanita R Violini

Owner/Operator, Mystery Factory

Juanita Rose Violini has been creating interactive murder mystery entertainment for 35+ years with over 50 scripts to her credit. Her live interactive entertainment plays - performed everywhere from luxury hotels in Canada to schools in Australia, wineries in Texas, and pubs in Great Britain - sell worldwide... Read More →

Jonathan Whitelaw

Jonathan Whitelaw is an award-winning author, journalist and broadcaster. After working on the frontline of politics, he moved into journalism, covering everything from sports to music to radioactive waste – and everything in between. He's also a regular reviewer, panelist and... Read More →

Lexie Angelo

Chief Editor, Radical Bookshop and Press

Saturday August 15, 2026 10:30am - 11:45am MDT
Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 5 700 Centre St S, Calgary, AB T2G 5P6, Canada

Panel

10:30am MDT

Panel Intro to TTRPGs: Their Similarities and Differences

Saturday August 15, 2026 10:30am - 11:45am MDT

Hyatt Regency Calgary - Stephen A

Darren Tenor, Calvin Jim, Cipher, and Rhonda Parish with Host Kim Firmston

So you know Dungeons and Dragons, but do you know Vampire the Masquerade, Land of Eem, Mothership, or the myriad of other Tabletop Roleplaying Games created by those who love to tell stories with others?

Discover the wider world of Tabletop Roleplay and find your new obsession.

Moderators

Kim Firmston

Program Director, Youth Programs, Alexandra Writers' Centre Society

Presenters

Cipher

Rhonda Parrish

Rhonda Parrish has the attention span of a magpie. Not only can she not focus on a single project at a time, but she also fails at sticking to one genre or even one type of writing (she does manage to stay true to one hockey team, though – Let’s go Oilers!). Perhaps best known for her work as an anthology editor – the Ottawa Review of Books called her “Canada’s best-known and most prolific speculative fiction anthologist” – Rhonda also works as a short... Read More →

Darren Tenor

Writer / Games Master, D10 Dimensions

Darren Tenor is a Calgary-based experimental writer who tries desperately to keep a low profile.

Starting with tabletop roleplaying games (TTRPGs) as a preteen, he has decades of experience curating a range of stories across forgotten realms and distant worlds. He's written five official books for the Villains & Vigilantes shared universe and has self-published more than 275... Read More →

Calvin Jim

I am a writer of Asian-speculative fiction and have been writing for over 15 years. I have been published in numerous anthologies including Prairie Gothic and Where the Stars Rise. I have been nominated for 4 Aurora Awards including 3 for Best Short Fiction. I have previously spoken... Read More →

Saturday August 15, 2026 10:30am - 11:45am MDT
Hyatt Regency Calgary - Stephen A 700 Centre St S, Calgary, AB T2G 5P6, Canada

Panel

12:00pm MDT

Making Monsters: the Art & Craft of Writing Horror

Saturday August 15, 2026 12:00pm - 1:15pm MDT

Hyatt Regency Calgary - Doll

How do you write a jump scare? What words will give a reader goosebumps? Should you describe your monster in detail or leave something to the imagination? These are the questions horror writers obsess over, usually alone with only our keyboards and our ghosts for company. But not today! Join us for a discussion you can sink your teeth into about the challenges, tools, and techniques of crafting horror fiction.

Moderators

Fiona McTaggart

As an avid lover of all things genre fiction, Fiona has been writing Sci-Fi and Fantasy for most of her life, for both middle grade and adult audiences. She is the former Editorial Director of MuggleNet.com and has an Honours BA in English and Creative Writing from Concordia University... Read More →

Presenters

James Downe

Kim Harbridge

Writer/Editor

Sam Wilket

Sam Wilket's debut novel, A GOOD DAUGHTER’S GHOST (coming August 25, 2026 from Annick Press) is a YA supernatural horror story about a babysitter who longs for a life that might destroy her. Sam also runs Forests in Her Mind, a newsletter where she recommends stellar speculative... Read More →

Saturday August 15, 2026 12:00pm - 1:15pm MDT
Hyatt Regency Calgary - Doll

Panel

12:00pm MDT

Queer Rep in Mainstream Media

Saturday August 15, 2026 12:00pm - 1:15pm MDT

Hyatt Regency Calgary - Herald

A panel featuring queer authors discussing LGBTQ+ representation in mainstream media. Focused on diverse perspectives from queer writers.

Moderators

Sarah L. Pratt

Presenters

Danny Ramadan

Danny Ramadan is a Syrian-Canadian author and LGBTQ+ refugees’ advocate.

His memoir Crooked Teeth received raving reviews and was nominated for the Governor General’s Award for Non-Fiction. His latest novel, The Foghorn Echoes, won the Lambda Literary Award for Gay Fiction and

... Read More →

Tanya MacIntosh

Tanya MacIntosh is a queer author of speculative fiction, creative non-fiction, and poetry with a BA in Creative Writing & Religious Studies from York University. In 2025, she received the Brenda Strathern Award and placed first in the War of the Words competition. You can find her... Read More →

Adriaan Brae

BraeVitae

Adriaan Brae is not sure whether they truly love writing or if story ideas simply bully them until they produce words? This trauma is made lighter by an understanding wife who shares a similar affliction, and a daughter who loves them even though they are weird, like, all the time... Read More →

Saturday August 15, 2026 12:00pm - 1:15pm MDT
Hyatt Regency Calgary - Herald

Panel

1:30pm MDT

50 Ways to Kill Your Lover (Homicide at Home)

Saturday August 15, 2026 1:30pm - 2:45pm MDT

Hyatt Regency Calgary - Herald

We think of home as safe. But danger can lurk there too - a garden full of poisonous plants, a kitchen full of knives, steep staircases just waiting for a fall, and more. Our panelists will share the many ways they have killed off people in their writing, and the research that goes into committing the perfect crime on a page. Audience participation encouraged. Correctly answer a murderous question related to Sisters in Crime – Canada West’s upcoming fourth biennial anthology, Crime Wave 4: Home Sweet Homicide and be entered for a prize draw at the end of the session!

Session Sponsor: Sisters In Crime , Canada West (SinC)

Moderators

Linda Sanche

President, Sisters in Crime - Canada West

Linda Sanche’s debut mystery, Off the Mark (Signature Editions), will be published this fall and she is working on the sequel, Circuit Breaker. Her short stories have been published in several anthologies, including War of the Words Volume Two 2025: Lovers, Liars and Labyrinths... Read More →

Presenters

JE Barnard

Developmental Editor, Incisive Editing Services

Calgary author J.E. Barnard writes & edits award-winning fiction. Her first Falls Mystery, When the Flood Falls (Dundurn Press, 2018) brought home the CWC Award of Excellence. Her second Maddie Hatter Adventure, Maddie Hatter & the Gilded Gauge (Tyche Books 2017) was an Alberta Book of the Year. She’s been a finalist for the UK Debut Dagger & the Prix Aurora for Canadian Science Fiction and Fantasy. A developmental editor for Incisive Editing Services, she finds extra fulfillment in book reviewing & literary juries. Find... Read More →

Pamela Donison

Immediate Past President, Sisters in Crime Canada West

Pamela Donison, JD, (PJ Donison) writes soft boiled murder mysteries and women’s literary fiction. Her self published works include the Camelia Belmont Mystery Series: Death Comes For Christmas (2022), Death At The Crossroads (2024), and Death of the Butcher (Fall 2026).

Pame... Read More →

Merrilee Robson

I have written over 40 short stories, mostly in the crime genre, appearing in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, the People’s Friend, and various anthologies in Canada, the UK, and the USA. Writing short stories provides opportunities for variety and... Read More →

Susan Calder

Calgary writer Susan Calder is the author of six novels published by BWL Publishing Inc. Four of the books are part of her Paula Savard Mystery Series and the fifth is a standalone suspense novel set in Calgary and California. Susan’s most recent mystery novel, A Killer Whisky,... Read More →

Saturday August 15, 2026 1:30pm - 2:45pm MDT
Hyatt Regency Calgary - Herald

Panel

1:30pm MDT

Surviving Publishing

Saturday August 15, 2026 1:30pm - 2:45pm MDT

Hyatt Regency Calgary - Doll

Writing can be a lonely endeavour, requiring a lot of hard work and delayed gratification. Sometimes it feels easier to throw in the towel rather than completing all the steps necessary to get a book done and out the door. Get tips and inspiration from writers who have gone through the process and lived to tell the tale.

Moderators

Rhonda Parrish

Presenters

Jason Pearce

Writing is one of the few things that curb Jason’s incessant need to talk out loud. People close to him agree he’s much easier to tolerate when he’s working on a story.

Today, Jason writes literary and speculative fiction, exploring themes of Indigenous cultural identity

... Read More →

Margaret Curelas

Publisher, Tyche Books

Margaret Curelas was raised on a diet of Victorian fiction and Stephen King novels, so it's unsurprising that she now writes, edits, and publishes speculative fiction. Her short fiction has appeared in a variety of anthologies and magazines, and one day she'll finish that novel. After
... Read More →

Krista D. Ball

Saturday August 15, 2026 1:30pm - 2:45pm MDT
Hyatt Regency Calgary - Doll

Panel

1:30pm MDT

This too shall pass… write what you want/write for the market.

Saturday August 15, 2026 1:30pm - 2:45pm MDT

Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 5

Market trends come and market trends go. Sparkly vampires and the dystopian wave, trauma autofiction and the romantasy tsunami… this too shall pass. Join panelists new and old (ahem, debut authors and those with a few books out there), as they discuss writing and publishing across genre and within it, chasing market trends and staying true to their artistic drive, and how to keep that muse alive even when the tides have swept publisher interests far from shore!

Moderators

Bradley Somer

Presenter

Bradley Somer’s is the author of four novels: Fishbowl, Extinction, Imperfections, and most recently, We Are All of Us Left Behind. His work has been published in over twenty countries, translated into several languages, and produced in many print, digital, and audio editions. A few are even in development for screen. His work was awarded the Georges Bugnet Award for Fiction and he was honoured to receive the... Read More →

Presenters

Ali Bryan

Marcello Di Cintio

Ben Zalkind

Author

Ben Zalkind is a writer living in Calgary. His debut novel, Honeydew, was published by Radiant Press in October 2025. In an adventurous past life, Ben made a spirited, but ultimately futile, effort to avoid STEM, which led to graduate degrees in literature and psychology and well-meaning... Read More →

Saturday August 15, 2026 1:30pm - 2:45pm MDT
Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 5 700 Centre St S, Calgary, AB T2G 5P6, Canada

Panel

3:00pm MDT

Disability, Romance, and Adventure: Yes, Your Book Can Have Them All!

Saturday August 15, 2026 3:00pm - 4:15pm MDT

Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 5

Oftentimes, disabled bodies and/or neurodivergent brains are desexualized and/or de-romanticized because of ableist narratives. These narratives also propose that disabled folks are incapable of sharing in the adventure without a “cure." But as disabled and neurodivergent authors, we are the protagonists of our own lives, so why can’t we craft stories that turn these harmful tropes upside down? This panel will discuss how it’s not only plausible but also realistic to put disabled folks as the romantic and heroic leads. We’ll talk about how we don’t need to “fix” bodies and/or minds for these characters to shine!

Moderators

Alex Benarzi

Editor, Alex M. Benarzi Editing

Alex Benarzi is a writer and editor living in Calgary, Alberta. Alex writes literary fiction and magic realism. Alex is fascinated by the little absurdities that colour our world. In his editing, Alex helps writers elevate their unique voices. Alex is passionate about accessibility... Read More →

Presenters

Lavinia Leon

Lavinia Leon (MD, PhD, AuDHD) was born in Romania and writes about the times and forms of Home from amiskwaciwâskahikan / Edmonton. Her writing orbits around the in-betweens — "the eternally hybrid spaces that carry liminal and luminous qualities alike," she says. Lavinia received an Honourable Mention in... Read More →

Blake Ravenhart

Webnovel and Self-Published Author

Blake, also known as Winter, is a fantasy author and professional beta reader with a strong focus on action-driven storytelling, immersive fantasy, and visually rich narratives. With experience in both self-published series and webnovels, she specializes in crafting worlds defined... Read More →

Julie A. Christiansen

CEO, Author, Speaker, Coach, Psychotherapist, Leverage U

Julie A. Christiansen, M.A. is an award-winning psychotherapist, executive coach, bestselling author, and internationally recognized speaker specializing in emotional regulation, mental wellness, and personal transformation. With over 30 years of experience, she is the creator of... Read More →

Cait Gordon

Author, Editor, Podcaster, Disability Advocate

Cait Gordon is an autistic, disabled, and queer Canadian alphabet arranger who celebrates diverse bodyminds. She is the author of the award-winning, disability-hopepunk adventure, Season One: Iris and the Crew Tear Through Space! Her short stories featuring disabled and/or neurod... Read More →

Saturday August 15, 2026 3:00pm - 4:15pm MDT
Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 5 700 Centre St S, Calgary, AB T2G 5P6, Canada

Panel

3:00pm MDT

The Personal is Political and The Political is Personal! Activism and Advocacy Through Fiction

Saturday August 15, 2026 3:00pm - 4:15pm MDT

Hyatt Regency Calgary - Doll

Ben Zalkind will facilitate this session with Kirti Bhadresa [and others] that will offer a primer on how authors use fiction as an incubator of political imagination. Storytelling has long been a tool of political awareness and change. Writers articulate the political discontent of our time, expose and tear down unjust power structures through our art. Readers access otherwise-silenced stories through the books they read. This panel will excavate literature’s rich political terrain, explore how ideas take shape and how unseen stories can be brought into the mainstream through fiction. Bring your fire and your curiosity for this rousing talk that promises to bring empowerment and hope! Let’s put our imaginations to work! The world needs our voices now more than ever.

Moderators

Ben Zalkind

Author

Presenters

Amanda Leduc

Amanda Leduc is a writer, speaker, and disability rights advocate.

She is the author of the non-fiction book Disfigured: On Fairy Tales, Disability, and Making Space (Coach House Books, 2020), which was shortlisted for the 2020 Governor General’s Award in Nonfiction, and t

... Read More →

Ann Cavlovic

Author

Count On Me is Ann Cavlovic’s debut novel (Guernica Editions, 2025). Her fiction and creative non-fiction have appeared in CBC, Event, The Fiddlehead, The Globe and Mail, Grain, Little Bird Stories, PRISM international, Room, SubTerrain, The Anthology This Place a Stranger (Caitlin Press), and elsewhere. Ann lives in the unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabe Nation -- the Outaouais region of Western Quebec, just outside of Ottawa. Find out more at: anncavlovic.com... Read More →

Kirti Bhadresa

Author

Kirti Bhadresa (she/her) lives in Calgary, Alberta on Treaty 7 territory. Kirti has fiction and non-fiction writing in many publications including The Fiddlehead, Prairie Fire and Room Magazine. Her first book, a short story collection entitled An Astonishment of Stars was published... Read More →

Saturday August 15, 2026 3:00pm - 4:15pm MDT
Hyatt Regency Calgary - Doll

Panel

3:00pm MDT

Workplace Horror - Something Smells in the Break Room

Saturday August 15, 2026 3:00pm - 4:15pm MDT

Hyatt Regency Calgary - Herald

We're not saying that every job is a horror, or every workplace is cursed, but some days...

Whether you feel like stepping across the threshold is entering literal hell, or that your boss is the devil, or that microwaved tuna someone left on the counter to cool off is possessed, there IS horror to be found where you most expect it.

Join us as we delve into what makes this sub-genre so delightfully horrible, with a raft of recently published examples and where one might find a market for your own.

Moderators

Jason Pearce

Presenters

Sarah L. Pratt

Rob Bose

VP, AWCS

Robert Bose grew up on a farm in southern Alberta spending every free moment reading whatever weird fiction he could get his hands on. He's the editor of a variety of books and anthologies for The Seventh Terrace, the author of myriad short stories including the fiendish collection... Read More →

Chris Marrs

Saturday August 15, 2026 3:00pm - 4:15pm MDT
Hyatt Regency Calgary - Herald

Panel

3:00pm MDT

Writing for Tabletop Roleplaying Games (and publishing them)

Saturday August 15, 2026 3:00pm - 4:15pm MDT

Hyatt Regency Calgary - Stephen B

Want to homebrew your own tabletop roleplaying adventure? Perfect!

Our panel will walk you through the steps of what to prepare, what to skip, and how you can make the whole thing as painless as possible.

Then - as an added bonus, Darren Tenor will tell you how to sell what you’ve created.

Moderators

Chris Corvan

Author, Publisher & Creative Director, House of Void Press

I am an author, publisher, and multimedia producer based in Calgary, Alberta. Through House of Void Press, I support independent authors with publishing, editing, and long-term creative visibility while championing creator autonomy. I also host and produce the Dripping Creativity... Read More →

Presenters

Eden Martens

Caelen Bell

Caelan Bell is a local Calgary filmmaker and professional dungeon master. He has worked with the Alexandra Writers Center Society for three years and specializes in writing and DMing games for kids and teenagers.

Darren Tenor

Writer / Games Master, D10 Dimensions

Saturday August 15, 2026 3:00pm - 4:15pm MDT
Hyatt Regency Calgary - Stephen B 700 Centre St S, Calgary, AB T2G 5P6, Canada

Panel

4:30pm MDT

Cinematic Storytelling: Does Hollywood Flair Work in Speculative Fiction?

Saturday August 15, 2026 4:30pm - 5:45pm MDT

Hyatt Regency Calgary - Doll

Cinematic storytelling in fiction is often seen in a negative light. It can reduce character agency and emotion, pulling away from the introspective side, instead relying on tense action and big explosions. Books and movies are very different media. What works in one doesn’t necessarily translate to the other. But is there a way to adapt the techniques of the visual medium and utilize it for the written word? Has the overwhelming rise in movies and television altered the way people read and what they expect?

This panel will look at the techniques of cinematic storytelling, discussing whether or not they can effectively be used in speculative fiction.

Moderators

Chris Corvan

Author, Publisher & Creative Director, House of Void Press

Presenters

Rick Overwater

Rick Overwater is a sci-fi, fantasy and crime writer based in Calgary, Alberta. He holds an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of British Columbia and is the author of The Black City Beneath, a late-age steampunk novel available from Calgary publisher, The Seventh Terrac... Read More →

Don Miasek

Moderator, Toronto Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers

Don Miasek is a two-time Aurora Finalist writing from smack dab in the middle of Toronto, Canada. His editorial work brought Amazon best sellers Imps & Minions and Aurora Finalist Strange Wars to market, as well as Speculative North magazine. His debut science fiction novel, Pale... Read More →

James Downe

Michael Peterson

Director/Producer/Writer, Peterson Polaris Corp

Michael Peterson (DGC, p.g.a.) is an award-winning producer, writer, director based in Calgary, Alberta and best known for his work in horror and comedy. His directing work includes commercials, documentaries, web series, half-hour tv and the feature films, 'sports' comedy, LLOYD... Read More →

Saturday August 15, 2026 4:30pm - 5:45pm MDT
Hyatt Regency Calgary - Doll

Panel

4:30pm MDT

From Personal to Perennial: The Craft and Career of Picture Books

Saturday August 15, 2026 4:30pm - 5:45pm MDT

Hyatt Regency Calgary - Herald

Picture books may be short, but the path to publication—and beyond—is rarely quick or simple. In this craft-and-business-focused panel, four traditionally published picture book authors unpack how personal stories move from idea to book deal to long-term career momentum.

Panelists will discuss how they identify the central “big idea” in personal material, make key craft decisions around structure and narrative style, and navigate the editorial process from acquisition through revision. The conversation will also pull back the curtain on the business realities of picture books, including how each author secured their publishing deal, realistic timelines from contract to publication, and how awards, reviews, and recognition have shaped the life of their books after release.

Finally, the panel will explore what happens next: sustaining visibility, building on early success, and making strategic choices that keep both the work and the career moving forward. Designed for writers at any stage, this session offers a clear-eyed look at the art and economics of creating picture books with staying power.

Presenters

Keenan Jones

Keenan Jones is a Minnesota-based author, educator, and literacy advocate whose work celebrates Black joy, community, and authentic representation in children’s literature. A 2022 Mirrors & Windows Fellow at The Loft Literary Center, Keenan is the author of the acclaimed debut picture book... Read More →

Yewande Daniel-Ayoade

Children's author of books that celebrate West African history and culture.

Paola Santos

Author

Paola Santos is the author of HOW TO EAT A MANGO, CÓMO SE COME UN MANGO, and the forthcoming picture book A HOUSE IN MY BARRIO (Henry Holt / Macmillan), Fall 2026. Her books have received starred reviews from School Library Journal, Kirkus, Publishers Weekly, and BookPage, and have been listed as Bank Street of Education Best Children’s Books of 2025 (Engl... Read More →

Maria Marianayagam

Maria Marianayagam is an award-winning, Tamil Sri Lankan-Canadian engineer turned children’s book author, and a Calgary Top 40 under 40. She fell in love with children’s books (again!) after becoming an Amma (mom). She is the author of over ten books for young readers, including... Read More →

Saturday August 15, 2026 4:30pm - 5:45pm MDT
Hyatt Regency Calgary - Herald

Panel

4:30pm MDT

From the Past to the Page: Transforming Historical Research into Compelling Fiction

Saturday August 15, 2026 4:30pm - 5:45pm MDT

Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 5

In this engaging panel, members of the AWCS Historical Fiction Roundtable will discuss the numerous resources available to writers of historical fiction, memoir, and true tales of historical events. They will share their personal research journeys and show how oral histories, letters, diaries, records, archives, and books have contributed to their writing.

Panelists will describe their favourite tools and techniques for creating stories that are historically accurate, entertaining, and relevant for modern readers. They’ll share their approaches to handling research gaps and tackle the fundamental question, “In the end, what is more important: history or the story?”

Participants will leave the session with ready to implement strategies for accessing and organizing resources and finding their authentic voice within their historical research.

Moderators

Bob Booth

Bob Booth was born in Winnipeg, raised in Calgary, and after training as a naval officer and receiving his Bachelor of Engineering, graduated from the Royal Military College of Canada. He went on to graduate in Law from Dalhousie University, then returned to Calgary to spend forty-five... Read More →

Presenters

Susan Calder

Lisa Williamson

Historical Writer

Lisa Williamson has roots in Canada, having been born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and now has her feet planted in Calgary, Alberta. Her professional career in the healthcare system and later as a business owner provided unique opportunities and experiences. She attended the University... Read More →

Pamela Clark

Writer, Educator

Pam Clark is a Calgary educator and author, infusing her passion for history into her work. As a member of AWCS since 2016, she has mentored writers through the Borderlines and Own Voices Programs, and has been a story coach with the Author Development Program. Pam finds tremendous... Read More →

Saturday August 15, 2026 4:30pm - 5:45pm MDT
Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 5 700 Centre St S, Calgary, AB T2G 5P6, Canada

Panel

9:00am MDT

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10:30am MDT

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12:00pm MDT

12:00pm MDT

1:30pm MDT

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3:00pm MDT

3:00pm MDT

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3:00pm MDT

4:30pm MDT

4:30pm MDT

4:30pm MDT

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