When Words Collide 2026: Full Schedule

A Festival for Writers, Readers, and Fans

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3:00pm MDT

Sunday August 16, 2026 3:00pm - 4:15pm MDT

Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 6

Live Action Slush - What is it?

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. What’s working? What’s not working? Discuss! At the end, the submitter may choose to identify themselves, or stay under the radar.
How to Play

Bring the first page of your manuscript without your name on it! Take note of the genre of the slush; one page only; typed, double-spaced, 11pt type.
Drop it in the basket and hope yours gets picked for review.

The panelists will try to get through as many as they can in the 60 minute event! This year we have several slush types to enjoy.

Mark your SCHED schedules, go write and good luck!

Reader: Krista Wallace

Presenters

Richard Graeme Cameron

Publisher and editor, Polar Borealis Magazine

I Publish the SF&F Magazines Polar Borealis and Polar Starlight, four issues each per year, since 2016 (PB) & 2021 (PS). I publish only Canadian Authors, poets & artists. I am particularly keen on publishing beginning writers, people like me, for instance. Only took me 58 years to... Read More →

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 →

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 →

Ella Beaumont

Publisher, EDGE Science Fiction and Fantasy Publishing

Ella Beaumont has been professionally involved in the publishing industry in both traditional and freelancing capacities since 2012 and thinks Live Action Slush should be a national sport. She has been in the process of acquiring EDGE Science Fiction and Fantasy Publishing, a boutique... Read More →

Sunday August 16, 2026 3:00pm - 4:15pm MDT
Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 6 700 Centre St S, Calgary, AB T2G 5P6, Canada

Slush

4:30pm MDT

Live Action Slush: Fantasy/Urban Fantasy

Sunday August 16, 2026 4:30pm - 5:45pm MDT

Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 6

Bring the first page of your manuscript without your name on it! Take note of the genre of the slush; one page only; typed, double-spaced, 11pt type.
Drop it in the basket and hope yours gets picked for review.

Presenters

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 →

Bonnie Jacoby

Author, CosmicDragon Press

Megan Baldrey

Executive Board President, Full Circle Theatre

Megan Baldrey is multi-passionate artist and adult spelling bee champion based out of Calgary, Alberta (Mohkinstsis). An honours' graduate of Mount Royal University's Theatre Performance Program, Megan works as a professional voice actor by day and a playwright, arts educator and... Read More →

Ella Beaumont

Publisher, EDGE Science Fiction and Fantasy Publishing

Sunday August 16, 2026 4:30pm - 5:45pm MDT
Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 6 700 Centre St S, Calgary, AB T2G 5P6, Canada

Slush

3:00pm MDT

4:30pm MDT

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