When Words Collide 2026

When Words Collide 2026

A Festival for Writers, Readers, and Fans

Leslie Wibberley

Port Coquitlam, B.C.

lesliewibberley.com

Find me on

About me

I write short and long fiction across a wide variety of styles and genres, but have a passion for dark speculative fiction. I am represented by Naomi Davis of Bookends Literary.

10:30am MDT

Opening Ceremony & Keynote Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 4+6Terry Brooks

12:00pm MDT

Gemma Files Lecture Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 7Gemma Files

1:30pm MDT

Fear Factor: How Fear Rewires Your Character’s Behavior, Logic & Responses Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 9Angela Ackerman Short & Sweet, Why Word-Economy Needs to be in Every Writer's Toolkit Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 8Alexis Marie Chute

3:00pm MDT

High stakes short fiction Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 8Lexie Angelo

4:30pm MDT

In Conversation 1 Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 6Andrew Buckley • Gemma Files • Bianca Marais • Craig DiLouie The Whole Package: Creating a Top-Quality Published Book That Jumps Off the Shelf and Attacks Your Reader (Nicely) Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 7Jennifer Sommersby Things That Make You Go: Go! A Workshop on Keeping Your Momentum Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 4Deniz Soykurumcetin

9:00am MDT

Books with Hooks Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 6Bianca Marais • Carly Watters • Cecilia "CeCe" Lyra

12:00pm MDT

Making Monsters: the Art & Craft of Writing Horror Hyatt Regency Calgary - DollFiona McTaggart • James Downe • Kim Harbridge • Sam Wilket Live Action Slush: Short Fiction Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 6Jennifer Chevais • Lexie Angelo • Cecilia "CeCe" Lyra

1:30pm MDT

Surviving Publishing Hyatt Regency Calgary - DollRhonda Parrish • Richard Graeme Cameron • Jason Pearce • Margaret Curelas • Krista D. Ball Query Slush Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 6Jennifer Sommersby • Erin Weir • Mira Landry • Bonnie Jacoby

3:00pm MDT

Live Action Slush: Romance Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 6Nicole Roche • Mira Landry • Carly Watters • Alison McBain

4:30pm MDT

Cinematic Storytelling: Does Hollywood Flair Work in Speculative Fiction? Hyatt Regency Calgary - DollChris Corvan • Rick Overwater • Don Miasek • James Downe • Michael Peterson

6:00pm MDT

Kevin McDonald Superstar Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 4+6Kevin McDonald

9:00am MDT

THREENOTE: With Amanda Leduc, Danny Ramadan, and Craig Dilouie Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 4+6Amanda Leduc • Danny Ramadan • Craig DiLouie The Importance of Finding Your Tribe Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 5Deniz Soykurumcetin • Donna D. Conrad • J.C. (John) Corry • Angela Douglas • Marie Powell

10:30am MDT

The importance of names and language Hyatt Regency Calgary - HeraldLareina Abbott • Jason Pearce • Camilla Tracy • Onyx Shelton Marketing Without the Ick: Show Up, Be Seen, and Share With Heart Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 8Rosey Hwang

12:00pm MDT

From Manuscript to Market: Ask Us Anything Hyatt Regency Calgary - HeraldLeanne Janzen • Mira Landry • Ella Beaumont Get that grant! How to win literary arts grants Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 8Lexie Angelo Workshop with Bianca Marais - TBA Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 4Bianca Marais

1:30pm MDT

How to Write a Synopsis without Crying First Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 4Mira Landry

3:00pm MDT

Strategies for Surviving Feedback - MASTERCLASS (pre-reg req) Hyatt Regency Calgary - BannermanFinnian Burnett • Christine Tsai Taylor Live Action Slush: Science Fiction Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 6Richard Graeme Cameron • Bonnie Jacoby • Krista Wallace • Ella Beaumont

4:30pm MDT

Live Action Slush: Fantasy/Urban Fantasy Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 6Margaret Curelas • Bonnie Jacoby • Megan Baldrey • Ella Beaumont

6:00pm MDT

Closing Ceremony: TWONOTE with Andrew Buckley, Gemma Files; plus War of the Words Winners Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 4+6