It's August again, and you know what that means: it's time for When Words Collide, Calgary's wildest wrangling of genre-crossing literature, a Festival for Readers and Writers.
The convention has been sold out since June but there are a few areas open to the public. Check the website at When Words Collide to learn what events you can access from outside.
I'll be appearing on several panels to discuss the amazing alternate-Victorian world of Maddie Hatter, how to plot the perfect crime, who my favourite paranormal authors are, and other topics of interest to readers and to writers of crime and/or speculative fiction.
My Schedule:
Friday, August 11th
* at 7 p.m. in the Canmore Room (Atrium Building): When, Where, Why and How Would You Kill This Character? Audience participation as writers brainstorm. With only a setting, character, and motive, how will each panelist kill the character and hide the body?
* at 9 p.m. (room TBA) Tyche Books Ltd and Steampunk Arts & Sciences Society (SASS) present their annual absinthe and Scotch tastings. Learn about malts from true aficionados and watch a perfect absinthe drink created from the fountain manipulated by the Commander's experienced hands.
Saturday, August 12th
(all in Tower Building from here on unless specified)
* 12 noon in the Fireside Room: Tyche Books Presents their annual book social with editors and authors presenting the 2017 collection. Panel discussion and Q & A.
* 2 p.m. in Bonavista Room: Paranormal Mysteries by subtype and style. How much woo-woo is too much? What authors do it well?
* 8 p.m. in the Parkland Room: Mass autograph session, where I'll be signing my two Maddie Hatter Adventures, two Enigma Front anthologies, and whatever other anthologies or old magazine stories of mine readers bring along.
* 10 p.m. in a semi-secret location: Bundoran Press's combined party and triple book launch. I'm just going as a spectator and cheerer-on of the authors.
Sunday, August 13th
* 2 p.m. in the Parkland Room: Elements of Suspense (a Sisters-in-Crime panel), in which we discuss what keeps readers turning the page and sleeping with the lights on.
* 4 p.m. in the Fireside Room: Women of Mystery (a Sisters-in-Crime panel), in which 4 long-time mystery writer/readers discuss their favourite new and established female crime writers, and reveal a few secrets of our own.
Looking forward to seeing lots of friends old and new!
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What a busy and wonderful weekend! So many friends came to Calgary for When Words Collide (August 12-14, 2016) that it was a constant social whirl. Many thanks go to the ever-inventive Convention Committee, who make presenters' tasks simpler and keep the program moving through three challenging days. They won another Aurora for their efforts, and well deserved it is, too.
My scheduled duties began with another presentation of that popular 50-minute workshop I do with EC Bell on how to give great public readings. As usual, no photos survive, which is probably a good thing as I spend a significant part of that time waving my arms and contorting my face to demonstrate ways to warm up the chest, neck, face, and voice. EC Bell (Eileen) has the more dignified role, imparting information on bookstore etiquette and other essential matters of organization.
My second job was a panel, "Around the World in 80 Murders." Our crime writers' tribute to the Steampunk theme of #WWC2016,
featured Mystery Guest of Honour Ian Hamilton along with Calgary writers Sharon Wildwind, Gary Renfrew, and me. We didn't
quite make it to 80 places in the world where we've committed
(fictional) crimes, but came close. Thanks to Constantine K for the pinning and Susan Lawson for the photo.
Kevin collected my first-time-nominee pin for me at this charming Aurora ceremony in the Atrium (I was in the 80 Murders panel), and
re-pinned me later that evening in the Tyche/SASS party surrounded by my
friends. Here he is receiving the pin from the delightful Julie Czerneda (who also MC'd the Prix Aurora Awards
the following evening).
What an exciting honour for my first SFF book!
Congratulations to all the other first-time nominees, whose names are immortalized on the Prix Aurora site, and
thanks to Ron Friedman for the photo of Kevin with Julie.
After meals with friends, and several parties, and some sleep, I attended the launch social for Enigma Front: Burnt.
My post-climate apocalypse story, "When the Tide Burns," is in excellent company with the varied SF and fantasy tales by a troop of talented authors from the Imaginative Fiction Writers Association.
Fifty Shades of Murder:
Between Dwayne Clayden, Mahrie Glab, Axel
Howerton, and me, we spanned all four quadrants of crime fiction, from
the cosiest character-driven tea party to the most
blood-and-brains-splattered plot-driven grit. This was another audience-participation panel, with some debate about which quadrant which author's works landed. (photo credit to AJ Proc)
Saturday evening saw the Steampunks descend on the Delta Calgary South for the Prix Aurora banquet. Almost every table in the hall featured guests in hats, spats, goggles, and other fantastical apparel. Seated next to
me is fellow author Laini Giles (photo credit to Constantine K).
A fun demonstration of Parasol Dueling accompanied the dessert. Two duelists and two Doctors (referees) from Madame Saffron Hemlock's Parasol Dueling Academy showed the ropes and elucidated the variants of this gracious Steampunk sport. The World Championships will be held in Calgary on September 10th, 2016.
Speaking of dessert, kudos to the kitchen staff of the hotel for their lovely array of gluten-free desserts. I gleefully indulged and can testify to their wonderful flavours and textures. This is Margaret's (my editor) much more restrained plate, to give you an idea what all was on offer.
And then the Auroras were presented, to much cheering. You all know how award ceremonies go, and the winners have already been announced (but if you missed it go here ) so I won't report in detail on that. Cliff Samuels kept the show moving with his usual exemplary efficiency, and the presenters illuminated many tidbits of SFF history.
After the mass autograph signing that followed the awards, there was more social whirl, more catching up with friends. Eventually, more sleep.
Which brings us to Sunday.
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My first afternoon panel was "Gaslight, Clockworks, & Steam" featuring editors Jeff R. Campbell and Charles Prepolec along with authors H. Leighton Dickson, Marty Chan (not shown) and me. Someone in the audience had just asked us a question none of us had anticipated, and the astute photographer (related to Charles) caught our unfiltered reactions.
Apart from this moment, it was a lively discussion that covered everything from dinosaurs to colonialism, mentioned the movies and television shows all the panelists had watched faithfully during our formative years, and touched on the classic literature of Jules Verne, H.G. Wells, Arthur Conan Doyle and others, that is at the root of modern works of gaslight, clockwork, and steampunk literature.
My final panel at When Words Collide was a fascinating discussion on
finding your way past (and through) disability to creativity. I learned a
lot from the audience and from my fellow panelists: Valerie King (moderator), Aviva Bel'Harold, Catherine Saykaly-Stevens, and Adam Dreece. (photo credit to
AJ Proc)
A great many panels, presentations, and workshops went on before, during and after my three days, given by experts in many fields and genres: music and poetry through mystery, fantasy, and romance; making audiobooks; writing better hooks, and the mechanics of self-publishing. It's truly a one-stop shop for both writers and readers.
That was the end of my wonderful weekend, although many convention members hung on well into the evening. I'm already looking forward to next year.
The convention was sold out well in advance, and doubtless will be again in 2017. Don't wait to get your pass. See When Words Collide for prices and purchasing options.
Next weekend will be very busy for writers in Calgary, and writers visiting Calgary.
When Words Collide, running August 12-14 (with specialist workshops before and after) is an award-winning, genre-crossing lit-fest for readers and writers, with Author Guests of Honour in SFF, Romance, & Mystery and programming streams for all those as well poetry/songwriting, editing/publishing, and more. Although attendance was raised to 700 this year, it's been sold out for more than a month. A few events are open to the public, including a special Guest-of-Honour reading session in collaboration with Calgary Public Library. Check out the festival website at http://www.whenwordscollide.org/index.php to find out when and where.
Where you can find me:
Friday, August 12:
4 p.m. Giving a Great Reading - 50 interactive minutes with me and EC Bell on what makes a great reading, with exercises to improve delivery as well as tips and tricks from the trenches, er, bookstores. Bring a page of your writing to practice with. Kananaskis Room 1
6 p.m. Around the World in 80 Murders - panel discussion on the excitement and obstacles to setting crimes in far-off places; Mystery GoH Ian Hamilton (author of the Ava Lee series), me, G.W Renshaw and Sharon Wildwind. Parkland-Bonavista-Willow Park Rooms.
8 p.m onward - Tyche Books/ Steampunk Arts & Sciences Society whisky and absinthe tastings; other gatherings. Suite 318
Saturday, August 13:
2 p.m. - Enigma Front: Burnt - anthology launch and celebration,
with readings, autographs, and door prizes. Acadia Room.
3 p.m. - 50 Shades of Mystery - Troll the mean streets and smoky bars in Noir and Police Procedurals. Taste the poisoned teacups and toy with tainted hearts in Traditional Mystery and Romantic Suspense. Panel discussion between me, Dwayne Clayden, Axel Howerton and Mahrie G. Reid. Bonavista Room.
5:30 - 6:30 p.m. - Steampunk Banquet - Parkland, Bonavista, Willow Park Rooms.
6:30 - 7:30 p.m. - Aurora Awards
Parkland, Bonavista, Willow Park Rooms.
8 - 9 p.m. - Mass autograph session. Parkland, Bonavista, Willow Park Rooms.
9 p.m onward - Noir at the Bar YYC (Boomtown Pub); other social gatherings
Sunday, August 14th:
2 p.m. - Gaslights, Clockworks and Steam - panel discussion with Marty Chan, me, H. Leighton Dickson, Charles Prepolec, & Jeff Campbell. Authors examine the persistent allure of Victorian historical and fantastical tales, from Sherlock Holmes and HG Wells through modern Steampunk, and argue the balance between historical purity, paranormal, and techno-fantasy. Bonavista Room.
4 p.m. - Finding Creativity in Diversity and Learning Disabilities. panel discussion with Catherine Saykaly-Stevens, me, Adam Dreece, Aviva Bel'Harold, Val King. Writers discuss how disabilities (including physical and mental illnesses as well as learning disabilities) that once challenged us now allow us a unique perspective and distinctive creativity. Kananaskis 2.
OFFICIAL
LAUNCH
Saturday,
August 13,
2 p.m.
Acadia Room
Delta Calgary South
Watch for my story
When the Tide Burns
Among all those from these superb, multi-award-winning authors
An Analemma Anthology
sponsored by:
IFWA - Imaginative Fiction Writers Association Calgary
