August 4-6, 2023

When Words Collide

Delta Hotels by Marriott Calgary South, 135 Southland Drive S.E.

Schedule:
Friday: 1:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m.
Saturday: 10:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m.
Sunday: 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m

Merchants Corner & Art Show Hours:
Friday: 12:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m.
Saturday: 9:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
Sunday: 9:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
Open to the Public
- Merchants Corner & Art Show
- Festival Guest Readings: Friday 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m.
- Autograph session: Saturday 8:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m.

Public Events (festival pass not required):
1. Festival Guest readings. This year's festival guests—, and —will be reading at the Fish Creek Public Library on Thursday August 3rd from 7:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m.. They will also be reading at the Delta Calgary South Hotel on Friday August 4th from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. in the Bonavista Ballroom (Tower Building).
2. Autograph Session. Festival guests joined by 70+ attending authors will be signing books on Saturday August 5th from 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. in the Atrium Café (Atrium Building).
3. Saturday Night Rapid Readings by attending authors. Saturday August 5th from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. in the Fireside Room (Tower Building).
4. Merchants Corner. Books by festival guests and attending authors and publishers are available all weekend during daytime hours in the Merchant Room located in the Nakiska Ballroom (Atrium Building).
5. Hidden Art Show. 2-D and 3-D works by attending artists are viewable (with some for sale) all weekend during daytime hours in the Art Room located in the Lake Louise Room (Atrium Building, 2nd floor above the Nakiska Ballroom).

Registration:
Adult: $45
Youth (13-18): $30
Child (8-12): $20
Child (7 and under): FREE
Banquet only: $50 each

When Words Collide is a festival for readers, writers, artists and publishers of commercial and literary fiction, including genre, YA, Childrens books, poetry and much more. The festival actively welcomes all lovers of the written word regardless of age, background, citizenship, disabilities, sex, education level, ethnicity, family status, gender, gender identity, experiences, race, religion, or sexual orientation.
When Words Collide is an annual non-profit festival designed to bring readers and writers together in a celebration of the written word. Up to 10 tracks of programming, beginning at 1:00 p.m. on Friday and running through 5:00 p.m. Sunday, offer informational, educational, and social activities covering a wide spectrum of literature including Mystery, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Romance, Historical, Literary, Script-writing, Poetry, Comics, and Non-fiction. Roughly 750 readers, writers, editors, publishers, agents, and artists attend with over 100 presenters in the program. Organizers and presenters alike volunteer their time and talents to make When Words Collide as accessible and varied as possible, and one of the largest literary events in Canada.
The festival program includes items you may find at a professional writers conference, such as blue pencil cafe and pitch sessions, as well as items you may find at a readers festival, such as talks, readings, and autographs by best-selling authors. Most of the program items are panel discussions where authors, editors, or other subject experts discuss the aspects of a topic such as how eBooks are impacting how authors write and readers read. Other popular activities include hands-on workshops or improving dialog in your writing and Live Action Slush, where editors respond to manuscripts submitted by the audience.

2023 Guests of Honour:
Angela Ackerman, Nicole Baart, Tanya Huff, Stacey Kondla

2023 Special Guests: Cathy Ace, Vicki Delany, Steena Holmes, Fonda Lee, Nicole Luiken, Morgan Rhodes, Edward Willett

Returning Festival Guests:
Vanessa Cardui
James Alan Gardner
Brian Hades
Sam Hiyate
C C Humphreys
Mark Leslie Lefebvre
Shirlee Smith Matheson
Robert Runté
Robert J Sawyer

Confirmed Presenters/Panelists:
Shannon Allen
Ella Beaumont
Nancy M Bell
Ron Bender
Dorothy Bentley
Tony Berryman
Shawn Bird
T K Boomer
Robert Bose
Susan Calder
R Graeme Cameron
A.Y Chao
Tracy Cooper-Posey
Erik D'Souza
Linda DeMeulemeester
Craig Dilouie
Danika Dinsmore
Dr NancyAngel Doetzel
Joan Donaldson-Yarmey
Susan Forest
Barb Galler-Smith
Christy Gibson
Jenna Greene
Frank Hardt
Faye Holt
Jessica Jackson
Deven Kane
Linda Keith
Jennifer Landels
Judy Lin
Josephine LoRe
Ceallaigh S MacCath-Moran
Susan MacGregor
Arlene Marks
Chris Marrs
Randy McCharles
Tod McCoy
Katie O'Connor
Marie Powell
Sarah L Pratt
Merrilee Robson
Tammy Rébéré
Madona Skaff
Andrew Snook
Diane Terrana
Carolyne Topdjian
Rena Traxel
Hayden Trenholm
Den Valdron
Krista Wallace
Allan Weiss
Johnathan Whitelaw
Edward Willett
PD Workman
Vivian Zenari