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This year's festival is sold out. To be on the waiting list

2019

When Words Collide is a festival for readers, writers, artists and publishers of commercial and literary fiction, including genre, YA, children's books, poetry, and much more. Would you like to know more?

Our 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.

We respectfully acknowledge that we are gathered in the traditional territories of the Blackfoot Confederacy, including the Siksika, Piikani and Kainai Nations; the Stoney-Nakoda, including the Chiniki, Bearspaw and Wesley Nations; and the Tsuut’ina Nation. Southern Alberta is also home to the Métis Nation of Alberta, Region 3.

Guests of Honour

★ Cathy Ace ★ Vicki Delany ★ Steena Holmes ★ Fonda Lee ★ Dave Reynolds

Alberta Romance
Writers Association
MERCHANT

Guests of Honour

★ Cathy Ace ★ Vicki Delany ★ Steena Holmes ★ Fonda Lee ★ Dave Reynolds

Painted Turtle Press
MERCHANT

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Important and Emergency Notices

The Festival has Sold Out

• Tuesday 2023 June 6 •

We are, however, maintaining a waiting list for passes that come available due to cancellations. Contact us to be placed on the waiting list. If you cannot find a pass for this year's festival, or have friends who would like to check us out, we do have some free events open to the public.

Public Events (festival pass not required):

Festival Guest readings. This year's festival guests—, and —will be reading at the Fish Creek Public Library on Thursday August 3rd from 7-9 pm. They will also be reading at the Delta Calgary South Hotel on Friday August 4th from 1 to 3 pm in the Bonavista Ballroom (Tower Building).
Autograph Session. Our festival guests joined by 70+ attending authors will be signing books on Saturday August 5th from 8 to 10 pm in the Bonavista Ballroom (Tower Building).
Saturday Night Rapid Readings by attending authors. Saturday August 5th from 7 to 9 PM in the Fireside Room (Tower Building).
Merchants Corner. Books by our festival guests and attending authors and publishers are available all weekend during daytime hours in our Merchant Room located in the Nakiska Ballroom (Atrium Building).
Hidden Art Show. 2-D and 3-D works by attending artists are viewable (with some for sale) all weekend during daytime hours in our Art Room located in the Lake Louise Room (Atrium Building, 2nd floor above the Nakiska Ballroom).

Blog

Tenth Anniversay Song and Story

• Friday 2021 August 20 •

You can listen to our Tenth Anniversary song by Jim Jackson as well as watching the story of how WWC came to be, narrated by Tony King.

From the WWC Chairman

• Thursday 2021 August 19 •

Thank you everyone for joining us for When Words Collide's 10th Anniversary. It's been quite a ride. We hope you had an enjoyable weekend.

As there is still uncertainty surrounding the future of the pandemic which could impact our 2022 in-person festival, we are not re-opening registration until January. Those who registered for the 2020 or 2021 in-person festivals are already registered for 2022. Once we are satisfied that we won't be forced to have a lower attendance cap next summer, we will re-open registration. Sorry for the delay.

That's All, Folks!

• Monday 2021 August 16 •

Another year, and another When Words Collide has wound to a successful conclusion. Thank you to everybody who went above and beyond to make this year's festival a success despite the pandemic!

Unless really bad things happen, we intend to hold WWC 2022 IN PERSON! Registration and information for 2022 will be available as soon as the situation becomes clearer. Stay tuned!

Inspirational Music