When Words Collide is a literary festival for readers and writers, with international book enthusiasts converging in Calgary every year on the second weekend of August to talk--what else--BOOKS! Three time Aurora Award winning fan convention, it started in 2011 and is so popular that its membership sells out months in advance.
This was my third year of attending this festival. Each year I consider posting my notes on this blog, but somehow allow myself to get carried away by other obligations.
No more! This year I must share my enthusiasm with others who attended the festival--but even more so with those who could not.
August 14hth, 2015. Day-1 of When Words Collide, 2015
Couldn't have asked for sunnier skies. Given my hour-and-a-half commute from the other end of the city, I started early but still managed to transfer to the wrong metro, but eventually managed to get to the venue on time. Or just about.
The Con was held at Delta Calgary South this year, a larger place than before to accommodate the growing audience size. The hotel sprawls on both sides of a street, with a skywalk to connect the two sides. So feel free to call me Skywalker.
After sprinting across this skywalk, an elevator brought me down to sunny indoor pool where a pair of children splashed about, oblivious to the literary-looking adults strolling nearby.
I spotted a long, serpentine line that I correctly guessed led to the registration site.
Caught up with old friends along the way. After collecting my badge and other paraphernalia from the overworked-but-still-able-to-smile (unlike how I might have been) volunteer at the registration desk, I finally headed into a room (where else but on the other side of the skywalk!) to participate in a workshop.
And oh, I forgot to mention eating my packed lunch along the way. Two p.m., and already two servings of fruits/vegetables in my tummy, not to mention a whole grain sandwich and stuff.
Swati: 1
Unhealthy food: 0
These are the workshops I attended that afternoon:
- 2:00-3:00 pm. Subtext in Foreshadowing, by Adria Laycraft
- 3:00-4:00 pm. Crafting Magical Worlds with Extra Credits' Mario Theory, by Susan Forest
- 4:00-5:00 pm. Novel Expansion, by Sarah Kades
In the following days, I'll be writing about each of these sessions in detail. For now, let's move on with the day.
For the 5:00 pm session, I was in conundrum. Wanted to attend about three of them. But hey, I can neither time-travel, nor clone myself as yet! So I finally settled on one, which was on the other side again.
Through the glass windows of the skywalk, I noticed that the sky had turned dark, and trees were swaying in the wind. Even though it was no longer actively raining, the sidewalk glistened with earlier rain and fallen leaves. Puddles had formed nearby. It was surreal to see a very different world outside.
The darkness stirred my Vader-ishness, and I gave up Skywalking (mostly because I had already reached the Other Side). (Notice how the side you're not on is always the Other Side?)
- 5:00-6:00 pm. Giving a Great Reading, by Eileen Bell and Jayne Bernard.
- 6:00-7:00 pm. Script Writing for Graphic Novels and Comics, by Daniel Abraham, Rick Overwater, Patrick Weekes, James Davidge, GMB Chomichuk
By 7:00 pm, I was so tired and sleepy after an early start and intense sessions throughout the day that all I wanted was to reach home and sleep.
But hey, it was time for keynote speech! How could I miss that? So I trudged to the Other Side and again parked myself in a chair.
Everyone else looked equally tired, and equally happy. Smiles were droopier now, walks were slower, and conversations had lulled to sleepy murmurs. But all eyes shone with excitement. No one's alertness had waned.
The huge hall was packed with people, every chair occupied. The guest speakers of this year, Diana Gabaldon, Brandon Mull, Faith Hunter, Daniel Abraham, CJ Carmichael, and Sally Harding, each spoke so delightfully that everyone was suddenly wide awake. (I shall be writing about each speaker's keynote speech in detail over the coming days.)
And then it was time to go home.
Parties and socials were about to begin at the Con site, but I had a long commute back, plus the need to catch enough sleep to stay fresh for next two days.
Still, I managed to catch up with my friend and fellow-writer Judith Williams, and it was great to reconnect.
It was raining on the trip back, but I had packed my rain gear and so was all set. I could go on and on about the journey back, but all I truly wanted was food and sleep.
Doggie leapt on me when I reached home. He demanded extra petting, and rightfully so. My wonderful husband had made just the comfort food that I needed, so I tucked in and then called it a day.
There's only one way to end this post, folks:
Zzzzzz....
Until tomorrow.
