Tag Archives: #Bouchercon

A Tale of Two Writing Conventions

October 20, 2026News#amwriting, #amwritingfiction, #Bouchercon, #CrimeWritersCanada, #mysterynovel, #mysterywriting, #whenwordscollideadmin

In August, I spent a weekend at When Words Collide Festival for Readers and Writers in Calgary, my hometown. This year marked the festival’s 15th anniversary, and I’ve attended each year from the start. I love the energy, the learning, and the fun of catching up with people I only see once a year.

About 900 writers and readers gathered at the downtown Hyatt Regency Hotel for panels, presentations and special events. They chatted and networked in the hallways and merchants’ room. I sat on three panels, two of them related to short stories and the third about historical research and its application to stories. I learned a lot from the discussion with fellow panelists and from the other panels and talks I attended.

A full house for our panel on short stories titled “50 Ways to Kill Your Lover”

Despite the word “festival” in its name, WWC is really a convention like Bouchercon World Mystery Convention which arrives in Calgary tomorrow! I’ll be there and look forward to experiencing the similarities and differences between the two festival/conventions.

WWC is multi-genre, while Bouchercon is devoted to crime writing. B’con is a larger event. It spans five days vs. three days for WWC. Close to 1,400 people are expected to attend Calgary B’Con, which draws an international crowd. It takes place in different cities every year, usually in the United States. WWC is a Calgary event. Most registrants come from the local area, although people increasingly travel here from other Canadian provinces and beyond. B’con is a fan convention at heart. WWC offers more for writers than for readers.

Popular WWC speaker, retired Calgary Detective Dave Sweet (middle), engages both writers and readers with his stories of police work. He’ll be a Special Guest at Calgary Bouchercon.

The Calgary B’con schedule is packed with offerings that interest me such as panels on historical writing and interviews with the eight author Guests of Honour: Louise Penny, Kathy Reichs, Abir Mukherjee, Mark Greaney, Jennifer Hillier, Vicki Delany, Kevin Sands, and P. J. Vernon. Posthumous Fan GoH Steele Currey was chosen for his long-time support of crime writing. Sadly, Steele died in November 2024. A special exhibit of his mystery, espionage, and thriller book collection donated to the University of Calgary will be displayed at the convention.

I’ll be on two B’con panels, one about the enduring appeal of traditional mystery stories and the other about the benefits for writers of conventions, festivals, book clubs, and critique groups. I’ve had experience with all of these things, and five of my six novels are traditional whodunit mysteries. It’s been interesting to plan these panels with colleagues from Britain, the USA, and other parts of Canada.

My fellow BWL author, Bonny Beswick, nabbed a twenty-minute spotlight talk on a topic relevant to Canadians: “Writing when it’s so cold the ink in our pen freezes.” She’s generously invited the other attending BWL authors to join her. I’m especially eager to chat with Bonny and BWL writers donalee Moulton, Joan Donaldson-Yarmey, and David A. Poulsen at the convention.

Crime Writers of Canada will also feature me and four other writers in a media spot about Western Canadian writing. We all have short stories in the Sisters in Crime – Canada West anthology Crime Wave 4: Home Sweet Homicide, which will be launched at Bouchercon.

I have a second short story published in the upcoming Murder Most Alberta Anthology, and I might read from the story at the twenty-minute spotlight for that book.

Evenings at B’con will be for fun: Cozies and Cocktails Wednesday night. Thursday’s Opening Ceremonies will include a White Hat Ceremony, Calgary’s traditional welcome to visitors.

At the WWC 2026 Opening Ceremonies, Special Guests received a received a warm Calgary welcome with gifts of white cowboy hats.

Other evenings will offer a live auction, the 2026 Bouchercon Anthology signing, a pub trivia night, several awards ceremonies, and Author Bingo with free food at the Underrepresented Authors Reception.

Sunday’s Closing Ceremonies will cap the five-day happenings with a Guest of Honour panel moderated by BWL author Dave Poulsen.

When it’s all over, I expect to be exhausted but pumped to dive into my writing.

Yahoo: my second writing convention in two months

October 12, 2026News#amwriting, #amwritingfiction, #Bouchercon, #Canadianmysterynovels, #CrimeWritersCanada, #historicalfiction, #mysterynovel, #whenwordscollideadmin

I don’t think I’ve ever attended two conventions in the space of just over two months, but Calgary happens to be hosting two appealing ones this year. Today, on the BWL author blog, I write about my August experience at Calgary’s annual When Words Collide Festival for Readers and Writers and my plans for next week’s Bouchercon World Mystery Convention. Looking forward to an interesting five days at B’Con. https://bwlauthors.blogspot.com/

Bouchercon San Diego & more

November 25, 2023News#amwriting, #amwritingfiction, #Bouchercon, #California, #Canadianmysterynovels, #Julianpiecompany, #mysterynovel, #mysterywriting, #oceanside, #SanDiegoadmin

Calgary’s first snowfall of the season has got me dreaming about my holiday in California this September. The main purpose for the trip was to attend Bouchercon World Mystery Convention in San Diego. My husband Will (an avid mystery reader) and I spent four interesting days attending panels and events like Speed Dating for Writers and Readers and the New Author Breakfast. Both were more fun than I’d expected and popular enough to fill the large rooms by 7:00 am. When we weren’t occupied with the convention, we enjoyed the views from our hotel in the San Diego Marina.

After the convention, we stayed an extra day in San Diego to see a little more of the city. We walked along the boardwalk and took the short ferry ride to Coronado Island, an upscale vacation beach community. The highlight was a concert in the park featuring a great cover band. Hundreds of people gathered. Since we didn’t have chairs, we stood at the front and danced to songs like “Witchy Woman” and “One of These Nights” made famous by the Eagles.

From San Diego, we drove to Julian, a “hippie” town located in the apple-growing hills east of the city. In addition to exploring the quirky, historic former gold mining town, we gorged on apple pie – arguably the best I’ve ever had. A half dozen bakeries produce pies for tourists, many of them day-trippers from San Diego.

Sunshine, warmth, ocean, books, wine, apple pie — pretty much a perfect trip!

California Dreamin’

November 12, 2023News#amwriting, #amwritingfiction, #Bouchercon, #Canadianmysterynovels, #Julianpiecompany, #mysterynovel, #mysterywriting, #oceanside, #SanDiegoadmin

On today’s BWL author blog, I reminisce about holiday in southern California in late August-September. It’s even relevant to my writing. https://bwlauthors.blogspot.com/

Two Days to Book Launch

September 19, 2023News#amwriting, #amwritingfiction, #Bouchercon, #Canadianmysterynovels, #CoronadoIsland, #ebikes, #mysterynovel, #mysterywriting, #SanDiegoadmin

At Bouchercon San Diego in early September, I met Nancy Brashear at an evening event. She said she’d driven from San Clemente to the convention with her husband, who wasn’t attending Bouchercon. He’d brought his e-bike and had discovered interesting bike paths in the city. That morning he’d taken his bike on the ferry to Coronado island. Even though I was thoroughly enjoying the convention, as an ardent e-biker I was a tad jealous.

The next day I was surprised and pleased to see Nancy and her husband at my Author Spotlight at Bouchercon. I set up my presentation materials while our husbands chatted about e-biking. After my talk, Nancy asked if I’d be interested in participating in her blog. She regularly interviews authors and creates a super post. We got in touch after I came home from California. Here’s the post she did about me: https://www.nancybrashear.com/e-bike-and-pandemic-inspire-author-susan-calders-new-mystery-spring-into-danger/

Nancy says she’s coming to Calgary Bouchercon in 2026 and if she lived in Calgary, she’d love to come to my book launch.

Thursday, September 21, 2023, 7:00-8:30 p.m.

cSPACE Marda Loop, 1721 29th Avenue SW
Calgary, Alberta

A fun and inspiring writers’ weekend

August 26, 2023News#amwriting, #amwritingfiction, #Bouchercon, #whenwordscollideadmin

I spent the August long weekend at Calgary’s When Words Collide Festival for Readers and Writers. After three years of attending the festival online, it was great to see familiar faces in-person, make new connections, and participate in panels in front of live audiences. I also enjoyed spreading the word about BWL and Bouchercon Calgary 2026 at their Merchants’ Room tables, which were conveniently located next to each other.

As usual I especially enjoyed WWC’s opening evening keynote addresses. The four Festival Guest Authors were each given twenty minutes to talk about anything they wanted. This year’s speeches were intensely personal and brave. Writing coach and international speaker Angela Ackerman shared her struggle with imposter syndrome despite selling almost a million books in ten languages. I’m sure every writer in the room could relate. Stacey Kondla spoke about her stroke, which prompted her successful new career as a literary agent. Nicole Baart, author of “race-to-the finish family dramas,” discussed how her need for multiple surgeries during childhood led her to becoming a writer.

On my seven panels I discussed such topics such as creating characters, writing mental health, fiction in a world with COVID-19, putting your characters in danger, and how to write a series without losing your way (or your mind). About the latter, I confessed my method of combing through my notes and earlier series novels to recall a character’s eye colour, age, or divorce date wasn’t the most efficient way of keeping track of continuing series characters and suggested authors use a spreadsheet. Fellow panelist Cathy Ace prefers a series bible, which she described as a word document that she searches for a character’s pertinent details. Whatever works for each writer.

At the keynote event, WWC chair Randy McCharles passed the torch (a dragon statue) to the festival’s new management, the Alexandra Writers’ Centre Society. The AWCS was busy taking registrations for next year’s festival in the Merchants’ Room. WWC 2024 is already 70 % sold out. AWCS has put together an interesting lineup of Guests of Honour and Special Guest authors. Check their website for updates and to register for When Words Collide Volume Two: Every Chapter Has Another Great Story.

Thanks to Diane Bator (above) for organizing the BWL table. Author Layton Park stopped by to chat with Diane and do a table shift. Diane went home with ideas for sprucing up the BWL table next year. Even the Merchants’ Room can be inspiring.

Two Events

August 24, 2023News#Bouchercon, #CrimeWritersCanada, #mysterywriting, #sistersincrimeadmin

I’m excited about two upcoming events. Next week I’ll be on a panel at Bouchercon, San Diego, with four talented writers. It promises to be informative and fun. https://www.bouchercon.com/

On Sept 21st Owl’s Nest Bookstore will host the book launch party for my new novel, Spring Into Danger. The event will take place at cSpace Marda Loop, 1721 29th Avenue SW, 4^th floor Treehouse. Scroll down Owl’s Nest’s Event page for details. Owl’s Nest Bookstore (owlsnestbooks.com)

When Words Collide Chapter One Finale

August 12, 2023News#amwriting, #Bouchercon, #Canadianmysterynovels, #whenwordscollideadmin

Last weekend I spent a busy three days at Calgary’s When Words Collide Festival for Readers and Writers. This was supposed to be the ending of the festival’s successful thirteen-year run, but it will continue next year under new and enthusiastic management. You can read about my experience this year on today’s BWL author insider blog. https://bwlauthors.blogspot.com/

I look forward to connecting with new and old WWC friends next year!

When Words Collide – in person again!

May 12, 2023News#amwriting, #amwritingfiction, #Bouchercon, #Canadianmysterynovels, #mysterynovel, #mysterywriting, #whenwordscollideadmin

Today on the BWL author blog https://bwlauthors.blogspot.com/I write about When Words Collide, Calgary’s annual festival for readers and writers, which will make its last appearance this summer. I’ll be there and plan to attend many panels and events, sit on a panel or two, and host a table for Bouchercon World Mystery Convention Calgary 2026. https://bouchercon2026.com/. Two great events for lovers of mystery writing.

Bouchercon is coming to Calgary

February 21, 2023News#amwriting, #Bouchercon, #Canadianmysterynovels, #JenniferHillier, #LouisePenny, #mysterynovel, #mysterywriting, PJVernonadmin

Bouchercon Calgary’s website is live! Check out some of the authors who will be here in October, 2026. I’m excited to be part of the organizing team. https://bouchercon2026.com/ The photo shows co-chair Pamela McDowell and me presenting Calgary’s bid at Minneapolis Bouchercon last September.

Susan Calder

Author of Paula Savard Mystery Series & To Catch A Fox