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Welcome to When Words Collide 2024!

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We are the heroes, not the sidekicks: Building worlds and stories in SFF that centre disabled protagonists
Saturday August 17, 2024 4:00pm - 4:50pm MDT
Kananaskis 1
Many times when a disabled character is introduced into science fiction and fantasy, they are a token character, often crafted by authors who do not have lived experience of disability. As a result, readers can't really find representation that reflects their lives. This panel would discuss how one can craft their world-building and storytelling with their disabled, Deaf, Blind, and/or neurodivergent heroes taking centre stage.
Moderators
avatar for Fiona McTaggart

Fiona McTaggart

Fiona is a lifelong lover of fantasy, sci-fi and genre fiction of all sorts as both a writer and a reader. She has an honours BA in English and Creative Writing from Concordia University in Montreal and is currently working on her third novel.
Speakers
avatar for Rick Overwater

Rick Overwater

Rick Overwater is a longtime Calgary-based fiction author, songwriter and comic creator.His graphic novel, Futility: Orange Planet Horror was nominated for a 2019 Aurora Award in the Canadian Science Fiction and Fantasy Association’s Best Graphic Novel category. As well, his short... Read More →
avatar for Cait Gordon

Cait Gordon

Cait Gordon is an autistic, disabled, and queer Canadian writer of speculative fiction that celebrates diversity. She is the author of Life in the 'Cosm, The Stealth Lovers, and Season One: Iris and the Crew Tear Through Space! Her short stories appear in Alice Unbound: Beyond Wonderland... Read More →
avatar for Arlene F. Marks

Arlene F. Marks

Arlene F. Marks has been writing since the age of 6, and she has no plans to stop. A veteran teacher of the craft, she has authored two literacy programs for the classroom. Her short stories have appeared online and in print, notably in an anthology of reimagined fairy tales, Grimmer... Read More →
avatar for Madona Skaff

Madona Skaff

Madona Skaff is the author of the Naya Investigates series, about a young woman disabled by multiple sclerosis, who turns sleuth to solve crimes. In book one, Journey of a Thousand Steps, Naya searches for a missing friend. In book 2, Death by Association, she's tracking a serial... Read More →
Saturday August 17, 2024 4:00pm - 4:50pm MDT
Kananaskis 1
  Panel Discussion, Science Fiction, Fantasy

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