Event Schedule
Canada Fiction Fest isn’t just a book showcase — take a look at the panel discussions and readings we’ve organized! Each one of these events is free for the public to attend, and all are presented virtually.
Clicking on the Register button for a session will take you to our registration platform, Humanitix, where you can register for the event(s) you are interested in. Humanitix will send you a reminder email so you don’t forget the event date, and it will also send you the streaming link the day before the event.
Session Schedule
Here’s the overview of what’s happening on each day of Fiction Fest. Click on a session title to find out which authors will be involved in that session and access the registration button (or just scroll down to the registration section!) NOTE: All times listed are in Eastern Daylight Time.
Week 1
SUNDAY, June 21
TUESDAY, June 23
WEDNESDAY, June 24
- 12:00 | Middle Grade Author Readings
- 1:30 | Fantasy Author Readings (Group 4)
- 6:30pm | Climate Change Fiction: Reckoning and Resilience
- 8:00pm | Elements of Fantasy World-Building
THURSDAY, June 25
FRIDAY, June 26
SATURDAY, June 27
Week 2
SUNDAY, June 28
MONDAY, June 29
- 12:00pm | Romance Author Readings
- 1:30pm | Mixed Genre Author Readings
- 7:00pm | From the Urban to the Epic: What Makes it Fantasy?
TUESDAY, June 30
- 6:30pm | Horror Author Readings (Group 1)
- 8:00pm | Screams, Spooks, and Supernatural Scares
WEDNESDAY, July 1
It’s Canada Day! No sessions scheduled today, so go have fun with friends and family!
THURSDAY, July 2
FRIDAY, July 3
- 12:00pm | The Rise of Cozy Fiction
- 7:00pm | Literary Fiction Author Readings (Group 3)
SATURDAY, July 4
Session Details and Registration
Panel Discussions
Falling in Love with Love: Why Romance?
PANEL DISCUSSION
June 21st, 12:00pm EDT
(9:00am PDT | 1:00pm ADT)
Featuring:
- Nathan Burgoine
- Mimi Flood
- Renée Gendron
Hosted by:
- Steve Hugh Westenra
"But What Made You Pick THIS Story?" The Inspiration Behind the Books
PANEL DISCUSSION
June 21st, 3:00pm EDT
(12:00pm PDT | 4:00pm ADT)
Featuring:
- Michael Nest
- Michelle Barker
- Linda Mah
- Andy Leblanc
Hosted by:
- Steve Hugh Westenra
Small But Mighty: Canadian Perspectives on the Publishing Industry
PANEL DISCUSSION
June 22nd, 12:00pm EDT
(9:00am PDT | 1:00pm ADT)
Featuring:
- Jeff Cottrill
- Andy Taylor
- Peggy Blair
Hosted by:
- N.P. Thompson
Exploring the Unknown in Science Fiction, From Dystopian Futures to Outer Space
PANEL DISCUSSION
June 22nd, 7:30pm EDT
(4:30pm PDT | 8:30pm ADT)
Featuring:
- Marcus Edwards
- Matt Cahill
- P.A. Cornell
- Jay Royston
Hosted by:
- Steve Hugh Westenra
General Discussion: What Made You Want to Write? How do You Stay Creative? Etc.
PANEL DISCUSSION
June 23rd, 7:00pm EDT
(4:00pm PDT | 8:00pm ADT)
Featuring:
- Alison McGauley
- Carter Vance
- Claris Lam
- J.P. Bird
Hosted by:
- N.P. Thompson
Climate Change Fiction: Reckoning and Resilience
PANEL DISCUSSION
June 24th, 6:30pm EDT
(3:30pm PDT | 7:30pm ADT)
Featuring:
- Margaret Sweatman
- Alanna Rusnak
- Jason Pchajek
- K.A. Wiggins
Hosted by:
- Steve Hugh Westenra
Elements of Fantasy World-Building
PANEL DISCUSSION
June 24th, 8:00pm EDT
(5:00pm PDT | 9:00pm ADT)
Featuring:
- K.V. Johansen
- Alex Arch
- Tao Wong
- R.A. Consell
- Crystal Keesler
Hosted by:
- N.P. Thompson
Hooked on Books: What Kinds of Stories Turn Kids into Lifelong Readers?
PANEL DISCUSSION
June 25th, 12:00pm EDT
(9:00am PDT | 1:00pm ADT)
Featuring:
- Jessica Vitalis
- Timothy Forner
- Mahtab Narsimhan
Hosted by:
- N.P. Thompson
But Do They Kiss?: Romantasy and Romantic Fantasy
PANEL DISCUSSION
June 25th, 7:00pm EDT
(4:00pm PDT | 8:00pm ADT)
Featuring:
- Chandra Fisher
- Scarlett Kol
- Ellie Ash
Hosted by:
- Steve Hugh Westenra
“But What Made You Pick THIS Story?” The Inspiration Behind the Books (Group 1)
PANEL DISCUSSION
June 26th, 8:00pm EDT
(5:00pm PDT | 9:00pm ADT)
Featuring:
- David Jón Fuller
- Ivanka Fear
- Arnold Faber
- Jacob Tamlin
Hosted by:
- N.P. Thompson
Diversity in Fiction: Seeing Ourselves and Each Other in Stories
PANEL DISCUSSION
June 27th, 12:00pm EDT
(9:00am PDT | 1:00pm ADT)
Featuring:
- Trinity Cunningham
- Joanna Lilley
- Jennifer Rahn
- Y.R. Liu
Hosted by:
- Steve Hugh Westenra
Accuracy vs Poetic License in Historical Fiction
PANEL DISCUSSION
June 28th, 12:00pm EDT
(9:00am PDT | 1:00pm ADT)
Featuring:
- Andrew Varga
- Sheila James
- K.R. Wilson
- J.F. Garrard
- Andrew Boden
Hosted by:
- Steve Hugh Westenra
Out of the Ashes: Finding Hope Through Dystopia
PANEL DISCUSSION
June 28th, 3:00pm EDT
(12:00pm PDT | 1:00pm ADT)
Featuring:
- Ethan Spadoni
- Suzane Craig-Whystock
- Kalleigh Royn
- Adriaan Brae
Hosted by:
- Steve Hugh Westenra
From the Urban to the Epic: What Makes it Fantasy?
PANEL DISCUSSION
June 29th, 7:00pm EDT
(4:00pm PDT | 5:00pm ADT)
Featuring:
- Will Fawley
- Stephanie Caye
- Ash Kreider
- Sue Archer
Hosted by:
- N.P. Thompson
Screams, Spooks, and Supernatural Scares
PANEL DISCUSSION
June 30th, 8:00pm EDT
(5:00pm PDT | 9:00pm ADT)
Featuring:
- Amelinda Berube
- Konn Lavery
- Shelly Campbell
Hosted by:
- Steve Hugh Westenra
Building a Mystery: What Makes a Satisfying Sleuthhound Story?
PANEL DISCUSSION
July 2nd, 7:00pm EDT
(4:00pm PDT | 8:00pm ADT)
Featuring:
- Melissa Yi
- Bob Nothnagel
- Louise Carson
Hosted by:
- N.P. Thompson
The Rise of "Cozy" Fiction
PANEL DISCUSSION
July 3rd, 12:00pm EDT
(9:00am PDT | 1:00pm ADT)
Featuring:
- Bruce Bishop
- Vanessa Ricci-Thode
- Monica Goertzen Hertlein
Hosted by:
- N.P. Thompson
Hello Darkness, My Old Friend: The Enduring Appeal of Horror
PANEL DISCUSSION
July 4th, 2:00pm EDT
(11:00am PDT | 3:00pm ADT)
Featuring:
- Mark Leslie
- Dianna Gunn
- Felix I.D. Dimaro
- Frank Paul Beghin
Hosted by:
- Steve Hugh Westenra
Author Readings
Mystery Authors (Group 1)
AUTHOR READINGS
June 21st, 1:30pm EDT
(10:30am PDT | 2:30pm ADT)
Featuring:
- J.P. Bird
- Louise Carson
- Suzanne Craig-Whytock
- Melissa Yi
Hosted by:
- N.P. Thompson
Science Fiction Authors (Group 2)
AUTHOR READINGS
June 21st, 4:30pm EDT
(1:30pm PDT | 5:30pm ADT)
Featuring:
- Jennifer Rahn
- Jason Pchajek
- Marcus Edwards
Hosted by:
- N.P. Thompson
Literary Fiction Authors (Group 2)
AUTHOR READINGS
June 21st, 7:00pm EDT
(4:00pm PDT | 8:00pm ADT)
Featuring:
- Carter Vance
- Andrew Boden
- Jay Royston
- Joanna Lilley
Hosted by:
- Steve Hugh Westenra
Science Fiction Authors (Group 1)
AUTHOR READINGS
June 22nd, 1:30pm EDT
(10:30am PDT | 2:30pm ADT)
Featuring:
- Arnold Faber
- P.A. Cornell
- Alanna Rusnak
Hosted by:
- N.P. Thompson
Mystery Authors (Group 2)
AUTHOR READINGS
June 23rd, 12:00pm EDT
(9:00am PDT | 1:00pm ADT)
Featuring:
- Bob Nothnagel
- Peggy Blair
- Ivanka Fear
Hosted by:
- Steve Hugh Westenra
YA Authors (Group 2)
AUTHOR READINGS
June 23rd, 1:30pm EDT
(10:30am PDT | 2:30pm ADT)
Featuring:
- Scarlett Kol
- Michelle Barker
- Stephen Randle
Hosted by:
- N.P. Thompson
Middle Grade Authors
AUTHOR READINGS
June 24th, 12:00pm EDT
(9:00am PDT | 1:00pm ADT)
Featuring:
- Mahtab Narsimhan
- R.A. Consell
- Timothy Forner
Hosted by:
- N.P. Thompson
Fantasy Authors (Group 4)
AUTHOR READINGS
June 24th, 1:30pm EDT
(10:30am PDT | 2:30pm ADT)
Featuring:
- Will Fawley
- Vanessa Ricci-Thode
- Chandra Fisher
- Claris Lam
Hosted by:
- Steve Hugh Westenra
Literary Fiction Authors (Group 1)
AUTHOR READINGS
June 26th, 12:00pm EDT
(9:00am PDT | 1:00pm ADT)
Featuring:
- Margaret Sweatman
- Sheila James
- Alison Gadsby
- Jeff Cottrill
Hosted by:
- Steve Hugh Westenra
Fantasy Authors (Group 2)
AUTHOR READINGS
June 27th, 1:30pm EDT
(10:30am PDT | 2:30pm ADT)
Featuring:
- Sue Archer
- J.F. Garrard
- Y.R. Liu
- David Jón Fuller
Hosted by:
- N.P. Thompson
Horror Authors (Group 2)
AUTHOR READINGS
June 27th, 7:00pm EDT
(4:00pm PDT | 8:00pm ADT)
Featuring:
- Dianna Gunn
- Frank Paul Beghin
- Konn Lavery
- Shelly Campbell
Hosted by:
- Steve Hugh Westenra
YA Authors (Group 1)
AUTHOR READINGS
June 28th, 1:30pm EDT
(10:30am PDT | 2:30pm ADT)
Featuring:
- Nathan Burgoine
- Abigail de Niverville
- Jacob Tamlin
Hosted by:
- Steve Hugh Westenra
Romance Authors
AUTHOR READINGS
June 29th, 12:00pm EDT
(9:00am PDT | 1:00pm ADT)
Featuring:
- Renée Gendron
- Edith Lalonde
- Mimi Flood
- Cheryl Rosbak
Hosted by:
- Steve Hugh Westenra
Mixed Genre Authors
AUTHOR READINGS
June 29th, 1:30pm EDT
(10:30am PDT | 2:30pm ADT)
Featuring:
- Linda Mah
- Andy Taylor
- Monica Goertzen Hertlein
- Michael Nest
Hosted by:
- N.P. Thompson
Horror Authors (Group 1)
AUTHOR READINGS
June 30th, 6:30pm EDT
(3:30pm PDT | 7:30pm ADT)
Featuring:
- Mark Leslie
- Ethan Spadoni
- Amelinda Berube
- Dean Italiano
Hosted by:
- Steve Hugh Westenra
Fantasy Authors (Group 1)
AUTHOR READINGS
July 2nd, 12:00pm EDT
(9:00am PDT | 1:00pm ADT)
Featuring:
- Crystal Keesler
- Tao Wong
- Kalleigh Royn
- Stephanie Caye
Hosted by:
- Steve Hugh Westenra
Literary Fiction Authors (Group 3)
AUTHOR READINGS
July 3rd, 7:00pm EDT
(4:00pm PDT | 8:00pm ADT)
Featuring:
- Kris Jamison
- Bruce Bishop
- Matt Cahill
- K.R. Wilson
Hosted by:
- Steve Hugh Westenra
Fantasy Authors (Group 3)
AUTHOR READINGS
July 4th, 12:00pm EDT
(9:00am PDT | 1:00pm ADT)
Featuring:
- Trinity Cunningham
- K.A. Wiggins
- Rachel Rosen
Hosted by:
- N.P. Thompson
