October will be a busy month for me, as I try to finish edits of the third Cross book, The Apocalypse Ark, before the publication date rolls around. I’ll be making a few appearances as well:

I’m moderating the Weird Fiction panel at the 2015 Vancouver Writers Fest. The panel will feature Kelly Link, Jeff VanderMeer, Neil Smith and Robert J. Wiersema. Wednesday, Oct. 21, 8:30 p.m. at Performance Works.

Later the same week I’ll be at the Surrey International Writers’ Conference.

Friday, Oct. 23, 10 a.m. – Are You Talking to Me?

Are you talking to me? Dialogue is one of the most important parts of any novel or story, but it’s often the most overlooked thing in writing. Too often dialogue between characters is just a mundane conversation to set up plot points or reveal information. Dialogue can be and should be so much more, though. Dialogue can be a weapon for characters, and it can create tension and surprise. It can create characters or conceal their true selves. It can even control the reader. Peter Darbyshire draws on his theatre background to help you bring your stories to life through dialogue.

Saturday, Oct. 24, 10 a.m. – Building Connections

With Jasper Fforde and Sarah Wendell, kc dyer moderating

How can you best use social media to make real connections with readers, colleagues, and friends without letting it take over your life? Our social media panel is here to help! This session is likely to be fast-moving and irreverent.

Sunday, Oct. 25, 11:30 a.m. – What’s Your Voice?

Voice is the most important part of any book. Do you write with the fallen angel lyricism of Raymond Chandler’s detectives? The storytelling magic of Annie Proulx? The pop culture playfulness of Cory Doctorow? Voice tells us what we need to know about the world of the book, who the characters are and what they want. Voice tells us what’s important to the writer — and that tells us what’s important to the reader. The hardest part of learning to write is finding your voice, but once you have it you’ve arrived. Let’s find your voice together.

I’d like to say I plan on sleeping in November, but I have a new book I need to be working on….