Join author, Nancy Taber, to learn about thedefinition of speculative fiction,genres of speculative fiction (e.g., alternate history, fantasy, paranormal, science fiction, steampunk) with their associated tropes, and how speculative elements such as fairy tales, folklore, magic, myth, and the supernatural can be used in a variety of genres (e.g., contemporary, historical, romance, thriller, women’s fiction). Using a combination of discussions, examples, and interactive exercises,the workshop will assist participants in incorporating speculative fiction into their own writing, whether for short stories or novels. The workshop—suitable for writers with any ability or familiarity with writing and speculative fiction—will focus on how to make world-building in speculative fiction believable, coherent,and immersive.

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Nancy Taber is a former Canadian military officer. Part of her job once included leaping out of a helicopter into the ocean. Now, most of her job includes sitting at a computer, drinking massive amounts of coffee, and dropping her characters into wild and sometimes weird circumstances. Currently a professor at Brock University, Nancy has published research on the intersection of gender, war, and militarism in academic books and journals. Her short stories have appeared in journals such as The South Shore Review and Atlantis: Critical Studies in Gender, Culture and Social Justice, among others. A Sea of Spectres,based in Acadian folklore, is her debut novel, forthcoming in June 2024 with Acorn Press. Visit her at nancytaber.ca.

This event is presented in partnership with the Canadian Authors Association, Niagara Branch.