K.A. Wiggins (Kaie) is an award-winning speculative fiction author, speaker, and creative educator known for the celebrated “eco-apocalypse + monsters in dystopian Vancouver” gothic YA Science Fantasy series Threads of Dreams.
She writes across fantasy, science fiction, and horror subgenres (often within the same work), exploring the tangled webs of society, environment, and identity through intricate, dreamlike tales of monsters and magic. Her work has appeared in Strange Horizons, Lightspeed Magazine, The NoSleep Podcast, Fantasy Magazine, Mysterion, and Pulphouse Fiction Magazine, among others.
A dynamic and engaging speaker, she makes frequent appearances at conferences and festivals, leads term-length youth storytelling workshops and seasonal camps with the Creative Writing for Children Society, and is the president of the Children's Writers & Illustrators of British Columbia Society.
She lives in the Comox Valley (Courtenay), British Columbia, and is available for virtual, local, national, and international bookings. Find her at kawiggins.com or on social.
I prefer to discuss your needs and interests rather than deliver a "canned" presentation or workshop (though my interactive whiteboard stories are particularly popular!), so please feel free to get in touch!
I enjoy working with emerging writers of all ages and bring enthusiasm, respect, and thoughtfulness to all presentations. I have an engaging, funny, comfortable and interactive approach to speaking, and prefer to focus on a topic of interest rather than a more traditional "author reading" format. Depending on group size and comfort level with direct interaction, a small exercise, activity, or craft can be incorporated.
Available for "business of writing" (overview, marketing/promo, design, independent/self publishing, pathways to publishing, etc.), creative writing (resiliency, planning/plotting/drafting, self-editing, production incl. generating interior files, cover design), genre (general speculative/SF/fantasy/horror and subgenres thereof), short fiction, and related topics.
I have extensive public speaking and teaching experience (Creative Writing for Children Society, Story Studio, Word Vancouver Festival, BC Librarian's Association Youth Services Institute, Orchid's Children's Literature Fest, BC Teacher Librarian's Association Conference, Abbotsford Arts Council) and past clients have made the following comments:
- "Provided the students with such inspiration to move forth with their own writing projects.” -Rebecca Ruiter, Story Studio Writing Society
- (Will) "inform, entertain & enlighten audiences of all levels.” -Bonnie Nish, PhD, Faculty of Education, UBC & Executive Director of Word Vancouver
I enjoy working with emerging writers of all ages and bring enthusiasm, respect, and thoughtfulness to all workshops. I prefer to discuss your needs rather than deliver a "canned" presentation or workshop (though my interactive whiteboard stories are particularly popular!), so please feel free to get in touch!
Available for "business of writing" (overview, marketing/promo, design, independent/self publishing, pathways to publishing, etc.), creative writing (resiliency, planning/plotting/drafting, self-editing, production incl. generating interior files, cover design), genre (general speculative/SF/fantasy/horror and subgenres thereof), short fiction, and related topics.
I have experience working with all ages (kids grade 4+, teens, and adults) and all skill sets (beginner, pre-published, and professional) in multiple lengths (hour-long, multi-hour/half-day, camp, and term-length), and in multiple formats. Workshops may include any of (depending on need/preference/age/ability/fee) a presentation/lecture, crafts/activities, exercises/assignments and/or individual feedback.
I love working with kids and teens (and have tons of experience, having taught camps and workshops with the Creative Writing for Children Society, among others, for the past number of years.)
I prefer to offer presentations and workshops that emphasize a creative topic or interactive activity, rather than a more traditional "author reading" format, and am very open to discussing what content would best suit the interests and abilities of your students. Interactive whiteboard stories are particularly popular and flexible for any age/skill level!
I can also highlight fantasy/SF/dystopian/(light/spooky) horror topics (the gross, funny and/or spooky horror topics tend to play particularly well with upper elementary to middle school boys!) or keep it more general, depending on taste.
For young writers, I love chatting (age/grade-appropriate) writing and publishing topics. Smaller (classroom-sized or under) groups could include a craft and mini writing exercise. Larger groups could include live storytelling exercises via whiteboard/flipchart or virtual workspace. I got my start as a young writer through the encouragement of teachers and winning a few local awards, so I'm passionate about cheering on the next generation!
For general audiences, some fun topics inspired by my work that can be more presentation-oriented for large groups or incorporate individual or group activities for small or classroom-sized groups and adapt well to different age groups include:
- Finding magic (or monsters) at home: imaginative transformation of Canadian landscapes (incorporates worldbuilding, creativity, social studies)
- Ghosts of the past: exploring local history by adding a speculative twist
- Dreaming the future (or Dystopian Futures): climate change, urban adaptations, emerging technologies & imagining how we'll live ~100 years from now
- Changing the World (through Words): a more general topic about resiliency and the power of storytelling with reference to personal, historic, and current events in positive (social transformation) and negative (fake news) terms
Also available for collaborations (author in residence, etc.)
