Workshops, Panel Discussions, Readings
See Media Interviews and Podcasts for recent media interviews, articles, and appearances!
Upcoming:
August 2026: Historical Novel Society UK Conference, Maynooth College, Ireland
Marie will be giving the workshop “Location – Location – Location: On-location Research and How to Use It in Historical Fiction”
Register for the conference here: https://hns2026.com/
March 12, 2026, Saskatchewan Writers’ Guild, Regina, SK:
“On-location Research and How to Make the Most of It in Your Writing”
Registration TBA on the Saskatchewan Writers’ Guild website
Opening Doors Through Stories: Family issue
New fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction by newcomers to Canada – Thursdays 5:30-7:30 pm, November 13-December 4, 2025. Marie will facilitate the workshops, edit the work, and host the launch of this new Issue, sponsored by SWG & the Regina Open Door Society. She also edited Opening Doors Through Stories: Imagine, Home, and Community issues. Read all the chapbooks for free here: https://skwriter.com/programs-and-services/publications/other-publications/opening-doors-through-stories
Live Arts! – Marie recently led elementary school workshops “Making a Character Come Off the Page” in
Gladmar Regional School, livestreamed across Saskatchewan – Watch Marie’s Introduction online!
Please download the workshop resource list here:
[Stay tuned for more!]
RECENT AWARDS!
WINNER! Reader’s Choice Award – Pulp Literature’s First Page Cage Match
Honorable Mention! Stockholm Writers Festival, First Five Pages
PNWA 2025 Finalists – Unpublished YA Manuscripts
C U is a young adult paranormal thriller about a talented 17-year-old whose summer internship at a dying community newspaper turns into a nightmare when she photographs phantoms on the city streets — and discovers one of them may be her long-lost brother!
“The judges found the voice of Alex Renford especially intriguing and could see this on bookshelves for YA readers everywhere.” – Stockholm Writers Festival (860+ entries!)
C U also placed in the Top 20 for Thrillers
in Coverfly’s LaunchPad Prose contest!
And C U took Runner-up in the City of Regina Writing Awards!
Judges’ comment: “This project has all the necessary ingredients for a successful young-adult paranormal thriller: a distinct voice, a compelling premise, an engaging (smart, intense, insightful, awkward yet courageous) narrator, and heaps of imagination.”
Recent Awards:
Spirit Sight was shortlisted as a semifinalist!
In Chanticleer’s Dante Rossettii Young Adult Historical Fiction Awards
Recent Workshops and Panels
When Words Collide Conference, Calgary, AB – Workshop “On-location research and how to make the most of it in your writing” (August 16, 2025)
Panel presentations include: Accuracy in History, Science, and General Knowledge; Real Medieval life versus Fantasy Medieval life; Do I Need a Mentor?
Writing Alternative Histories; Kids Books on Science; Audiobooks: A New Chapter for Writers; The Introverted Writers Conundrum
Saskatchewan Writers’ Guild Conference 2025: Panel Host
Beyond the Black Mirror: Society and Genre Fiction’s Influence
Sage Hill Teen Writing Experience 2023-2025 – https://sagehillwriting.ca/youth-workshops/
Write It! Write it! Workshops with Wascana Writers, Regina, SK – Interactive writing prompts with a round-table workshop session for feedback on short fiction or nonfiction or poetry.
Virtual Writer-in-Residence, Winter 2023
Working with rural Saskatchewan writers through the Saskatchewan Writers’ Guild (SWG)
https://skwriter.com/programs-and-services/virtual-writer-in-residence
Books Alive: How to Read Like a Writer – SWG Virtual Webinar
SWG Mentorship Program and Public Reading
Marie had the pleasure of mentoring emerging fantasy writer, C.L Lee, through the Saskatchewan Writer’s Guild 2022 Mentorship Program. After a period of four months of working together, Ms. Lee read from her newly revised manuscript at the SWG’s mentorship event in Regina.
“How to Query and Pitch” Windscript workshops – How to package new work for markets like the SWG magazine, Windscript! Held in three high schools across Saskatchewan (virtual and face-to-face).
SiWC Showcase! Marie had the opportunity to spotlight her Last of the Gifted series in the Author’s Showcase event at the Surrey International Writers’ Conference for two years running (2021 and 2020).
Marie is happy to video-chat or “zoom” with students or virtual classrooms, as schedules allow.Grades: 3-5; 6-10 – With books from middle-grade to young adult, she can tailor her presentation to your needs, ranging from readings to writing techniques. Her published books include fiction, nonfiction, and historical fiction. She am happy to present historical research, the craft of writing, or the writing life, and to provide hands-on writing activities to inspire creativity with fun prompts and exercises.
Kindergarten to Grade 2: As well as reading from her popular children’s series, she uses puppets, finger-plays, and songs in short readings for younger children. As a former children’s library programmer, she is happy to include pre-schoolers and to gear her presentation to your specific needs. See the Children’s Books page or Reviews for ideas and contact her to discuss the possibilities.
For interviews or speaking requests, contact Mickey Mikkleson of Creative Edge Publicity
403-464-6925 or http://www.creative-edge.services/
Other Workshops and Panels
Living History: A Research Workshop for Writers
Saskatchewan Writers’ Guild Virtual Workshop Series
It’s a basic tool in a writer’s toolbox, to deepen a wandering point-of-view, strengthen a sagging plot, draw atmosphere into a bland setting – or just cure temporary writer’s block. What is it? Research. Castle-hopping across northern Wales, being escorted by armed guards through the Che Guevara memorial, or finding yourself trapped by an elephant at Buckingham Palace — she has the photos! — it’s all research. Join her to explore the art of mining for details through examples, discussion, and hand-on exercises that will prove useful across genres.
Readings:
Last of the Gifted: Spirit Sight (Book 1)
and Water Sight (Book 2)
“Sense and Sensitivity” Panel Discussion: 
Renaissance Press Virtual Conference
Panelists discussed why own-voice beta readers and editors are so important to successful reader experiences.
Making Time: Deciding to Write – Saskatchewan Writers’ Guild
Regina, SK: Overwhelmed by juggling a day-job, family, and other responsibilities — while trying to find time to write and market your creative work? This workshop focused on how to manage your time and deadlines, how to overcome procrastination, and how to make time to get the writing done.
The Art of Interviewing panel discussion –
When Words Collide International Festival for Readers and Writers, Calgary AB:
Interviewing is important for writers of all genres. It provides the fuel for investigation and research in non-fiction, but it can also be useful for fiction authors researching any topic from plot points to settings. Interviews can also form the basis for a podcast or blog. These experienced panelists offered tips and tricks to dig deeper into the issues facing today’s readers.
“From the outset, Marie was brimming with ideas for the children’s writing panel at our Writes of Spring event. She was able to give expert advice to the participants, and use her experiences to make suggestions about how they might complete their work and take it on to publication.” – Diana Cook, Library Assistant, Connaught Branch Library
“Marie used photographs and other items from her trips to Wales, which gave the audience a little geography and history mixed in with the reading. The students paid attention well and asked questions about the book and about writing. Marie was encouraging and was happy to discuss the writing life with them…. We would highly recommend Marie as a reader for young audiences in elementary or high school.” – Christine Judy, Librarian, Broadview Public Library
Panels, Talks, and Readings
Marie loves to discuss writing and to share the experience of writing or being a writer. Her passion for the written word spills over into everything she does. She enjoys the opportunity to give school readings and workshops tailored for all grades and ages. She gives workshops and talks to groups, libraries, and corporations across the province. As well, she is happy to provide presentations for such events and conferences as CANSCAIP Prairie Horizons, Fan Expo Regina, the Regina Public Library, When Words Collide International Writers’ Conference in Calgary, the Canadian Creative Writers & Writing Programs Conference, and the Literary Managers and Dramaturgs of the Americas Conference.
Contact Marie to discuss your needs today!
Writing and Creativity Workshops
You CAN get there from here!
You’re so close! As NaNoWriMo enters its final phase, why not look for inspiration from a new direction? Dig deeper into point of view, world building, and story sense for your next writing sprint. Join Marie Powell to find your second wind and cross the finish line in style!
http://www.skwriter.com/about-the-swg/calendar/2018/11/27
I gave this workshop for the Saskatchewan Writers’ Guild, and enjoyed sharing some favourite writing ideas and prompts with local Nano-writers.
Channeling Your Creativity
Group Size 5-15: Available in one-day, half-day, and one-hour formats
This workshop will provide an opportunity to generate writing in multiple genres: poetry, fiction, and short creative non-fiction. Using a combination of presentation, discussion, and hands-on writing activities, we work with writing prompts and resources to inspire writing and stimulate the participant’s writing life.
I’ve enjoyed giving this workshop for Prince of Wales branch library, for When Words Collide International Writers’ Conference in Calgary, for Assiniboia Public Library, and for North Battleford Public Library. I have also presented it to teen groups as a week-long workshop, as a one-afternoon workshop, and as an online 50-minute format workshop. Contact me for more details!
“Best program ever!!! Marie is always well prepared; every session is fun and full of learning curves.”
“Excellent facilitator, knowledgeable and accomplished, motivating. The positive, supportive group surprised me.”
– Participant comments from workshop evaluation forms, 2018
Write Now!
Group Size 5-15: Available in one-day, half-day, and one-hour formats
Do you enjoy playing with words? Want to try your hand at writing? Join award-winning author Marie Powell to explore writing short fiction, non-fiction, and poetry. Explore the world of writing to inspire yourself or your writing group. Or ask Marie to tailor the content and activities to meet the particular concerns and needs of your group or association.
I gave this workshop twice a month at the Prince of Wales branch for three years, leading to the formation of the writing group, Ink Print. I’ve also given it to young adult and adult groups at the Central, Connaught, and Regent Place branches, at When Words Collide in Calgary, and as a four-week Lifelong Learning Centre course. As well, by expanding the content and tailoring the activities, I have used these techniques to explore health-and-wellness issues and social activism.
Fantasy Foundations
Group Size 5-15: Available in half-day or one hour formats — but I’m flexible!
Fantasy worlds fascinate our imagination. From landscapes to technologies, these worlds seem so complete we could practically catch the next shuttle there! Have you ever tried to create a fantasy world? Who lives there, and how do they relate to each other and their environment? Join award-winning author Marie Powell to explore fantasy world building and create a map of your imaginary destination.
I’ve taken this workshop to the recent CANSCAIP Prairie Horizons conference in Lumsden, SK, and to Regina’s Connaught branch library.
Marie Powell 