Pikes Peak Writers Conference 2026: Full Schedule

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The 2026 Pikes Peak Writers Conference is in the books!
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8:30am MDT

Book Cover Design...You're Not the Audience

Friday April 17, 2026 8:30am - 9:30am MDT

Douglas

A workshop on effective book cover design: what works, what doesn’t, and how covers communicate professionalism and genre promise to readers.

Agents & Editors

Casey Cowan

Roan & Weatherford Publishing Associates

Casey Cowan began his career in graphic design, shaping projects across a wide range of industries for nearly two decades before finding his niche and co-founding Roan & Weatherford Publishing Associates in 2013. Under his leadership, the company has grown into a successful, award-winning... Read More →

Friday April 17, 2026 8:30am - 9:30am MDT
Douglas

Business of Writing

Moderator Daemon Hunt

9:45am MDT

The Art of the Elevator Pitch

Friday April 17, 2026 9:45am - 10:45am MDT

Douglas

An editor-led workshop and deep dive into how editors pitch their books in-house—from editorial board meetings to formal sales presentations—featuring a group activity at the end of the session, "Pitch Wars," in which attendees will split into teams and role play as editors pitching a book at a seasonal Sales Launch.

Agents & Editors

Nicole Luongo

Associate Editor, Hachette Book Group

If you asked six-year-old me and present-day-me what a “perfect day” looked like, our answers would be identical: hot cocoa, a loaded bookstore gift card—with unlimited browsing time—mint chocolate chip ice cream, and an evening of uninterrupted reading. (I’m nothing if... Read More →

Friday April 17, 2026 9:45am - 10:45am MDT
Douglas

Business of Writing

Moderator Bailey Finn

11:00am MDT

This Ain’t Your Granddaddy’s Western

Friday April 17, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm MDT

Douglas

A look at how Westerns are evolving through crossovers with crime, horror, fantasy, and sci-fi. We’ll explore the future of the genre, with examples from writers like Craig Johnson, CJ Box, and Marc Cameron, and modern media like The Mandalorian and Bone Tomahawk.

Faculty

Reavis Z. Wortham

Keynote

NYT Bestselling author, Reavis Z. Wortham, is the recipient of many awards, including two Spur Awards from the Western Writers Association, and six Will Rogers Medallions. Kirkus Reviews listed his first novel in the historical Red River series, The Rock Hole, as one of their Top... Read More →

Agents & Editors

Casey Cowan

Roan & Weatherford Publishing Associates

Friday April 17, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm MDT
Douglas

Genre-Specific

Moderator Mike Torreanno

2:00pm MDT

Why the First 10 Pages Make or Break Your Novel (with Live Editing)

Friday April 17, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm MDT

Douglas

What agents look for in the first 10 pages (and what makes them stop)
The 5 elements your opening must establish immediately
Common pitfalls that sink submissions in the first chapter
How to hook readers without gimmicks
Live editing session: real-time critique of opening pages
Takeaway checklist to self-evaluate your own first 10 pages

Agents & Editors

Jessica Berg

Literary Agent, Rosecliff Literary

Jessica Berg is the founder and agency director of Rosecliff Literary, a boutique agency built on the belief that ambitious writers deserve transparency, strategy, and a seat at the table. She earned her MFA from Spalding University and brings more than a decade of experience to her... Read More →

Friday April 17, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm MDT
Douglas

Craft of Writing

Moderator Bill Bush

3:15pm MDT

Short Stories: Good for the Novelist, Good for the Career, Good for the Soul

Friday April 17, 2026 3:15pm - 4:15pm MDT

Douglas

Short stories are an oft overlooked gateway to many advantageous things in a writer's career. I will offer up some really good reasons to consider publishing a few: making new connections, learning new genres, experimenting with (and improving) writing styles, and more.

Faculty

Sam Knight

Author/Publisher, Knight Writing Press

Sam Knight is the owner/publisher of Knight Writing Press and author of six children’s books, four novels, and over 80 short stories, including three co-authored with Kevin J. Anderson. Though he has written in many cool worlds, such as Planet of the Apes, Wayward Pines, and... Read More →

Friday April 17, 2026 3:15pm - 4:15pm MDT
Douglas

Craft of Writing

Moderator Lin Faloon
Audience Beginner

4:45pm MDT

Middles and Try-Fail Cycles

Friday April 17, 2026 4:45pm - 5:45pm MDT

Douglas

Middles are often seen as the sagging portion of any story line, when in reality most of any piece of writing is spent in the middle. In this workshop, we learn how to set up and depict interesting try-fail cycles for your characters.

Faculty

Mary Robinette Kowal

Keynote

Mary Robinette Kowal is the author of the Hugo, Nebula, and Locus award winning alternate history novel The Calculating Stars, the first book in the Lady Astronaut series which continues in 2025 with The Martian Contingency. She is also the author of The Glamourist Histories series, Ghost... Read More →

Friday April 17, 2026 4:45pm - 5:45pm MDT
Douglas

Craft of Writing

Moderator Pam McCutcheon

8:30am MDT

♪ ♫ Do You Want to Kill a Snowman? ♪ ♫

Saturday April 18, 2026 8:30am - 9:30am MDT

Douglas

We don’t buy the book because the protagonist is a twenty-something drop-out who no one believes in. We buy it because we want to see the monster! What makes a great monster? Its strengths and weaknesses–in other words, how to kill it!

Faculty

Sam Knight

Author/Publisher, Knight Writing Press

Saturday April 18, 2026 8:30am - 9:30am MDT
Douglas

Craft of Writing

Moderator Jodi Anderson

9:45am MDT

Beat Writer’s Block and Reignite Your Creativity

Saturday April 18, 2026 9:45am - 10:45am MDT

Douglas

Unblock your writing and recapture the playfulness of fiction. Maybe you just can't start. Maybe you complete a first draft only to discover that it feels like a betrayal of your vision, a pale imitation of the story you had in mind. Maybe your drive toward perfection keeps you continuously editing the same scene; you just can't get it right. Maybe you don't know where your story is going anymore, or maybe you're waiting for time to get magically freed up so that you can devote long afternoons or long days to creating your story. In this class, Stant Litore shares approaches that will help you unblock your writing and rekindle your creativity. What we forget easily is that storytelling is play!

Faculty

Stant Litore

Stant Litore is the author of Ansible, The Screaming of the Tyrannosaur (recently adapted into an Emmy-nominated episode of Love, Death, and Robots), The Zombie Bible, and Dante’s Heart. Besides science fiction and fantasy, he has written the writers’ toolkits Write Wo... Read More →

Saturday April 18, 2026 9:45am - 10:45am MDT
Douglas

Craft of Writing

Moderator Bailey Finn

11:00am MDT

Lost in Translation: Writing distinct cultures, languages, accents, and soundscapes in your worldbuilding (Or: I Guess the Elves are British)

Saturday April 18, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm MDT

Douglas

Let's talk about building speech differences, accents, culture and the whole aural landscape into your writing from the outset. Our speech shapes the way we see the world, our choices, our beliefs, and our sense of identity. This can all feel intimidating! Often writers leave this rich well untapped and vague or end up with confusing inconsistencies because they never considered it. Let's dig deep and see what treasures lie in really thinking about the way our diverse peoples speak, how language and accents evolve over time, and what shapes them. Jargon, socio-economic and temporal differences, alien and fantasy species, and how to translate all of this into an edible experience for the reader.

Faculty

Aaron Fors

Aaron Fors is an author, actor, filmmaker, creator thingy! An obsessive collector of obscure skills and knowledge, they love infusing their passion for the niche into their works. Aaron writes scifi, fantasy, and whatever fills their heart up and makes them feel like they’re going... Read More →

Saturday April 18, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm MDT
Douglas

Craft of Writing

Moderator Chris Mandeville

2:00pm MDT

Why Genre (Really) Matters

Saturday April 18, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm MDT

Douglas

Stories are a collection of patterns and promises and each genre holds their own unique assortment. Stories are also referential, nodding and easter-egging to the tales that have come before. As authors, we must be genre sleuths, looking past lovely covers and into the scaffolding of each genre's secret menu to guarantee our readers won't be disappointed and—if it's important to you—are stories that can be marketed with ease and clarity. Learn the language and patterns of genre to find where your story lands, how to advertise your story to others, and ensure you are fulfilling promises to your future readers.

Faculty

Callie Stoker

Owner, Managing Editor, The Manuscript Dr

Callie Stoker is an editor with almost two decades experience. Her business The
Manuscript Dr offers coaching and editing services. We believe that writing is a skill that
can be taught through the application of individual tools. We love helping our clients
elevate their abilities... Read More →

Saturday April 18, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm MDT
Douglas

Business of Writing

Moderator Sam Knight

3:15pm MDT

From Cardboard Cutouts to Compelling Characters: Using Authentic Action to Bring Life to Your Story

Saturday April 18, 2026 3:15pm - 4:15pm MDT

Douglas

What can movement reveal to the reader about a character's personality, emotional turmoil, or deep feelings? How do body language and action beats round out a character? How do you transform your characters from action figures and puppets to engaging, believable beings? In this workshop, we’ll actually walk through scenes to show how actions and reactions can enrich your characterization. You'll learn to ensure every movement—from the way a character holds a coffee cup to how they throw a punch—is intentional and authentic.

Faculty

Dawn Alexander

Dawn Alexander Books

Dawn Alexander is a developmental editor and story coach who collaborates with both emerging writers and accomplished authors to strengthen their stories and refine their voices. Her clients have appeared on the New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists, as well as the Amazon... Read More →

Saturday April 18, 2026 3:15pm - 4:15pm MDT
Douglas

Craft of Writing

Moderator Debby Brewer

4:45pm MDT

Deeper Reading for Deeper Writing

Saturday April 18, 2026 4:45pm - 5:45pm MDT

Douglas

Consciously or unconsciously meaning is hidden beneath signs and facades in literature, layered in word choice and focus. Through shared reading, discussion and meaning and themes, we will learn to consciously see what our subconscious feels within a text, those elements that unite and undercut, but always elevate craft into art. Once you understand deconstruction, your reading and your writing will never be the same.

Faculty

Johnny Worthen

Award-Winning Author

Johnny Worthen grew up in the high desert snows and warm summer winds of the Wasatch Mountains. He graduated with a B.A. in English, minor in Classics and a Master's in American Studies from the University of Utah. After a series of businesses and adventures, including years abroad... Read More →

Saturday April 18, 2026 4:45pm - 5:45pm MDT
Douglas

Reality Track/How-to

Moderator Catherine Dilts
Audience Advanced

9:00am MDT

Baby Got Back(story)

Sunday April 19, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am MDT

Douglas

Learn how to create complex, multi-dimensional characters by developing their backstories. This class introduces tools and techniques for building backstory and includes interactive group exercises so attendees can “try on” the methods presented.

Faculty

Chris Mandeville

Author

Chris Mandeville is an unrepentant coffee drinker, night owl, and binge writer. She can write anywhere, but her usual spot is a comfy chair at home in the Rocky Mountains with her service dog, Oski, snoozing by her feet. When she isn't writing, she loves to cook, travel, and teach... Read More →

Sunday April 19, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am MDT
Douglas

Craft of Writing

Moderator John Neal
Audience Beginner

10:15am MDT

Write Lore Your Readers Won’t Forget (2 hours)

Sunday April 19, 2026 10:15am - 12:30pm MDT

Douglas

Our mythologies shape and define us. Explore techniques for designing the stories behind the story you’re telling – the stories that your characters either carry in their hearts or resist with all their capacity. Lore is the engine that your characters (and readers) use to interpret the story they're in and the life they're living. Come join Stant Litore in exploring how to share the lore of your fictional world with the reader in entertaining and surprising ways.

Faculty