Geek.Kon 2016 has ended

Create Your Own Event

Geek.Kon 2016

4:00pm CDT

Conventions on the Cheap

We all love going to conventions, but they can be expensive. How can you make your dollar stretch further at cons? So, y’know...you can go to more cons.

Guests

Bill Bodden

A freelance writer since 2001, Bill has done most of his writing in the tabletop games industry with work on roleplaying games for everything from Vampire: The Masquerade 20th Anniversary Edition and Firefly to Chill and Achtung! Cthulhu. Bill's published fiction credits include short... Read More →

Friday August 26, 2016 4:00pm - 5:00pm CDT
Mendota

Guest, Guest | Panel, Guest

Subject No Rating

6:00pm CDT

Love your Cosplay Body

One day, someone called Brichibi Cosplays “Princess Whale” and told her to go off and fry some chicken. So, she did just that, posting the pictures on the internet and writing an article for xoJane about being a plus-sized cosplayer. While it’s true that nicknames like “Princess Wonderball” or lovely requests to “stop acting white” or to die a “lesbian bed death” have come her way due to her race, size, sexuality, and general geekiness, this black, lesbian, plus-sized cosplayer has decided not to let it get to her and to keep enjoying what cosplay is really about: having fun and showing love to your favorite characters. But is it really possible to ignore the hate and keep moving forward? Yes! And this panel will address how.

Guests

Brianna Lawrence

14 years ago Briana Lawrence (Brichibi Cosplays) and Jessica Walsh (SnowCosplays) were two fanfiction writing ladies who geeked out over Gundam Wing boys and Resident Evil. Now? They’re still geeks and still have their fandoms, but they’re also a cosplaying couple who write books... Read More →

Jessica Walsh

14 years ago Briana Lawrence (Brichibi Cosplays) and Jessica Walsh (SnowCosplays) were two fanfiction writing ladies who geeked out over Gundam Wing boys and Resident Evil. Now? They’re still geeks and still have their fandoms, but they’re also a cosplaying couple who write books... Read More →

Friday August 26, 2016 6:00pm - 7:00pm CDT
Green Bay/Milwaukee

Guest, Guest | Panel, Guest

Subject No Rating

6:00pm CDT

Shattering Female Stereotypes in Comics

Female characters in comics have historically had limited roles. Often it is either the sexy good girl or the sexy bad girl, with little between. Readers are ready for change! Our panel weighs in on topics like "strong female characters," "fridged women," the Bechdel test and will give troubleshooting storytelling stereotypes.

Guests

Enrica Jang

Enrica Jang is the writer and creator of Azteca, Angel With a Bullet, The Star Thief, The House of Montresor, and editor of the annual Red Stylo Presents series of anthologies. Her screenplay The Freshmen was made into a short film, Frienemies, winner of a CINE Golden Eagle in 201... Read More →

Jennifer Smith

Jennifer Margret Smith is the editor of Marjorie Liu and Sana Takeda's MONSTRESS from Image Comics. She is also a PhD student in Media and Cultural Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she studies superhero comics and their industry alongside a host of other media... Read More →

Monica Valentinelli

Monica Valentinelli writes stories, games, essays, and comics for media/tie-in properties and her original works from her studio in the Midwest. She’s a former musician of 20+ years and a graduate of UW-Madison’s Creative Writing program who now writes full-time. Monica is the... Read More →

Friday August 26, 2016 6:00pm - 7:00pm CDT
Geneva

Guest, Guest | Panel, Guest

Subject No Rating

7:00pm CDT

An Hour with Jason Carter

Veteran actor of stage and screen, Jason Carter, tells tales of his 30 plus years in acting. Jason will entertain and answer questions in this intimate hour.

Guests

Jason Carter

Best known to sci-fi fans for his role as Ranger Marcus Cole on “Babylon 5”, Jason Carter, born in London on September 23, 1960, is a British stage, film and television actor. Leads in school plays and summers at the National Youth Theater of Great Britain led to three years... Read More →

Friday August 26, 2016 7:00pm - 8:00pm CDT
Mendota

Guest, Guest | Panel, Guest

Subject No Rating

7:00pm CDT

Breaking into the Anime World

Christina Kelly talks about how she got into the anime business, and what it’s like working in this amazing industry today.

Guests

Christina Kelly

Christina Marie Kelly is an American actress and voice actress for Sentai Filmworks. Kelly attended the University of Houston’s School of Theatre and Dance where she received her Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Acting. While there Kelly worked on shows such as The Miser, Blood Wedding... Read More →

Friday August 26, 2016 7:00pm - 8:00pm CDT
Geneva

Guest, Guest | Panel, Guest

Subject No Rating

7:00pm CDT

Planning Your Graphic Novel

From overarching plot to the infinite possibilities of a single panel, planning a graphic novel can be an overwhelming task. Pro Peter Liethen will give tips on how to approach planning your graphic novel in a way that makes it easier to get a handle on.

Guests

Peter Liethen

Peter Liethen is a creator of digital art in both the 2D and 3D realms. For 10 years, he has been writing and illustrating Deverish Also, a fantasy-adventure graphic novel series where magic and technology clash, taking inspiration from classic fantasy anime and manga. Peter has al... Read More →

Friday August 26, 2016 7:00pm - 8:00pm CDT
Green Bay/Milwaukee

Guest, Guest | Panel, Guest

Subject No Rating

8:00pm CDT

Science Vampires

Vampires have existed in myths and legends have existed for centuries. Early myths were often steeped with superstition, fear, and curses. The modern vampire, however, is just as often a product of science or disease that can be rationally explained (Blade, Daybreakers, etc.). What are the advantages and disadvantages to writing or reading in this version?

Guests

Alex Bledsoe

Alex Bledsoe grew up in west Tennessee an hour north of Graceland (home of Elvis) and twenty minutes from Nutbush (birthplace of Tina Turner). He's been a reporter, editor, photographer and door-to-door vacuum cleaner salesman. He now lives in a Wisconsin town famous for trolls, writes before six in the morning and tries to teach my three kids to act like they've been to town before. His novels include the Tufa series (the latest, "Chapel of Ease," will be out in September) and the Eddie LaCrosse novel... Read More →

Melissa Olson

Melissa Olson was born and raised in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, and studied film and literature at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. After graduation, and a brief stint bouncing around the Hollywood studio system, Melissa landed in Madison where she eventually... Read More →

Friday August 26, 2016 8:00pm - 9:00pm CDT
Green Bay/Milwaukee

Guest, Guest | Panel, Guest

Subject No Rating

9:00pm CDT

Voice Actor AMA

Ever wondered how tiring a four-hour recording sessing can be? Have you always been curious whether your favorite VA loves your favorite character that they voice as much as you? Here’s your chance to ask VAs at Geek.Kon all of those things you’ve always wanted to know. NOTE: We are trying to keep this panel All-Ages. So,please keep your questions PG-13.

Guests

Jason Carter

Best known to sci-fi fans for his role as Ranger Marcus Cole on “Babylon 5”, Jason Carter, born in London on September 23, 1960, is a British stage, film and television actor. Leads in school plays and summers at the National Youth Theater of Great Britain led to three years... Read More →

Jerry Jewell

With over 150 credits to his name, Jerry Jewell can be heard in a wide variety of shows. He's probably best known for his roles as Kyo Sohma in Fruits Basket, Jimmy Kudo in Case Closed, Barry the Chopper/Number 66 in Fullmetal Alchemist, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, Claire Stanfield... Read More →

Christina Kelly

Christina Marie Kelly is an American actress and voice actress for Sentai Filmworks. Kelly attended the University of Houston’s School of Theatre and Dance where she received her Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Acting. While there Kelly worked on shows such as The Miser, Blood Wedding... Read More →

Ryan Reynolds

For more than a decade, anime has had a fan in Ryan Reynolds. Needless to say, when she got the opportunity to do some voice work at Funimation Entertainment it was like a dream come true for her. Ryan’s big break came when she was given the chance to voice Latvia in a little show... Read More →

Friday August 26, 2016 9:00pm - 10:00pm CDT
Green Bay/Milwaukee

Guest, Guest | Panel, Guest

Subject No Rating

10:00am CDT

Are Agents Still Necessary?

In the last decade, the rise of various social media platforms has allowed creators to connect directly with fans and industry professionals with previously unprecedented ease. Also, self-publishing has never been easier for creators. With all these tools at the fingertips of creators, are agents still necessary?

Guests

Alex Bledsoe

Alex Bledsoe grew up in west Tennessee an hour north of Graceland (home of Elvis) and twenty minutes from Nutbush (birthplace of Tina Turner). He's been a reporter, editor, photographer and door-to-door vacuum cleaner salesman. He now lives in a Wisconsin town famous for trolls, writes before six in the morning and tries to teach my three kids to act like they've been to town before. His novels include the Tufa series (the latest, "Chapel of Ease," will be out in September) and the Eddie LaCrosse novel... Read More →

Catie Pfeifer

Catie Pfeifer is a Milwaukee native who currently resides in Madison. She has been an editorial assistant for the last three years, working primarily with fantasy, science fiction, and historical fiction authors. She is also a member of the concom for Odyssey Con. In her free time... Read More →

Monica Valentinelli

Monica Valentinelli writes stories, games, essays, and comics for media/tie-in properties and her original works from her studio in the Midwest. She’s a former musician of 20+ years and a graduate of UW-Madison’s Creative Writing program who now writes full-time. Monica is the... Read More →

Saturday August 27, 2016 10:00am - 11:00am CDT
Salon F

Guest, Guest | Panel, Guest

Subject No Rating

10:00am CDT

D&D 5th Edition

Aaron Pavao really, really likes the design decisions behind D&D 5e, and he’s got lots of things to say about them. Come hear Aaron’s thoughts and share some of your own.

Guests

Aaron Pavao

Aaron Pavao sold his first game (Live Role-Playing Chess) as a teen. He is now an educator and game designer, spending his time using one discipline to improve the other. He uses his experiences writing tabletop games, running large campaign LARPs, consulting on computer games, and... Read More →

Saturday August 27, 2016 10:00am - 11:00am CDT
Geneva

Guest, Guest | Panel, Guest

Subject No Rating

11:00am CDT

Crystals

Belief in crystals varies from “it looks pretty” to “tiny inter-dimensional beings live inside my crystal and influence my life.” Writer Melissa Olson will walk you through the spectrum of belief and share a look at a few common crystals.

Guests

Melissa Olson

Melissa Olson was born and raised in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, and studied film and literature at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. After graduation, and a brief stint bouncing around the Hollywood studio system, Melissa landed in Madison where she eventually... Read More →

Saturday August 27, 2016 11:00am - 12:00pm CDT
Salon G

Guest, Guest | Panel, Guest

Subject No Rating

11:00am CDT

Writing Comics

Today, comics and graphic novels come in more genres and address a broader range of topics than ever before. Creating comics can be rewarding and challenging. Writing comics offers some unique considerations, compared to writing prose. Come learn about some tips to writing comics from our panel of industry pros.

Guests

Enrica Jang

Enrica Jang is the writer and creator of Azteca, Angel With a Bullet, The Star Thief, The House of Montresor, and editor of the annual Red Stylo Presents series of anthologies. Her screenplay The Freshmen was made into a short film, Frienemies, winner of a CINE Golden Eagle in 201... Read More →

Peter Liethen

Peter Liethen is a creator of digital art in both the 2D and 3D realms. For 10 years, he has been writing and illustrating Deverish Also, a fantasy-adventure graphic novel series where magic and technology clash, taking inspiration from classic fantasy anime and manga. Peter has al... Read More →

John Jackson Miller

New York Times bestselling author John Jackson Miller has spent a lifetime immersed in science fiction. His upcoming Star Trek novel trilogy, Prey, launches in September 2016 from Pocket Books and releases monthly through November. His first Halo comics story appears in Halo: Tales... Read More →

Mark Stegbauer

Mark Stegbauer is a 25 year veteran of the comic book and game industry. He has worked for Marvel, DC, Image and various other publishers on such titles as Avengers, Spider-Man, Nova, Flash, JLA, Buckaroo Banzai, and The Badger.He is the creator/artist of Dr Goyle, and the artist... Read More →

Saturday August 27, 2016 11:00am - 12:00pm CDT
Geneva

Guest, Guest | Panel, Guest

Subject No Rating

12:00pm CDT

Acting and Directing for Voice, Screen and Stage

Our guests of honor give a crash course in the basics of acting and directing for voice, screen, and stage. Join them as they compare and contrast working in each of these media.

Guests

Jason Carter

Best known to sci-fi fans for his role as Ranger Marcus Cole on “Babylon 5”, Jason Carter, born in London on September 23, 1960, is a British stage, film and television actor. Leads in school plays and summers at the National Youth Theater of Great Britain led to three years... Read More →

Jerry Jewell

With over 150 credits to his name, Jerry Jewell can be heard in a wide variety of shows. He's probably best known for his roles as Kyo Sohma in Fruits Basket, Jimmy Kudo in Case Closed, Barry the Chopper/Number 66 in Fullmetal Alchemist, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, Claire Stanfield... Read More →

Christina Kelly

Christina Marie Kelly is an American actress and voice actress for Sentai Filmworks. Kelly attended the University of Houston’s School of Theatre and Dance where she received her Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Acting. While there Kelly worked on shows such as The Miser, Blood Wedding... Read More →

Ryan Reynolds

For more than a decade, anime has had a fan in Ryan Reynolds. Needless to say, when she got the opportunity to do some voice work at Funimation Entertainment it was like a dream come true for her. Ryan’s big break came when she was given the chance to voice Latvia in a little show... Read More →

Saturday August 27, 2016 12:00pm - 1:00pm CDT
Mendota

Guest, Guest | Panel, Guest

Subject No Rating

12:00pm CDT

Drive-Thru RPG

New to Dungeon Masters Guild? Interested in publishing material for Cortex Plus, Traveller, Cypher System, or other popular game systems? Come and learn (more) about the current Community Created Content Programs on DriveThruRPG and about our future plans!

Guests

Matt McElroy

Matt M. McElroy is the Director of Publishing for DriveThruRPG and DriveThruComics. Here, he works with publishers to deliver your favorite RPGs and comics in digital and print editions. Matt also does freelance development and game design for companies like Onyx Path Publishing and Ma... Read More →

Saturday August 27, 2016 12:00pm - 1:00pm CDT
Salon F

Guest, Guest | Panel, Guest

Subject No Rating

1:00pm CDT

Crash Course in Manga Studio

Manga Studio is a powerful tool for creators. Come learn the basics of the program, and how it could help take your art to another level, from industry pro Peter Liethen.

Guests

Peter Liethen

Peter Liethen is a creator of digital art in both the 2D and 3D realms. For 10 years, he has been writing and illustrating Deverish Also, a fantasy-adventure graphic novel series where magic and technology clash, taking inspiration from classic fantasy anime and manga. Peter has al... Read More →

Saturday August 27, 2016 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT
Salon H

Guest, Guest | Panel, Guest

Subject No Rating

1:00pm CDT

Teen Geek Survival Guide

Aaron uses his Mad Teacher Skeelz to facilitate a seminar-style talk among teens on being a geeky teen.

Guests

Aaron Pavao

Aaron Pavao sold his first game (Live Role-Playing Chess) as a teen. He is now an educator and game designer, spending his time using one discipline to improve the other. He uses his experiences writing tabletop games, running large campaign LARPs, consulting on computer games, and... Read More →

Saturday August 27, 2016 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT
Green Bay/Milwaukee

Guest, Guest | Panel, Guest

Subject No Rating

2:00pm CDT

Frankensteining Patterns

Sometimes, the pattern you need for a costume simply doesn't exist... or doesn't come in the size you need. This panel by SnowCosplays will go into how to up-size patterns, how you can take pieces of different patterns to make your cosplay work, and how to make your costume work for your body type.

Guests

Brianna Lawrence

14 years ago Briana Lawrence (Brichibi Cosplays) and Jessica Walsh (SnowCosplays) were two fanfiction writing ladies who geeked out over Gundam Wing boys and Resident Evil. Now? They’re still geeks and still have their fandoms, but they’re also a cosplaying couple who write books... Read More →

Jessica Walsh

14 years ago Briana Lawrence (Brichibi Cosplays) and Jessica Walsh (SnowCosplays) were two fanfiction writing ladies who geeked out over Gundam Wing boys and Resident Evil. Now? They’re still geeks and still have their fandoms, but they’re also a cosplaying couple who write books... Read More →

Saturday August 27, 2016 2:00pm - 3:00pm CDT
Mendota

Guest, Guest | Panel, Guest

Subject No Rating

2:00pm CDT

Onyx Path

Onyx Path, your source for World of Darkness, Exalted, Scion, and many other great games, is approaching its fifth birthday. In the past four years the Path has taken classic games to another level, and they have many exciting plans to come. So, join us to talk about your favorite games and learn about what’s to come.

Guests

Matt McElroy

Matt M. McElroy is the Director of Publishing for DriveThruRPG and DriveThruComics. Here, he works with publishers to deliver your favorite RPGs and comics in digital and print editions. Matt also does freelance development and game design for companies like Onyx Path Publishing and Ma... Read More →

Saturday August 27, 2016 2:00pm - 3:00pm CDT
Salon H

Guest, Guest | Panel, Guest

Subject No Rating

3:00pm CDT

Cosplay Smithing through Plastic and Tech

Props, armor, and accessories can take costumes to that WOW level. However, working and smithing with metals can be expensive, time consuming, and difficult. There is an alternative that is cheaper and easier! By using plastics and newer technology your costumes can be WOW costumes at a fraction of the cost and time. Come learn the basics of smithing with plastic and tech and make your next costume a WOW costume.

Guests

Peter Liethen

Peter Liethen is a creator of digital art in both the 2D and 3D realms. For 10 years, he has been writing and illustrating Deverish Also, a fantasy-adventure graphic novel series where magic and technology clash, taking inspiration from classic fantasy anime and manga. Peter has al... Read More →

Saturday August 27, 2016 3:00pm - 4:00pm CDT
Green Bay/Milwaukee

Guest, Guest | Panel, Guest

Subject No Rating

3:00pm CDT

How Do Comics Writers Tackle Sensitive Subjects

Well written comics can evoke deep emotion reactions and critique society. Sometimes, this is done in ways that are horrific or disturbing. When real life can be stranger than fiction, what is acceptable to show? What's gratuitous, and does it matter? A diverse panel of industry professionals weigh in on topics from race to sex to gender to violence in stories and how these and other socially sensitive subjects can be tackled.

Guests

Enrica Jang

Enrica Jang is the writer and creator of Azteca, Angel With a Bullet, The Star Thief, The House of Montresor, and editor of the annual Red Stylo Presents series of anthologies. Her screenplay The Freshmen was made into a short film, Frienemies, winner of a CINE Golden Eagle in 201... Read More →

Matt McElroy

Matt M. McElroy is the Director of Publishing for DriveThruRPG and DriveThruComics. Here, he works with publishers to deliver your favorite RPGs and comics in digital and print editions. Matt also does freelance development and game design for companies like Onyx Path Publishing and Ma... Read More →

Jennifer Smith

Jennifer Margret Smith is the editor of Marjorie Liu and Sana Takeda's MONSTRESS from Image Comics. She is also a PhD student in Media and Cultural Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she studies superhero comics and their industry alongside a host of other media... Read More →

Saturday August 27, 2016 3:00pm - 4:00pm CDT
Salon G

Guest, Guest | Panel, Guest

Subject No Rating

3:00pm CDT

Rule the Galaxy Together: Writing in a Shared Universe

A fun presentation detailing tips for writing tie-in comics, fiction, and games — and it is also useful for people writing fan fiction or in a gaming milieu. This seminar debuted to a packed house at Star Wars Celebration and was very popular.

Guests

John Jackson Miller

New York Times bestselling author John Jackson Miller has spent a lifetime immersed in science fiction. His upcoming Star Trek novel trilogy, Prey, launches in September 2016 from Pocket Books and releases monthly through November. His first Halo comics story appears in Halo: Tales... Read More →

Saturday August 27, 2016 3:00pm - 4:00pm CDT
Mendota

Guest, Guest | Panel, Guest

Subject No Rating

4:00pm CDT

Comic Book Editing

A comic book editor has to juggle writing, art, how the words and art on a page go together, and many other things to ensure a quality book is produced. Come learn some tips about what to look for and how to juggle the many considerations of a comic book for our panel of industry pros.

Guests

Enrica Jang

Enrica Jang is the writer and creator of Azteca, Angel With a Bullet, The Star Thief, The House of Montresor, and editor of the annual Red Stylo Presents series of anthologies. Her screenplay The Freshmen was made into a short film, Frienemies, winner of a CINE Golden Eagle in 201... Read More →

Jennifer Smith

Jennifer Margret Smith is the editor of Marjorie Liu and Sana Takeda's MONSTRESS from Image Comics. She is also a PhD student in Media and Cultural Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she studies superhero comics and their industry alongside a host of other media... Read More →

Saturday August 27, 2016 4:00pm - 5:00pm CDT
Green Bay/Milwaukee

Guest, Guest | Panel, Guest

Subject No Rating

4:00pm CDT

Crime & Fantasy

From vampire assassins to wizard private eyes, crime has been mixing it up with fantasy for years. What is it about crime, noir, and the paranormal that's so appealing?

Guests

Alex Bledsoe

Alex Bledsoe grew up in west Tennessee an hour north of Graceland (home of Elvis) and twenty minutes from Nutbush (birthplace of Tina Turner). He's been a reporter, editor, photographer and door-to-door vacuum cleaner salesman. He now lives in a Wisconsin town famous for trolls, writes before six in the morning and tries to teach my three kids to act like they've been to town before. His novels include the Tufa series (the latest, "Chapel of Ease," will be out in September) and the Eddie LaCrosse novel... Read More →

Bill Bodden

A freelance writer since 2001, Bill has done most of his writing in the tabletop games industry with work on roleplaying games for everything from Vampire: The Masquerade 20th Anniversary Edition and Firefly to Chill and Achtung! Cthulhu. Bill's published fiction credits include short... Read More →

Matt McElroy

Matt M. McElroy is the Director of Publishing for DriveThruRPG and DriveThruComics. Here, he works with publishers to deliver your favorite RPGs and comics in digital and print editions. Matt also does freelance development and game design for companies like Onyx Path Publishing and Ma... Read More →

Melissa Olson

Melissa Olson was born and raised in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, and studied film and literature at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. After graduation, and a brief stint bouncing around the Hollywood studio system, Melissa landed in Madison where she eventually... Read More →

Saturday August 27, 2016 4:00pm - 5:00pm CDT
Salon G

Guest, Guest | Panel, Guest

Subject No Rating

4:00pm CDT

Star Wars, Star Trek, Halo, and More: The Comics and Fiction of John Jackson Miller

Take a look into the career of John Jackson Miller, including his work on Iron Man, Star Wars, Simpsons, Mass Effect, and other comics — as well as his Star Wars and Star Trek novels. John will talk about his upcoming STAR TREK: PREY trilogy from Pocket Books, his Halo stories coming out in September and October, and his Planet of the Apes project coming out in January.

Guests

John Jackson Miller

New York Times bestselling author John Jackson Miller has spent a lifetime immersed in science fiction. His upcoming Star Trek novel trilogy, Prey, launches in September 2016 from Pocket Books and releases monthly through November. His first Halo comics story appears in Halo: Tales... Read More →

Saturday August 27, 2016 4:00pm - 5:00pm CDT
Mendota

Guest, Guest | Panel, Guest

Subject No Rating

5:00pm CDT

A Look Back on Babylon 5

It has been nearly twenty years since the final episode of Babylon 5. As the show approaches its 20th year it is still considered by many to be one of the finest science fiction televisions shows that has ever been created. Join Jason Carter, Ranger Marcus Cole, as he takes a look back on the show, shares stories from the set, and answers your questions about what it was like to be involved with one of TV’s historic sci-fi series.

Guests

Jason Carter

Best known to sci-fi fans for his role as Ranger Marcus Cole on “Babylon 5”, Jason Carter, born in London on September 23, 1960, is a British stage, film and television actor. Leads in school plays and summers at the National Youth Theater of Great Britain led to three years... Read More →

Saturday August 27, 2016 5:00pm - 6:00pm CDT
Mendota

Guest, Guest | Panel, Guest

Subject No Rating

5:00pm CDT

Diversity in Writing

They say that if you want more diversity, you should go out and create it. However, that's just part of what needs to be done to get more representation. This panel will talk about three important elements to having more diversity in the world of fiction: creating it, representing it well, and supporting it.

Guests

Alex Bledsoe

Alex Bledsoe grew up in west Tennessee an hour north of Graceland (home of Elvis) and twenty minutes from Nutbush (birthplace of Tina Turner). He's been a reporter, editor, photographer and door-to-door vacuum cleaner salesman. He now lives in a Wisconsin town famous for trolls, writes before six in the morning and tries to teach my three kids to act like they've been to town before. His novels include the Tufa series (the latest, "Chapel of Ease," will be out in September) and the Eddie LaCrosse novel... Read More →

Brianna Lawrence

14 years ago Briana Lawrence (Brichibi Cosplays) and Jessica Walsh (SnowCosplays) were two fanfiction writing ladies who geeked out over Gundam Wing boys and Resident Evil. Now? They’re still geeks and still have their fandoms, but they’re also a cosplaying couple who write books... Read More →

Jessica Walsh

14 years ago Briana Lawrence (Brichibi Cosplays) and Jessica Walsh (SnowCosplays) were two fanfiction writing ladies who geeked out over Gundam Wing boys and Resident Evil. Now? They’re still geeks and still have their fandoms, but they’re also a cosplaying couple who write books... Read More →

Saturday August 27, 2016 5:00pm - 6:00pm CDT
Green Bay/Milwaukee

Guest, Guest | Panel, Guest

Subject No Rating

5:00pm CDT

Why Shadowrun is Still Cool

Aaron has been a freelancer for Shadowrun for a decade, and was part of the design team for the current edition. Join him as he gives you his perspective. We promise that he’s got lots to say about the game to anyone who’s interested.

Guests

Aaron Pavao

Aaron Pavao sold his first game (Live Role-Playing Chess) as a teen. He is now an educator and game designer, spending his time using one discipline to improve the other. He uses his experiences writing tabletop games, running large campaign LARPs, consulting on computer games, and... Read More →

Saturday August 27, 2016 5:00pm - 6:00pm CDT
Salon H

Guest, Guest | Panel, Guest

Subject No Rating

5:00pm CDT

Worldbuilding: Types & Techniques

Novels, stories, comics, games, and any number of creative endeavors take place within fantastic and imaginative settings. No creator, and no project, uses the same worldbuilding approach to help create these settings. Worldbuilding can also be a stumbling block for many creators that keep their projects from ever really getting off the ground. Come learn about different types of worldbuilding and techniques to keep your creation moving. So, that the worldbuilding stumbling block doesn’t keep you from finishing your next masterpiece.

Guests

Monica Valentinelli

Monica Valentinelli writes stories, games, essays, and comics for media/tie-in properties and her original works from her studio in the Midwest. She’s a former musician of 20+ years and a graduate of UW-Madison’s Creative Writing program who now writes full-time. Monica is the... Read More →

Saturday August 27, 2016 5:00pm - 6:00pm CDT
Salon G

Guest, Guest | Panel, Guest

Subject No Rating

11:00pm CDT

Writing Monstrous Characters

Vampires with souls, Aliens in human form, and more. There are many ways that monsters can seem human, but what are the challenges when writing about these characters? How can you tell a story about a monster that keeps the reader hooked? Come discuss with our panelists the various tools used to write monsters.

Guests

Bill Bodden

A freelance writer since 2001, Bill has done most of his writing in the tabletop games industry with work on roleplaying games for everything from Vampire: The Masquerade 20th Anniversary Edition and Firefly to Chill and Achtung! Cthulhu. Bill's published fiction credits include short... Read More →

Matt McElroy

Matt M. McElroy is the Director of Publishing for DriveThruRPG and DriveThruComics. Here, he works with publishers to deliver your favorite RPGs and comics in digital and print editions. Matt also does freelance development and game design for companies like Onyx Path Publishing and Ma... Read More →

Saturday August 27, 2016 11:00pm - Sunday August 28, 2016 12:00am CDT
Green Bay/Milwaukee

Guest, Guest | Panel, Guest

Subject No Rating

11:00am CDT

Get to Know Jerry Jewell

Veteran voice actor, director, and lifelong ginger spends an intimate hour sharing stories and answering your questions. It’s a panel worth waking for on Sunday.

Guests

Jerry Jewell

With over 150 credits to his name, Jerry Jewell can be heard in a wide variety of shows. He's probably best known for his roles as Kyo Sohma in Fruits Basket, Jimmy Kudo in Case Closed, Barry the Chopper/Number 66 in Fullmetal Alchemist, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, Claire Stanfield... Read More →

Sunday August 28, 2016 11:00am - 12:00pm CDT
Geneva

Guest, Guest | Panel, Guest

Subject No Rating

11:00am CDT

Printing your Fandom in 3D

3D printing is becoming more accessible and affordable for the home enthusiast. Peter Liethen shows you how you can turn a 3D printer into a fandom art-producing machine for your own enjoyment.

Guests

Peter Liethen

Peter Liethen is a creator of digital art in both the 2D and 3D realms. For 10 years, he has been writing and illustrating Deverish Also, a fantasy-adventure graphic novel series where magic and technology clash, taking inspiration from classic fantasy anime and manga. Peter has al... Read More →

Sunday August 28, 2016 11:00am - 12:00pm CDT
Green Bay/Milwaukee

Guest, Guest | Panel, Guest

Subject No Rating

11:00am CDT

The Country-Side of Urban Fantasy

At its heart urban fantasy is a genre about normal folks getting wrapped up in supernatural adventures in the real world. While these trials often find our protagonists and villains in the heart of the city. The supernatural can complicate the lives of those just a bit outside of the city too. Join our esteemed panel as they take a look at the country-side of urban fantasy.

Guests

Alex Bledsoe

Alex Bledsoe grew up in west Tennessee an hour north of Graceland (home of Elvis) and twenty minutes from Nutbush (birthplace of Tina Turner). He's been a reporter, editor, photographer and door-to-door vacuum cleaner salesman. He now lives in a Wisconsin town famous for trolls, writes before six in the morning and tries to teach my three kids to act like they've been to town before. His novels include the Tufa series (the latest, "Chapel of Ease," will be out in September) and the Eddie LaCrosse novel... Read More →

Sunday August 28, 2016 11:00am - 12:00pm CDT
Salon F-G

Guest, Guest | Panel, Guest

Subject No Rating

12:00pm CDT

Otaku Jeopardy

VA Ryan Reynolds hosts an Otaku-themed version of the classic quiz show.

Guests

Ryan Reynolds

For more than a decade, anime has had a fan in Ryan Reynolds. Needless to say, when she got the opportunity to do some voice work at Funimation Entertainment it was like a dream come true for her. Ryan’s big break came when she was given the chance to voice Latvia in a little show... Read More →

Sunday August 28, 2016 12:00pm - 1:00pm CDT
Wisconsin

Guest, Guest | Panel, Guest

Subject No Rating

12:00pm CDT

Processing your Emotions like a Pro

Sometimes it can be easy to forget that our favorite authors, artists, and creators are people with feelings just like us. Sometimes, as a pro, it can be difficult to know how to express your feelings. Join us to discuss creating emotions, and how to process.

Guests

Brianna Lawrence

14 years ago Briana Lawrence (Brichibi Cosplays) and Jessica Walsh (SnowCosplays) were two fanfiction writing ladies who geeked out over Gundam Wing boys and Resident Evil. Now? They’re still geeks and still have their fandoms, but they’re also a cosplaying couple who write books... Read More →

Monica Valentinelli

Monica Valentinelli writes stories, games, essays, and comics for media/tie-in properties and her original works from her studio in the Midwest. She’s a former musician of 20+ years and a graduate of UW-Madison’s Creative Writing program who now writes full-time. Monica is the... Read More →

Sunday August 28, 2016 12:00pm - 1:00pm CDT
Mendota

Guest, Guest | Panel, Guest

Subject No Rating

12:00pm CDT

Writing Weapons

Many stories feature protagonists wielding phenomenal weapons with breathtaking skill. Many writers are not experts in combat or weapons. How do you bridge this gap to write entertaining scenes with interesting arsenals? Our panel of professional writers shares tips on how to research weapons, tips for writing outside your area of expertise, and how to balance entertainment with believability.

Guests

Alex Bledsoe

Alex Bledsoe grew up in west Tennessee an hour north of Graceland (home of Elvis) and twenty minutes from Nutbush (birthplace of Tina Turner). He's been a reporter, editor, photographer and door-to-door vacuum cleaner salesman. He now lives in a Wisconsin town famous for trolls, writes before six in the morning and tries to teach my three kids to act like they've been to town before. His novels include the Tufa series (the latest, "Chapel of Ease," will be out in September) and the Eddie LaCrosse novel... Read More →

Melissa Olson

Melissa Olson was born and raised in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, and studied film and literature at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. After graduation, and a brief stint bouncing around the Hollywood studio system, Melissa landed in Madison where she eventually... Read More →

Sunday August 28, 2016 12:00pm - 1:00pm CDT
Salon F-G

Guest, Guest | Panel, Guest

Subject No Rating

1:00pm CDT

From Fanfiction to Professional Writing

Once upon a time, Brichibi and Snow were fanfiction writers who used to roleplay with their characters. Then one day Snow wrote the first chapter to a novel with those characters. Together, the two women had turned their fanfiction and roleplaying into a book series. This panel will go into how they managed to do that, and how fanfiction writing became one of the best ways to practice their craft.

Guests

Brianna Lawrence

14 years ago Briana Lawrence (Brichibi Cosplays) and Jessica Walsh (SnowCosplays) were two fanfiction writing ladies who geeked out over Gundam Wing boys and Resident Evil. Now? They’re still geeks and still have their fandoms, but they’re also a cosplaying couple who write books... Read More →

Jessica Walsh

14 years ago Briana Lawrence (Brichibi Cosplays) and Jessica Walsh (SnowCosplays) were two fanfiction writing ladies who geeked out over Gundam Wing boys and Resident Evil. Now? They’re still geeks and still have their fandoms, but they’re also a cosplaying couple who write books... Read More →

Sunday August 28, 2016 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT
Salon F-G

Guest, Guest | Panel, Guest

Subject No Rating

1:00pm CDT

How TV and Film has Changed for Performers over the Years

Jason Carter’s acting career has spanned parts of five decades. Come join a discussion on how the TV and film industry has changed and evolved from the viewpoint of performers over that time.

Guests

Jason Carter

Best known to sci-fi fans for his role as Ranger Marcus Cole on “Babylon 5”, Jason Carter, born in London on September 23, 1960, is a British stage, film and television actor. Leads in school plays and summers at the National Youth Theater of Great Britain led to three years... Read More →

Sunday August 28, 2016 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT
Mendota

Guest, Guest | Panel, Guest

Subject No Rating

1:00pm CDT

The State of the Comic Industy

It’s 2016 and the comic industry has come a long way. But where does it stand now and what does the future hold? And do the big hit comic-book movies help comic sales?

Guests

Matt McElroy

Matt M. McElroy is the Director of Publishing for DriveThruRPG and DriveThruComics. Here, he works with publishers to deliver your favorite RPGs and comics in digital and print editions. Matt also does freelance development and game design for companies like Onyx Path Publishing and Ma... Read More →

John Jackson Miller

New York Times bestselling author John Jackson Miller has spent a lifetime immersed in science fiction. His upcoming Star Trek novel trilogy, Prey, launches in September 2016 from Pocket Books and releases monthly through November. His first Halo comics story appears in Halo: Tales... Read More →

Jennifer Smith

Jennifer Margret Smith is the editor of Marjorie Liu and Sana Takeda's MONSTRESS from Image Comics. She is also a PhD student in Media and Cultural Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she studies superhero comics and their industry alongside a host of other media... Read More →

Mark Stegbauer

Mark Stegbauer is a 25 year veteran of the comic book and game industry. He has worked for Marvel, DC, Image and various other publishers on such titles as Avengers, Spider-Man, Nova, Flash, JLA, Buckaroo Banzai, and The Badger.He is the creator/artist of Dr Goyle, and the artist... Read More →

Sunday August 28, 2016 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT
Green Bay/Milwaukee

Guest, Guest | Panel, Guest

Subject No Rating

2:00pm CDT

Parlor LARPS VS Campaign LARPS

Aaron Pavao shares and discusses the features and differences of each kind of LARP.

Guests

Aaron Pavao

Aaron Pavao sold his first game (Live Role-Playing Chess) as a teen. He is now an educator and game designer, spending his time using one discipline to improve the other. He uses his experiences writing tabletop games, running large campaign LARPs, consulting on computer games, and... Read More →

Sunday August 28, 2016 2:00pm - 3:00pm CDT
Mendota

Guest, Guest | Panel, Guest

Subject No Rating

2:00pm CDT

The Feedback Loop

Creators have more access to feedback than ever before. From consumer reviews to professional critiques to social media comments, there is often more feedback than creators can sift through. So, in an era of constant feedback, how do creators identify feedback that is valuable and what do you do with it once you’ve sifted through it?

Guests

Monica Valentinelli

Monica Valentinelli writes stories, games, essays, and comics for media/tie-in properties and her original works from her studio in the Midwest. She’s a former musician of 20+ years and a graduate of UW-Madison’s Creative Writing program who now writes full-time. Monica is the... Read More →

Sunday August 28, 2016 2:00pm - 3:00pm CDT
Salon F-G

Guest, Guest | Panel, Guest

Subject No Rating