Professionals

Mary Abreu

Author Mary Abreu has worked as a seamstress for the film and TV industry, including Fox's Sleepy Hollow, and has wardrobe department credits on two short films.

Jeanne P Adams

Jeanne Adams writes award-winning suspense, UF, paranormal, and space adventure. She has been featured in Cosmopolitan Magazine and hailed as “Best Suspense of the Year!”

Day A Al-Mohamed

Day Al-Mohamed is author for the novel Baba Ali and the Clockwork Djinn, editor of the anthology Trust & Treachery, and a writer of comics and film scripts.

Craig Alanson

Craig Alanson is the NYT best-selling author of the sci fi ‘Expeditionary Force’ series. In 2020, he ranked 6th in audiobook revenue along all authors, with $15M in sales. His first book ‘Columbus Day’ was a finalist for audiobook of the year in 2018.

Michael J. Allen

A USA Today bestselling sci-fi/fantasy author, speaker, and small-press publisher, Michael J. Allen has released 16 novels in space opera as well as urban, contemporary, and western fantasy.

Quincy J Allen

National bestselling author, Scribe Award finalist, and Colorado Gold finalist Quincy J. Allen is a cross-genre author with novels in sci-fi, fantasy, steampunk, noir, and mil-sci-fi. 

Ayla Almee

Ayla has performed dance for 30+ years. . Ayla is a founding member, head choreographer, and co-director of Antipode Dance and specializes in silk road styles.

Roger Altizer

Dr. Roger Altizer makes and teaches people to make games for fun and human good. He’s helped students find work at studios ranging from Blizzard to Zenimax.

Clinton Alvord

Launching the award-winning comedy4cast podcast, Clinton Alvord has one of the longest-running comedy shows in all of podcasting. He also co-hosts The Topic is Trek, a Star Trek podcast.

Brian D Anderson

After a stellar career as an indie author, Brian D. Anderson has been snatched up by Tor Book with a three book deal. 

Jason Anspach

Jason Anspach is the Dragon Award Winning Author of the Galaxy's Edge series. He is an Associated Press Bestseller and active in pro-Veteran causes.

Corey Applegate

Corey Applegate is a travel professional who is currently working for Pixie Dusted Travel and Events. She is also a member of the Mandalorian Mercs and writes for their website.

Ken Applegate

Ken Applegate is the owner and DJ of Mad Hatter Music and Crafts. He will be the DJ for the Kids Dance hosted by the Kids Track.

Davis Ashura

Davis Ashura is the award-winning author of two epic fantasy series, the Castes and the OutCastes and the Chronicles of William Wilde. 

Samantha Avila

Samantha Avila is an Art Director working on top tier projects in Hollywood. She has worked on numerous genres ranging from the familiar to the fantastic.

Will Aymerich

Will Aymerich is the founder and owner of ATL Radio X, co-host of The K & A Show with Christina Kieffer, and former host of The Aymerich Show.

Jim Azevedo

Jim Azevedo is the marketing director of Smashwords, the world's largest distributor of self-published ebooks. A sought after speaker, Azevedo has delivered approximately 150 ebook publishing workshops at conferences.

Kevin Bachelder

Kevin Bachelder has been podcasting about genre TV and movies since 2005. Along with speaking on multiple panels at Dragon Con, he also leads the Dragon Con Newbies group.

Michael R Bailey

Michael Bailey has been podcasting since 2007 and currently runs The Fortress of Baileytude Podcasting Network. He currently co-hosts WGBS LIVE for the Homepage.

Tony A Ballard-Smoot

Model, cosplayer, speaker and enthusiast. Tony Ballard-Smoot works diligently to promote the steampunk, cosplay, modeling and maker communities as a whole.

Griffin Barber

Griffin Barber gets around in Eric Flint's 1632 series, but also in several anthologies across the spectrum of SF. 2nd Chance Angel, coauthored Kacey Ezell, is forthcoming from Blackstone Publishing.

Aretta Baumgartner

Aretta Baumgartner is a performer/teaching artist specializing in puppetry, mask, movement. She’s proud to be the Education Director of the world-renowned Center for Puppetry Arts in Atlanta.

Daniel K Beahn

Daniel Beahn is the Lead Art Producer for ZeniMax Online Studios. He has worked on The Elder Scrolls Online, Fallout 4, Fallout 76, Skyrim, Fallout Shelter, and many others.

Davey Beauchamp

Davey Beauchamp is an artist and librarian. His art has been used for Doctor Who, Los Bastardz Productions, Falstaff Books, and Scaldcrow Games for book covers.

R. S. Belcher

R.S. Belcher is a former private investigator, journalist, and editor. He is author of the Golgotha, Nightwise, the Brotherhood of the Wheel series, and the Queen's Road series.

Evan Bernstein

Evan Bernstein is a co-host of the award-winning science podcast The Skeptics’ Guide to the Universe. He is also a co-host of Which Game First: A Board Game Podcast.

Kaitlin Bevis

Kaitlin Bevis is best known as the author of the young adult Greek mythology series, The Daughters of Zeus and the young adult horror story, Blood and Other Matter.

Alexa Black

Alexa Black got her start in the film industry as a seamstress and tailor, creating costumes for productions like Venom, Stranger Things, Doom Patrol, and Pride & Prejudice.

Jennifer Blackstream

Jennifer Blackstream is a bestselling author. She has made a writing career out of watching Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries and from research into mythology and fairy tales.

Bobby Blackwolf

Bobby Blackwolf is the co-owner of the Voice of Geeks Network podcast network, and has hosted a live internet video show and podcast about video games since 2005.

David Boop

David Boop’s debut novel is a sci-fi/noir She Murdered Me with Science. He's published across genres including media tie-ins for Predator, Green Hornet, and Veronica Mars.

Jon Boutelle

Jon Boutelle co-hosts and produces 50 Days of Dragon Con. He can also be found on Need Coffee's Weekend Justice and The Unique Geek.

Jay Boyce

Jay Boyce is the author of A Touch of Power series published with Mountaindale Press. She is an editor-turned-author who also spends her time working with deaf students.

Jonathan P Brazee

Jonathan Brazee is a writer, Dragon Award finalist, two-time Nebula Award finalist, and USA Today bestselling author. He has over 80 titles published in a variety of genres.

Bill Bridges

Bill Bridges is a writer and game designer most known for developing White Wolf’s World of Darkness and the Fading Suns science-fiction universe.

Matthew J. Brown

Matthew J. Brown, Ph.D is a scholar of comics and pop culture. He is co-editor of More Critical Approaches to Comics and has organized an academic conference at Dragon Con.

Douglas Burbey

Doug Burbey, author of the Blood War urban fantasy series. Burbey served in the Army while having adventures around the world before retiring.

Tyra A Burton

Tyra Burton is a social media strategist and co-author of  Socially Engaged: The Author’s Guide to Social Media and the creator of The Geeky Side and Geek Meets Social podcasts.

D.J. Butler

D.J. (Dave) Butler has been a lawyer, a consultant, an editor, and a corporate trainer. His novels include Witchy Eye, The Cunning Man, The Kidnap Plot, and many more.

Jessica Cail

Featured on NOVA’s Secret Life of Scientists for her dual life as psychopharmacologist and stuntwoman, Dr. Cail also serves as scientific consultant for Hollywood sci-fi.

Kenneth G Carpenter

Dr. Kenneth Carpenter is currently the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) Operations Project Scientist and the Ground Systems Project Scientist for the Wide-Field Infrared Survey Telescope (WFIRST).

Alison Carrier

Alison Carrier is a Co-Lead Designer for Certain Affinity. She is currently working on an unannounced third-person looter-shooter while passionately advocating for diversity and equity in video games.

Jeffrey A. Carver

Jeffrey Carver is a Nebula-nominated SF novelist, author of The Chaos Chronicles and Battlestar Galactica. Equally popular are his Star Rigger stories, including Eternity’s End. 

CatieOsaurus

Catie Osborn of Infinite Quest Podcast is a prominent ADHD TikToker, who has become known for her educational and entertaining content as a comedian, mental illness advocate and D&D enthusiast.

Robert Chapin

Robert is a multi-hyphenate actor, writer, director, vfx artist, stuntman, fight choreographer, and swordsman with starring roles in Ring of Steel, Dragon Fury and The Hunted. 

Michael Chatfield

Michael Chatfield is a Canadian ex-military writer with over 35+ works published in the last five years, including multiple bestselling series and books across audio and eBook formats.

ChelseaBytes

ChelseaBytes is a Role-playing Costume-wearing Anime-loving Tech enthusiast who is putting a spin on what it means to be a nerd. 

Todd Robert Cochrane

Todd Cochrane is the Founder of Blubrry Podcasting, a Podcast Hall of Fame Inductee and 16 Year Podcaster, Author, Podcast Awards Founder .

Kelly Lynn Colby

Kelly Lynn Colby is a fantasy writer as well as the Editorial Director of Cursed Dragon Publishing, LLC. She hosts the Writers Meetup on Friday night.

Pamela Cole

Pamela Cole is a costumier who graduated from Goodman Theater in Chicago over 40 years ago and continues to work with dance companies, movies, museums, reenactors, in the Atlanta area. 

Ellie Collins

Ellie Collins is a content producer and game master who runs ATL By Night, a Vampire the Masquerade V5 campaign livestream, and The Blood Crow Stories horror audio drama podcast.

Ryan A Consell

Ryan Consell teaches engineering at the University of Waterloo. He has written on science, art, costuming, and culture for madartlab.com since 2011.

Harmon Cooper

Harmon Cooper is a bestselling independent author of Way of the Immortals, Cherry Blossom Girls, House of Dolls, Pilgrim, and Death's Mantle.

Jason Cordova

A 2019 Dragon Award finalist, Jason Cordova is known for his contributions to the Four Horsemen Universe. He is also a contributor to the bestselling anthology Black Tide Rising.

Michael A Corrie

Michael Corrie is the host of the tiktok channel @propstohistory and cohost of the Prop History Podcast. Propmaster/maker, Cosplayer and Film Historian.

.

Madison J Cripps

Madison J. Cripps became a professional puppeteer in 2006 while working on a small farm in Western MA. Cripps was awarded an UNIMA citation of excellence in puppetry 2014. Not your grandma's puppet show. (though she is welcome)

Katie Cross

Full-time CEO, mom, and magic-lover Katie Cross has published more than fifteen books in YA Fantasy because she likes to hang out with dragons and do some girl-powered magic on the side. 

Stephanie Crugnola

A story-teller at heart, Stephanie Crugnola is a figure skater turned author, actress, and podcaster. She focuses on using her technical and performance background to create well-rounded, grounded characters.

Paul B Currie

Paul Currie is a science educator, photographer, and philosopher from the coal fields of Appalachia. He specializes in using pop culture to teach undergraduate science courses.

Ronald Edward Daniels

Ronald "Ron" Daniels is an attorney who handles consumer right litigation.

Veronica Dashell

Veronica Dahshell is half of the husband and wife puppetry team, Felt Nerdy! She and her husband Charles Kelso can be see at conventions across the Southeast.

JC De La Torre

JC De La Torre, along with his wife Rita, is a filmmaker, audio drama producer, screenwriter, and director for Transmissions From Atlantis Entertainment.

Rita De La Torre

Rita De La Torre, along with her husband JC, is a filmmaker, screenwriter, producer, editor, and an actor for Transmissions From Atlantis Entertainment.

Walter Dean

Walter Dean is a premier costume designer who specializes in custom-made costumes for the cosplayer in you. He has been spotlighted in many publications and interviews.  

Celeste DeAngelis

Celeste DeAngelis is the host of Which Game First: The Board Game Podcast. She has been active in the promotion, writing, and running of games (and events) across New England.

Tracy Deonn

Tracy Deonn is a young adult author, scholar, and geektivist. Her debut YA fantasy series, Legendborn, will be published Fall 2020. 

Lali DeRosier

Science teacher and education advocate, Lali DeRosier promotes youth involvement in science through student writing, art, and, outreach. She tackles themes of science and diversity in scifi, fantasy, and horror.

Heather Dobson

Heather Dobson is, like everyone else, a future ghost. With 12 years' experience, she's well-equipped to bring understanding to the haunted while guiding others to meet the afterlife head-on.

Cecilia Dominic

By day, clinical psychologist Cecilia Dominic helps people cure their insomnia. By night, this USA Today bestselling author writes fiction that keeps her readers turning pages past bedtime.

Chris Donio

Chris is a Key Specialty Costumer for Film and TV. His most recently work being Falcon & Winter Soldier, Hawkeye and currently working on Shazam 2 .

Addie Dove

Dr. Addie Dove is a planetary scientist and professor who studies dusty planetary surfaces. She has flown on microgravity flights, and has flown about a dozen experiments in space.

DTM

Dan Flores is a 2D Illustrator having fun making art for games, comics, animation and brands.  Main tools are paper and pencil plus Sketchable App, Adobe Illustrator and Fresco.

Patrick Dugan

Patrick Dugan is the award-winning author of the Darkest Storm trilogy from Falstaff Books and Fate & Flux: A Steampunk Adventure from Distracted Dragon Press.

Jordan T. Duncan

Jordan Duncan is a paranormal investigator of 12 years in the Atlanta area. He is also a historian, podcaster, and vlogger.

Sydney Duncan

Sydney Duncan is the writer of Dark Horse Comics' Kill Whitey Donovan. She is the author of the critically acclaimed YA novel series, The Revelation Saga, from Medallion Press.

Andy Dykes

Andy Dykes is a real, live rocket scientist who flies satellites for a living and has supported all kinds of manned and unmanned space flight at NASA. 

Marc Alan Edelheit

Marc Edelheit is an accomplished fantasy, historical fiction, and science fiction author with 12 national bestsellers, including the award-winning Chronicles series, The Karus Saga, and Tales of the Seventh.

Kevin Eldridge

Kevin Eldridge produces and hosts The Flopcast, a pop culture comedy podcast. He is a published science fiction author, an organizer and host of skeptic events, and a comedy musician.

Mike Ellison

An actor, improviser, and podcaster, Mike Ellison is best known for his role as Jebeddo on the D&D liveplay podcast Adventure Incorporated. 

Dax ExclamationPoint

Dax ExclamationPoint is a cosplaying drag performer that has taken the world by "Storm" (literally) ever since walking onto the set of Rupaul’s Drag Race season 8. 

Michael Falkner

Michael Falkner is a writer and podcaster at Creative Criticality. He is the author of the Timestamps Project and is also one of the leaders for Dragon Con Newbies.

Jim Farmer

Jim Farmer is the festival director and executive director of Out On Film, Atlanta's LGBTQ film festival, as well as a long-time area arts reporter

Emily A Finke

A forensic anthropologist by training, but a science communicator by passion, Emily Finke has spent the past 20 years teaching in museums, nature centers, pubs, conventions, and more.

Declan Finn

Declan Finn is the author of books ranging from thrillers to urban fantasy to sci-fi, including the 2016 Dragon Award Nominated Novel for Best horror, Honor at Stake. 

Rob Fitz

Rob Fitz is a professional makeup artist and film director with 25 years experience. Recently, he's worked on films like Patriots Day, Castle Rock, and Shrine, to name a few.

John L. Flynn

Dr. John Flynn is an author, screenwriter, and three-time Hugo nominee. His recent book, Intimate Bondage, has spawned a series and likely a big screen adaptation, based upon his screenplay.

Marina Fontaine

Marina Fontaine is an author of Chasing Freedom, a Dragon Awards finalist in Apocalyptic Novel category, and The Product, a dystopian novella from Superversive Press.

Barr Foxx

Barr Foxx is an award-winning cosplay artist, television/film producer, and influencer. His national brand, Cosplay Your Way, encourages individuals to cosplay regardless of race, size, age, experience, or gender.

Anthony Francis

By day, Anthony Francis teaches robots to learn; by night, he writes science fiction and draws comic books. His latest novel is Jeremiah Willstone and the Clockwork Time Machine.

Yacov Freedman

Yacov Freedman is the Senior Podcast Producer for Turner Classic Movies, where he works on TCM's podcast, The Plot Thickens. He has degrees in film studies from Northwestern and Emory.

Abigail Gardner

Abigail Gardner is a podcaster, writer, and digital content creator. She is a host and producer of Yes Have Some Podcast, and is a leading voice in the Ghostbusters community. 

Paige Gardner

Paige Gardner is an award-winning costume designer whose eccentric masks and bizarre original costumes make her art recognizable world-wide. Her costume projects are regularly exhibited across the U.S and Canada.

Ronald Thomas Garner

Ronald Garner is a publisher and author of speculative fiction. He is also a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Marine Corps and lives and works in the DC area.

Jon Garon

Jon Garon is Professor of Law and Director, Intellectual Property, Cybersecurity, and Technology Law program at NSU’s Shepard Broad College of Law, and an author.

Jenna Garrett

Jenna Garrett is a proud member of the Giant-Size Team-Up Network. She hosts the show Craft Boos and is also a co-host of the weekly podcast Panelology.

Hanne Madeleine Gates Paine

Tristan Gibbon

Tristan Gibbon is one of the founding members of the Giant Sized Team Up Network’s evergreen show Botched: A D&D Podcast.  

Clay Gilbert

Clay Gilbert has published 11 novels: the Children of Evohe tetralogy, The Kind, Pearl, Eternity, Dark Road to Paradise, and Cassie's Song.

Jennifer Gilley

Jennifer Gilley is an artist from Virginia who concentrates her work around body arts including prosthetics, special effects, body painting, tattooing and illustrating at her studio, Sundog Art Studios.

Tina Glasneck

Tina Glasneck is a USA Today bestselling author and enjoys creating stories that combine history, fantasy, and Norse Gods. One day she hopes to travel to Asgard.

Seressia Glass

Seressia Glass is an award-winning author of more than 25 works including Sons of Anubis and Shadowchasers. She is currently working on Faking It, a story about a plus-sized cosplayer.

Dwayne Keith Goetzel

Austin based intellectual property attorney Dwayne Goetzel specializes in trademarks, domain names, copyrights, licensing, and litigation relating to those fields.

Thomas Michael Gofton

Thomas Gofton founded Lynnvander Studios producing the series The Gamers: Natural One and Nights at the Round Table. He has designed several tabletop games.

Craig Goldberg

Craig Goldberg is the host and producer of Yes Have Some Podcast. Founded in 2016, YHS has become a leading voice in the Ghostbusters fan and toy collecting communities. 

Rachel Graves

Rachel Graves writes scary, sexy mysteries. Her books include Under a Blood Moon, Fire in Her Blood, Blood, Dirt, and Lies, and The Mermaid and the Murders.

Craig B Greathouse

Dr. Craig Greathouse is an expert in issues of European and American security issues, strategic culture, international relations theory, and cyber war.

Andrew Greenberg

Best known for his work on roleplaying and computer games, Andrew Greenberg runs the Georgia Game Developers Association and Georgia Esports League. 

Mikey Grenier

Mikey G is a published game designer, panelist on the Which Game First Podcast, and an avid gamer and playtester.

Sean Grigsby

Sean Grigsby is a Publishers Weekly Starred author of the Smoke Eaters series and Daughters of Forgotten Light. His short stories have appeared in Amazing Stories and the Warhammer 40k universe.

Karl T Grindal

Karl Grindal is a policy analyst and information security researcher based in Atlanta, GA. He is a collaborator with the Internet Governance Project and Sam Nunn Security Fellow.

Darrell Z. Grizzle

Darrell Z. Grizzle writes horror, dark urban fantasy, and crime fiction. He is the author of Ghostwood Crossing and I Never Meant to Start a Murder Cult.

Nicole Gugliucci

Dr. Nicole Gugliucci (aka NoisyAstronomer) is a physics professor, education researcher, astronomer, science communicator, and all around geek. Her passion for science education drives a number of projects.

L.J. Hachmeister

Amazon bestselling author and editor L.J. Hachmeister writes and fights. The world champion stick-fighter is best known in the literary world for her epic science fiction series, Triorion.

Valerie Hampton

Dr. Valerie Hampton, a historical archaeologist, author, and Indie film producer, speaks on the intersection between popular fantasy and history.

Henry Hanks

Henry Hanks has written about geek culture for sites such as CNN.com, Syfy.com and Joblo.com. He has participated in Dragon Con panels for 20 years.

Isabelle Hardesty

Isabelle Hardesty has always woven her love of magic and nature into her books. Her most recent novel is The Witch of Belle Fleur. 

Scott Harris

Scott Harris is the staff planetary geologist at Fernbank Science Center and the Jim Cherry Memorial Planetarium in Atlanta, Georgia.

Todd Alan Harris

Todd Harris co-founded Hi-Rez Studios, one of the largest video game studios in the Southeast, and is currently Founder & CEO of Skillshot Media and Chairman of Atlanta Esports Alliance.

Will Harris

Will Harris is a paleontologist, educator, and host of the Common Descent Podcast, where he applies his experience as a fossil hunter, researcher, and educator to entertaining and educational discussions.

William Hayashi

William Hayashi is an award-winning screen writer, and author of short stories and novels, and has been the host of the Genesis Science Fiction Radio Show.

Laura Hayden

Laura Hayden writes in many genres from urban fantasy to time travel to mysteries. Her most recent title is DARKWOOD CROSSING: Bailey, the Critter Sitter, written as Ella Vaughn.

M. Haynes

M. Haynes is the mind behind the popular Elemental novel series, an educator, a blogger, and public speaker who hopes to show that everyone has the elements of a hero.

Travis Heermann

Travis Heermann is the author of nine novels, including Tokyo Blood Magic and The Ronin Trilogy, plus short fiction in Apex Magazine, Cemetery Dance, and others.

May Hemmer

May Hemmer has been making her way around the country as well as internationally. This 2017 Miss Montreal Burlesque is not only a burlesque performer but a cosplayer.

Tony P Henderson

Tony Henderson is a podcaster and moderator known for the Tony P. oddcast and the Geek Vs podcast. Henderson’s moderating work was featured in a BET black nerd culture segment.

HeyGude

Erik Gude (@heygude) of Infinite Quest Podcast is a prominent ADHD TikToker, who has become known for his educational and entertaining content as a comedian, mental illness advocate and D&D enthusiast.

Chris Hofmann

Chris manages launch operations for Astra, a space infrastructure company.. He is acting Launch Conductor on mission days, having helped develop their agile and rapidly deployable launch system.

Rob Howell

Rob Howell is a retired soda jerk, a reformed medieval academic, a writer in the Four Horsemen Universe, and created the Shijuren fantasy setting.

Jeff Lee Hubbs

Jeff Hubbs is an energy systems and climate change researcher most recently affiliated with Georgia Tech's School of Public Policy. He is the owner of Mid-Atlantic Consulting.

John Hudgens

John Hudgens is an award-winning filmmaker, animator, and artist who has directed documentaries and short films. His work on licensed properties includes Babylon 5, Crimson Skies, MechWarrior, and Star Wars.

Rebecca Huguet

Rebecca is a theatrical costume technician and designer. She currently works for Alabama State University as the Costume Shop Manager. 

Walter H. Hunt

Walter H. Hunt is a science fiction and historical fiction author. He has written military SF as well as novels on mesmerism, the Templars, and in the world of 1632. 

James A. Hunter

James Hunter is a full-time ink slinger, a member of SFWA, and the bestselling author of the Yancy Lazarus series, Rogue Dungeon, Bibliomancer, and the litRPG epic Viridian Gate Online!

Topher Hunter

Topher Hunter is a professional biomedical science communicator and amateur droid builder with a passion for trying new things and helping others to not make the same mistakes he made.

Alledria Hurt

Alledria Hurt is an African-American author, actress, playwright, and podcaster. Her most recent novel is 13, but she is best known for the Fate Circle Saga trilogy.

Kevin Ikenberry

Kevin Ikenberry is a retired Army Lieutenant Colonel and sci-fi writer. He is the author of The Protocol War series and the Peacemaker novels in the bestselling Four Horsemen Universe.

Alan Isom

Alan Isom began his adventure with science fiction and fantasy literature as it should begin: with JRR Tolkien’s The Hobbit. The Cayn Trilogy is Alan's first published work.  

JackMonkey FX

Since 2010 Bethany Michel has been traveling all over the US providing her makeup services to film productions and live events.

Chris A. Jackson

When not sailing in the Caribbean, Chris Jackson is an author of over 20 novels in fantasy, sci-fi, and horror.

Kristin Jackson

Kristin Jackson is an accomplished print/digital designer, working in the film industry as an artist, set photographer, and social media manager.

Stuart Jaffe

Stuart Jaffe is the madman behind The Max Porter Paranormal Mysteries, the Nathan K thrillers, The Parallel Society series, the Water Blade series (upcoming from Falstaff Books), and more. 

Justin Jones

Justin Jones is a prolific independent producer in the genre space focusing high production value film and television series projects.  

Christopher Kao

Christopher Kao has worked in video games for over a decade as a designer, producer, and product manager. He has worked on some of the top properties in the world.

Charlie Kaufman

Charlie Kaufman has worked in extensively in environmental consulting and academia where he studied coastal erosion, and natural disaster impacts. He currently works in the emergency management field.

Kavura

Kavura, along with Nayr, are the hosts of StarPodTrek and, StarPodLog. She, along with fellow Trekkie Jen Foley also produce the regular podcast segment Ladies Trek Library.

Philip Daniel Keating

Philip D Keating is the creator of Botched Podcast, host on Breaking the Panel, Twitch streamer, and partner of the Giant Size Team Up Network.

Charles Kelso

Charles Kelso is half of the husband and wife puppetry team Felt Nerdy. They have been performing at conventions across the southeast for over seven years.

Chris Kennedy

A bestselling science fiction/fantasy author and speaker, Chris Kennedy is a naval aviator with over 3,000 hours flying attack and reconnaissance aircraft.

Darin Kennedy

Darin Kennedy, doctor by day and novelist by night, has written the Fugue & Fable series including The Mussorgsky Riddle, The Stravinsky Intrigue, and The Tchaikovsky Finale, and more.

Madaug Kenyon

Intense gamer, former teacher and current mastermind of all around mayhem, Madaug Kenyon first started writing in grade school, on his mother's walls, and has since become a bestselling author.

Bethany Kesler

Historian, writer, reader/reviewer, and cat parent to four fuzzballs, Bethany Kesler is currently working on several things all at the same time.

Christina N. Kieffer

Christina Kieffer has over 15 years of experience in the paranormal and a background researching ghosts, UFOs, and cryptids. She’s a host on the K &A Show on ATL Radio. 

Roy Kilgard

Dr. Kilgard is an astrophysicist who researches black holes in nearby galaxies with an emphasis on intermediate-mass black holes: an enigmatic class of objects whose origins are unclear.

Sue Kisenwether

Sue Kisenwether has been podcasting about sci-fi TV and movies since 2010. Currently, she co-hosts Women at Warp on the Roddenberry Podcast Network.

Hans Klein

Dr. Hans Klein is Associate Professor in the School of Public Policy at the Georgia Institute of Technology. His research interests include internet governance, information warfare, and internet and democracy.

Aleron Kong

Dr. Aleron Kong is the author of the internationally bestselling series The Land, which has sold over 1,000,000 worldwide, and was voted Audible's Customer Favorite. 

Dakota Krout

Dakota Krout is a bestselling author of fantasy and LitRPG with over 15 titles in his Divine Dungeon and Completionist Chronicles series.

Jessica Kupferman

Jessica Kupferman is the co-host and co-founder of the She Podcasts brand, which currently supports over 14,000 female podcasters and has a digital marketing reach of over 50,000 content creators.

K`Tetch

K`Tetch is a Robotics engineer, and research journalist noted for working on several seasons of BattleBots and other TV shows in addition to writing books.

Steph LaMassa

Astrophysicist Steph LaMassa works at the Space Telescope Science Institute on NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope. Her research focuses on the growth and evolution of supermassive black holes.

DN Lee

Dr. Danielle N Lee is a scientist who studies the natural history and behavioral biology of rodents across urban gradients. She engages broad audiences in science communication on social media.

Laura Levy

Laura Levy is Research Director of GEAR (Gaming & Esports Applied Research) at Georgia Tech and an engineering psychologist specializing in esports, game design, AR/VR, and human-computer interaction research.

Rob Levy

Rob Levy is a pop culture writer, podcaster, and blogger who has been published in several books and appears on several podcasts including Weekend Justice for needcoffee.com.

Allyssa A Lewis

Allyssa A. Lewis is a prime-time television Emmy winning animator most noted for her animation on over 75 episodes and promos of FX's EMMY winning series Archer.

Ann Margaret Lewis

Ann Margaret Lewis is the author of The Kizan Trilogy and a former Star Wars tie-in author. She is also a professional singer and theatrical director.

J.F. Lewis

Alabama madman J. F. Lewis is the internationally published author of The Void City series and the Grudgebearer Trilogy. He writes books that get him into trouble.

Philip Ligon

Philip Ligon is the author of the steampunk-fantasy Engine trilogy and the Falconbone Chronicles. The King's Regret was nominated for a 2019 Dragon Award.

K.A. Linde

K.A. Linde is a USA Today bestselling author of more than 30 novels with a million books in circulation. Her breakout paranormal romance series Blood Type released with Random House.

Jeffrey Falcon Logue

Falcon is a professional indie author, video game maker, woodcarver, chef, plot developer, game writer, music composer, former pre-med and genetics student, and inventor.

Talloolah Love

Talloolah Love is an internationally recognized burlesque performer, producer, and educator. A teacher, part owner, and performer at The Atlanta School of Burlesque, and the Award Winning Candybox Revue. 

F T Lukens

F.T. Lukens is an award-winning author of young adult fantasy and sci-fi. She's best known for her book, The Rules and Regulations for Mediating Myths & Magic.

Tara Lynne

Tara Lynne is an author, event planner, fandom and geek culture expert, and public speaker. She founded Ice & Fire Con and is host of the Geek Saga podcast.

Courtney Lytle

Courtney Lytle is a practicing attorney and Adjunct Professor at Emory University School of Law. She specializes in intellectual property law and serves as General Counsel at Wally Products, LLC. 

Megan Mackie

Megan Mackie has published four novels including The Finder of the Lucky Devil, The Saint of Liars, Death and the Crone, and Saint Code: The Lost through eSpec Books. 

Terry Maggert

An author of more than 30 titles across four genres, Terry Maggert is an international bestseller who writes about witches, space warfare, and everything in between.

Matthew Charles Malis

Matthew Malis is an established podcaster with several credits to his name. His longest running show is Polyhedron, a RPG discussion podcast. 

Mandah

Mandah is a special effects and theatrics makeup artist working professionally in theatre, film, and haunted houses. She is also a costume designer, fabricator, and motivational panelist.

Lisa Manifold

Lisa Manifold is the USA Today bestselling author of paranormal and urban fantasy series. She is currently writing The Deadwood Sisters and The Mostly Open Paranormal Investigative Agency series.

Thomas Mariani

Mike Massa

Mike Massa's work encompasses sci-fi, military sci-fi and fantasy, as well as non-fiction. His most recent novel, with John Ringo, is national bestselling River of Night. 

Melissa McArthur

Melissa McArthur is the Associate Publisher at Falstaff Books. She's an author and editor who has worked with presses and authors worldwide. 

T.C. McCarthy

T.C. McCarthy is an award-winning and critically acclaimed southern author whose latest science fiction book, Tyger Bright, sequel to Tyger Burning was published in 2020. 

Jean McGuire

Owner of Wintertree Software, designer of RPG aid programs like TableMaster, fonts, and other game aids, and author of gaming magazine articles.

Samantha McVey

Samantha McVey is a social worker and the co-host of the show Stuff Mom Never Told You. She has spoken at the Podcast Movement 2019 and She Podcasts! conferences.

Joseph Edward Meany

Joseph Meany, Ph.D., is a material scientist, board member of the Tennessee Valley Interstellar Workshop, and coauthor of the eponymous book Graphene with Les Johnson.

Violette L Meier

Violette Meier has been writing since her preteen years. She has written over 1,200 poems, 25 short stories, and 11 books.

Jason R Merrill

Jason R. Merrill is a SQL DBA by day who curates Blackbird Finery. His expertise in vintage men's fashion, etiquette, and 19th century soda fountains have enthralled audiences nationwide. 

T.J. Michaels

TJ Michaels is a USA Today and NY Times bestseller and an award-winning author of paranormal, fantasy, sci-fi, and urban fantasy romance. 

Christopher G Moore

Christopher G. Moore is an award-winning filmmaker, was a co-writer of the YouTube series Mario Warfare, and is co-host of the podcasts Horror News Radio and Decades of Horror 1980s.

Scottye Moore

Scottye Moore is a podcaster and author. He owns and operates the BS Network series of podcasts where he hosts A Load of BS, Me Again, Fight Boyz, and more!

David Moscato

David Moscato is a paleontologist, science writer, and host of the Common Descent Podcast, where he applies his experience as a fossil hunter and researcher to entertaining and educational discussions.

Colm Mulcahy

Colm Mulcahy is a mathematician long at Spelman College, in Atlanta. He is Vice President of Gathering 4 Gardner, which works to promote the intellectual legacy of Martin Gardner (1914-2010).

Bill Mulligan

Bill Mulligan works as a special effects technician, writer, director, actor, and producer. He is a contributing writer to Gruesome magazine and the Decades of Horror podcast.

Susie M Murph

Susie Murph produces the Daily Space podcast Mondays through Fridays, Astronomy Cast, and the Weekly Space Hangout and manages the CosmoQuest, Astronomy Cast, and Weekly Space Hangout YouTube channels.

Quatoyiah Murry

Quatoyiah Murry is the editorial manager at Turner Classic Movies and a film writer and social critic who nerds out on horror movies, The Beatles, and nature's beauty and mysteries.

Nash

Nash leads Electronic Frontier Alliance's grassroots, student, and community organizing efforts. 

Nayr

Nayr, along with Kavura, are the hosts of StarPodLog and StarPodTrek. Having attended, as well as presented, at literally hundreds of conventions, their panels are engaging, entertaining, and informative.

Neon the Glowgobear

Neon the Glowgobear is an Atlanta based DJ who performs all over North America and brings his high energy frequencies to the Spectrum Party.

James Nettles

James Nettles is a business and technology consultant, speaker, author of science fiction, fantasy, horror, and non-fiction, and media author on the business of creativity, futurist topics, science, and technology.

Morgon Newquist

Morgon Newquist is the co-founder of Silver Empire Publishing, publisher of the best up and coming science fiction and fantasy authors, including five Dragon Award nominated authors. 

Russell Newquist

Russell Newquist is the owner and operator of Silver Empire Publishing, publishers of science fiction and fantasy novels. Silver Empire has published dozens of the best new SFF authors.

Alec Niccum

Alec Niccum is a martial artist that has cross trained in Muay Thai, Tomiki Style Aikido, Wing Chun Kung Fu, Brazilian Jiujitsu and Filipino Martial arts/Silat. 

L.H. Nicole

L.H. Nicole is a young adult fantasy author whose stories feature strong, independent female leads, epic adventures, fantasy worlds, and creatures and unforgettable heroes. 

Matt Nitchie

Matt Nitchie is a local Atlanta actor, puppeteer, and co-host for Dragon Con's own Late Night Puppet Slam.

Bob Novella

Bob Novella is a co-founder of the New England Skeptical Society. He co-hosts the Skeptics’ Guide to the Universe and the Alpha Quadrant 6 podcasts.

Jay Novella

Jay Novella is a producer and co-host of the award winning science podcast The Skeptics’ Guide To The Universe. He also produces and co-hosts Alpha Quadrant 6.

Steven Novella

Steven Novella is the host and producer of The Skeptics’ Guide to the Universe, a popular and award-winning weekly science podcast. He is an internationally known science communicator.

Bishop O'Connell

Bishop O'Connell is the author of the American Faerie Tale (urban fantasy) series and his first book, The Stolen, launched the Harper Voyager Impulse imprint.

Corinne O'Flynn

Corinne O'Flynn is a USA Today bestselling author of fantasy and mystery stories. She loves all flavors of paranormal but always finds herself drawn back to witches.

Melissa F Olson

Melissa F. Olson is the author of more than a dozen novels in the Old World universe, PI mystery The Big Keep, and numerous short stories and novellas.

Sam Ortega

Sam Ortega is the NASA Human Lander System Collaboration Coordinator. His goal is to get the next man and the first person of color to the moon and back.

A.B. Osborne

A.B. Osborne is an Animation Professor at Augusta University, where he built the newly launched Animation program. Osborne is currently developing an animated series called the Forest of Forgotten Things.

Jon R Osborne

Jon R. Osborne is a science fiction and fantasy author from Indianapolis. His second book in The Milesian Accords trilogy, “A Tempered Warrior”, was a 2018 Dragon Awards finalist for Best Fantasy Novel. 

Chantelle Aimée Osman

Chantelle Aimée Osman is the editor of Agora, an award-nominated imprint of Polis Books, as well as an author and instructor.

James Palmer

James Palmer is an award-nominated writer of science fiction and pulp adventure and author of four books in the Shadow Council Archives series for Falstaff Books.

JM Paquette

Author of the Klauden’s Ring Saga and the Conjuring Fascination series, JM Paquette writes fantasy and paranormal romance novels.

Thomas Parham

Dr. Thomas Parham is professor of communication & media studies at Palm Beach Atlantic University , a WGA member with produced credits and author of Hailing Frequencies Open.

Rick Partlow

Rick Partlow is an Army veteran and military science fiction writer with 28 novels published since 2011, including Glory Boy, the Recon series, and the Wholesale Slaughter series.

Sean M. Patton

Sean Patton has designed costumes more than 40 stage productions, 10 short films and TV shows, 5 features, and numerous media projects for clients around the world.

Rachel Pendergrass

Rachel Pendergrass a writer, performer, and gigantic dork who has written for everyone from National Lampoon to HowStuffWorks. She's the producer of the Solve for X Variety show.

Matthew Scott Penick

Matthew has been bringing characters to life through his costume company Ribbons and Rivets. Specializing in leather work, he loves to share little known knowledge in the field.

D.R. Perry

D.R. Perry writes fiction for both YA and adult audiences. Among her works is Dragon Award nominated Alternative History novel A Change In Crime, Providence Paranormal College, and Hawthorn Academy.

Alec Peters

The creator of the Star Trek fan film Prelude to Axanar, Alec is one of Star Trek’s biggest fans, and is well known for his love of Star Trek canon.

Phoenicia

Phoenicia has been a belly dancer since 1983. In addition to cabaret, ethnic, tribal, and fusion belly dance styles she is also a nationally certified ballroom dance instructor. 

Gary Poole

Gary Poole is the co-editor of the anthologies Black Tide Rising and Voices Of The Fall with John Ringo, and the upcoming series We Shall Rise.

Phillip Eugene Pournelle

Phillip Pournelle is a futurist, science fiction author, game designer, and former naval officer. He conducted many wargames for the Department of Defense in exploration of future conflicts.

Edward Povilaitis

Edward Povilaitis is a co-host on Which Game First: A Board Game Podcast. For the past eight years, he has been a developer with Angry Duck Games.

Stefan Price

Stefan Price is a professional artist and maker with 23 years in film, entertainment, and themed attractions. He founded Roundtable Productions as a props and special effects company.

Mandy L Pursley

Mandy Pursley is an actress and cosplayer who created Be the Spark Cosplay to encourage body positivity, especially for those with disabilities. 

Marx Pyle

Marx Pyle authored the book Television on the Wild Wild Web, co-hosts DC Action Hour, co-hosts the podcast GenreTainment, and creates web series/films.

Rachel Rawlings

Rachel Rawlings, is a bestselling author of urban fantasy and paranormal romance. She has produced nine novels, two novellas, and three shorts.

Willa Reece

Willa Reece is a 2021 Orbit Publishing New Voices author with her debut fantasy, WILDWOOD WHISPERS. Previously, she has published more than a dozen books as Barbara J. Hancock.

Anthony Reed

Anthony Reed is the Dungeon Master and show runner for the Adventure Incorporated Podcast. He has been running tabletop RPGs for over 20 years.

Anney Hollis Reese

Anney Reese is an actor, writer, and podcaster known for Stuff Mom Never Told You and Savor. Through the process of podcasting, she has also produced and written scripts.

Alison Sky Richards

Beyond Alison Sky Richards' fiction novels, she is also a staff writer with ThreeIfBySpace.net, a screenplay reviewer with the Nashville Film Festival, teaches writing workshops annually at conventions.

Gray Rinehart

Gray Rinehart is a writer who sings, and a singer who writes. He's written science fiction and fantasy stories, nonfiction, and songs on myriad topics. 

Aaron Michael Ritchey

Aaron Michael Ritchey is the author of 21 novels and numerous short fiction. The first book in The Juniper Wars series was a Dragon Award Finalist. 

Rob Roberts

Rob Roberts is an internet broadcasting veteran and co-creator of Orange Lounge Radio. He is also a host of cult cinema screenings and variety shows throughout Northern California.

Dennis Lee Robinson

Dennis Robinson is a professional podcaster and Twitch streamer for the past several years. He will excitedly be performing his podcast, Botched: A D&D Podcast live.

Bobby Rogers

Bobby Rogers is a cybersecurity professional with over 30 years experience. He has produced and narrated over 30 computer training video titles, is an author and editor for McGraw-Hill.

Magnus Rose

Magnus Rose, head designer of WitchGender Designs, is an award-winning cosplay craftsman and disability inclusion advocate for the con community. They specialize in original designs and budget-oriented creation.

Meredith Rose

Meredith Rose is a consumer advocate, copyright and tech policy wonk, and professional nerd in Washington, DC. She gives voice to the concerns of fans, consumers, and end users.

Robert W Ross

Robert W. Ross is the author of the award-winning Sentinels of Creation urban-fantasy series. This year he debuts a new sci-fi series, Paradigm.

Ginger Rowland

Ginger Rowland is an master avant garde hair styling and hair extension specialist. She has been awarded best stylist in Atlanta and nominated for best stylist North America.

Ashley Ruhl

Ashley Ruhl is a 10 year veteran of the game industry, currently Lead Cinematic Designer on Star Wars: The Old Republic at BioWare. 

Christopher Ruocchio

Christopher Ruocchio is the author of the Sun Eater space fantasy series from DAW Books and the Junior Editor at Baen Books, where he has edited four anthologies.

Tina Hesman Saey

Tina Hesman Saey is a former molecular geneticist who is now an award-winning science journalist at Science News magazine. Her work has won multiple awards.

Shellie Schmals

Shellie Schmals is the VP of Programming for Women in Film & Television Atlanta, Film Programming Manager at the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival, and emcee for burlesque/talent shows.

Lesia Miller Schnur

Former librarian, Lesia Miller Schnur is the Haunted Librarian, a Top 15 Paranormal Website. Schnur investigates popular theories, hoaxes, and the obscure and forgotten.

Lisa Shackelford

Lisa Shackelford has more than a decade of experience as a paranormal investigator. She is currently working on her first horror novel, The End of the Living and blogs as the Haunted Flight Attendant.

Aron Siegel

Aron Siegel, producer and sound mixer whose work includes The Unwanted, Implanted, Thor: Ragnarok, Black Lightning, Walking Dead, and Vampire Diaries. Aron mixed the recent Star Trek fan film: Axanar.

R Alan Siler

R. Alan Siler is an author, editor, and the owner of kOZMIC Press LLC. His published works include non-fiction books, essays on numerous topics, and television, movie, and music reviews.

Tamsin L. Silver

Tamsin Silver is the author of Mark of the Necromancer, The Windfire Series, Scourge of Souls Series, Moon Over Manhattan, and a web series/novel trio, Skye of the Damned. 

Melissa Simpson

Melissa Simpson is the Executive Director of the nonprofit Film Impact Georgia and also works for Eventive, a virtual streaming platform for independent film. She has worked for many film festivals across the state of Georgia and is heavily involved in the Atlanta film community.

Cheryl Sleboda

Cheryl Sleboda is a professional cosplay educator and award-winning fiber artist. She's taught nationally in person and on television, and is the host of Con Crunch Challenge!

Alan Smale

NASA astrophysicist Alan Smale, is the author of award winning A Clash of Eagles, and his books, Clash of Eagles, Eagle in Exile, Eagle and Empire, are available from Del Rey.

Fr. Bryan Small

Every DND group needs a cleric, no? A priest for over 15 years, Fr. Bryan Small loves to share in the fandoms with his fellow nerds. 

Daviorr Snipes

Daviorr Snipes is a Peabody Award winning stage, film, and voice over actor who has appeared in the BET Series, American Soul.

Spat

Spat Oktan of SpatCave Studios is a makeup artist and costume and prop maker who is well known in the indie/low budget film circles and the sci-fi/comic con world.

Rox of Spazhouse

Roxanne Henkle aka Rox of Spazhouse is Need Coffee's Director of Zine studies, as well as a podcaster on Weekend Justice and cohost on 50 Days of Dragon Con. 

Janine K. Spendlove

Janine K. Spendlove is an author, pilot, and U.S. Marine who is primarily known for her War of the Seasons fantasy series and her Star Wars tie-in story Inbrief.

Dia BSDcreative Starr

Dia Starr co-founded BSD Creative design with Micheal Odusanya. These multi-talents curate themed art events. Specialties include bodypaint, graphic design, online promotions, and art framing.

Amie Stepanovich

Amie Stepanovich is the Executive Director at Silicon Flatirons at Colorado Law. She is a nationally recognized expert in domestic surveillance, cybersecurity, and privacy law.

Shami A Stovall

Shami Stovall is a multi-award-winning author of fantasy and science fiction who started at the traditional presses and later moved on to independent publishing.

Elizabeth Strickler

A passionate believer in creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship, Elizabeth uses her talents to support students and clients to start businesses, tell immersive stories, and build a stronger cultural economy.

Ebony Warrior Studios

Charles Conley is a professional cosplayer best known for his appearance and win on Syfy's inaugural episode of Cosplay Melee.

Myra Su

Myra Su is a director and puppetry artist based in Chicago. She is a co-curator for Nasty, Brutish & Short: A Puppet Cabaret and a touring puppeteer with Manual Cinema.

Kyle Mackenzie Sullivan

Kyle Mackenzie Sullivan is a working filmmaker and a YouTuber. He is also the creator of the Trekspertise YouTube channel and the Wikisurfer Podcast.

Kimbra Swain

Kimbra Swain began publishing in 2017. Her Fairy Tales of a Trailer Park Queen series is a favorite among urban fantasy readers. She currently has 25 published novels.

Douglas Wayne Talk

Dr. Douglas Talk is the chief medical consultant for SpaceWorks Enterprises, Inc., collaborating on human hibernation-based space missions for deep space exploration.

Stephen F. Ta