Professionals

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For a list of guests, performers, and attending professionals ordered by confirmation date:

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A

  • J A Andrews

    JA Andrews thought her degree in aerospace engineering was useless to her as a fantasy author. Until that knowledge helped solve how to ground a dragon in The Keeper Chronicles.

  • Dr. Armes

    April Armes is a microbial geneticist and ecologist with a focus on microbe-microbe and microbe-host interactions. By night, April enjoys her hobbies such as dancing, cosplay, and video games.

  • Davis Ashura

    Davis Ashura is the award-winning author of three bestselling epic fantasy series, the Castes and the OutCastes, the Chronicles of William Wilde, Instrument of Omens, and The Eternal Ephemera.

  • Emily Swan aSwanNamedEmily

    Emily Swan (aSwanNamedEmily) is the creator and showrunner of the Doodle Crew art stream, co-host of Sketching Shakespeare art and discussion stream, and member of the In Addition podcast.

  • Samantha Avila

    Samantha Avila is an Art Director working in film and TV. Recent credits include Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 3, Spider-Man: No Way Home, Our Flag Means Death, and Westworld.

  • Will Aymerich

    Will Aymerich is The Founder of the The Southern Church of Vinyl, Co-author of the book Souls of Norcross, founder of The Darkside Syndicate a popular paranormal investigation team from Atlanta.

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B

  • Kevin Bachelder

    Kevin Bachelder has been podcasting about genre TV and movies since 2005. His podcasts have won four Parsec Awards in the Best Fan Podcast category.

  • Aretta Baumgartner

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

  • Davey Beauchamp

    Davey Beauchamp is an Artist and Librarian. He has done work for BBC, BBC America, and Penguin UK for Doctor Who. Currently he is art director for Tavern Publishing.

  • Kaitlin Bevis

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

  • J.D. Blackrose

    JD Blackrose is the author of The Summoner's Mark series from Bell Bridge Books, and The Soul Wars, The Devil's Been Busy, and the Zombie Cosmetologist novellas from Falstaff Books, and numerous short stories.

  • Jennifer Blackstream

    Jennifer Blackstream is a bestselling author of urban fantasy and paranormal romance fueled by binge-watching TV murder mysteries, a Master's degree in Psychology, and an obsession with mythology and fairy tales.

  • Bobby Blackwolf

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

  • R.J. Blain

    USA Today Bestselling author R.J Blain writes paranormal romance and urban fantasy with a comedic twist, blending thrills and chills with hilarity and mayhem.

  • Charles E. Blue

    Charles Blue is a science writer and science communicator focusing on astronomy, astrophysics, engineering and geophysics. He is a contributor to the NOIRLab Stories blog and the Cosmoview webcast.

  • David Boop

    David Boop is the author of  The Drowned Horse Chronicle Volume 1, She Murdered me with Science, and Rippers: The Soul Changers. He also edits and writes short fiction.

  • Kurt Boutin

    Boutin currently hosts This Week in MCU, Story Time with Kurt, This Week in Batuu, Plus Size Stories, and publishes daily Fat Guy vlogs focusing on weight loss on TikTok.

  • Jay Boyce

    Jay Boyce, daughter of a librarian and wielder of words, is primarily an editor turned writer and perpetual learner. She currently writes A Touch of Power and Rise of the Mystic Mage series.

  • Marie Brennan

    Marie Brennan is the author of the Hugo-nominated The Memoirs of Lady Trent; the first book of that series was nominated for a World Fantasy Award.

  • 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 Brown, PhD, is a scholar of comics and pop culture. He is co-editor of More Critical Approaches to Comics and has organized academic panels at Dragon Con.

  • Rhett C. Bruno

    Rhett Bruno is a USA Today bestselling, #1 Audible Bestselling, and Nebula-nominated hybrid author who co-founded Aethon Books and currently serves as its CEO.

  • Doug Burbey

    Doug Burbey is the author of the Blood War urban fantasy series. In addition to writing, he is a Department of Defense Program Manager for advanced technology development efforts.

  • Chesya Burke

    Burke is as Assistant Professor and the director of Africana Studies at Stetson University. She is a Podcaster and author. Her collection, Let's Play White, is being taught in universities.

  • Raychelle Burks

    Raychelle Burks is a chemistry professor with a crime lab background. She brings her expertise to examine unusual cases, both real and fictional.

  • Tyra Burton

    Tyra Burton is a multiple-award-winning professor, social media strategist, and co-author of Socially Engaged: The Author's Guide to Social Media.

  • Darin M. Bush

    Darin M. Bush is an award-winning science-fiction and fantasy short-story author. He is the founder and executive producer of Tables of Content, a virtual sci-fi convention.

  • James J. Butcher

    James J. Butcher is a new urban fantasy writer and author of Dead Man's Hand, the first book in the Unorthodox Chronicles. He is the son of Jim Butcher, author of the Dresden Files, Codex Alera, and Cinder Spires.

  • D.J. Butler

    D.J. (Dave) Butler has been a lawyer, a consultant, a corporate trainer, and a registered investment banking representative, and he is now a Consulting Editor for Baen Books.

  • Richard Lee Byers

    Richard Lee Byers is the author of over fifty fantasy and horror novels as well as numerous pieces of short fiction. He also writes graphic novel and contributes to the development of electronic games. 
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C

  • Kevin Cafferty

    Kevin Cafferty is an Emmy nominated documentary filmmaker, head of creative at a Fortune 500 company and podcaster.

  • Kirstyn Carlson

    Kirstyn Carlson is a Systems Integration and Test Engineer for NASA's Artemis Program at Kennedy Space Center, working on the Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle. 

  • Martha Carr

    Martha Carr is a bestselling author of urban fantasy/action adventure novels. She was a stringer for the Washington Post, national columnist, co-creator of Oriceran Universe, author of best-selling UF series, The Leira Chronicles. Martha has a new book, Eamon, first in the Queen of the Flightless Dragons trilogy.

  • R E Carr

    R.E. Carr is the award winning author of multiple urban fantasy and horror comedy series, including Rules Undying, False Icons, and her latest, The Accidental Summoner.

  • Jaime Castle

    Jaime Castle is a #1 Audible Bestselling author, including Luna Missile Crisis, Dead Acre, Cold as Hell, The Buried Goddess Saga, Web of Eyes, Jeff the Game Master, and more.

  • Cathalson

    Cathalson is an American author and screenwriter of over 50+ publications. He is a fiction developer for Edgar Rice Burroughs Inc., AntiMatter Games, and creator of the game - StoriVenture.

  • Robert Chapin

    Robert Chapin is a visual effects artist, fight choreographer, actor, writer, and director. He wrote and starred in Ring of Steel and The Hunted.

  • Michael Chatfield

    Michael Chatfield is an international bestseller author with over 40 books based in Fantasy, Science fiction and LitRPG universes!

  • Luke Chmilenko

    Luke Chmilenko is best known for a variety of blockbuster series such as Ascend Online, The Shattered Reigns, Savage Dominion, and Stormweaver!

  • Crystal Cleveland

    Crystal Cleveland is an award-winning actress, published model, horror-short director, and Gruesome Magazine Youtube host for all things happening in horror films.

  • Joshua Colwell

    Dr. Joshua Colwell is Chair and Pegasus Professor of Physics at the University of Central Florida. He hosts Walkabout the Galaxy, the fun astronomy podcast.

  • Ryan A Consell

    Ryan Cosnell is an engineering professor, costumer, prop maker, and author with particular expertise in engineering science with research focused on composite materials and bicycle destruction.

  • Harmon Cooper

    Harmon Cooper is the bestselling indie author of over 75 fantasy books including Pilgrim, Cowboy Necromancer, War Priest, The Feedback Loop, The World According to Dragons, and Arcane Cultivator.

  • Jason Cordova

    Bestselling author Jason Cordova was a finalist for both the John W. Campbell Award and Dragon Award. A huge history nerd, the Navy veteran, former teacher, and retired esports pro.

  • Michael Andrew Corrie

    Michael Corrie, aka, "Props To History" is a propmaker/sfx artist and prop-master for Film, TV, and Theatre. Known publicly as Props To History, a film, prop and special effects historian. 

  • Katie Cross

    Magic-lover Katie Cross has published more than thirty books in YA Fantasy because she likes to hang out with dragons in wild places.

  • Mike Crugnola

    Mike Crugnola is best-known for role playing characters like Jebeddo and Deeran on the D&D live play podcast Adventure Incorporated, the Pokedexpert on Ask the Pokedexpert, and as a Swoontower Soccer host.

  • Stephanie Crugnola

    Stephanie Crugnola is a chaotic wholesome content creator specializing in Shakespeare, Collaborative Storytelling , Soccer, and all things niche nerd.

  • Paul B Currie

    Dr. Paul Currie is a Health Science administrator and recovering Biology and Chemistry professor. He has given numerous talks on the use of pop culture in teaching.

  • Joshua I. Cutchin

    Joshua Cutchin is a full-time author and musician specializing in speculative non-fiction. He is the author of seven critically-acclaimed books. In 2019, he was featured on History Channel's Ancient Aliens.

  • Robin Cutler

    Robin Cutler is the President of LMBPN Worldwide Publishing as well as the CEO of How To Publish Books.com. She also created IngramSpark, self-publishing platform.

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D

  • Veronica Dashiell

    Veronica Dashiell is half of the husband and wife puppetry team Felt Nerdy. They have been performing at conventions and local theatres across the Southeast for over ten years together.

  • Jason De La Torre

    JC De La Torre is an author, composer, animator, filmmaker, audio drama/fiction podcast creator, producer, screenwriter, editor, voice actor, and probably a few other things we forgot to mention.

  • Rita De La Torre

    Rita De La Torre is known for Seekers of the Lost Worlds, Continuum Force, Vampires of White Chapel, and Star Mage: Guardians of Medeltiden.

  • Ryan DeBruyn

    Ryan DeBruyn was a professional athlete that always wanted to write, and turned his dream into a reality. His works include, Ether Collapse, System Misinterpret, and Ether Flows

  • Lali DeRosier

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

  • Matt Dinniman

    Matt Dinniman is the author of the best-selling series, Dungeon Crawler Carl.

  • Rita DLaVane

    Rita D'LaVane is your 2019 Duchess of Funk of the What The Funk?! All BIPoC Burlesque Festival. Voted Savannah's Best Burlesque Performer 2020, 2021, 2022 and Mx. Ohio Burlesque 2022.

  • Beth Dolgner

    Beth Dolgner writes paranormal fiction and nonfiction, including the Eternal Rest Bed and Breakfast paranormal cozy mysteries. She  gives talks about Victorian death customs and Spiritualism, and she tells ghost stories at events. 

  • Cecilia Dominic

    By day, psychologist Cecilia Dominic helps people cure their insomnia. By night, this USA Today bestselling author writes steampunk and urban fantasy books that keep readers up all night. 

  • Elizabeth Donald

    Elizabeth Donald is an award-winning writer of dark fantasy and speculative fiction. Her books include the Blackfire and Nocturne series, and she teaches writing at two universities in St. Louis.

  • Jason Dorough

    Jason Dorough is the author of the epic fantasy Teshovar series, has worked as a voiceover artist for more than a decade and is also a content creator on BookTok.

  • Addie Dove

    Dr. Addie Dove is a planetary scientist and professor at UCF with a passion for space and science communication. She a cohost on the Walkabout the Galaxy podcast.

  • Patrick Dugan

    Patrick Dugan is the award-winning author of the Darkest Storm trilogy from Falstaff Books and the Never Steal From Dragons and the Watchers of Astaria series from Distracted Dragon Press.

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E

  • Marc Edelheit

    Marc Edelheit is an avid reader and accomplished author that spends his days – and nights – dreaming and writing about all things fantasy and sci-fi.

  • K.D. Edwards

    K.D. Edwards' first book in his urban fantasy series The Tarot Sequence, The Last Sun, was published in June 2018.  The Hourglass Throne, is the latest installment in the series.

  • 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.

  • Richard J Estep

    Appearing on numerous TV shows and the author of 34 books, Richard Estep writes and presents on topics ranging from the paranormal, true crime, history, and writing/publishing.

  • Kacey Ezell

    Kacey Ezell is a helicopter air ambulance pilot who writes sci-fi/fantasy/horror/noir/alternate history fiction. She is a two-time Dragon Award Finalist and has written multiple bestselling novels.

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F

  • 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.

  • Sean Fletcher

    Sean Fletcher is the Amazon bestselling, award-winning author of YA and middle grade fantasy. He can be found speaking about and teaching writing, and working as a professional editor.

  • John L. Flynn

    Dr. John L. Flynn, author and three-time Hugo nominee, is a member of SFWA. His 21 books include novels, biographies, film studies, and nonfiction histories.

  • Jackson Ford

    Jackson Ford is a South African author living in Vancouver. He is the author of The Frost Files, beginning with The Girl Who Could Move Sh*t With Her Mind.

  • Alicia Fox-Lenz

    Fox-Lenz is a Steward of the Mythopoeic Society and scholar interested in studying Tolkien through a Cultural Studies lens and expanding the mantle of mythopoeic literature to interactive narrative platforms. 

  • 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.

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G

  • J. B. Garner

    Z-tier author/S-class editor, but generally awesome, Jamie Beth (J. B.) Garner has written over a dozen novels across multiple genres and edited hundreds more.

  • Clay Gilbert

    Clay Gilbert has published thirteen novels from science fiction and horror to YA dystopia and urban fantasy. His latest novel Binary Sunset is due in 2023 from Dark Moon Press.

  • Dwayne Goetzel

    Dwayne Goetzel is an intellectual property attorney from Austin, Texas, who handles copyrights, trademarks, domain names, licensing, and litigation matters relating to those areas.

  • Thomas Gofton

    Gofton founded Lynnvander Studios. He has produced and designed multiple tabletop games, including Shadowrun Takedown and Battletech Aces. He is the owner of streaming platform Six Sides of Gaming.

  • Nicoli Gonnella

    Nicoli Gonnella writes Unbound, a bestselling LitRPG saga that has five books published and many more to come.

  • Jen L. Grey

    Jen L. Grey is an USA Today Bestselling author of urban fantasy and paranormal romance. In her stories, you'll find angsty fated mate stories with tons of action.

  • Darrell Z. Grizzle

    Darrell Z. Grizzle is a horror, urban fantasy, and thriller writer. He is the author of I Never Meant to Start a Murder Cult and featured in several anthologies.


  • Dr. 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.

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H

  • 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 over 20 years.

  • Isabelle Hardesty

    Isabelle Hardesty writes YA fantasy stories about girls doing magical things and kicking butt. She is the author of The Destroyer Witch Chronicles series, The Delacourt Shapeshifter Trilogy series, and more.

  • Thomas Harper

    Thomas Harper leads the American Red Cross International Humanitarian Law Program, where he frequently wields Star Wars and other pop culture to teach the public about the laws of war.

  • Will Harris

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

  • Laura Hayden

    Laura Hayden writes in a wide variety of genres. With fourteen novels under her belt, she's also a founder and a ten-time director of the Pikes Peak Writers Conference.

  • Drew Hayes

    Drew Hayes is a comedy-fantasy author whose works include Super Powereds, Villains' Code, NPCs, Fred the Vampire Accountant, Action Kadabra, 5-Minute Sherlock, and Second Hand Curses, among others.

  • Rick Heinz

    Rick Heinz is a best-selling author, professional storyteller, and founder of Storytellers Forge Studios. Primarily his work focuses on sarcastic urban fantasy and tabletop roleplaying games.

  • 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 P. Henderson is a moderator, podcaster, voice over artist known for the Tony P. Oddcast, In Addition and Geek Vs podcasts. 

  • Lucas Hernandez

    Lucas Hernandez is the education coordinator at the South Carolina Aquarium. He is also a member of the Sprites of Life podcast, that discusses what games can teach us.

  • Hans R House

    Hans House, MD, is a Professor of Emergency Medicine at the University of Iowa. He lectures frequently both nationally and internationally on travel-related and emerging infectious diseases.

  • Christian Hubicki

    Dr. Christian Hubicki is a robotics professor and a castaway on CBS' Survivor:David vs. Goliath. Hubicki's research in controlling walking robots has been honored internationally and featured in media outlets.

  • Walter Hunt

    Walter H. Hunt is a science fiction and historical fiction writer from Massachusetts. He has eleven published novels and is currently working on his third novel in the 1632 universe.

  • 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/they made.

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J

  • Chris Jackson

    Chris A. Jackson is the author of over 30 novels in multiple genres. He is the 2020 Scribe award winner for best short story, as well as numerous other awards.

  • Kristin Jackson

    Kristin Jackson is the Director of Communications and Graphic Designer for Frostbite Pictures, and is currently working on International & Domestic indoor/outdoor art for Paramount Pictures.

  • Logan Jenkins

    Logan Jenkins is one host of the podcast Very Random Encounters, book author, and creator of the TTRPG, I'm Sure You're All Wondering Why I've Gathered You Here This Evening.

  • G. S. Jennsen

    G.S. Jennsen is a bestselling author of 18 novels and numerous short stories. Her novel, Starshine was named one of the best sci-fi novels by a woman in the last 50 years.

  • Bernadette Johnson

    Bernadette Johnson is the author of The Big Book of Spy Trivia, The Big Book of Horse Trivia for Kids, and The Big Book of Cryptid Trivia

  • Howard Andrew Jones

    Writer and editor Howard Jones received critical acclaim from Publisher's Weekly for his trilogy and historical fantasies from St. Martin's and has just signed a five book deal with Baen.

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K

  • Kel Kade

    Kel Kade is a NYT Bestselling fantasy author. Her first novel, Free the Darkness, became the #1 Bestseller in Fantasy on Amazon. Kade's second series is with Tor Books.

  • Charlie Kaufman

    Charlie Kaufman has worked in extensively in environmental consulting, academia where he studied coastal erosion, and emergency management responding to natural disaster impacts. He currently works for the government so he is here to help.

  • Kavura

    Kavura is one of the hosts of both the StarPodTrek and StarPodLog podcasts. She produces Ladies Trek Library and is in several Star Trek fan clubs and fan films.

  • Charles Kelso

    Charles is half of the husband and wife puppetry team of Felt Nerdy. They have been performing together for over ten years at conventions across the Southeast.

  • Darin Kennedy

    Darin Kennedy is a doctor-by-day and novelist-by-night. Kennedy's works include his Fugue & Fable series, the Pawn Stratagem series, and The April Sullivan Chronicles.

  • Bethany Kesler

    Bethany Kesler is a historian, writer, podcaster, and fabulous reader. Most of her work is under the pen name, DJ Gray, which she maintains for plausible deniability reasons.

  • 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.

  • Bethanne Kim

    "Be Prepared" is deeply ingrained in Bethanne Kim's writings. She has written a series on Survival Skills and it informs Kim's alternate history stories set in Eric Flint's 1632 Universe.

  • Sue Kisenwether

    Sue Kisenwether has been podcasting about sci-fi TV and movies since 2010. Currently, she co-hosts Women at Warp, exploring Star Trek through a feminist lens.

  • Jeffrey L Kohanek

    Jeffrey L. Kohanek writes fast-paced epic fantasy adventures packed with action, intrigue, and snark. With over 26 published novels, his author journey has just begun.

  • Dakota Krout

    Dakota Krout is an internationally bestselling author of fantasy and LitRPG with over 35 titles in his Completionist Chronicles, Divine Dungeon, Full Murderhobo, and Year of The Sword series.

  • Shemer Kuznits

    Shemer Kuznits is a bestselling, Israeli LitRPG author with 11 books to his name, including the popular series Life Reset, Earth Force, and Biomancer.

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L

  • Steph LaMassa

    Astrophysicist Steph LaMassa works at the Space Telescope Science Institute on JWST, a NASA flagship observatory developed and operated in collaboration with the European and Canadian Space Agencies.

  • Ed Larson

    Ed is the Founder and CEO of Tampa Deep Sea Xplorers, Inc. (TDSX). Ed is passionate about robotics, underwater exploration, business, science fiction, and the maker movement.

  • Greg Leatherman

    Greg is an award winning game designer for the TTRPG Glitter Hearts and is a founding member of the actual play podcast Very Random Encounters.

  • Rob Levy

    Rob Levy is a writer, blogger and podcaster who written about popular culture, music, film and television for several print and online publications He also contributed to several Doctor Who anthologies. He currently hosts Juxtaposition on KDHX Radio and is a co-host of the Modern Musicology podcast.

  • Philip Ligon

    Philip Ligon is an international bestselling author and Dragon Award finalist. His works range from Steampunk to alternate history to fantasy.

  • Jeffrey Falcon Logue

    Jeffrey "Falcon" Logue has been a professional writer for over seven years. He has published 18 books, having started the dungeon core subgenre with his original, The Slime Dungeon.

  • F.T. Lukens

    F.T. Lukens is a New York Times bestselling author of YA speculative fiction. Their most recent releases are Spell Bound, So This is Ever After, & In Deeper Waters.

  • Tara Lynne

    Tara Lynne is an author, event planner, fandom and geek culture expert, and public speaker. They founded Ice & Fire Con and are host of the Geek Saga and Sagas & Sass podcasts.

  • Courtney Lytle

    Courtney Lytle is a practicing attorney and Adjunct Professor at Emory University School of Law. She specializes in intellectual property law and is a partner at Culhane Meadows.

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M

  • Megan Mackie

    Megan Mackie is the author of The Lucky Devil Series, the Dead World Series, the Working Masks Series, The Adventures of Pavlov's Dog and Schrodinger's Cat Series, and many more.

  • Michael Mammay

    Michael Mammay is a writer and former army officer. His first novel, Planetside, was a Library Journal best SF. Generation Ship, his fifth book is set to release August 2023.

  • Lisa Manifold

    Lisa Manifold is a USA Today bestselling author of paranormal women's fiction, urban fantasy and romance. with her most recent releases in her series, The Oracle of Wynter.

  • Michael G. Manning

    Michael G. Manning is the author of the popular Mageborn series. He has dabbled in software design, fantasy art, and is an avid tree climber. 

  • C. Mantis

    A former Marine, C. Mantis fell into being a fantasy author when the pandemic hit and has an insight or three about the process. 

  • Thomas Mariani

    Thomas Mariani is a staff writer for Film Cred and host of the podcast Double Edged Double Bill who has been a panelist for eight straight Dragon Con.

  • Audrey Martin

    Dr. Audrey Martin is a planetary scientist who studies the composition of asteroids and is a collaborator on NASA's Lucy mission. She is also a Walkabout the Galaxy podcast co-host!

  • Brett A McGuire

    MIT Prof. Brett McGuire has a PhD in Chemistry and has worked with the National Radio Astronomy Observatory and Harvard & Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. His specially is Astrochemistry.

  • Jean McGuire

    STL Project Coordinator for Steve Jackson Games. Owner of Wintertree Software, maker of RPG aids like TableMaster, fonts, and more. Author of gaming magazine articles. 3D sculptor. 3-D printing geek.

  • Joseph Meany

    Joseph Meany, Ph.D., a.k.a. The Crimson Alkemist, is a science consultant for the US Government. He researches materials science applications focused on cutting-edge renewable energy.

  • Savannah Miller

    Savannah is a public health professional that has studied a range of public health topics including climate change and infectious disease. 

  • Stephanie Mirro

    Author Stephanie Mirro combined her overactive imagination with a college major in ancient civilizations and a love for all things fantasy to result in a bestselling writing career.

  • Casey Moores

    Casey Moores is an award winning author of military science fiction and fantasy with novels and short stories in the Four Horsemen universe, Fallen World, JTF-13, and many more.

  • Bill Mulligan

    Bill Mulligan has worked as a writer, director, actor and special FX creator. He podcasts with Decades of Horror. His first published novel, Raum, is coming soon. 

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N

  • Nayr

    Nayr is a host of StarPodLog and StarPodTrek. Having attended, as well as presented, at literally hundreds of conventions, his panels are engaging, entertaining, and informative.

  • 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.

  • 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. 

  • Bob Novella

    Bob Novella is a co-founder of the New England Skeptical Society. He co-hosts the Skeptics' Guide to the Universe podcast and is co-author of its two books.

  • Jay Novella

    Jay Novella is a skeptical activist, a science popularizer, author, producer, and host. He is best known for The Skeptics' Guide To The Universe, a top 10 science podcast.

  • Steven P Novella

    Steven Novella is the host and producer of The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe. He is an author of three books and has two popular blogs (NeuroLogica and Science-Based Medicine).

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O

  • Bryce O'Connor

    Bryce O'Connor is the CEO of Wraithmarked Creative, which has raised over $700,000 in Kickstarter funding for various deluxe editions of popular independent and traditionally published sci-fi/fantasy novels. He is also a #1 Audible Store bestselling author, with his collective works having sold over 500,000 copies world-wide.

  • Corinne O'Flynn

    Corinne O'Flynn is a USA Today bestselling author of fantasy, mystery, and paranormal romance. She also writes contemporary romance as Daria Blake, and paranormal romance as Fiona Starr.

  • Hansi Oppenheimer

    Hansi Oppenheimer is a documentarian who has interviewed fans & creators in different genres for over a decade. Her podcast series, The Grr in Fangrrl, focused on women in horror.

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P

  • James Palmer

    James Palmer is an award-winning writer of science fiction and pulp adventure, author of the Shadow Council Archives series, and editor of the Monster Earth series and League of Monsters.


  • 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 a professor of communication and media studies at Palm Beach Atlantic University and a WGA member with produced credits.

  • Sean Patton

    Sean Michael Patton is a costume design veteran and principal for SMP Designs and has designed more than 40 stage productions, eight short films, five features, and numerous media projects.

  • Matthew Scott Penick

    Matthew Penick is the founder of the theatrical design company Ribbons and Rivets. He began showing wares at local Renaissance Festivals and conventions but grew to shipping custom orders globally.

  • D.R. Perry

    D.R. Perry writes fiction for both YA and adult audiences. Among her works is Dragon Award nominated A Change In Crime and over 30 volumes in the Revealed World series.

  • David Petrie

    David Petrie is a fashion and food-obsessed writer of comedic science-fiction and fantasy. Best known for his Necrotic Apocalypse series, his first book was published in 2018.

  • Berta Platas

    Berta Platas is an award-winning Latina romance author as well as coauthor, with Michele Roper, of the The Faire Folk Saga. The By Honor Bound series, is co-written with Nancy Knight.

  • Noel Plaugher

    Having studied Chinese and Japanese martial arts, and Qigong, Plaugher draws on those experiences to write hard-hitting martial arts fiction and non-fiction. His new novel is The Lady Dragon of Chinatown.

  • Gary Poole

    Gary Poole is the editor of John Ringo's Black Ride Rising series of anthologies, morning radio host, screenwriter, and founder/host of the popular Robot Battles TM competitions.

  • ALAN J. PORTER

    Alan J. Porter is a writer, and podcaster. He has over 30 fiction and non-fiction book publishing credits and hundreds of magazine articles on multiple subjects.

  • Phillip Pournelle

    Pournelle is a science fiction author, war game designer, operations analyst, and military strategist. He has published several short stories on military conflict and contributed to the latest Janissaries novel.

  • Joelle Presby

    Former U.S. Navy nuclear engineer, Joelle Presby wrote The Dabare Snake Launcher and cowrites the Multiverse series with David Weber. She has sold over a dozen shorter works several genres.

  • Marx Pyle

    Marx Pyle is an author, screenwriter, filmmaker, podcaster, adjunct professor, and martial artist. He is the author of Obsidian Monsters, co-editor/co-author of the award-winning anthology Dragons of a Different Tail.

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Q

  • Cassandra Quave

    Cassandra Quave is a disabled writer, speaker, podcast host, professor, explorer, and plant scientist leading drug discovery research on molecules from nature.

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R

  • Ellie Raine

    Ellie Raine is the Gothic Fantasy author of the Writer's Digest award-winning epic series, the NecroSeam Chronicles.

  • Rachel Rawlings

    Rachel Rawlings is a USA Today and international bestselling author of Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance. Her book 'Ink It Over is currently in development for film.


  • Gray Rinehart

    Gray Rinehart is a writer who sings, and a singer who writes. He's written science fiction and fantasy stories, songs on myriad topics, and is the "Slushmaster General" for Baen.

  • Aaron Michael Ritchey

    Aaron Michael Ritchey is the author of forty-seven novels under various pen names. He's been an Amazon All-Star, and the first book in The Juniper Wars series was a Dragon Award Finalist. His novel, Sages of the Underpass, won the Independent Audiobook Award for best fantasy in 2021.

  • Rob Roberts

    Rob Roberts is an internet broadcasting veteran and co-creator of Orange Lounge Radio, the longest running weekly show about video games online since 2002. 

  • Meg M Robinson

    Meg M. Robinson's stories are inspired heavily by mythology—mostly Greek—as well as ancient places, things, and mysteries. She was a 2022 Maggie Awards Finalist for Finding Salus.

  • Robert Ross

    Robert W. Ross is the author of the award-winning Sentinels of Creation contemporary-fantasy, and Paradigm 2045 sci-fi series. When not writing, heʼs a guest-lecturer at GaTech and Kennesaw State University.

  • Stacey Rourke

    Stacey Rourke is a multi-award-winning, best-selling author of works that seamlessly blend dark fantasy with a trademark snarky humor that has made her a powerhouse in the indie writing community.

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S

  • Tina Hesman Saey

    Dr. Tina Saey is an award-winning science journalist. She is a senior writer covering molecular biology at Science News magazine.

  • Tony Sarrecchia

    Tony is a writer-producer with multiple audio drama, and short stories under his belt. He also has a supernatural thriller screenplay in development with Scary Times Productions.

  • Daniel Schinhofen

    Daniel Schinhofen has published over forty books since 2016, receiving name recognition in the LITRPG and GameLit community. He has published in multiple other genres as well.

  • Anne Schlea

    Anne Schlea has written two series: The Retribution Universe and The Fallen. She enjoys blending true history into urban fantasy to create dynamic worlds her readers want to step into.

  • David Sherrer

    David Sherrer is the Marketing Director and Lead Game Designer of Chenoweth Press. His debut card game Cat Magic: The Game released in 2022 and was funded on Kickstarter.

  • David S Shiffman

    Dr. David Shiffman is a scientist, science journalist, author, and public speaker. He studies sharks and how to protect them, and teaches ocean conservation policy at Georgetown University.

  • R. Alan Siler

    R. Alan Siler is owner of kOZMIC Press. He's the author of three books about Doctor Who, the kid's book Lucy Can't Dance, and essays on numerous pop culture topics. His podcasts include Modern Musicology, Earth Station Trek, Doctor Who A to Z, and Alan's Record Bin.

  • Tamsin L. Silver

    Tamsin Silver is a Fantasy author based out of NM. Works include Mark of the Necromancer, The Windfire Series, Untold Legends Series, and a novel/web series, Skye of the Damned.

  • Daviorr Snipes

    Daviorr Snipes is the Director of Diversity & Inclusion for the Stratford Festival Theatre in Ontario, Canada. He is a Peabody Award winning actor working in theatre, film, and voice.

  • Spat

    Spat Oktan of SpatCave Studios is an FX Makeup Artist, Costume/Prop Maker and Author known for his MOBCon book series and his crazy makeup effects.

  • Kevin Stallard

    Kevin Stallard has been in Information Security for more than 35 years and an avid video gamer for more than 40. He is currently Director of Security Architecture for Activision/Blizzard/King.

  • Torrey Stenmark

    Torrey Stenmark is an organic chemist, associate instructor, and an award-winning costumer. She has taught almost every chemistry course on offer at Shoreline Community College.

  • Mike Jack Stoumbos

    Mike Jack Stoumbos is an author and educator, known for Writers of the Future v38 , Sci-Fi series, This Fine Crew, and editor of the Murderbirds anthology among others.

  • Shami A Stovall

    Shami Stovall is a multi-award-winning author of fantasy and science fiction and the founder of Capital Station Books. She loves reading, her husband, John, video games, and writing about herself in the third person.

  • Brandon H Strauss

    Brandon Strauss is finishing a doctorate at Texas A&M, where they currently teach about medical and veterinary entomology and stink up the lab with decomposition research.

  • Stressinabox

    Stressinabox is a content creator with over 2 million followers on Tiktok and an indie author. As an author, she is best know for The Keeper series.

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T

  • Lee Terrill

    Lee is an avid player of all genres of table top games. She has cohosted the actual play podcast Very Random Encounters for the last 6 years with her three amazing friends.

  • The Tattooed Santa

    The Tattooed Santa (AKA Stephen Taylor)  is the father of 12 (9 by adoption) and has been crafting armor from leather, chainmaille, and scalemaille for 16+ years.

  • Alain TheDungeonMeowster

    Alain is a happy-go-lucky improv performer and tabletop storyteller, the co-creator of Goblins & Growlers and the Quid Pro Roll podcast among others. 

  • Mandisa L Thomas

    Mandisa Thomas is the founder and President of Black Nonbelievers.  In 2022, Mandisa was featured in a billboard and newspaper ad for the “I'm Secular and I Vote” campaign.

  • Mel Todd

    Mel Todd is a best-selling speculative fiction writer/owner of Bad Ash Publishing. Her fiction includes Blood War, Kaylid Chronicles, and the Twisted Luck series.


  • J M Tuffley

    JM Tuffley writes about Pop Culture for various outlets, and contributes to Need Coffee Dot Com's Weekend Justice Podcast.

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V

  • J. P. Valentine

    J.P. "Nixia" Valentine has penned bestsellers across the progression fantasy spectrum. The Nothing Mage, This Quest is Bullshit!, Dungeon Devotee, and The Stargazer's War are but a few.

  • R.R. Virdi

    R.R. Virdi is a USA Today Bestselling author, two-time Dragon Award finalist, and a Nebula Award finalist.

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W

  • Constance G.J. Wagner

    Constance G.J. Wagner, writer, editor, and Tolkien scholar, has spoken regularly on all things Middle-earth at both academic and fan-friendly events nationally and internationally since 2005. 

  • Benjamin Wallace

    They told him to take things seriously. Instead, Benjamin Wallace wrote a book called Post-Apocalyptic Nomadic Warriors. Now he's making reading more fun than it should be.

  • Sean Weiland

    Sean is a program manager for Kingsisle Entertainment, an award winning voice actor, and bartender. His was a contestant on America's Next Top Podcaster Season 4.

  • Dave West

    Dave West is a writer, interviewer, and podcaster who also hosts game shows, wrestling events, and rock n' roll concerts.

  • Alex White

    Alex White is the author of The Salvagers Trilogy and the Starmetal Symphony, as well as books for the Alien and Star Trek franchises. 

  • Jennifer Whitworth

    Jennifer Whitworth is an engineer at Teledyne Brown Engineering. After 20+ years supporting science operations on board the International Space Station as a flight controller, she now is helpingto develop the processes and procedures for science payloads onboard the LunarGateway.

  • Michael G. Williams

    Michael G. Williams writes queer horror, sci-fi, and urban fantasy about outsiders finding their people, including A Fall in Autumn (Manly Wade Wellman Award), Perishables (Laine Cunningham Award), among others.

  • Valerie Willis

    Valerie Willis is COO of 4 Horsemen Publications and award-winning paranormal romance author. Her workshops have covered novel writing, research, world building, character development, reader immersion, foreshadowing, and more.

  • Sadie Witkowski

    Sadie Witkowski has a passion for science communication and a love of telling compelling stories through science. She is currently the Director of Communications and Engagement for IMSI.

  • Marisa Wolf

    Marisa Wolf writes science fiction, fantasy, and every point in-between. She is a core author in the bestselling Four Horseman Universe and has over 20 short stories in print.

  • Tao Wong

    Tao Wong is a full-time self-published author in the scifi and fantasy genres with over 40 works published. He was a finalist for the Kindle Storyteller UK Award in 2021.


  • Trisha J. Wooldridge

    Trisha J. Wooldridge writes and edits stuff that wins awards. Find her in The Twisted Book of Shadows; some HWA Poetry Showcase volumes; and multiple anthologies. 

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Y

  • Jessica Ann York

    Jessica Ann York is a horror writer whose work has been featured PseudoPod, Vastarien, Cemetery Gates Media, and more. 

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Z

  • Mark Zoran

    Mark Zoran is an internationally recognized and award-winning costume and prop creator and the creative mind behind Razorfly Studios.

Cancellations

The following previously confirmed guests will unfortunately not be able to attend Dragon Con this year.

  • Rebecca Moesta
Featured

Featured

Guests

Guests

Performers

Performers