Professionals

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

View by Date Added

A

Brent Abell
Brent Abell has written 13 books, been featured in over 30 publications, has a screenplay in development, and has a travel website and YouTube channels: Brent's Crossroads and Our Darkest Fears.
Stephen Adams
Stephen Adams is the host of the podcasts 24 FPS Presents... and Those Were The Days, and is a founder of the 2Dorks network of podcasts and live streams.
Davis Ashura
Davis Ashura is the award winning author of four bestselling epic fantasy series, The Castes and the OutCastes, The Chronicles of William Wilde, Instrument of Omens, and The Eternal Ephemera.

B

Kevin Bachelder
Kevin Bachelder has podcasted about genre TV and movies since 2005. He is a one of the leaders of the Dragon Con Newbies group, which supports new con attendees.
Michael Bailey
Michael Bailey has been a podcaster since 2007, when he launched his first show Views From The Longbox. He has hosted or co-hosted a number of podcasts over the years.
Sam Baltrusis
Sam Baltrusis, author of Ghosts of Salem and featured in The Curse of Lizzie Borden shock doc, has penned 20 paranormal-themed books.
Paul Barrett
Paul Barrett is an author with seven published novels who also works in the film industry in various capacities, including unit production manager, script supervisor, and props department.
Cate Baumer
Cate Baumer is a fantasy writer who lived half her life in Japan but currently resides on an Appalachian mountaintop and is occasionally visited by foxes and bears.
Jamie Bernstein
Jamie Bernstein is a data scientist who specializes in building statistical models and the co-host of EnterpriseSplaining, a comedy podcast about Star Trek: Enterprise.
Kaitlin Bevis
Kaitlin Bevis is the author of the Daughters of Zeus series. She has also written a young adult horror novel called Blood and Other Matter and several short stories.
Judy Black
Judy Black is an Ennie nominated and bestselling writer of tabletop roleplaying games. An excellent source of stories cute and spooky, her most recent work is Baldur's Gate Markets.
J.D. Blackrose
J.D. Blackrose writes The Summoner's Mark series, a combination of urban fantasy and romance. She has published The Soul Wars, The Devil's Been Busy, and the Zombie Cosmetologist novellas.
Jennifer Blackstream
Jennifer Blackstream is a USA Today bestselling author of urban fantasy and fantasy romance. She is amazed to have made a writing career out of a master's degree in psychology.
Bobby Blackwolf
Bobby Blackwolf is the co-owner of the VOG (Voice of Geeks) podcast network and Twitch channel, and has hosted a live internet show and podcast about video games since 2005.
Hunter Blain
Hunter Blain is the bestselling author of the Preternatural Chronicles, the Sol Saga, and most recently, the Chronos Paradox.
Brandy Blanton
Brandy Blanton is an academic known for combining popular culture with current events. As a terrorism expert, she loves to help people learn about preparing for emergencies.
Jay Boyce
Winner of the 2019 Warriors and Wizards award for best new LitRPG author, Jay Boyce is the bestselling author of A Touch of Power and Rise of the Mystic Mage series.
Brad Bradley
Robert "Brad" Bradley is a former industrial chemist, utilizing these skills in the pursuit of the "paranormal", and is the research director for Center for Paranormal Research and Investigation (CPRI).
Bill Bridges
Bill Bridges is a writer and game designer most known for developing White Wolf's World of Darkness horror RPG setting and the Fading Suns science-fiction universe.
Bethany Brookshire
Bethany Brookshire is an award winning science writer and former neuroscientist. She is the author of the book Pests: How Humans Create Animal Villains.
Rachel A. Brune
Rachel A. Brune is an Army veteran, former military journalist, novelist, and editor of the creepy and macabre. She is the senior editor of Falstaff Books's new horror imprint, Falstaff Dread.
Doug Burbey
Doug Burbey is the author of the Blood War military urban fantasy series. In addition to writing, he is a DoD program manager for advanced military technology development efforts.
Andrew Burn
Andrew Burn is a film director and producer known for the sci-fi indie blockbuster Venus Effect, halloween slasher Candy, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, and CBS MacGyver.
Tyra Burton
Tyra Burton is a multi-award winning marketing professor, digital media strategist, co-hosts Be Awesome Together, and hosts Geek Meets Social. She writes cozy fantasy, sci-fi romance, and social media guides.
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.

C

Kevin Cafferty
Kevin Cafferty is an Emmy-nominated documentary filmmaker who has directed video shoots on four continents and hosts the podcasts The Best Stuff in the World and Gleaming the Tube.
R. E. Carr
R.E. Carr is the award winning author of the Rules Undying series, as well as exploring horror comedy and science fiction over her 20+ year book career.
Luke Chmilenko
Luke Chmilenko is best known for a variety of blockbuster series such as Ascend Online, Starbreaker, Savage Dominion, and Hat Trick!
Paige L. Christie
Paige L. Christie is an epic and contemporary fantasy author, editor, and writing mentor, and an lifelong fan of all things geek.
Neil Clarke
Neil Clarke is the award winning editor of Clarkesworld Magazine and over a dozen anthologies.
Crystal Cleveland
Crystal Cleveland is an award winning actress, model, YouTuber, podcaster, and horror film aficionado. She has been a co-host with Decades of Horror: 1980's for the past seven years.
Joe Compton
Joe Compton is an indie author of four books and indie filmmaker that has worked on over 40 independent TV and film productions in five different countries.
Ryan A Consell
Ryan Consell is an engineering professor, costumer, prop maker, and author with particular expertise in engineering science with research focused on composite materials and bicycle destruction.
Nicole Conway
Award winning, international bestselling author Nicole Conway writes action-packed young adult fantasy adventures. Conway is best known for her Dragonrider Chronicles series, with over 200,000 copies sold.
Sophia Corde
Sophia Corde is a marine biologist and social scientist studying marine mammals in the Gulf of Mexico. She has studied manatees, African elephants, marine iguanas, and green sea turtles.
Jason Cordova
Bestselling author of To Tread Obsidian Shores and associate editor at Baen Books, Jason Cordova was a finalist for both the John W. Campbell Award and Dragon Award.
Katie Cross
Katie Cross really loves to write books, hike mountains, and eat cookies. You can find out more about her YA fantasy books at www.katiecrossbooks.com
Paul B Currie
Dr. Paul B. Currie is an academic leader and seasoned professor with extensive experience in health sciences, accreditation, and program development.

D

Kevin A Davis
Kevin A Davis is a fantasy author with 16 published novels in three series and one middle-grade book. The first book in his DRC Files series has won two awards.
Milton J. Davis
Milton J. Davis is an acclaimed award winning Black speculative fiction author and the founder of MVmedia, LLC, a publishing company.
Beth Dolgner
Beth Dolgner is the author of the popular Nightmare, Arizona paranormal cozy mysteries. Dolgner's books feature found family, starting over at midlife, and solving mysteries with supernatural help.
Jason Dorough
Jason Dorough is the author of the epic fantasy Teshovar series, an advocate for indie publishing, and also works as a voiceover artist.
Hope Dugan
Dr. Hope Dugan is a leadership strategist and CEO of Educated Dragon, where she helps individuals and organizations find clarity, navigate complexity, and move forward with purpose.
Patrick Dugan
Dugan is author of the Darkest Storm series by Falstaff Books, Stone Cold Witch, Never Steal From Dragons, The Shadow Blade Chronicles, and Watchers of Astaria series from Distracted Dragon Press.
Jordan Duncan
Jordan Duncan is a historian, researcher, and educator. He has been part of the Atlanta area paranormal community since 2008. He is also a podcaster and vlogger.

E

Kevin Eldridge
Kevin Eldridge produces and hosts The Flopcast, a weekly pop culture comedy podcast. He is a published science fiction author, an organizer/host of skeptic events, and a comedy musician.
Brandi Elledge
Brandi Elledge is an award winning fantasy romance author of 20 novels, including the Academy of Seraph series, which won Utopiacon's Best Fantasy Romance of the Year.
EmUnArum
Em is a Final Fantasy lore expert and cosplayer who regularly provides resources for fans and presents at conventions. They have created 30+ Final Fantasy cosplays.
Richard J Estep
Appearing on numerous TV shows and the author of 45 books, Richard Estep writes and presents on topics ranging from the paranormal, true crime, history, and writing/publishing.
Kacey Ezell
Kacey Ezell is a retired helicopter pilot who writes multigenre speculative fiction. She is a three-time Dragon Award finalist for Best Alternate History and has written multiple bestselling novels.

F

Todd Fahnestock
Todd Fahnestock is an award winning, #1 bestselling author of fantasy for all ages and winner of the New York Public Library's Books for the Teen Age Award.
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.
Richard Fierce
Richard Fierce is an award winning author of over 40 books, which have sold over 300,000 copies globally since 2020 and have been translated into multiple languages.
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 a number of fantasy series. He can be found speaking, teaching writing, and working as a professional editor.
Justin Lee Ford
Justin Lee Ford is a professional martial artist, SAG-AFTRA stunt performer, and associate editor of Black Belt Magazine—a publication that has been home to icons like Bruce Lee since 1961.
Alicia Fox-Lenz
Alicia Fox-Lenz is co-host of Queer Lodgings: A Tolkien Podcast, a steward of the Mythopoeic Society, and scholar interested in studying Tolkien through a cultural studies lens.

G

Birma Gainor
Dr. Birma Gainor is the senior director of counseling and psychological services at Clemson University. She has been engaged in college mental health, from consultations to interventions, for 20+ years.
J. B. Garner
Talented author and top flight editor, Jamie Beth "J.B." Garner has written over a dozen novels from sci-fi to fantasy to super fiction and edited hundreds more.
Clay Gilbert
Since 2013, Clay Gilbert has published 13 novels in genres of science-fiction, horror, YA dystopia, and urban fantasy. His newest novel, Into The Imago, is coming in 2026,
Venessa Giunta
Venessa Giunta is a published author, with non-fiction essays, short stories, and the Soul Cavern series, and has been a professional editor, both freelance and contract, since 2008.
Theresa Glover
Theresa Glover is the author of the Caitlin Kelley Monster Hunter series of books, associate publisher at Falstaff Books, and assistant con-runner for the Saga writing conference.
Laura Grabowski
Laura Grabowski, an independent Tolkien scholar, has presented with the Mythopoeic Society and the Popular Culture Association. She holds a PhD in computer science and is a professor at SUNY.
Andrew Greenberg
Best known for his work on roleplaying and computer games, Andrew Greenberg runs the Georgia Game Developers Association, Southern Interactive Entertainment and Games Expo, and chairs the DeKalb Entertainment Commission.
Darrell Z. Grizzle
Darrell Z. Grizzle is a queer horror, urban fantasy, and thriller writer. He is the author of I Never Meant to Start a Murder Cult.
DM Guay
D.M. Guay is a bestselling author of comedy horror, fantasy, and sci-fi, including the 24/7 Demon Mart series and Christmas Creeps from the Deep.
Dr. Nicole Gugliucci
Professor, astronomer, education researcher, and all around geek, Dr. Nicole Gugliucci has made it their mission to study and share the Universe, and is known as “NoisyAstronomer".

H

Clint Hall
Clint Hall is the creator and host of The Experience: Conversations with Creatives, a podcast featuring bestselling authors, filmmakers, editors, composers, and more. He is also a science-fantasy author.
Eric William Hall
Dr. Eric Hall is a professional scientist working in the fields of physical chemistry and molecular biology. His current work focuses on development of screening tests and next-generation equipment.
Joe Hansen
Joe Hanson is a microbiologist at the National Seafood Inspection Laboratory. He tests fishery by-products for contaminants to help ensure the safety of American seafood.
Jennifer Hardee
Dr. Jennifer Hardee, PhD, is a molecular biologist and geneticist in the San Francisco pharmaceutical industry. She specializes in human genetics, immuno-oncology, and CRISPR gene editing.
Isabelle Hardesty
Isabelle Hardesty is the author of several YA book series including The Destroyer Witch Chronicles, Sea Witch High, and The Delacourt Shapeshifter Trilogy.
Will Harris
Will Harris is a paleontologist, educator, and host of the Common Descent Podcast, where he applies his professional experience as a fossil hunter, researcher, and educator.
Laura Hayden
Author Laura Hayden has published 14 books and a dozen short stories. She is also a founder and 13 time director/co-director of the Pikes Peak Writers Conference.
Drew Hayes
Drew Hayes is an author from Texas who has written several books and found the gumption to publish a few. He graduated from Texas Tech with a B.A. in English.
Neil Hellegers
Neil Hellegers is an actor, audiobook narrator, and educator from Brooklyn, NYC. He has narrated over 500 books, with a focus on LitRPG, scifi/fantasy, literary fiction, nonfiction, and poetry.
Tony P Henderson
Tony P. Henderson is a moderator, podcaster, and voice over artist known for the Tony P. Oddcast, In Addition, and Geek Vs podcasts.
Henry Herz
Henry Herz is the author of 14 traditionally published picture books and scores of short stories (fantasy, sci-fi, horror) for middle grade, YA, and adult.
Greg Hodgin
Dr. Greg Hodgin is the CEO of ZC Institute, a fusion startup using nanoscopic spacetime distortion technology. He has tussled with the Russians at the United Nations (and won).
Christian Hubicki
Dr. Christian Hubicki is a robotics research scientist, lab director, tenured professor, a castaway on CBS' Survivor: David vs. Goliath, and a returning all-star on Survivor 50.
Walter H Hunt
Walter H. Hunt is a science fiction and historical fiction writer. He has written four science fiction books and three 1632 series books with the late Eric Flint.

J

Chris A. Jackson
Author of fantasy, SF, horror, post-apocalyptic fantasy, fantasy/romance, and many tie-in novels with gaming publishers and other IPs, Chris has been at the writing game a long time.
Bernadette Johnson
Bernadette Johnson is a writer whose works include several trivia books, dozens of technology articles for HowStuffWorks.com, and a slew of horror, sci-fi, fantasy, and mystery short stories.
C.C.S. Jones
C.C.S. Jones is the author of two award winning fantasy series. A former educator turned storyteller, she builds immersive, high-stakes worlds centered on strong, complex heroines.

K

Charlie Kaufman
Charlie has a background in marine biology, environmental studies, and natural hazard preparedness. Kaufman has worked in environmental modeling, academia, emergency management, teaches GIS, and works for the government.
Darin Kennedy
Dr. Darin Kennedy writes fantasy. His works include the Fugue & Fable trilogy, The Pawn Stratagem trilogy, the Songs of the Ascendant series, Carol, and The April Sullivan Chronicles.
Roy Kilgard
Dr. Kilgard is an astrophysicist who researches black holes in nearby galaxies and how they grow over cosmic time. He also lectures on astronomy in history, sci-fi, and pop culture.
Bethanne Kim
Bethanne Kim is the publisher for the magazine Eric Flint's 1632 & Beyond. She currently writes alternate history (Eric Flint's 1632 universe) but has also written extensively about emergency preparedness.
Sue Kisenwether
Sue Kisenwether has been writing and podcasting about sci-fi TV and movies since 2010. Most notably, she co-hosted Women at Warp, exploring Star Trek through a feminist lens.
Jean Kwok
Jean Kwok is the New York Times and internationally bestselling author of Dominion (coming July 14, 2026) and other novels. She has been published in more than 20 countries.

L

Steph LaMassa
Astrophysicist Steph LaMassa supports science operations for the Hubble, JWST, and Roman Space Telescopes at the Space Telescope Science Institute. She researches the growth and evolution of supermassive black holes.
Erika L Lance
Erika Lance is an author, podcaster, and publisher. She is the co-host and co-writer of the Eerie Travels podcast and books.
Jason Lane
Jason Lane is a writer of nerdy (but interesting) stuff, writing for several magazines with a focus on horror, cult films, kaiju films, Kung Fu cinema, and classic pro wrestling.
Oriana Leckert
Oriana is a writer, editor, and the head of publishing at Kickstarter.
Allora Lee
Allora Lee is an independent author. She writes primarily in the fantasy and science fiction genres, with a focus on tales that explore the psychological aspects of portal fantasies.
C.B. Lee
C.B. Lee is a NYT bestselling author of young adult and middle grade fiction, including Coffeeshop in an Alternate Universe, A Clash of Steel, and the Sidekick Squad series.
Daemin Lee
Daemin Lee is an Atlanta-based stand-up comic, cybersecurity professional, and comedy producer. Creator of the stand-up comedy game show, Hot Pepper Comedy!
Megan Linski
Megan Linski is a USA TODAY bestselling author of over 60 titles, including The Wolven Mark. She is an advocate for mental health and disability awareness.
Jeffrey Falcon Logue
Jeffrey "Falcon" Logue has been a professional writer for over seven years. He has published 21 books, having started the dungeon core subgenre with his original, The Slime Dungeon.
FT Lukens
F.T. Lukens is a NYT bestselling author of YA speculative fiction including Love at Second Sight, Otherworldly, Spell Bound, So This Is Ever After, In Deeper Waters, and more.
Catherine Lundoff
Catherine Lundoff is a Minneapolis-based, award winning writer and editor of fantasy, horror, and other genres.
Daniel Alexander Lyman
Daniel is a trans-male actor with credits including Lodge 49, Megalopolis, and Marvel's Thunderbolts. He has also worked as a child stunt double for some of Hollywood's well-known young characters.
Tara Lynne
Tara Lynne is an author, event planner, fandom culture expert, public speaker, host of the Geek Saga and Sagas & Sass podcasts, and founded Ice & Fire Con.
Courtney Lytle
Courtney Lytle Sarnow is a partner in the Atlanta office of CM Law with more than 30 years of experience in copyright, intellectual property licensing, and technology law.

M

Megan Mackie
Amazon bestseller, Megan Mackie is best known as the author of Cookbooks and Demons, as well as The Lucky Devil, Dead World, and Working Mask series.
Sarah Madsen
Sarah Madsen is an author and game designer. She has contributed to TTRPGs from Wizards of the Coast and Kobold Press, and the Necromancer's Tale and Ages of Cataria video games.
Terry Fredrick Maggert
Terry Maggert wrote the Backyard Starship, Peacemaker Wars, Gold Medal Marine, Messenger, Starcaster, and Shattered Skies series, and contributed to many anthologies.
ToniAnn Marini
ToniAnn Marini is a professor and a project manager for BLAM! Ventures/Magnetic Press. She has credits in two Space: 1999 graphic novels and more.
J. Fitzpatrick Mauldin
J. Fitzpatrick Mauldin is an Atlanta-based science fiction author of The Foundry series, praised in Kirkus Reviews. He is also a technology leader, husband, father of two, and avid gamer.
Wil McCarthy
Wil McCarthy has scored one Prometheus Award, two AnLabs, two New York Times Notable Books, and is the author of the acclaimed Queendom of Sol and Rich Man's Sky series.
Morgan A. McLaughlin McFarland
Morgan A. McLaughlin McFarland, MAPW, owns Salt Circle Games, publisher of the horror RPG Chill 3rd Edition. She is also a published fiction, nonfiction, and TTRPG author.
Bob McGough
Bob McGough is an author, podcaster, and indie tabletop game designer, best known for the Jubal County Saga urban fantasy series and the Books, Beards, Booze Podcast.
Joseph Meany
Dr. Joseph Meany is a science consultant and president of the Interstellar Research Group. He is co-author of Graphene and Interstellar Travel: After Arrival.
Ben Meeks
Ben is an award winning sci-fi/fantasy author and woodworker. He excels at creative, outside the box thinking combined with a drive toward realism that gives his work a unique feel.
Stephanie Mirro
Stephanie Mirro writes bold, adventurous fantasy for readers who love a little heat with their heartbreak, and maybe a splash of chaos.
Marshall J. Moore
Marshall J. Moore is the author of the novel The Henchperson's Guide to Unionizing (Bantam Books, Fall 2026) and over 30 published short stories.
Casey Moores
A retired USAF rescue/special ops C-130 pilot, Casey Moores is an award winning author of military science fiction, fantasy, and post-apocalyptic novels and short stories.
Bill Edward Mulligan
Bill Mulligan works as a special effects technician, writer, director, actor, and producer. He can be heard on the Decades of Horror and Deep Images podcasts.
Mark Muncy
Mark Muncy is the bestselling author of the Eerie Florida and Eerie Appalachia book series. He is the host of the Eerie Travels podcast.
Amy J. Murphy
Amy J. Murphy is a two-time Dragon Award finalist for Best Military Science Fiction or Fantasy Novel for her Allies and Enemies series and is a submissions reader for Apex Magazine.

N

Neosoulgod
NeoSoulGod is a Black game designer, storyteller, and TTRPG educator whose work spans Dungeons & Dragons, Daggerheart, Fabula Ultima, and Lancer. Their acclaimed Nightskins supplement has sold over 5,000 copies.
James P. Nettles
James Nettles is a business and technology consultant, speculative fiction and nonfiction author, founder of Author Essentials and Creating Pros workshop companies, and a founder of the ConTinual convention.
Jeffrey Nix
A fantasy author, scientist, and national champion martial artist with a master's degree in applied psychology, Jeffrey Nix writes the web serial, Alias & Apocalypses.
Nancy Northcott
Nancy Northcott's 19 published books include science fiction, romance, and internationally acclaimed historical fantasy. She has worked with Hachette/Grand Central and Falstaff Books and independently.

O

Megan O'Russell
With 32 books across nine series from epic fantasy to dystopian romance, Megan O'Russell is an indie author with roots in traditional publishing and a passion for helping fellow authors.
Melissa Olthoff
Melissa Olthoff writes science fiction and fantasy adventure romance with plenty of banter and heart. She has written in both shared worlds and her own universes.

P

Alex P
Alex Platt has been a podcaster since 2017. Her work includes Animorphs Anonymous, Horse Girls, Dungeons and Dracon Beams, Late Starters, Youngvale, Questmaster, and a few others.
JM Paquette
Author of the Klauden's Ring saga as well as the Conjuring Fascination, Rockstar Fairy Tales, and Shawarma Warrior King series, JM Paquette writes fantasy and paranormal romance novels.
Andy Peloquin
Andy Peloquin is a storyteller and artist--words are his palette. Fantasy and sci-fi are his genres of choice, and he loves to explore the darker side of human nature.
Berta Platas
Cuban-American author Berta Platas wrote the By Honor Bound trilogy featuring dragon-shifter princesses with Nancy Knight, as well as the Bay Corners paranormal cozy mystery series.
Noel E Plaugher
Noel Plaugher is a martial artist with over 30 years of experience and was a writer for Black Belt Magazine. Plaugher writes fiction and nonfiction books.
Phillip Pournelle
Phillip Pournelle is a science fiction author, war game designer, operations analyst, and military strategist. He has published several short stories for Baen and contributed to the latest Janissaries novel.
Marx Pyle
Marx Pyle, author of Obsidian Monsters, is the co-editor/co-author of multiple anthologies, including Dragons of a Different Tail and Enchanted Tales & Twisted Lore.

R

Alicia Rades
Alicia Rades is a USA Today bestselling author of over 40 paranormal and fantasy titles, including The Coven's Secret. She co-authors the Hidden Legends Universe with Megan Linski.
Kim Ramirez
Kim Ramirez is a cultural educator, speaker, and upcoming author specializing in Japanese textile symbology and folklore. She lectures nationally at conventions and universities, and founded Saisei Apparel.
Roberto Ramirez Cervantes
Roberto Ramírez is a software developer, anime reviewer, and lifelong “techie-geek-otaku” from Guadalajara, México. He is also a contributing writer for Brentwood and 944 Magazine.
Silas Reames
Silas Reames writes fantasy packed with strong women, supportive men, found family, twists, and immersive worlds. She publishes both urban fantasy and gothic fantasy romance.
Daniel A. Reed
Daniel A. Reed is a writer, researcher, investigator, and member of the Center for Inquiry's Speakers Bureau. A regular Skeptical Inquirer contributor, he examines cryptozoology, the paranormal, and pseudoscience.
Rachel Rener
Rachel Rener writes bestselling, award winning romantasy that fuses science, sass, and steam with heart-wrenching stakes. Rener is seven-figure author with more than half a million copies sold.
Gray Rinehart
Gray Rinehart is a USAF space operations veteran, an award winning author, and a singer/songwriter. His short fiction has appeared in Analog, Asimov's, and more.
Rob of Wonder
With a 40 year multi-discipline career across multiple media formats, Rob is a Broadway World-nominated director and international playwright. He is also an artist and children's author.
Rob Roberts
Rob Roberts is a seasoned live host of cult movie screenings and horror themed variety shows. He is also an internet broadcasting veteran in video games.
Keith Robinson
Best known for the Island of Fog books, the Sleep Writer adventures, and the Darkhill Scary Stories, Keith Robinson is the author of 42 fantasy, sci-fi, and spooky supernatural books.
Robert W Ross
Robert W. Ross is the author of several award winning sci-fi and fantasy print and audiobook series including Sentinels of Creation, Paradigm 2045, The Journals of Ariel Thorne, and more.
S.L. Rowland
S.L. Rowland is a bestselling author of cozy fantasy series Tales of Aedrea and the LitRPG series Sentenced to Troll, Pangea Online, and Path to Villainy.
Christopher Ruocchio
Christopher Ruocchio is the author of several books, including the Sun Eater science fantasy series and the upcoming Doomsong Saga epic fantasy trilogy, and more than 25 works of short fiction.

S

Tina Hesman Saey
Tina Hesman Saey is a senior writer covering molecular biology for Science News magazine. She has a Ph.D. in molecular genetics and a masters degree in science journalism.
Tony Sarrecchia
Tony Sarrecchia is a genre-bending author creating gritty post-apocalyptic horror, techno-thrillers, and noir-fantasy. He writes for Patreon under his imprint, Pen 2 Parchment.
Amber Kayla Satterfield
amberthysts cosplay works as a professional character entertainer in the Atlanta circuit. For the past several years at Dragon Con, she has dedicated her time by directing the Character Encounter.
Anne Schlea
Anne Schlea is a North Georgia urban fantasy author of The Retribution Universe and The Fallen series. With 10 novels published, she blends history into stories of vampires and fallen angels.
Jen "Lil' Bit" Schleusner
Jen “Lil' Bit” Schleusner is a digital creator, DJ, and ESO Network board member. She has helmed the radio show The Hill Country Hayride since 2006.
Stephen Seitz
Stephen Seitz is a craftsman and tournament organizer at gaming panels for Dragon Con. He built giant, wooden Nintendo Game Boy Advance consoles, ready for gaming!
Ingrid Seymour
Ingrid Seymour is a USA Today bestselling author of over 50 novels. She writes full-time, specializing in fantasy romance, featuring badass heroines and irresistible heroes.
Jeri Red Shepherd
Jeri Red Shepherd is an award winning 15-time #1 bestseller with 31 years in writing and publishing, 125+ works, and 750K+ sold.
Lydia Sherrer
Award winning and USA Today bestselling author Lydia Sherrer is best known for her Love, Lies, and Hocus Pocus universe novels full of snarky humor and a talking cat.
Aleksandr Shvartsman
Alex Shvartsman is a writer, translator, and anthologist from Brooklyn, NY. He is the author of Kakistocracy (2023), The Middling Affliction (2022), and Eridani's Crown (2019) fantasy novels.
Tamsin L. Silver
Tamsin Silver is an author of both historical fantasy and urban fantasy novels, and is the creator of Skye of the Damned, Mark of the Necromancer, and the Windfire Series.
Wayland Smith
Wayland Smith is an author, reviewer, and panelist. His novels include In My Brother's Name, 'Tis the Season, and the Wildside series about superhuman mercenaries.
Fruity Snacks
Fruity Snacks is an instructional designer who owns the Eorzean Aquarium and Eorzean Museum Network, and has a YouTube channel for teaching how to catch fish in Final Fantasy XIV.
Daviorr Snipes
Daviorr is a Peabody Award winning stage, film, and voice actor most noted for his voice work in the NPR series, Buried Truths, and the BET show, American Soul.
Sarah J. Sover
Sarah J. Sover is the author of the urban fantasy Fractured Fae series (Fairy Godmurder, Faed to Black) and the comedic fantasy Double-Crossing the Bridge, from Falstaff Books.
Dante St. John
Dante is a self-published author from Georgia. Her urban fantasy/paranormal romance novels are available in both "spicy" and "mild" versions.
Kevin Stallard
A 37-year veteran of the IT security industry, Kevin has secured banks, government agencies, and World of Warcraft from hackers, crackers, and all around bad people.
Darcy Staniforth
Darcy Staniforth is an academic, writer, performer, speaker, and paranormal investigator. She currently resides in a haunted house in Southern CA.
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.
Shami A Stovall
Shami Stovall is a three-time Dragon Award nominee for best YA Fantasy. She co-owns her publishing company, Capital Station Books.
Brandon H. Strauss
Strauss is an entomologist specializing in all things dead, gross, and oozing. They have spent the better part of their career poking things that make squish noises.

T

Erin N. Taylor
Erin Taylor is a licensed mental health therapist and paranormal investigator. She has written six nonfiction paranormal books and writes for The Morbid Curious.
Sean Hylton Taylor
Sean Taylor is a "genre-defying literary chameleon." Lit. Pulp. Horror. Sci-fi. Poetry. Non-fiction. Comics. He has written for IDW Publishing, Gene Simmons, and The Oxygen Network.
Mel Todd
Bad Ash Publishing owner and author, Mel Todd, has written and published over 50 stories. Specializing in stories of wonder without romantic plot lines, her books are devoured by fans.
Alison Tracy
Alison Tracy Wynn, PhD is the director of belonging at an independent K-12 school in Atlanta. As Alison Tracy, she writes YA and adult sci-fi/fantasy.
T. L. Trent
Tiffany "T. L." Trent is the author of the Hallowmere series, The Unnaturalists duology, and the adult fantasy Rise of the Iron Lotus series, among others.
j m Tuffley
JM Tuffley writes about pop culture for various outlets, and contributes to Need Coffee Dot Com's Weekend Justice Podcast. He is also the chief designer of the Randomizer playlists.

V

Julia M Vee
Julia Vee was that GenX kid raised by libraries and still remains unsupervised. She often writes with Ken Bebelle, and they have penned over 10 novels.
Eric R Vernor
Eric Vernor is the author of 50 books about vampires and paranormal topics, consultant for A&E's Paranormal State, panelist at Dragon Con, and is the founder of Dark Moon Press.
Marie Vibbert
Hugo and Nebula nominee Marie Vibbert's short fiction has appeared over 100 in top magazines like Nature, Analog, and Clarkesworld.
R.R. Virdi
R.R. Virdi is a two-time Dragon Award finalist, Nebula Award finalist, and USA Today bestselling author. He is the author of The Grave Report and The Books of Winter.
VorianCosplay
Sterling Bailey (VorianCosplay) is a longtime Dragon Con contributor known for detailed Captain America builds and creative work spanning games, anime, and comics. He also founded Cap for Kids.

W

Constance G.J. Wagner
Constance G.J. Wagner, writer, editor, poet, playwright, and Tolkien scholar, speaks regularly and passionately on all things Middle-earth at both academic and fan-friendly events nationally and internationally.
DL Wainright
DL Wainright uses their degree in world religions and lifelong love of horror to write creepy books that incorporate folklore and mythology, which means someone gets eaten in every one!
Michael Webb
Epic-fantasy author, Michael Webb just published his 10th book, and has sold over 160,000 copies of his works.
Sean Weiland
Sean Weiland is an award winning video game program manager, voice actor, bartender, and podcaster and currently hosts the Tipple Theory podcast.
Steve W Wetherell
Steve Wetherell is a writer of funny fiction with Falstaff books, and a regular on the Authors & Dragons podcast.
Jennifer Whitworth
Jennifer Whitworth is a NASA engineer at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center. She supports Artemis and Gateway Payload Integration for experiments destined for the Gateway Station or the Lunar surface.
Katharine E Wibell
Epic fantasy author Katharine E. Wibell's acclaimed novels include The Incarn Saga Series (NA), The Djed Chronicles Series (YA), and The Guardian's Speaker Series.
Arras Marie Wiedorn
Arras Wiedorn is a zoologist and animal behaviorist who has worked for years in public education. They currently work as a naturalist in Ohio.
Valerie Willis
Valerie Willis writes dark fantasy romance tangled with myth, monsters, and morally gray characters (also writing as V.C. Willis (MM romance) and Honey Cummings (erotica, cryptids, romcom)).
Sadie Witkowski
Sadie (Sarah) Witkowski, PhD has a passion for science communication and telling compelling stories through science. She completed her PhD studying memory consolidation and how sleep can improve memory.
Marisa Wolf
Marisa Wolf writes SFF that ends with hope, with no promises for the path to get there. She has a number of co-authored novels in shared universes and solo novels in her own worlds.
Tao Wong
Tao Wong is the author of the bestselling A Thousand Li, the System Apocalypse series, and a half-dozen other series. He was shortlisted for the UK Kindle Storyteller Award in 2021.
Trisha J. Wooldridge
Trisha J. Wooldridge (child-friendly T.J.Wooldridge) is an award winning pan-genre, pan-media chaos word witch who writes, edits, and educates.
Vanessa Ionta Wright
Vanessa Wright is an Atlanta-based filmmaker and The Renegade Film Fest founder and director. She is currently in production on her next feature film.

Y

Jessi Ann York
Jessi Ann York's Phases of the Shadow and Women of the Mere were mentioned as standouts in the summation section of The Best Horror of the Year Vol. 13.
Bryan Young
Bryan Young has written in the BattleTech, Star Wars, Robotech, Doctor Who, and Shadowrun universes. Most recently, he wrote the companion book for The Big Bang Theory.

Cancellations

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

Professionals

Have a once-in-a-lifetime experience with us!

Grab your cape, because you won’t want to miss this!

A

Brent Abell

Stephen Adams

Davis Ashura

B

Kevin Bachelder

Michael Bailey

Sam Baltrusis

Paul Barrett

Cate Baumer

Jamie Bernstein

Kaitlin Bevis

Judy Black

J.D. Blackrose

Jennifer Blackstream

Bobby Blackwolf

Hunter Blain

Brandy Blanton

Jay Boyce

Brad Bradley

Bill Bridges

Bethany Brookshire

Rachel A. Brune

Doug Burbey

Andrew Burn

Tyra Burton

Darin M. Bush

C

Kevin Cafferty

R. E. Carr

Luke Chmilenko

Paige L. Christie

Neil Clarke

Crystal Cleveland

Joe Compton

Ryan A Consell

Nicole Conway

Sophia Corde

Jason Cordova

Katie Cross

Paul B Currie

D

Kevin A Davis

Milton J. Davis

Beth Dolgner

Jason Dorough

Hope Dugan

Patrick Dugan

Jordan Duncan

E

Kevin Eldridge

Brandi Elledge

EmUnArum

Richard J Estep

Kacey Ezell

F

Todd Fahnestock

Michael Falkner

Richard Fierce

Emily A Finke

Sean Fletcher

Justin Lee Ford

Alicia Fox-Lenz

G

Birma Gainor

J. B. Garner

Clay Gilbert

Venessa Giunta

Theresa Glover

Laura Grabowski

Andrew Greenberg

Darrell Z. Grizzle

DM Guay

Dr. Nicole Gugliucci

H

Clint Hall

Eric William Hall