2023 Panels & Sessions

Friday

1 PM

A Fantasy By Any Other Genre – Magnolia

One of the best things about fantasy and science fiction is that they’re so inclusive! Specifically, of other genres! There are fantasy-detective stories, scifi-romance, scifi-horror, fantasy-thriller, pick a combo, it’s out there. Science fiction and fantasy are arguably the most creative of the genres, with the greatest range. Maybe that’s part of why we love them!

Magic Systems – Camellia

A discussion of magic systems and how to build them. What works, what doesn’t, and how to build your own,

The Other 98% of the Military – Azalea

How to round out your fictional military with characters in jobs other than grunts and tanks.

Friday

2 PM

How to Fake Being an Extrovert – Magnolia

How we ever got a group of introverts to agree to this, we’ll never know! Join our local introverts as they discuss the art of faking it in an extroverted world.

Intro to Story Code – Camellia

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Cross-Discipline Collaboration – Azalea

Your hero has been stabbed again! How long before they bleed out? If you had a doctor friend, you would know! Why being friends with people from many professions will make your writing better.

Viewpoint and Narrative Distance: Get it Right – Dogwood

While pronouns are the most visible representation of viewpoint, they are the most elementary building blocks. Narrative and temporal distance, filters, voice, and ultimately, depth, have far more to do with viewpoint in storytelling than pronouns. Readers may not be able to articulate the importance of viewpoint to their immersion and willingness to stay with a story, but problems with viewpoint will still cause them to put your story down. In this class we will cover how viewpoint can grab a reader, immerse them in your story, flesh out characters, worldbuild, create tension and conflict, and ultimately help you show a better story. Bring paper, a pen, and a learning attitude.

Friday

3 PM

Gaming And Writing – Magnolia

Both endeavors focus on creating immersive worlds and providing intricate stories. What are the similarities and differences?

Dressed To Slay – Camellia

If there is one thing a hero needs, it is armor and weapons. Or do they? Let’s discuss the use of martial arts, armor, and combat for our best stories possible.

Where’s My Muse when I Need Her? – Azalea

Has your Muse abandoned you and run off to Timbuktu? Join our panelists as they discuss the process of finding, keeping, and caring for your source of artistic inspirations.

Viewpoint and Narrative Distance: Get it Right – Dogwood

Continued

Friday

4 PM

Bonds of Valor Book Launch – Magnolia

Special FantaSci Anthology

Noir in Science Fiction and Fantasy – Camellia

Wherein we discuss the darker side of SF/Fantasy, and why gritty detective stories with femme fatales mash up so well with the futuristic and fantastic.

Rules of Engagement – Gaming in the Four Horsemen Universe – Azalea

Join the lead designer of Rules of Engagement Jon R. Osborne and the creator of the Four Horsemen Universe Mark Wandrey as they discuss the joys and trials of bringing the 4HU to the gaming table.

Friday

5 PM

A Discussion On The Coolness Of Dragons – Magnolia

As Flat As The Piece of Paper He is Written On – Camellia

Characters rise off the page and become people — If they’re well crafted. Discover ways to make this happen in your writing

Turning Tropes On Their Head – Azalea

How to mix up tropes to make something new and refreshing.

Friday

6 PM

Opening Ceremonies – Magnolia

Friday

7 PM

Blibbering Humdingers – Magnolia

Musical GoH perform

Something Wicked This Way Comes – Camellia

Witches appear across all cultures and in all corners of the world. What is their appeal? How have they been portrayed throughout history and how can you best utilize them in your stories?

Let’s Play Mad Scientist: How To Grow Your Own Monster – Dogwood

Ghosts, Goblins, and Ghouls, Oh My! We all love ourselves a good monster! As a staple across genres, it’s sometimes difficult to build something fresh; even with a graveyard right across the street. Join our guest Alyssa Hazel as she dives into the four fundamental F’s of building your own monsters: Foundation, Function, Form, and Feeling. Bring your imagination and a notepad, Ygors not provided.

Friday

8 PM


NSFW Romance – Magnolia

No kids allowed as we discuss the ins and outs of the “spicier” side of romance writing and the market surrounding it. (NSFW, obviously)

Military Strategy – Camellia

Join our experts as they point out the do’s and don’ts of writing battles, wars, and conflicts.

Boarding Action – Azalea

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Friday

9 PM

Jolene’s Dating Game – Magnolia

Adults Only (If you don’t know what this is already, you will soon. That, or send me a message. -Erin)

Boarding Action – Azalea

Continued

Saturday

10 AM

Worldbuilding in a Collaborative Universe – Magnolia

How do authors “play nice” with other authors when writing in a shared universe. How do you plan your novel and interact with other characters and situations that other authors are writing about?

2nd Breakfast – Camellia

From fantasy economics to setting a scene, how to use food as a tool in your writing and world building.

Science and Magic – Azalea

What are the connections if any? Are they really different sides of the same coin?

Story Code – Dogwood

Workshop by Amy White

Saturday

11 AM

How The Role Of Dragons Has Changed Over Time – Magnolia

From Foes of knights to Friends of Princesses, how has our view of dragons changed? Dragons have been symbols of the devil, bastions of magic, good and evil. But they have never been boring

CKP Year ahead – Camellia

Chris Kennedy Publishing Presents/ New Mythology Press Presents

Assassins – Azalea

What is and isn’t realistic in fantasy writing. How to be stealthy, and how to write it well.

Story Code – Dogwood

Continued

Saturday

12 PM

Worldbuilding – Magnolia

How to create a world that doesn’t violate the suspension of disbelief.

CKP Year ahead – Camellia

Continued

So You Married an Author… – Azalea

A discussion of the different needs of authors & how to keep them writing!

Story Code – Dogwood


Lunchbreak

Saturday

1 PM

This is Your GoH: Richard Knaak – Magnolia

Join Richard Knaak as he reminisces about his career as a writer and publisher. Hear him discuss the various projects he has worked on and answer your questions about his work.

Battlefield Medicine – Camellia

Oh no! Your hero has been stabbed! There’s no hospital around, what do you do next?

Religion As A Tool in Fiction – Azalea

How to utilize the concept of religion to enrich your fantasy world

Story Code – Dogwood

Continued

Saturday

2 PM

Baen Roadshow Hour 1 – Magnolia

Baen Books Presents

Fun with the Alignment System – Camellia

We all know the classic 9 grid. Who hasn’t tried to figure where their favorite characters fall on that grid. Lawful vs Chaotic. Good vs Evil. What does it mean? How can it be used? Is it outdated? Let’s talk and find out

Indie Publishing vs Traditional Publishing – Azalea

Are you on the fence? Our panelists discuss the pros and cons of each route.

Story Code – Dogwood

Continued

4HU Game Session – Room TBA

Saturday

3 PM

Baen Roadshow Hour 2 – Magnolia

Baen Books Presents

Urban Fantasy – Camellia

Fairie-run coffee shops, back alley wizards, and Vampires in Brooklyn. Join us as we dive into the endless possiblities provided to us by the Urban Fantasy Genre.

Writer’s Block – Azalea

Been stuck writing the same paragraph for the last several weeks? Don’t know how to get Mary across the river in a way that makes sense? Let’s help you get past the idea log jam and over writer’s block.

4HU Game Session – Room TBA

Continued

Saturday

4 PM

Blibbering Humdingers – Magnolia

Music

Monsters and Mythical Beasts – Camellia

Discussing the history, appeal, and coolness of our best myths and legends

Weapons and What They Do – Azalea

Realistic weapons and considerations when writing them.

4HU Game Session – Room TBA

Continued

Saturday

5 PM

Dragons Across Cultures – Camellia

In the East, they are symbols of great wisdom revered as godlike creatures. In the West, they have been both friend and foe. Why the difference? Is it simply how we engage with them. Is it something else? Let’s talk about Dragons across the world

How to Rule Your World – Azalea

Empires, Republics, and Kingdoms, oh my! Join us as we take a deep dive in to systems of government and how to apply them to your world.

Goodbye Amazon! Sell Direct To Your Readers – Special Presentation By Katie Cross – Dogwood

Are you tired of publishers and services cutting into your profit? Have you ever wondered how much money you could make if you could take Amazon and Audible out of the equation? Katie Cross has those answers! Join Katie as she details how she shed the shackles of establishments, became an entrepreneur, and built a successful business based on direct sales and reader loyalty, and how you can too.

4HU Game Session – Room TBA

Continued

Saturday

6 PM

Researching For Your Story – Camellia

How much research is enough? How much is too much? When do you stop doing research and start writing?

Emotional Appeal – Azalea

How to write realistic relationships that bring more life into your books and make you a better author.

Saturday

7 PM

Phoenix Feast – Magnolia

Dinner and a show

What Doesn’t Kill You… – Camellia

What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, or stranger, or has made a tactical error. This panel discusses near-death experiences, real and fictional, and what that does to people.

Saturday

8 PM

Phoenix Feast – Magnolia

Continued

Swearing In Fantasy – Camellia

Coming up with new phrases to express displeasure, frustration, and interest. It should be a fracking good time.

Saturday

9 PM

Karaoke – Magnolia

No ** there I was – Camellia

Come hear the best true tall-tales and hold my beer stories these authors have to offer. (NSFW)

Boarding Action – Azalea

Sunday

10 AM

Tanks, Ships, and Crayon Eaters – Magnolia

Come hear our panelists discuss the military branches and why theirs is the best. (Boxing gloves not provided.)

Beer for the Men – Camellia

Wine for the Elves, Mead for the Dwarves, and Grog for the Orcs. As long as there has been civilization there has been alcohol. Across the world, it is intrinsic to every history and culture. It makes sense, then, that we so often include it in our fictional worlds. In this panel we examine everything about our favorite spirits and how we’ve used it in our stories.

TRMN (The Royal Manticoran Navy) Grayson’s Navy – Azalea

meeting

Sunday

11 AM

Morgan Wolfsinger – Magnolia

music

Authors and Their Pets – Camellia

Come listen to our authors do what they do best, tell stories. About their pets!

4HU The Mercenary Guild – Azalea

meeting

Viewpoint and Narrative Distance: Get it Right – Dogwood

Continued

Sunday

12 PM

Brain and Brain – What is brain? – Magnolia

Dr. Rob talks about state of the art in brain science and answers your questions about the mind, memory, and consciousness

4HU Peacekeeper’s Recruiting – Azalea

Sunday

1 PM

Closing ceremonies – Magnolia