Panels & Times
Click For Full Con Schedule
Friday 11:00 AM
Friday 12:00 PM
Friday 1:00 PM
Panelists
- Ian J. Malone – Moderator
- Chaz Kemp
- Cedar Sanderson
- Dave Butler
- Jonna Hayden
Topic
Music and Art, as part of the story or in the background, are a big part of storytelling. From TV and movies to books and video games, let’s discuss how music and art play a part.
Panelists
- Rob Hampson -Moderator
- Mark Stallings
Topic
Speech-to-text has improved significantly in the last ten years. How and why you should take advantage of it!
Panelists
Topic
- Richard Weyand -Moderator
- Kevin Ikenberry
- Kal Spriggs
- Faith Hunter
How to survive a hostile world.
Panelists
- Henry Vogel – Moderator
- Jon Osborne
- Philip Booker
- Stephanie Osborn
Topic
We are three-dimensional beings in a four-dimensional space.
Friday 2:00 PM
Panelists
- Rob Hampson – Moderator
- Toni Weisskopf
- Stephanie Osborn
- Nick Steverson
Topic
From Them! to Star Wars and every B-movie and book between. What are your guilty late-night pleasures?
Panelists
- Kevin Ikenberry (2Hours)
Topic
“Stream of Consciousness” is not a winning book-selling strategy. Join Kevin Ikenberry as he discusses plotting and story structure.
Panelists
- H.P. Holo – Moderator
- Nicole Givens Kurtz
- Monalisa Foster
- Jenny Wren
Topic
There is more than one way to communicate with that newly encountered culture or alien species. How to write it realistically.
Panelists
- Jonna Hayden – Moderator
- James Chandler
- Ian J. Malone
- Henry Vogel
Topic
Has Indie E-publishing become the new Pulp?
Friday 3:00 PM
Panelists
- Mike Jack Stoumbos – Moderator
- William Joseph Roberts
- Marisa Wolf
- J. F. Posthumus
Topic
Russian roulette with a hat! Participants get five minutes to put questions in a hat and our brave panelists draw them out and discuss. Try to have your question written down when you come.
Panelists
- Chuck Gannon – Moderator
- Jim Curtis
- D. B. Bray
- Kal Spriggs
Topic
Think disaster flick, what is the worst-case scenario. We are looking at you Mars, Venus, and Ganymede.
Panelists
- Cedar Sanderson – Moderator
- Chaz Kemp
- John Hartness
- Toni Weisskopf
Topic
Cover design: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly. What makes an effective cover? Do you have a favorite? What are the differences between picking a Sci-Fi cover VS a fantasy cover?
Friday 4:00 PM
Panelists
- Monalisa Foster – Moderator
- Richard Weyand
- Stephanie Osborn
Topic
Outlines aren’t for you? You love living by the seat of your pants! Well, come to the party as our panelists discuss the joys of pantsing!
Panelists
- Ian J. Malone – Moderator
- Jim Curtis
- William Joseph Roberts
- Chris Kennedy
Topic
Come hear the best true tall-tales and hold my beer stories these authors have. Is it reality or Twilight Zone?
Panelists
- Mike Jack Stoumbos – Moderator
- Jon Osborne
- Mark Stallings
- James Chandler
Topic
Alien archeologists are exploring the ruins of Terra. What do they find? How do they explain them? What could everyday objects you use right now mean to aliens 100,00 years from now?
Panelists
- Julie Frost – Moderator
- Joshua Palmatier
- Chuck Gannon
- Dave Butler
Topic
You traveled back in time and killed your grandfather. Cliche! A gimmick for sure! What are the best ways to handle paradoxes in writing? What is the Butterfly Effect of your character’s choices? At what point does the universe unravel?
Friday 5:00 PM
Panelists
- Richard Weyand – Moderator
- Julie Frost
- Richard Weyand
- Chaz Kemp
Topic
How do we define monsters and aliens in fiction? What makes a character one or the other whether sci-fi or fantasy? How do authors make that choice? And we must also wonder if all monsters can be redeemed.
Panelists
- Kevin Ikenberry – Moderator
- Mark Wandrey
- Chuck Gannon
- Stephanie Osborn
Topic
What do our best and brightest have going on? Let’s find out. Come and meet new authors you have not met yet.
Panelists
- Chris Kennedy – Moderator
- William Joseph Roberts
Topic
Hearing NO is tough. However, it’s not the end of the world. How to turn a NO into a productive part of the creative process.
Panelists
- Marisa Wolf – Moderator
- Monalisa Foster
- Melissa Olthoff
- Casey Moores
Topic
How does an author keep women from becoming a cliche in the book they are writing or even worse a caricature of a person? Who are your favorite examples of doing this right? WHich characters are horribly wrong?
Friday 6:00 PM
Panelists
- Jim Curtis – Moderator
- Jon Osborne
- Carolyn Kay
- Melissa Olthoff
Topic
You have to be social to sell, right? Hear fellow introverts discuss how they’ve managed the social demands.
Panelists
- Mia Kleve
Topic
Join Mia Kleve, editor extraordinaire, for a close-up look at editors and the editing process.
Panelists
- Doug Triplett – Moderator
- John Hartness
- Chaz Kemp
- Monalisa Foster
Topic
In today’s marketplace not having a social media presence makes growing your writing business very difficult. Come to this panel to learn the proper ways to approach social media. This will not be a tech how-to lab but we will discuss various social media outlets and tools you can use to increase your effectiveness. Also, because these outlets only allow you to use their platform at their convenience, there will be some talk on how you ca own your audience and what that looks like using social media.
Friday 7:00 PM
Panelists
- Chris Kennedy – Moderator
- Chuck Gannon
- Kevin Ikenberry
- Henry Vogel
- Faith Hunter
Topic
Should we endeavor to keep ourselves pure, defining science fiction so as to exclude fantasy? Must a definition of SF include a reference to “science” or “technology”? Let’s talk about this and terms such as Hard Sci-Fi and Science Fantasy.
Panelists
- Rob Howell – Moderator
- Dave Bulter
- Jon Osborne
- Nathan Balyeat
- C. M. DeMott
Topic
Book release for this years’ FantaSci Anthology.
Panelists
- William Joseph Roberts – Moderator
- Mia Kleve
- Marisa Wolf
- Melissa Olthoff
- Phil Booker
Topic
From mundane to the extreme, we’ll discuss different ways that we use to relax, clear the mind, and get back on track with meditation and concentration techniques included.
Friday 8:00 PM
Panelists
- Chris Kennedy – Moderator
- Kevin Steverson
- Nick Steverson
- Matt Notovny
- Jason Cordova
Topic
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?
Panelists
- Mark Wandrey – Moderator
- Rob Howell
- Joshua Palmatier
- William Joseph Roberts
Topic
A beginner’s guide to writing war.
Panelists
- Marisa Wolf – Moderator
- Mike Jack Stoumbos
- Melissa Olthoff
- Casey Moores
Topic
Coming up with new phrases to express displeasure, frustration, and interest. It should be a fracking good time.
Friday 9:00 PM
Panelists
- Nick Steverson – Moderator
- Stephanie Osborn
- Nicole Givens Kurtz
- Chris Maddox
Topic
Hooking the reader, keeping them to the finish, and leaving them wanting more.
Panelists
- Carolyn Kay – Moderator
- Rob Howell
- Chaz Kemp
- C. M. DeMott
Topic
Adapting a book into other media. Movies and TV shows often suck compared to the books. What were good ones and what were bad ones?
Panelists
- Jolene
- Chuck Gannon
- John Hartness
- William Joseph Roberts
- J. F. Posthumus
- Cedar Sanderson
- Julie Frost
Topic
The dating game with a FantaSci twist. NSFW
Saturday 9:00 AM
Saturday 10:00 AM
Panelists
- H.P. Holo – Moderator
- William Joseph Roberts
- Ian J. Malone
- J. F. Posthumus
Topic
What does the future of food look like according to SciFi? How can food be used as a tool to set a scene?
Panelists
- Joy Wandrey – Moderator
- Jonna Hayden
- William Joseph Roberts
- C. M. DeMott
Topic
Side hustles are everywhere today and everyone has a hobby, right? How to tell the difference between hobby and hustle? Even better, how do you switch and earn a little cash for doing what you enjoy?
Panelists
- Quincy J Allen (2 Hours)
Topic
Can’t afford an editor to put your manuscript in form for publishing? Join Quincy J Allen as he discusses how to format your work for success.
Panelists
- John Hartness – Moderator
- Falstaff Books Author Team
Topic
Join John as he talks about current and upcoming books Falstaff publishes.
Saturday 11:00 AM
Panelists
- Cedar Sanderson – Moderator
- Stephanie Osborn
- Jacob Holo
- Mark Wandrey
Topic
From exploring “what if science zigged instead of zagged” to injecting science from the future, panelists discuss the effect of science and technology on alternate history.
Panelists
- Joshua Palmatier – Moderator
- Kal Spriggs
- Dave Butler
- Melissa Olthoff
Topic
How do we spend money in the future? Who wrote it right and who wrote it bad?
Panelists
- Chris Kennedy – Moderator
- The Factory Worker Author Team
Topic
Join The Factory Boss and his team to learn what is coming soon from Chris Kennedy Pubishing.
Saturday 12:00 PM
Panelists
- Mark Wandrey – Moderator
- J. F. Posthumus
- Jon Osborne
Topic
The games are getting bigger, and more complicated, are they better?
Panelists
- Monalisa Foster
Topic
First-person or third-person omniscient? Choosing a point of view for your writing.
Panelists
- Jonna Hayden – Moderator
- John Hartness
- James Chandler
Topic
Why being friends with people from many professions to be able to get advice about characters will make your writing better
Panelists
- Toni Weisskopf – Moderator
- Baen Author Team
Topic
Join Toni for the ever-exciting exploration of the upcoming Baen publication schedule.
Saturday 1:00 PM
Panelists
- Henry Vogel – Moderator
- William Joseph Roberts
- J. F. Postmumus
- Mark Wandrey
Topic
What kind of jobs have your favorite writers had? Good ones? Bad Ones? Were any of them a supervillain in a past life? Come and find out!
Panelists
- Joy Wandrey – Moderator
- Jonna Hayden
- Carolyn Kay
Topic
Creativity is more than just writing. A panel on fiber art and construction along with maybe a knitting or crochet circle.
Panelists
- Kevin Steverson – Moderator
- Nicole Given Kurtz
- Jim Curtis
- Rob Howell
- Ian J. Malone
Topic
You have something to say! How do you develop a successful podcast?
Saturday 2:00 PM
Panelists
- Mark Stallings – Moderator
- Rob Howell
- Mike Jack Stoumbos
Topic
Story stuck? Don’t know where to go? Break the idea log jam and get past writer’s block!
Panelists
- Jim Curtis – Moderator
- Kal Spriggs
- William Joseph Roberts
- Casey Moores
Topic
How to round out your fictional military with characters in jobs other than grunts aka it’s a POG world
Panelists
- Rob Hampson – Moderator
- Faith Hunter
- Cedar Sanderson
- Joshua Palmatier
Topic
Ancient diseases, the common cold, bacterial and viral arms-races, what would happen to humans if ancient and modern-day ailments came face to face?
Panelists
- Jason Cordova – Moderator
- Dave Butler
- Bill Mulligan
- Cedar Sanderson
- Julie Frost
Topic
These days we see more and more anti-heroes. Let’s discuss why we choose opportunists, ne’er-do-wells, and lawbreakers as our protagonists.
Saturday 3:00 PM
Panelists
- Jacob Holo – Moderator
- Chaz Kemp
- Jeremy Comeaux
- Rick Foster
- Any other husbands in attendance who want to join in.
Topic
Men, how do you take care of your Lady as she crafts words?
Panelists
- James Chandler – Moderator
- Rob Hampson
Topic
Goal setting can make you a better writer. Join our panel as they discuss setting realistic goals and ensuring you get there.
Panelists
- Kevin Steverson – Moderator
- Kal Spriggs
- Melissa Olthoff
- Jason Cordova
- Casey Moores
Topic
The lifeblood or death of the military aka the E-4 Mafia
Panelists
- Rob Hampson – Moderator
- William Joseph Roberts
- Julie Frost
- J. F. Posthumus
- Richard Weyand
Topic
Dueling Authors! Two teams of panelists will each design an alien and after doing so there SHALL be a fight to the death! There can only be one… bug!
Saturday 4:00 PM
Panelists
- John Hartness – Moderator
- Joshua Palmatier
- Jim Curtis
- Cedar Sanderson
Topic
Our panelist will discuss the perils, pitfalls, and pleasures of publishing your own books.
Panelists
- Toni Weisskopf – Moderator
- Chris Kennedy
- Josh Hartness
- James Chandler
Topic
Marketing your story in multiple mediums.
Panelists
- Jonna Hayden – Moderator
- Faith Hunter
- Marisa Wolf
- Carolyn Kay
Topic
Cats. From the witch’s familiar to assassin cats to treecats to The Cat Who Walked Through Walls, are they the ultimate animal character or shall another species reign supreme.
Saturday 5:00 PM
Panelists
- Rob Howell – Moderator
- Dave Butler
- Chuck Gannon
- Chris Kennedy
- Jason Cordova
Topic
It’s fun to look at what might have happened if history had gone left and not right, but how do you know which way to go once you’ve chosen your point of divergence? Our experts discuss the issues involved in creating a believable alternate history world for a novel.
Saturday 6:00 PM
Panelists
- Toni Weisskopf – Moderator
- Faith Hunter
- Nicole Givens Kurtz
- Julie Frost
- Monalisa Foster
Topic
Why Mary Shelley, C. L. Moore, Leigh Bracket, and more show that SF has been inclusive from the beginning.
Saturday 7:00 PM
Saturday 8:00 PM
Saturday 9:00 PM
Sunday 9:00 AM
Topic
What’s happening with New Mythology Press
Topic
Non-denominational Service
Sunday 10:00 AM
Topic
Fan Group meeting
Topic
Come, have some coffee and hang out with your favorite authors.
Sunday 11:00 AM
Topic
Fan Club Meeting
Topic
enter topic
Sunday 12:00 PM
Topic
Join the 4HU Peacekeepers
Sunday 1:00 PM
Topic
Closing ceremonies. Announcements. Reveal of the 2023 Guest Of Honor.