ConGregate 12: Full Schedule

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1:00pm EDT

Judging a Book By its Cover

Friday July 17, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm EDT

Grand Ballroom Salon C (panels)

So they tell us "Don't judge a book by it's cover" but with many mainstream books using the back for "blurbs"; is the cover the newest way to tell a reader what type of book it is?

moderator: Chris Oakley

Speakers

Fraser Sherman

Literary Guest

Born in England, Fraser Sherman wound up spending most of his life in Northwest Florida. He’d be there still if he hadn’t fallen in love and moved to Durham NC to marry his dream woman. They’re still together, with two dogs and two cats added to the family.Fraser has published... Read More →

Larry N. Martin

Literary Guest

Larry N. Martin writes science fiction, steampunk, and urban fantasy. He is the author of the portal gaming fantasy: The Splintered Crown, and Salvage Rat, the first in his space opera series.Together with Gail Z. Martin, Larry co-authors the snarky monster hunter series Spells, Salt, & Steel, the post-apocalyptic series Wasteland Marshals, the Joe Mack Shadow Council Files series, and the steampunk series The Jake Desmet Adventures... Read More →

Chris Oakley

Fan Guest

Chris Oakley owned and operated Oakley’s Gently Used Books, a bricks & mortar used bookshop with a specialty in Sci Fi/Fantasy, for more than 20 years (1995-2016) in Charlottesville, VA. She has been a bookseller at Madicon, MarsCon, MystiCon, RavenCon, Libertycon DSC50, DSC60 and... Read More →

J. Matthew Saunders

Literary Guest

J. Matthew Saunders is the author of the Daughters of Shadow and Blood trilogy inspired by the Brides of Dracula, the Dreadful Penny occult detective series, and numerous fantasy and horror short stories. He is a member of HWA and SFWA.He was born in the small Appalachian town of Clayton, Georgia and grew up in Greenville, South Carolina. He received a B.A. in history from Vanderbilt University and a master’s... Read More →

Friday July 17, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm EDT
Grand Ballroom Salon C (panels)

Literary

2:30pm EDT

First Con / First ConGregate

Friday July 17, 2026 2:30pm - 3:30pm EDT

Grand Ballroom Salon C (panels)

Let’s face it: conventions are a truly unique experience. In fact, there’s not really anything else you’ll ever do that’s
quite like it! Never been to a convention before? Maybe this is your first time at this con? Or maybe you’re a
veteran of dozens (if not hundreds) of cons? Either way, come join our roundtable discussion on how to best enjoy
the convention experience, including practical advice, tips and tricks, the UN-spoken rules, and ALL the dos and
don’ts of con survival.

Note: If you have only really been to the large "comic" type cons, this will be a different experience.

Moderator: Tom Hutchens

Speakers

Alexandra Higgins

Performance Guest

Alexandra Higgins (aka the Platypus Princess) is a self-taught singer/songwriter whose folk-indie sound evokes the spirit of Joan Baez (direct quote heard randomly and unprompted at every performance!). Her voice, often described as angelic, carries melodies that mix ethereal beauty... Read More →

Joey Starnes

Fan Guest

Joey Starnes first claimed her inner geek in 2007 after visiting her first DragonCon. In 2008, she moved to Charlotte, NC and started the Charlotte Geeks, home of the Guardians of the Geekery podcast, the Geekery Market, Two Woke Bonnets podcast and the Merry Mayhem. Her main geekdoms... Read More →

Tom Hutchens

Costuming Guest

Founder of the Mando Mercs Costume Club, being a Mandalorian fan goes all the way back to 1983, a five-year-old sitting in the theater watching Boba Fett fall into the Sarlacc Pit in Star Wars: Return of the Jedi.

In 2007 Tom founded the Mando Mercs Costume Club (MMCC), becoming o

... Read More →

James Fulbright

Con Chair / President, ConGregate

James Fulbright was introduced to AD&D by a friend in 1979. After joining his first gaming group, his friends convinced him to start attending conventions like StellarCon. It wasn’t long before attending cons led him to start helping out with those cons; which, in turn, led to running... Read More →

Friday July 17, 2026 2:30pm - 3:30pm EDT
Grand Ballroom Salon C (panels)

Fandom

4:00pm EDT

Geek Mental Health: Stories, Strategies, and Resources

Friday July 17, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm EDT

Grand Ballroom Salon C (panels)

Think of this as a low-pressure campfire for the geek crowd: a warm, judgment-free roundtable where people trade honest stories about mental health, what actually helped them (and what didn’t), and how to spot the moments that call for extra support. We’ll swap practical, peer-tested tools—from morning rituals and work/life tweaks to recovery-friendly habits—so you leave with usable ideas, not just platitudes. If you or someone else is in immediate danger, please contact emergency services or your local crisis hotline right away.

Moderator: Tally Johnson

Speakers

Dance Harden

Fan Guest

Dance Harden is a 3rd generation SFF fan with a background in the performing arts. Their kink performance group was the featured local guest for Lollapalooza 1996 in Newport, TN. Later, they studied history and media studies at UTK. After moving to Charlotte, NC in 2008, they entered... Read More →

Chuck Parker

Performance Guest

A performer for more than 35 years, Chuck Parker has filled many musical roles: heavy metal guitarist, singer/songwriter, jazz sideman, open mic host, filk circle regular, session player, and World’s Okayest Bassist™.Chuck has been a regular on the con circuit for more than a... Read More →

Emily Jane Buehler

Literary Guest

I write cozy fantasy romances where everyday people (and fairies) have adventures and fall in love. They are lighthearted stories with action and adventure, love and magic, where protagonists learn to believe in themselves and find their courage. And yes, they are kissing books. They... Read More →

Tally Johnson

Special Guest

Mr. Johnson is a graduate of Spartanburg Methodist College and Wofford College with degrees in history. He is the author of Ghosts of the South Carolina Upcountry, Ghosts of the South Carolina Midlands, Ghosts of the Pee Dee (all for The History Press) and Civil War Ghosts of Sou... Read More →

Janet Carden

Online Media Guest

Janet Carden aka The Halfling is one half of the husband/wife team of The Halfling and The Spaceman podcast. She has been active in many aspects of fandom since her high school days. She and her husband have created many fan projects together, including The Familiar Magazine... Read More →

Friday July 17, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm EDT
Grand Ballroom Salon C (panels)

Fandom

5:30pm EDT

2026 Survey of North Carolina Science fiction and Fantasy

Friday July 17, 2026 5:30pm - 6:30pm EDT

Grand Ballroom Salon C (panels)

Join Sam and others as they discuss the longlist/shortlist/eligibility list titles for the Manly Wade Wellman Award at length before we announce the 2026 winner during Opening Ceremonies.

Speakers

Sam Montgomery-Blinn

Literary Guest

Samuel Montgomery-Blinn grew up on a family farm in Indiana and now spends his days helping ensure the trustworthiness of artificial intelligences. Once upon a time he published Bull Spec, a print magazine of speculative fiction, and now he administers The Manly Wade Wellman Award for North Carolina Science Fiction and Fantasy, meaning yes, he’s read your book. He lives in Durham with his wife, two too-grown teenagers, two cats who are very good boys, and one dog who... Read More →

Friday July 17, 2026 5:30pm - 6:30pm EDT
Grand Ballroom Salon C (panels)

Literary

7:00pm EDT

Room Closed

Friday July 17, 2026 7:00pm - 8:00pm EDT

Grand Ballroom Salon C (panels)

Friday July 17, 2026 7:00pm - 8:00pm EDT
Grand Ballroom Salon C (panels)

Room Closed

8:00pm EDT

Room Closed

Friday July 17, 2026 8:00pm - 9:00pm EDT

Grand Ballroom Salon C (panels)

Friday July 17, 2026 8:00pm - 9:00pm EDT
Grand Ballroom Salon C (panels)

Room Closed

9:30pm EDT

Readings Hour Fri

Friday July 17, 2026 9:30pm - 10:30pm EDT

Grand Ballroom Salon C (panels)

A round robin selection of readings from our authors!

EJ Isaacs
Angela Giddings
Nancy Dunne
Eli Rainwater
Alexandra Christian

Speakers

Alexandra Christian

Literary Guest

Alexandra Christian is an author of romance and horror (two great tastes that taste great together). She began her career in 2010 writing paranormal romance and has since branched out into contemporary, fantasy, and dark romance with occasional forays into horror. She lives in a creepy... Read More →

EJ Isaacs

Literary Guest

EJ Isaacs is at heart, a geek. As a child I grew up with classics in science fiction from Isaac Asimov, Arthur C. Clark and Robert Heinlein. A late comer to role playing, he enjoyed creating backgrounds to the characters he was playing. For a three-year period, he was involved with... Read More →

Eli Rainwater

Literary Guest

Eli’s love for reading started at an early age. She discovered the fantasy genre and fell hard for it when her brother let her sit in on his D&D sessions and lent her his collections of David Eddings and Dragonlance books while he was away at college. An Atlanta transplant, she... Read More →

Angela Giddings

Film Guest

A.M. Giddings is a writer, scientist, cellist, independent filmmaker and aspiring swamp hag from North Carolina. She has a PhD in Microbiology and has authored multiple scientific articles in virology, cell line design, and gene therapy. She enjoys writing stories that live within... Read More →

Friday July 17, 2026 9:30pm - 10:30pm EDT
Grand Ballroom Salon C (panels)

Literary, Readings

1:00pm EDT

2:30pm EDT

4:00pm EDT

5:30pm EDT

7:00pm EDT

8:00pm EDT

9:30pm EDT

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