ConGregate 12: Full Schedule

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9:30am EDT

Workshop: Writing Your First Novel - How to Get from the Initial Idea to a Finished Manuscript

Saturday July 18, 2026 9:30am - 11:00am EDT

High Point Room (Panels)

Rumor has it that 95 percent of people who try to write a book give up before finishing, and it can feel like a daunting process. Bruce Buchanan gave up on his first three attempts before finishing The Blacksmith's Boy (and now, several other books!). In this workshop, he will show you how he changed his approach and process to reach the finish line.

Speakers

Bruce Buchanan

Literary Guest

Bruce Buchanan can pinpoint the moment he became a fan of heroic fiction. When he was six, he accompanied his parents to the Kmart in Shelby, N.C., Bruce’s hometown. On his way to scope out the toy aisle, something caught his eye: A Spider-Man comic book, bagged with two other... Read More →

Saturday July 18, 2026 9:30am - 11:00am EDT
High Point Room (Panels)

Literary, Workshop

11:30am EDT

Humor in Writing

Saturday July 18, 2026 11:30am - 12:30pm EDT

High Point Room (Panels)

From puns to pratfalls, humor in writing can sometimes be hard to portray. Join our panelists as they discuss how to write stories that make your reader laugh out loud.

Moderator: Lexx Christian

Speakers

John Scalzi

Guest of Honor

John Scalzi is the Hugo-winning and New York Times bestselling author of Old Man’s War, Redshirts, The Kaiju Preservation Society, and Starter Villain, among other novels. Some of his short work was featured in the Netflix animated series Love, Death + Robots.He was president of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (now the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association), but he got better.He owns one dog, three cats, a six-necked guitar and a church. His burritos are internet infamous and possibly actual crimes. He lives... Read More →

Kal Spriggs

Literary Guest

Kal Spriggs is a US Army combat veteran, gamer, and science fiction and fantasy author of over 40 published novels. He has visited over 35 countries and has worked in a variety of industries including environmental remediation, farming, civil engineering, the military, and transportation... Read More →

Dave Dobson

Literary Guest

A native of Ames, Iowa, Dave loves writing, reading, boardgames, computer games, improv comedy, pizza, barbarian movies, and the cheaper end of the Taco Bell menu. Also, his wife and kids.Dave has written ten novels including fantasy, sci-fi, mysteries, and thrillers. In addition... Read More →

Richard Kadrey

Guest of Honor

Richard Kadrey is the New York Times bestselling author of the Sandman Slim supernatural noir series. Sandman Slim was included in Amazon’s “100 Science Fiction & Fantasy Books to Read in a Lifetime,” and is in development as a feature film.Some of Kadrey’s other books in... Read More →

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 →

Saturday July 18, 2026 11:30am - 12:30pm EDT
High Point Room (Panels)

Literary

1:00pm EDT

Pre-judging for Costume Contest/Green Room

Saturday July 18, 2026 1:00pm - 2:30pm EDT

High Point Room (Panels)

Judges: Jett Dixon, Cheralyn Lambeth,

Speakers

John Dondero

Costuming Guest

He is a certified Jack of All Trades. He started out as a filmmaker and special effects editor, building both digital and practical effects, and has won many awards for both filmmaking and editing. When COVID hit, he switched gears and became an affiliated Twitch streamer and podcaster... Read More →

Cheralyn Lambeth

Film Guest

Cheralyn (Cher) Lambeth is a professional costume, prop, and puppet builder whose work includes feature films (The Muppet Christmas Carol, The Patriot, Evan Almighty, The Hunger Games, Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret), television shows (Dinosaurs!, Homeland, Outcast, The ... Read More →

Jett Dixon

Costuming Guest

Jett has been attending & assisting at conventions for over a decade, finally delving into the roles of Programming Staff (RavenCon, ConCarolinas, Conapalooza) and Panelist.Apple of Your Eye Cosplay is Jett’s Facebook page for all things cosplay, showing off her thrift- and scrounge-style... Read More →

Saturday July 18, 2026 1:00pm - 2:30pm EDT
High Point Room (Panels)

Costuming/Cosplay

2:30pm EDT

Closed for Green Room

Saturday July 18, 2026 2:30pm - 4:00pm EDT

High Point Room (Panels)

Saturday July 18, 2026 2:30pm - 4:00pm EDT
High Point Room (Panels)

Room Closed

4:00pm EDT

Ask Jenn Whitworth Anything About Artemis

Saturday July 18, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm EDT

High Point Room (Panels)

Jenn Whitworth worked on the Artemis program, NASA’s ongoing lunar exploration initiative, designed to establish a sustainable human presence on the Moon and pave the way for future crewed missions to Mars. Building on the initial uncrewed Artemis I test, NASA successfully launched Artemis II in April 2026, sending four astronauts on a historic 10-day loop around the Moon.

Ask her all the questions!!!

Speakers

Jennifer Whitworth

Science Guest

Jennifer Whitworth is an engineer and writer from Huntsville AL. Currently working at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, she supports Artemis and Gateway Payload Integration working directly with the science teams to help them through the various processes to design, build, test... Read More →

Saturday July 18, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm EDT
High Point Room (Panels)

Science

Tech Needs Projector/Screen

5:30pm EDT

Bridging the Gap: Empowering Women for a Diverse STEM Future

Saturday July 18, 2026 5:30pm - 6:30pm EDT

High Point Room (Panels)

Supporting and encouraging women to pursue careers in the traditionally male-dominated fields of science, technology, engineering, and math is really important — not just for fairness, but because diverse teams bring fresh ideas and spark innovation. Women still face barriers like bias, stereotyping, and lack of support, so programs that offer mentorship, networking, resources, campaigns, events, and outreach make a real difference by boosting visibility and representation. By empowering women and celebrating their perspectives and talents, we can build more welcoming teams and institutions — and together create better problem-solving and a brighter future for STEM.

Moderator: Joey Starnes

Speakers

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 →

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 →

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 →

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 →

Saturday July 18, 2026 5:30pm - 6:30pm EDT
High Point Room (Panels)

Science

7:00pm EDT

Readings Hour Sat

Saturday July 18, 2026 7:00pm - 8:00pm EDT

High Point Room (Panels)

Join our authors in a round robin selection of readings!

MIchael G. Williams
Gail Z. Martin
Mur Lafferty
John Scalzi

Speakers

John Scalzi

Guest of Honor

Mur Lafferty

Literary Guest

Mur Lafferty is an author. Mur Lafferty is a podcaster. Mur Lafferty podcasts about writing and writes about podcasting. She also writes about murders in space, zombies, Minecraft and Han Solo. Her writing and podcasting have resulted in numerous award nominations and wins, such... Read More →

Gail Z. Martin

Literary Guest

Gail Z. Martin writes urban fantasy, epic fantasy, steampunk and more for Solaris Books, Orbit Books, Falstaff Books, SOL Publishing and Darkwind Press. Urban fantasy series include Deadly Curiosities and the Night Vigil (Sons of Darkness). Epic fantasy series include Darkhurst... Read More →

Michael G. Williams

Literary Guest

Michael G. Williams writes queer horror and science fiction celebrating the monstrous and the macabre. His books include the award-winning vampire series The Withrow Chronicles (Laine Cunningham Award); the thrilling urban fantasy time travel series Servant Sovereign; the sci-fi... Read More →

Saturday July 18, 2026 7:00pm - 8:00pm EDT
High Point Room (Panels)

Literary, Readings

9:30am EDT

11:30am EDT

1:00pm EDT

2:30pm EDT

4:00pm EDT

5:30pm EDT

7:00pm EDT

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