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Sunday, July 19
 

9:00am EDT

Tea 101: Presented by Moments in Tea
Sunday July 19, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am EDT
Piedmont Salons 1-2 (panels)
Join Moments in Tea as they walk you through the basics of Tea - the different types, tools and ways of making it.
Speakers
avatar for EJ Isaacs

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 →
Exhibitors
avatar for Moments in Tea
Sunday July 19, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am EDT
Piedmont Salons 1-2 (panels)
  Fandom

9:00am EDT

ConSuite Open
Sunday July 19, 2026 9:00am - 2:00pm EDT
ConSuite (Room 210)
Come over to our ConSuite and enjoy a snack and (non-alcoholic) beverage. All refreshments are individually packaged for health and safety.  The fee is already covered in your registration.

The Suite is also a great place to relax and visit with your friends, old or new.

Location: Room 210

ConSuite Hours
  • FRI  2:00pm - 8:30pm
  • SAT  9:00am - 8:30pm
  • SUN  9:00am - 2:00pm


Sunday July 19, 2026 9:00am - 2:00pm EDT
ConSuite (Room 210)
  ConSuite

9:00am EDT

Open Gaming
Sunday July 19, 2026 9:00am - 2:00pm EDT
Greensboro Room (Gaming)
On demand games all weekend.

Check out a wide variety of new and exciting games including: Return to Dark Tower as well as Clarion Game's:

Hull Breach is a sci-fi cards-and-dice game featuring epic space combat between ships, firefights between Marine boarding parties, and plenty of clever tactics and galaxy-shaking events. You assume command of a space station belonging to one of our several in-game factions and fight it out with one or more other Commanders to achieve galactic domination! The object of the game is to protect your Station - your home in space - from other Commanders while trying to capture or destroy theirs. Be warned - they’re trying to do the same thing to you. It's a tough galaxy and at the end of the day only one Commander gets to remain standing.

Henchman: The Card Game is a light, fast-playing card game for 2-6 players featuring cooperative backstabbing and a healthy dose of humor. Players take on the role of a lowly Minion at Evil Overlord, Inc... but here at EOI, the Evil Overlord's right hand man, the Henchman, has moved on to (or is that under?) greener pastures. All the Minions want to be the next Henchman - after all, the Henchman gets not only Dental, but reserved parking at the office, AND the privilege of assisting His Evilness directly! Players take turns being the Minion in Charge (MIC). The MIC is responsible for doling out tasks to the other Minions, who then play cards to either help or hinder their abilities to complete the tasks. Completing a task rewards both the minion who undertook it, as well as the MIC—after all, one of the core responsibilities of any leader is delegation. However, failing to complete a task results in facing the wrath of the Evil Overlord and that wrath falls on the MIC as well as the failing Minion.

Four Horsemen: The Omega Wars Based in the universe of the popular SF novel series from Chris Kennedy Publishing, it's your turn to "Kill Aliens - Get Paid!" In The Four Horsemen: Omega War, you assume command of an base belonging to one of our several in-game factions and fight it out with one or more other Commanders to achieve victory on the battlefield. The object of the game is to protect your base - your home away from home - from other Commanders while trying to capture or destroy theirs. Be warned - they’re trying to do the same thing to you. It's a tough galaxy and at the end of the day only one Commander will remain standing. Only through careful planning can the most daring gain command of the galaxy. Four Horsemen uses many of the same core mechanics that Hull Breach! perfected, but adds an entire new theater of ground combat to the mix!

Sunday July 19, 2026 9:00am - 2:00pm EDT
Greensboro Room (Gaming)
  Gaming

9:30am EDT

Gray Rinehart in concert
Sunday July 19, 2026 9:30am - 10:30am EDT
Grand Ballroom Salon D (Main Programming)
Gray primarily writes "filk"—music inspired by science fiction and fantasy—though he has also written about other things. Some of his songs are silly, some are serious, and some are just strange. 
Speakers
avatar for Gray Rinehart

Gray Rinehart

Literary Guest
Gray Rinehart is an award-winning author, an editor, a singer/songwriter, and a retired Air Force officer. He is the only person to have commanded a USAF satellite tracking station, written speeches for Presidential appointees, devised a poetic form, and had music on The Dr. Demento... Read More →
Sunday July 19, 2026 9:30am - 10:30am EDT
Grand Ballroom Salon D (Main Programming)
  Performance

10:00am EDT

Signings: Mur Lafferty & Tally Johnson CANCELLED
Sunday July 19, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am EDT
Grand Ballroom Salons E-F-G-H (Dealer Room)

Speakers
avatar for Tally Johnson

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 →
avatar for Mur Lafferty

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 →
Sunday July 19, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am EDT
Grand Ballroom Salons E-F-G-H (Dealer Room)

10:00am EDT

Signings: Sherrilyn Kenyon (at her Table)
Sunday July 19, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am EDT
Grand Ballroom Salons E-F-G-H (Dealer Room)

Speakers
avatar for Sherrilyn Kenyon

Sherrilyn Kenyon

Special Guest
Defying all odds is what #1 New York Times and international bestselling author Sherrilyn Kenyon does best. Since her first book debuted while she was still in college, she has placed more than 80 novels on the New York Times list in all formats and genres, including manga and graphic novels, and has more than 70 million books in print worldwide.A pioneer in paranormal, fantasy, science fiction and romantasy, she has become one of the most popular and influential authors in the world (in adult, YA and... Read More →
Sunday July 19, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am EDT
Grand Ballroom Salons E-F-G-H (Dealer Room)

10:00am EDT

Cons in the Post-Pandemic Era
Sunday July 19, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am EDT
Grand Ballroom Salon C (panels)
Our panelists discuss how things have changed and continue to change for con-runners, guests and attendees in and for conventions since the Covid shutdown.

Moderator: Michael Pederson
Speakers
avatar for Gail Z. Martin

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 →
avatar for Tom Hutchens

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 →
avatar for Janet Carden

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 →
avatar for Michael D. Pederson

Michael D. Pederson

Fan Guest
Way back in 2004, Mike came up with the crazy idea of hosting a convention in Richmond, VA. He’s been chairing RavenCon ever since.In addition to running RavenCon, Mike Pederson was the publisher/editor/graphic designer responsible for the fanzine Nth Degree (2002-2019). Mike b... Read More →
Sunday July 19, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am EDT
Grand Ballroom Salon C (panels)
  Fandom

10:00am EDT

How To Make Your First Unreal Engine Short Film
Sunday July 19, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am EDT
Cardinal (Film)
Unreal Engine and virtual production have democratized filmmaking more than ever, but scope and learning curves can quickly take the wind out of your sails. Learn how to drill down on the essentials to produce your first animated or virtual stage short with Unreal.
Speakers
avatar for Michelle Iannantuono

Michelle Iannantuono

Film Guest
Michelle Iannantuono is an award-winning queer filmmaker and 3D artist from Charleston, SC. Her features include 2018’s Livescream, which was nominated for a Rondo Award and won Best Director at Nightmares Film Festival; 2020’s Detroit Evolution, a queer transformative fan... Read More →
Sunday July 19, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am EDT
Cardinal (Film)
  Film/TV

10:00am EDT

Gaming: Martian Fluxx
Sunday July 19, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am EDT
Greensboro Room (Gaming)
Martian Fluxx
Players: Max 6
GM: Richard Jordan
Are you ready to conquer the earth? Martian Fluxx is a classic monster story in ever-changing card game form. It's an Invasion from the Planet Mars! The players are the Martians determined to destroy the Pathetic Humans who are keeping them from winning. It's got Flying Saucers, Giant Tripod War Machines, Tentacles, Ray Guns, a Mothership, and of course, a Space Modulator. Be careful - you don't want your Humans escaping from the Abduction Chamber!

Sign up at Registration!



Sunday July 19, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am EDT
Greensboro Room (Gaming)
  Gaming

10:00am EDT

Readings Hour Sun
Sunday July 19, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am EDT
High Point Room (Panels)
Join our authors in a round robin style of readings!


Fraser Shermane
Bryan Young
Polly Schattel
Dave Dobson
Speakers
avatar for Bill Mulligan

Bill Mulligan

Film Guest
A 25+ year veteran of high school science teaching, Bill Mulligan has parlayed his love of horror, science fiction, and fantasy films into podcasting, convention panels, indie filmmaking, and storytelling. With creative partners such as Christine Parker and Mark C. Lucas, he has worked... Read More →
avatar for Dave Dobson

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 →
avatar for Fraser Sherman

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 →
avatar for Bryan Young

Bryan Young

Literary Guest
Bryan Young works in many different media. He's published thousands of essays and hundreds of short stories in publications like Marvel and Image Comics, Star Wars Insider, Huffington Post,  SYFY, /Film, Script Magazine, Weird Tales, the Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. Library Literary Magaz... Read More →
avatar for Polly Schattel

Polly Schattel

Film Guest
A filmmaker and novelist from Birmingham, AL, Polly Schattel’s first feature was the self-produced “Sinkhole” (2005), which won Best Feature at the Indie Memphis Film Festival, and was distributed internationally by Shoreline Entertainment. Her next film was “Alison,” (2010... Read More →
Sunday July 19, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am EDT
High Point Room (Panels)
  Literary, Readings

10:00am EDT

Two Woke Bonnets Breakfast Panel
Sunday July 19, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am EDT
Piedmont Salon 3
Join us for a discussion of old "Little House" and new "Little House" while we enjoy donuts and coffee!
Speakers
avatar for Joey Starnes

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 →
avatar for Carol Cowles

Carol Cowles

Online Media Guest
Carol has long been a fixture of Geek Culture in Charlotte, NC. She has served for several years as the Programming Director for ConCarolinas and worked the Carolina and Arizona Renaissance Festivals for 15 years. She also podcasts – she is Carol the Cat on Guardians of the Geekery... Read More →
Sunday July 19, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am EDT
Piedmont Salon 3
  Online Media

10:00am EDT

Workshop: Let's Make a World: Discuss Worldbuilding & Then Make One Together!
Sunday July 19, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am EDT
Emerald (Workshops/LARP)
Join Michael G Williams has he takes you through the basics of building a world - then the group will build a world together!


Speakers
avatar for Michael G. Williams

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 →
Sunday July 19, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am EDT
Emerald (Workshops/LARP)
  Literary, Workshop

10:00am EDT

Pathfinder 2E: The Winter Queen's Dollhouse
Sunday July 19, 2026 10:00am - 12:00pm EDT
Greensboro Room (Gaming)
GM: James Musgrove
Max: 6 Players
Pre-generated characters available
Sign-up at Registration

The ruler of Irrisen, Queen Anastasia found a number of strange dollhouses when going through her aunt's vaults. She sent one to the Pathfinders for study. When Aslynn's magic was unleashed in the vaults of Skyreach, the dollhouse's magic was reactivated. In reality, these dollhouses were prisons which would shrink down those who angered Elvanna, the former queen. Now the magic is poised to ensnare the PCs. What's more, the animate doll servants have awakened as poppets, and while some are happy to help, others are not so welcoming.

Sunday July 19, 2026 10:00am - 12:00pm EDT
Greensboro Room (Gaming)
  Gaming

10:00am EDT

Dealer's Room Open
Sunday July 19, 2026 10:00am - 2:00pm EDT
Grand Ballroom Salons E-F-G-H (Dealer Room)
Come and buy cool stuff!

Dealer Load-in
Friday: 8:00am

Dealer Room Hours
Friday: 2:00pm - 7:00pm
Saturday: 10:00am - 6:00pm (dealers in at 9am)
Sunday: 10:00am - 2:00pm (dealers in at 9am)
Sunday July 19, 2026 10:00am - 2:00pm EDT
Grand Ballroom Salons E-F-G-H (Dealer Room)
  Dealer's Room

10:30am EDT

Frail Flesh: A Look at Body Horror
Sunday July 19, 2026 10:30am - 11:30am EDT
Piedmont Salons 1-2 (panels)
From Misery’s intimate, bone-deep dread to Saw’s calculated, mechanized brutality, the depiction of dismemberment and amputation taps an archetypal fear of bodily loss and magnifies anxieties about vulnerability, autonomy, and identity. Join our panelists as they look at a variety of approaches—from film (how camera work, editing, and sound turn physical injury into prolonged emotional experience) to writing (how authors explain the visceral fear of bodily loss). They will examine genre uses in order to comment on power, punishment, illness, and aging, discuss why some viewers recoil while others are drawn to the raw immediacy of these moments, and ask about writer or filmmaker's responsibilities in depicting extreme bodily harm. 

Moderator: Gary Mitchel
Speakers
avatar for Christine Parker

Christine Parker

Film Guest, SickChickFlicks
Christine Parker began her film career in Sanford, North Carolina in 2004 where she wrote and produced her first short film “Second Death” that led to her forming Adrenalin Productions and later Sick Chick Flicks which have produced dozens of short films as well as five feature... Read More →
avatar for Alexandra Higgins

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 →
avatar for Angela Giddings

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 →
avatar for Gary Mitchel

Gary Mitchel

Online Media Guest
Gary Mitchel is a writer, reviewer, gamer, podcaster, and general geek living near Atlanta.Gary is the Co-Director, with Joe Crowe, of the American Sci-Fi Classics Track at Dragon Con. Together, they plot panels on various geeky topics, from 80s vampires, to cats in space, to the... Read More →
avatar for Richard Kadrey

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 →
Sunday July 19, 2026 10:30am - 11:30am EDT
Piedmont Salons 1-2 (panels)
  Literary

11:00am EDT

Signings:
Sunday July 19, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm EDT
Grand Ballroom Salons E-F-G-H (Dealer Room)

Sunday July 19, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm EDT
Grand Ballroom Salons E-F-G-H (Dealer Room)

11:00am EDT

The Value of Critique and other Writing Groups
Sunday July 19, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm EDT
Grand Ballroom Salon D (Main Programming)
Writing can be a lonely job.  But there are ways to be involved with others as your write - from critique groups, to coffee shop writing groups, to genre specific groups, our panelists discuss the value that working with others can bring to your work.
Speakers
avatar for Dave Dobson

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 →
avatar for William C. Tracy

William C. Tracy

Literary Guest
William C. Tracy (he/him) writes and publishes queer science fiction and fantasy through his indie press Space Wizard Science Fantasy. His largest work is the Dissolutionverse: a space opera with music-based magic including nine books and a TTRPG. He’s also published Fruits of ... Read More →
Sunday July 19, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm EDT
Grand Ballroom Salon D (Main Programming)
  Literary

11:00am EDT

DJ McGuire - unplugged
Sunday July 19, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm EDT
Grand Ballroom Salons A-B (Cantina)

Speakers
avatar for DJ McGuire

DJ McGuire

Performance Guest
D.J. McGuire began his geek journey watching Star Trek Original Series on syndication. These days, he works in Defense IT and teaches economics at his local community college. He has been a musical performer (bass and vocals) for over eight years, starting with Dimensional Riffs in 2017. He has also played with the Nefarious Ferrets... Read More →
Sunday July 19, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm EDT
Grand Ballroom Salons A-B (Cantina)
  Performance

11:00am EDT

Gaming: Risk: Lord of the Rings
Sunday July 19, 2026 11:00am - 1:00pm EDT
Greensboro Room (Gaming)
Risk: Lord of the Rings
Players: Max 4
GM: Richard Jordan
Guide your forces to victory in the ultimate battle! The Risk: The Lord of the Rings game includes Territory cards, Adventure cards, Battalions, and a gold tone ring. The gameboard features a complete map of Middle-earth including Gondor, Mordor, and Haradwaith Territories.

Sign up at Registration!



Sunday July 19, 2026 11:00am - 1:00pm EDT
Greensboro Room (Gaming)
  Gaming

11:30am EDT

Designing an Escape Room
Sunday July 19, 2026 11:30am - 12:30pm EDT
Piedmont Salon 3
Have you ever wondered what goes into designing an Escape Room? Or what makes one puzzle more fun than another? Our panelists discuss how to design an escape room for fun or profit.
Speakers
avatar for Colleen Parker

Colleen Parker

Panelist
Colleen Parker is a long-time member of the Mid-Atlantic con community (you can often see her following her husband Chuck Parker around making sure he eats, sleeps, and gets to his shows on time), a retired competitive Irish dancer and former Irish dance teacher. She loves sharing... Read More →
avatar for Michael D. Pederson

Michael D. Pederson

Fan Guest
Way back in 2004, Mike came up with the crazy idea of hosting a convention in Richmond, VA. He’s been chairing RavenCon ever since.In addition to running RavenCon, Mike Pederson was the publisher/editor/graphic designer responsible for the fanzine Nth Degree (2002-2019). Mike b... Read More →
Sunday July 19, 2026 11:30am - 12:30pm EDT
Piedmont Salon 3
  Fandom

11:30am EDT

Before CGI Existed: The Artisans of Schlock
Sunday July 19, 2026 11:30am - 12:30pm EDT
Cardinal (Film)
A celebration of low-budget ingenuity — how filmmakers on grindhouse budgets pulled off monsters, gore, and sci-fi visuals with almost no money. Great for a craft-minded crowd.


Speakers
avatar for Dave Fretz

Dave Fretz

Costuming Guest
I’ve been a part of science fiction and fantasy fandom for more than 50 years and grew up reading Andre Norton, Allan Dean Foster, and Edgar Rice Burroughs books. I even named my younger son Jason after the lead character in the Ray Harryhausen film Jason and the Argonauts. I was... Read More →
avatar for Bill Mulligan

Bill Mulligan

Film Guest
A 25+ year veteran of high school science teaching, Bill Mulligan has parlayed his love of horror, science fiction, and fantasy films into podcasting, convention panels, indie filmmaking, and storytelling. With creative partners such as Christine Parker and Mark C. Lucas, he has worked... Read More →
Sunday July 19, 2026 11:30am - 12:30pm EDT
Cardinal (Film)
  Film/TV

11:30am EDT

Home Recording: The Best Tools
Sunday July 19, 2026 11:30am - 12:30pm EDT
Grand Ballroom Salon C (panels)
A basic home recording setup requires a computer, audio production software (DAW), an audio interface, microphones, headphones, and potentially a MIDI controller. For more advanced setups, studio monitors, acoustic treatment, and pop filters are also helpful.  So with all the options available, which ones do our panel of experts reccomend?

Moderator: Joey Starnes


Speakers
avatar for Roger Carden

Roger Carden

Online Media Guest
Roger is the producer of the Applied Game Mastery YouTube channel, where he works with his team to explore the tips, tricks, and techniques for developing your skill as a game master for tabletop role-playing games. In addition, Roger along with his wife Janet Carden are team behind... Read More →
avatar for Brandon Whitworth

Brandon Whitworth

Science Guest
Brandon Whitworth is a professional engineer with over 20 years of experience on a variety of projects with many interests inside and outside engineering. His professional career has spanned many projects, including the Space Shuttle program (where he was awarded a Silver Snoopy... Read More →
avatar for Joey Starnes

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 →
Sunday July 19, 2026 11:30am - 12:30pm EDT
Grand Ballroom Salon C (panels)
  Online Media

11:30am EDT

Spaceship Design
Sunday July 19, 2026 11:30am - 12:30pm EDT
High Point Room (Panels)
Be it a military frigate or Exploration vessel, all spaceships require life support systems and a means of locomotion. Explore these and other critical infrastructure needed to carry humanity beyond our atmosphere.

Moderator: Gray Rinehart

Speakers
avatar for Gray Rinehart

Gray Rinehart

Literary Guest
Gray Rinehart is an award-winning author, an editor, a singer/songwriter, and a retired Air Force officer. He is the only person to have commanded a USAF satellite tracking station, written speeches for Presidential appointees, devised a poetic form, and had music on The Dr. Demento... Read More →
avatar for Dennis M. Myers

Dennis M. Myers

Literary Guest
Born and raised in central Minnesota, Dennis M. Myers developed a serious reading habit early in life due to the influence of his grandmother. In late high school he read one particularly "awful" book and, with all that teenage hubris, decided that he could do better.After spending... Read More →
avatar for Jennifer Whitworth

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 →
avatar for Dr. Philip A. Kramer

Dr. Philip A. Kramer

Science Guest
Dr. Philip A. Kramer is a biomedical researcher who studies aging, oxidative stress, and metabolism. In addition to his academic works, he is a hard science fiction author with two published novels (under the name P. A. Kramer), and several award-winning short stories. His blog (... Read More →
avatar for Jim Beall

Jim Beall

Science Guest
Jim Beall (BS-Math, MBA, PE) has been a nuclear engineer for 50 years, beginning as a nuclear engineering officer in the US Navy. Civilian experience includes design, construction, inspection, enforcement, and assessment with a nuclear utility, an architect engineering firm, and the... Read More →
Sunday July 19, 2026 11:30am - 12:30pm EDT
High Point Room (Panels)
  Science

12:00pm EDT

Signings:
Sunday July 19, 2026 12:00pm - 1:00pm EDT
Grand Ballroom Salons E-F-G-H (Dealer Room)

Sunday July 19, 2026 12:00pm - 1:00pm EDT
Grand Ballroom Salons E-F-G-H (Dealer Room)

12:00pm EDT

"Weird" Science: Unexpected Ways to Put Science in Science Fiction
Sunday July 19, 2026 12:00pm - 1:00pm EDT
Piedmont Salons 1-2 (panels)
In science fiction, we like to see FTL spaceships, strange alien species, resurrected extinct species, instantaneous communication, and similar things. But a lot of everyday items are afterthoughts in sci-fi. How will technology affect clothes? Food? Ordinary medical care? And what about the "soft" sciences, like industrial safety, environmental science, anthropology, or political science? How will those change the landscape of the future?

Moderator: Robert Hampson
Speakers
avatar for Angela Giddings

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 →
avatar for Dave Dobson

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 →
avatar for EJ Isaacs

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 →
avatar for Dr. Robert Hampson

Dr. Robert Hampson

Literary Guest
Professor, Neuroscientist, and Unofficial Penguin WhispererWhen not advancing the frontiers of neuroscience or constructing elaborate multiversal portals in his office, Dr. Rob can be found lecturing to an elite audience of penguins in lab coats. An advocate of hands-on learning... Read More →
Sunday July 19, 2026 12:00pm - 1:00pm EDT
Piedmont Salons 1-2 (panels)
  Science

12:00pm EDT

Workshop: Choosing the Right POV (fee $10)
Sunday July 19, 2026 12:00pm - 1:30pm EDT
Emerald (Workshops/LARP)
Every story lives or dies by who the protagonist and POV character is. Sometimes, it feels obvious, other times you can pick any character in the narrative and tell an equally thrilling story. This class, led by Bryan Young, will show you all the different options of choosing the right POV for your story or screenplay, and, if you’re writing prose, what POV to actually write in. 

Fee: $10

Speakers
avatar for Bryan Young

Bryan Young

Literary Guest
Bryan Young works in many different media. He's published thousands of essays and hundreds of short stories in publications like Marvel and Image Comics, Star Wars Insider, Huffington Post,  SYFY, /Film, Script Magazine, Weird Tales, the Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. Library Literary Magaz... Read More →
Sunday July 19, 2026 12:00pm - 1:30pm EDT
Emerald (Workshops/LARP)
  Literary, Workshop

12:30pm EDT

Why We Love Our Fictional Paranormal Investigators?
Sunday July 19, 2026 12:30pm - 1:30pm EDT
Grand Ballroom Salon D (Main Programming)
Harry Dresden, Anita Blake, October Daye, The Winchester Brothers and, of course, the Ghost Busters are just a few of the fictional characters who have made paranormal investigation a major part of their story.  Our panelists discuss their favorites, why they love them and if you liked those, who else should you be reading or watching?

moderator: Larry Martin
Speakers
avatar for Larry N. Martin

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 →
avatar for Sherrilyn Kenyon

Sherrilyn Kenyon

Special Guest
Defying all odds is what #1 New York Times and international bestselling author Sherrilyn Kenyon does best. Since her first book debuted while she was still in college, she has placed more than 80 novels on the New York Times list in all formats and genres, including manga and graphic novels, and has more than 70 million books in print worldwide.A pioneer in paranormal, fantasy, science fiction and romantasy, she has become one of the most popular and influential authors in the world (in adult, YA and... Read More →
avatar for Kevin A. Davis

Kevin A. Davis

Literary Guest
Kevin A Davis is a fantasy author with over twenty published novels, including the award-winning DRC Files, a paranormal procedural series where the Atlanta-based team hunts cryptids.He resides in north Florida and attends conventions throughout the year, including as staff as Director... Read More →
avatar for J. Matthew Saunders

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 →
Sunday July 19, 2026 12:30pm - 1:30pm EDT
Grand Ballroom Salon D (Main Programming)
  Literary

12:30pm EDT

Alexandra Higgins - unplugged
Sunday July 19, 2026 12:30pm - 1:30pm EDT
Grand Ballroom Salons A-B (Cantina)

Speakers
avatar for Alexandra Higgins

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 →
Sunday July 19, 2026 12:30pm - 1:30pm EDT
Grand Ballroom Salons A-B (Cantina)
  Performance

1:00pm EDT

Costuming Outside Your Comfort Zone
Sunday July 19, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm EDT
Piedmont Salon 3
Making and wearing costumes encourages us all to live our dreams and take chances. Who wants the same old same old?  Our panelists discuss how to adapt and be comfortable with a real body versus everything we see in video games and Anime. From gender bending costumes, to wearing armor, our panelists discuss how to create costumes that fit you.

Moderator: Tom Hutchens
Speakers
avatar for Tom Hutchens

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 →
avatar for John Dondero

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 →
avatar for Dave Fretz

Dave Fretz

Costuming Guest
I’ve been a part of science fiction and fantasy fandom for more than 50 years and grew up reading Andre Norton, Allan Dean Foster, and Edgar Rice Burroughs books. I even named my younger son Jason after the lead character in the Ray Harryhausen film Jason and the Argonauts. I was... Read More →
avatar for Cheralyn Lambeth

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 →
Sunday July 19, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm EDT
Piedmont Salon 3
  Costuming/Cosplay

1:00pm EDT

Science-Fiction & Fantasy: Now on Broadway!
Sunday July 19, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm EDT
Grand Ballroom Salon C (panels)
From Back to the Future to The Lost Boys to Beetlejuice, Broadway has seen more and more productions based on cult classics and beloved sci-fi themes. Join us as we discuss some of our favorite on-stage adaptations and how they tackle effects, stunts, and the shift in storytelling style.

Moderator: Hannah Fulbright
Speakers
avatar for Hannah Fulbright

Hannah Fulbright

Asst. Programming Director, ConGregate
Hannah Fulbright is a fan that has been in the local con circuit all her life. She enjoys consuming various media such as fantasy books and cartoons and helping run sci-fi events in the area. She has helped with registration, auction organization, and guest relations for many local... Read More →
avatar for Michael G. Williams

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 →
avatar for Jett Dixon

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 →
Sunday July 19, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm EDT
Grand Ballroom Salon C (panels)
  Fandom

1:00pm EDT

It's been 10 years since...
Sunday July 19, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm EDT
High Point Room (Panels)
Zootopia, Rogue One, Hidden Figures, Captain America: Civil War, Suicide Squad (the one with Will Smith and Margot Robbie), Star Trek: Beyond, Deadpool, Ghostbusters (the one with Melissa McArthy and Kristen Wiig) and so many others....

Moderator: Fraser Sherman
Speakers
avatar for Sammie Cassell

Sammie Cassell

Film Guest
Sammie Cassell is a North Carolina based filmmaker, actor, improv and sketch comedian, and all around busy guy. His film/tv credits include Halloween Kills, Eyes of Tammy Faye, Kill Giggles and upcoming appearances in Righteous Gemstones and Please Don’t Destroy. A life long comic book fan and collector along with being a lover of all things horror, wrestling and pop culture, he’s also known as Sammie the Comic Book Man. Sammie and his production partners, Dan Sellers, Jeff Cochran, and Chad Hunt with Wreak Havoc Productions also do the... Read More →
avatar for DJ McGuire

DJ McGuire

Performance Guest
D.J. McGuire began his geek journey watching Star Trek Original Series on syndication. These days, he works in Defense IT and teaches economics at his local community college. He has been a musical performer (bass and vocals) for over eight years, starting with Dimensional Riffs in 2017. He has also played with the Nefarious Ferrets... Read More →
avatar for Fraser Sherman

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 →
avatar for Janet Carden

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 →
Sunday July 19, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm EDT
High Point Room (Panels)
  Film/TV

1:00pm EDT

Horror in Motion: Adapting the Page for the Screen.
Sunday July 19, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm EDT
Cardinal (Film)
Whether you are discussing Dracula and Frankenstein or anything by Steven King, there is a certain "something" that comes with translating horror from a book to a film (or tv).  Our panelists discuss how to take the words on the paper and transform it in a new format that is as visually terrifying.
Speakers
avatar for Bill Mulligan

Bill Mulligan

Film Guest
A 25+ year veteran of high school science teaching, Bill Mulligan has parlayed his love of horror, science fiction, and fantasy films into podcasting, convention panels, indie filmmaking, and storytelling. With creative partners such as Christine Parker and Mark C. Lucas, he has worked... Read More →
avatar for Polly Schattel

Polly Schattel

Film Guest
A filmmaker and novelist from Birmingham, AL, Polly Schattel’s first feature was the self-produced “Sinkhole” (2005), which won Best Feature at the Indie Memphis Film Festival, and was distributed internationally by Shoreline Entertainment. Her next film was “Alison,” (2010... Read More →
Sunday July 19, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm EDT
Cardinal (Film)
  Literary

2:00pm EDT

Con in Review
Sunday July 19, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm EDT
Grand Ballroom Salon D (Main Programming)
You know the deal.  Tell what you liked and what you didn't and what you'd like to see next year!
Speakers
avatar for James Fulbright

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 →
Sunday July 19, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm EDT
Grand Ballroom Salon D (Main Programming)
  Special Events
 

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Cardinal (Film)
ConSuite (Room 210)
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