< Back Bob Oliver Gaming Gamer I am a professional historian with some 25 years of experience, 17 with the U.S. Air Force. I have been a sci-fi/fantasy fan since the 1970s, and have been a player of RPGs and boardgames for more than 30 years. I currently serve on the board of the Games Club of Maryland, and I sit on the organizing committee for the annual EuroQuest gaming convention. Other Socials

< Back Henry S. Gibbons Science Researcher Since 2008, Henry S. Gibbons, Ph.D. has been a Research Microbiologist at the US Army Combat Capabilities Development Command - Chemical Biological Center, the Army laboratory charged with developing and testing non-medical protections against chemical and biological weapons. His group has employed a combination of genomics, bioinformatics, synthetic biology, and classical microbiological techniques to develop new techniques for characterizing biological and chemical threats. His group recently utilized microbial genetics and synthetic biology to create new, genetically tagged or “barcoded” strains of Bacillus thuringiensis for use as anthrax simulants and paired those strains with specific PCR-based detection assays to enable their tracking in the environment. Beginning in 2015, he co-chaired the DoD-wide technical working group that developed a standardized, validated method of inactivating B. anthracis spores by gamma-irradiation and currently serves as vice-chair of the Biological Select Agents and Toxins Biorisk and Safety Review Panel for the DoD. He is a member of the Chemical Corps Regimental Association’s Honorable Order of the Dragon, and in 2019 was awarded a Service Chiefs’ Fellowship from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. In addition, he has authored or co-authored 27 primary scientific publications. Other Socials

< Back Sally Wiener Grotta Literary Author Sally Wiener Grotta is an award-winning writer, photographer and speaker, whose 100s of articles, essays and stories have appeared in scores of publications. The author of numerous books, her newest are OF BEING WOMAN, a collection of feminist science fiction (NobleFusion Press) and DAUGHTERS OF EVE, an essay discussion workbook and journaling guide that mines the tales of biblical matriarchs to explore modern lives, concerns and crises (Bayit Publishing). As a journalist, Sally traveled throughout the world, covering a wide diversity of cultures and traditions. Her experiences flavor her work with a sense of wonder, appreciation for human potential, and a healthy dose of common sense. As a speaker, Sally inspires her audiences to ask themselves questions they might not have considered previously, to listen to each other with respect, and to seek creative solutions together. Sally is a member of The Authors Guild, the Association of Jewish Libraries and SFWA. Other Socials http://SallyWienerGrotta.com

< Back Mary G. Thompson Literary Author Mary G. Thompson is the author of the sci-fi novella One Level Down (Tachyon, 2025). She is also the author of The Word, Flicker and Mist, and other novels for children and young adults. Her contemporary thriller Amy Chelsea Stacie Dee (Penguin, 2016) was a winner of the 2017 Westchester Fiction Award and a finalist for the 2018-2019 Missouri Gateway award. Her short fiction has appeared in Dark Matter Magazine, Apex Magazine, and others. Mary is originally from Eugene, Oregon, where she attended the University of Oregon School of Law. She practiced law for seven years, including five years in the US Navy JAGC, and now works as a law librarian. She holds an MFA in Writing for Children from The New School and completed the UCLA School of Theater, Film & Television's Professional Program in Screenwriting. She lives in Washington, DC. Other Socials

< Back Elektra Hammond Literary Author Elektra Hammond emulates her multi-sided idol Buckaroo Banzai by going in several directions at once. She’s been involved in publishing since the 1990s—now she writes, concocts anthologies, and edits science fiction for various and sundry. When not freelancing or appearing at science fiction conventions, she travels the world judging cat shows. Look for her new story "Looking Back, I Wouldn't Change a Thing" - set in Jack Chalker's Well World, appearing in Permutations: A Well World Anthology, edited by David Boop. Elektra is a graduate of the Odyssey Writing Workshop and an associate member of SFWA. She lives in Delaware with her husband, Mike, and more than the usual allotment of felines. Other Socials

< Back Richard Sparks Literary Author Rowan Atkinson performed Richard's Schoolmaster sketch in John Cleese’s The Secret Policeman’s Ball. To celebrate Rowan’s 70th birthday, the Schoolmaster was nominated in The Guardian in January 2025 as Number One in a list of Rowan's top Ten film appearances. UK TV credits include The Famous Five, The Flying Kiwi, The Optimist, The Worst of Hollywood, and a lifetime of script editing. On being hired by Columbia Pictures TV, Richard moved with his family to Los Angeles in 1992. His lyrics have been recorded by talents as diverse as Dom de Luise, Eric Idle, Vanessa Williams, Plácido Domingo and Hello Kitty. He directed Jack Black in Stravinsky’s The Soldier’s Tale (LACMA). Richard has written libretti for several new operas as well writing new English versions of German and Italian classics. New Rock New Role is Richard’s fiction debut. New Rock New Realm, the first of three sequels that he has written so far in the New Rock fantasy adventure series, was published in November 2024. Other Socials

< Back Bryant Johnson Literary Author My thoughts have always been in the clouds and eyes on the stars, and I stay captivated by the mysteries of the great beyond. I'm inspired by Star Trek, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, and Star Wars, and I've set out on to explore strange new worlds and discover new life—through the lens of writing. Since the beginning of my writing journey, which started in 2017, I've learned valuable lessons about both myself and others. I have a background in journalism. I studied radio, TV, and newspapers in college and even interned at CNN/TBS. This experience shaped my approach to storytelling, adding journalist’s eye for detail and authenticity. People often share their true stories with me, and I strive to push the boundaries of science fiction, always seeking to learn more and expand the creative horizons. Other Socials

< Back Michael R. Underwood Literary Author The Ree Reyes books: Geekomancy (2012), Celebromancy (2013), Attack the Geek (2014), Hexomancy (2015), Genrenauts The Shootout Solution (2015), The Absconded Ambassador (2016), The Cupid Reconciliation (2016), The Substitute Sleuth (2016), The Failed Fellowship (2016), Genrenauts: The Complete Season One (2016), The Wasteland War (2021), Shield & Crocus (2014), The Younger Gods (2014), Born to the Blade (2018) – written with Malka Older, Cassandra Khaw, and Marie BrennanAnnihilation Aria (2020), TTRPGs The Only Logical Solution is Hijinx (2022), Candela Obscura (2023 - consulting designer & additional writing), and Daggerheart (2025 - additional designer) Other Socials

< Back C. D. Brown Literary Author C.D. Brown is a writer and filmmaker from New Orleans. He edits and publishes the fantasy magazine Dirty Magick and is the author of the fantasy novels "Fate's Stiletto" and "Vamp City," along with the literary novel "Looking Back On Sodom" and one short story collection (both as Charles D. Brown). He has made two feature films (as Charlie Brown) and his short fiction has recently appeared in the anthologies "Aeon 2020," "Generation X-ed," and "Unicorns vs. Clowns in Hell." Over the past four years, he has directed "Escape From the Secret Lab," a live streaming musical game show featuring local New Orleans bands. He is a full-time instructor of First Year Writing at Tulane University and is a member of the Horror Writers Association. Other Socials

< Back Tavair Dominque Filk/Music Musician Formerly known as The Sagacious Traveler, Tavair Dominque is a singer-songwriter, poet, and author based in Baltimore. His music, available on all streaming platforms, includes Phoenix Rising the Space Cowboy, inspired by BBC’s Doctor Who, about a space cowboy fleeing an inevitable truth. Tavair’s 9-part series, The Sagacious Traveler, blends personal reflection with speculative themes, offering advice to his younger self across timelines, while later entries explore his present self seeking guidance from his future self. His Elliott Sundae series follows a character unraveling fractured realities, lost time, and unspoken connections. This series will appear in Meanderings, his upcoming anthology weaving poetry and speculative fiction, set for release in late 2025. Tavair’s poetry has been featured in the Maryland Bards 2025 Poetry Review, which includes his poem Hilltop Barber Shop. Other Socials

< Back Dr Gillian Polack Literary Author Dr Gillian POLACK is an award-winning Jewish Australian speculative fiction writer. She was the 2020 recipient of the A. Bertram Chandler (lifetime achievement in science fiction) award. Her most recent novel is The Green Children Help Out. Her next (much-delayed) novel will be released in 2025 and contains chocolate. In 2023, her short story from Other Covenants was a finalist for the Sidewise Award, which is wildly appropriate because she is also an ethnohistorian with a special interest in how story transmits culture, both Medieval and modern. Her current research is into how Modern western Germany sees its Jewish past, and also into what speculative fiction novels tell us about world building. Her study of culture in speculative fiction, Story Matrices: Cultural Encoding and Cultural Baggage in the Worlds of Science Fiction and Fantasy was released in 2022. Gillian and her books can be found on much social media under her own name. Other Socials https://gillianpolack.com/

< Back Misha Bushyager Game Design Designer I’m a longtime gamer and designer working on making sure the next generation of geeks sees themselves represented. I’m a panelist, writer, editor, proofreader, and sensitivity reader for tabletop RPGs and larps. I’m one of the founders of New Agenda Publishing and a curator for More Seats at the Table. I’ve worked on Orun, #Feminism , Chill:SAVE, Lovecraftesque, Dead Scare, Misspent Youth:Sell Out With Me, Masks:Unbound, and the as yet unpublished larp Nightingales. Other Socials