< Back Christiane Knight Literary Author Christiane Knight [she/they] is an artist, musician, writer, and author of the contemporary fantasy series Stories of the Eleriannan. Her most recent book is A Third Kind of Madness. A former club and FM radio DJ, Xiane’s love of dark subculture and music infuses their work. They write hopeful, magical stories often set in the Fae infused version of their already quirky hometown, Baltimore MD. She is a lifelong enthusiast of faerie, folktales, forests and fauna, especially combined in copious amounts with all-black clothing and some Joy Division or Bauhaus playing in the headphones. Other Socials

< Back Gail Z. Martin Literary Author Gail Z. Martin writes epic fantasy, urban fantasy & more for Solaris Books, Orbit Books, and Falstaff Books. Series include Darkhurst, Assassins of Landria, the Chronicles Of The Necromancer, the Fallen Kings Cycle, the Ascendant Kingdoms, Deadly Curiosities & the Night Vigil. The Spells Salt and Steel, Joe Mack Adventures & Wasteland Marshals series & Iron & Blood are co-authored with Larry N. Martin. She also writes urban fantasy MM paranormal romance as Morgan Brice, including the Witchbane, Badlands, Treasure Trail, Fox Hollow, Sharps & Springfield, and Kings of the Mountains series. Other Socials

< Back Alan Smale Literary Author Alan Smale writes alternate history, historical fantasy, and hard SF. His novella of a Roman invasion of ancient America, “A Clash of Eagles”, won the Sidewise Award for Alternate History, and his novels set in the same universe, Clash of Eagles, Eagle in Exile, and Eagle and Empire (2015-2017), are available from Del Rey. His “Roman baseball” collaboration with Rick Wilber, The Wandering Warriors, came out from WordFire Press in 2020, and Hot Moon, his alternate-Apollo thriller set entirely on and around the Moon, was launched by CAEZIK SF & Fantasy in July 2022, with sequel Radiant Sky released in November 2024. Alan has sold 50+ pieces of short fiction to Asimov’s, Galaxy’s Edge, Abyss & Apex, and numerous other magazines and original anthologies, and his non-fiction essays have appeared in Lightspeed, Journey Planet, and Galaxy's Edge. Check out his Web site at https://www.alansmale.com, or follow him on Facebook/AlanSmale or Bluesky/@alansmale.bsky.social. Other Socials

< Back Dana Bell Literary Author Owned by two cats Taj and Esther, Dana Bell often creates tales that include her four footed overlords. Most of her stories and books feature felines, but a few contain dogs and wolves. Raised in rural Idaho she had the advantage of having been on farms, ranches and part of small town life. In later years she moved from Idaho to Oregon, then Boston, MA until settling in Denver, Colorado. Her travels include national parks, both east and west coastlines, a cruise to the Bahamas, ghost towns and animal rescues or zoos. All of her journeys allowed her to create unique settings for her characters to explore. Books authored by her: Winter Awakening, Winter Emergence, God's Gift, Bast's Chosen Ones and Homefall Search. Romance is under her pen name Belle Blukat, her first book in this genre Blood Bride. Also an editor she's worked with many up and coming authors including their stories in anthologies. Hobbies include dollhouses, flower arrangements, and candle holders. Other Socials

< Back Rob O'Malley Science Researcher Rob is a biological anthropologist who shifted from a career studying wild chimpanzees to one focused on public engagement with science. He worked >6 years at the American Association for the Advancement of Science in the Dialogue on Science, Ethics, and Religion (AAAS-DoSER) program, where he worked to develop programming in support of inclusive science engagement, education, and public dialogue about science. In 2023 he joined Personal Genetics Education & Dialogue (PGED), a public engagement with science program at Harvard Medical School that supports curiosity, dialogue, and reflection about genetics. Rob has expertise in evidence-based public engagement approaches, with a particular interest in how history, culture, and worldview inform peoples’ perspectives on science and technology. At PGED he helps to develop and facilitate workshops and public programming, creates and edits education resources, and develops grant proposals to support the program's work. Other Socials

< Back Anastasia Holt Costuming Cosplay Well, what can I say about myself that friends and enemies have not already spread across the vastness of space? I have been sewing since I was a small child, very pleased with the ugly pink skirt I made as my first project. I have enjoyed costumes and Halloween and being in plays since I was a baby. My love for this only grew as I immersed myself more in to the culture. I started with anime conventions in 2006 and expanded to pop culture and comic book conventions around 2009. Once I felt the itch of individuality I was introduced to the world of costuming and the rest is history! With almost 40 workmanship and presentation awards under my belt, I feel I am a great source of art, advice and inspiration! Come and find me and lets share our experiences and love for this world of art! Other Socials

< Back Scott H. Andrews Literary Editor Scott H. Andrews lives in Virginia with his wife, two cats, eleven guitars, a dozen overflowing bookcases, and hundreds of beer bottles from all over the world. He writes, teaches college chemistry, and is Editor-in-Chief and Publisher of the ten-time Hugo Award finalist online fantasy magazine Beneath Ceaseless Skies. Scott has taught writing for the Odyssey Workshop, Writefest, Clarion West, Odyssey Online Classes and Cat Rambo Academy for Wayward Writers. He has lectured on short fiction, secondary-world fantasy, editing, magazine publishing, audio podcasting, beer, and heavy metal on scores of convention panels at multiple Worldcons, World Fantasy conventions, and regional conventions in the Northeast and Midwest. He is a nine-time finalist for the World Fantasy Award and won it in 2019, and he celebrates International Stout Day several times a week. Other Socials http://www.scotthandrews.com/

< Back Martin Wilsey Literary Author Martin Wilsey is a full-time author and creator of the bestselling SOLSTICE 31 SAGA. Mr. Wilsey's first novel, STILL FALLING, was published on March 31st, 2015. Less than three years and over half a million published words later, he retired from his career as a research scientist for a government-funded think tank. As a full-time science fiction writer, Mr. Wilsey still uses his research and whiteboard skills to keep the books flowing. He likes to put science back into science fiction. On his blog, he writes a weekly webcomic and shares his inspirations and views on life. In addition to writing, he has begun to expand his efforts into publishing through Tannhäuser Press, audio narration, and podcasting. Mr. Wilsey has more projects than he has time. Please feel free to email him and distract him even more. He and his wife, Brenda, live in Virginia with their cats, Brandy and Bailey, and his dog, Whiskey. Other Socials

< Back Catherine Asaro Literary Author Catherine Asaro has written more than 30 books in science fiction, fantasy, and near-future thrillers. She earned her doctorate in chemical physics and masters in physics, both at Harvard. Her works The Quantum Rose and The Spacetime Pool are both Nebula® Award winners. Among her other distinctions, she is a multiple winner of the AnLab from Analog Magazine and the RT BOOKClub Award for “Best Science Fiction Novel.” Her most recent book is The Down Deep. A former ballet and jazz dancer, Catherine has performed on both coasts and in Ohio. As a musician, she performs at various cons and jazz clubs. She has appeared at cons and other venues as a Guest of Honor or author guest in the US and abroad. For more information, see her Facebook page at www.facebook.com/Catherine.Asaro and her patreon page at Patreon.com/CatherineAsaro. Other Socials https://catherineasaro.net/

< Back Tim Livengood Science Scientist Tim Livengood is a planetary scientist who measures the composition, temperature, and wind velocity in planetary atmospheres. He has been using the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter to investigate where water may be hidden on the Moon, and using other tools to determine how much atmosphere Mars used to have. He was a co-investigator of NASA’s EPOXI mission, and was the education and public outreach team leader for the EPOCh component of the mission. Although a Hoosier by birth, Tim graduated from Towson Senior High School in Towson, MD, in 1980 and from Washington University in St. Louis in 1984. He finished a doctorate in physics and astronomy at the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore in 1992, measuring properties of aurora on the planet Jupiter in ultraviolet light. He has not killed any rats with a linear accelerator in 40 years. At this point, recidivism is unlikely, but not impossible. Other Socials

< Back David Ellis Science Researcher David Ellis is a Senior Lecturer in Philosophy, Ethics and Religion at Leeds Trinity University. He researches the overlap of religion and science as well as exophilosophy (philosophical considerations about alien life). He has publications on religious language, the nature of religious and scientific belief, and whether we would be able to speak with aliens. Other Socials

< Back David Simms Literary Author David Simms now lives in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia with his family after escaping decades of chaos in New Jersey and Massachusetts. A psychology teacher and college professor, counselor, music therapist, and ghost tour guide, he has survived a long tenure in the Slushpile band on lead guitar after co-founding the Killer Thriller Band with several best-selling ITW and HWA authors. He gives workshops on using music to help students of all ages to learn and de-stress, getting teens to write, and combating burnout for teachers in schools. His novels include PIERCE THE VEIL (thriller), FEAR THE REAPER (historical thriller) AMERI-SCARES: New Jersey - CURSE OF THE BARRENS (middle grade horror), DARK MUSE (YA/MG dark fantasy) all through Crossroads Press. His piece in YOU'RE NOT ALONE IN THE DARK from Cemetery Dance Publications is one of many from several writers in speculative fiction who share their battles with mental heath. Other Socials