Thursday (17 Apr 2025)
Once Upon a Time: Storytelling 201
Cascade 5 & 6
5–6 p.m.
Join our authors as they go over the elements of story beginnings, identify crucial components for the first act, and demonstrate practical ways to apply them to your own work.
G.R. Theron (M), Dean Wells, Curtis C. Chen, Kate Ristau, Tegan Moore
Friday (18 Apr 2025)
A Sequel by Any Other Name is Still a Pain
Cascade 5 & 6
1–2 p.m.
You’ve written a book. It was maybe book one of a series or a stand-alone or just some idea you wanted to explore. But it’s done, and now you’re tasked with its sequel. We’ll discuss the qualities of effective second novels and how to implement those into your own work.
Catherine Cooke Montrose (M), Jessie Kwak, Curtis C. Chen, Rosemary Jones, Joseph Malik
Reading: Curtis C. Chen
Cascade 3
2:30–3 p.m.
True Blue Kangaroo. Kangaroo #3, released in October of 2024, in which our intrepid secret agent with a pocket universe superpower is sent to the planet Venus in order to infiltrate a secret “blue site” prison habitat where shady shenanigans are suspected. Rated PG.
Curtis C. Chen (M)
A Strong Bridge: Storytelling 202
Cascade 5 & 6
5–6 p.m.
Building upon strong starts, our panelists will focus on the middle of a story, dissecting the ways one can strengthen and effectively build through the core of the narrative.
G.R. Theron (M), Catherine Cooke Montrose, Curtis C. Chen, Dean Wells, Kate Ristau
Saturday (19 Apr 2025)
Autograph Session
Grand 2
10–11 a.m.
Our guests of honor and attending professionals are available to sign autographs. PLEASE NOTE: So that as many fans as possible can participate, we will be enforcing a three-item (or single-sketch) autograph limit per session.
Catherynne M. Valente, Wayne Barlowe, Tracy Drain, Jenny Jarzabski, Mike Kimmel, Isis Asare, Tara Campbell, Subodhana Wijeyeratne, Aaron Ryan, Alan M. Clark, Amanda Cherry, Ava Thorne, Andrew Penn Romine, Banana Chan, Ben Thompson, Brenda Carre, Brenda Cooper, Brianna Malotke, Brianna Tibbetts, Caitlin Starling, Curtis C. Chen, D.L. Solum, Dana Kippel, Darrin Drader, Daryl Gregory, David D. Levine, Dean Wells, Ed Buchan, Liz Argall, Ellis Bray, Eva L. Elasigue, Evan J. Peterson, Felicity Harley, Frances Lu Pai Ippolito, Gabrielle de Cuir, G. David Nordley, GregRobin Smith, Gwendolyn N. Nix, Jeff Sturgeon, Jessie Kwak, Remy Nakamura, Jonathan JD Davenport, Joseph Brassey, Julie McGalliard, Kat Richardson, Laura Anne Gilman, L.J. Melvin, Lawrence Watt-Evans, Leslie Lutz, Lizzy D. Hill, Agathon McGeachy, Dr. Mark Rounds, Joseph Malik, Miranda Levi, Natalie Leif, Suyi Davies Okungbowa, Patrick Swenson, Rhiannon/R.Z. Held, Richard Sparks, Rosemary Jones, Stefan Rudnicki, Steven Barnes
Teens Overthrow the Government!
Cascade 13
1–2 p.m.
We’ve heard it all before. The spunky young protagonist overthrows the government while also finding love and found family. What books do it well? What books do it not so well? What ingredients make for a good overthrowing?
Camden Rose (M), Marta Murvosh, Kate Ristau, Curtis C. Chen, Brianna Tibbetts
Help Teens Overthrow the Government!
Cascade 13
2–3 p.m.
Create your own dystopia in this workshop. Learn from panelists about the basics of a dystopian government, and how to make a protagonist that is prepared to overthrow it. Then, put pencil to paper and create your own government to overthrow. This class is limited, so make sure to sign up. It is recommended you attend the “Teens Overthrow the Government” panel before this workshop.
Camden Rose (M), Kate Ristau, Marta Murvosh, Curtis C. Chen, Brianna Tibbetts
The Grand Finale: Storytelling 203
Cascade 5 & 6
4–5 p.m.
This completes our story writing series. Join our panelists as they focus on the climatic conclusion to all questions and plots, landing your story firmly onto the beloved list of readers for years to come. At the very least, you’ll learn some techniques to help elevate your work and make the most out of this final part of your story.
G.R. Theron (M), Curtis C. Chen, Catherine Cooke Montrose, Dean Wells, Kate Ristau
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