Monumental Confusion: Full Schedule

4:00pm EST

Commas Are An Art, Not A Science (And Other Copyediting Notes)

Friday January 24, 2025 4:00pm - 4:50pm EST

Come and hear the wit and wisdom of professional copy-editors, who wish to sing you the song of well-placed commas and how they can contribute to your storytelling.

Moderators

Marie Vibbert

Author

Hugo and Nebula nominated author Marie Vibbert’s sad robots and working-class heroes have appeared in top magazines like Nature, Analog, and Clarkesworld, and been translated into Czech, Chinese and Vietnamese. Her debut novel, Galactic Hellcats, was long listed by the British Science... Read More →

Speakers

Katie Spina

Author, Awesome Authors Kids

Ms. Katie is an award-winning kidlit author who writes stories for kids where finding your fit means trusting in who you are. An avid reader, she loves all sorts of books across a wide spectrum. With a Bachelor's degree in Writing from the University of Michigan-Flint, she is a professional... Read More →

Ursula Whitcher

Ursula Whitcher is a writer, mathematician, and poet whose work has appeared in places including The Deadlands, Frivolous Comma, and Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine. A collection of linked short stories, North Continent Ribbon, is published by Neon Hemlock Press.

Friday January 24, 2025 4:00pm - 4:50pm EST
Ballroom C Access via the Ballroom Assemble Hall.

Literature

5:00pm EST

Self Esteem for Writers

Friday January 24, 2025 5:00pm - 5:50pm EST

Ballroom C

Places to start and progress as we all navigate our feelings in the intersection between ourselves and our works.

Speakers

Christine Daigle

Christine Daigle is a multi-genre author whose latest release, Heavy Are The Stones, is a serial killer thriller co-authored with New York Times bestselling author J.D. Barker. She and Barker are also collaborating on a reboot of Flatliners, based on the original screenplay. Christine... Read More →

Marsalis

Marsalis was born in 1989. He spent his childhood composing illustrated epics and giving lectures. At the age of 17, he published his first novel, March of the Libertines. After graduating from the University of Michigan, Marsalis published works in every literary style and genre... Read More →

Jim C. Hines

Pro Guest

Jim C. Hines has been attending ConFusion for almost as long as he’s been writing. It’s one of his favorite cons, at least in the blizzard-free years.While he has written serious fiction on occasion, Jim is best known for more humorous fare, beginning with the Goblin Quest trilogy... Read More →

Stephanie Lorée

Writer & Copy Editor

Born and still based in Ohio, Stephanie Lorée writes fantasy fiction and occasionally moonlights as a rock star. Her stories have appeared in places like Abyss & Apex and as tie-in fiction for the Pathfinder RPG. In 2013, she was a finalist for the Writers of the Future award... Read More →

Friday January 24, 2025 5:00pm - 5:50pm EST
Ballroom C Access via the Ballroom Assemble Hall.

Literature

6:00pm EST

Let It Be Indie

Friday January 24, 2025 6:00pm - 6:50pm EST

Ballroom C

If you’re creative and want to get your work out there, you may already know that it’s a tough mountain to scale. So why waste time waiting for that big publisher to back you when you can get your work out now under your own rules! Come with your questions and ears perked up for listening as we discuss the advantages, pitfalls, and what got us started in the indie lifestyle we love so!

Speakers

BluRaven C. Houvener

BCH Comix

BluRaven C. Houvener is a Michigan based creator who specializes in both web and print comics, and Zines. He usually draws on his experiences growing up in the underground music scene alongside his father, and uses those experiences to craft out Slice of Life sagas with a psych stream... Read More →

Friday January 24, 2025 6:00pm - 6:50pm EST
Ballroom C Access via the Ballroom Assemble Hall.

Creative

10:00am EST

Fanfic With Benefits

Saturday January 25, 2025 10:00am - 10:50am EST

Ballroom C

Reading and writing fanfic is tons of fun, but its value doesn't end there. Join us to discuss what we love about fanfiction and how it can help writers from newbies to seasoned professionals hone their craft, expand their horizons, make connections, and more!

Speakers

Jason Sanford

Author

Jason Sanford is an award-winning author of short stories, essays, and articles. A two-time finalist for the Nebula Award, Jason has published more than a dozen stories in the British SF magazine Interzone, which also devoted a special issue to his fiction. He has also published numerous... Read More →

A.L Deleon

A.L. DeLeon

A.L. DeLeon is the author of the fantasy novel Song of Life, originally published with Dragon Moon Press, 2020. Song of Life earned 2nd place in epic fantasy at the Spring 2023 Bookfest Awards. A.L. is currently working to finish the entire Song of Life Series set, release date, tbd... Read More →

Saturday January 25, 2025 10:00am - 10:50am EST
Ballroom C Access via the Ballroom Assemble Hall.

Fandom

11:00am EST

History is Weirder than Fiction

Saturday January 25, 2025 11:00am - 11:50am EST

Ballroom C

Fiction has to make sense and maybe not make the reader wretch. History has no such constraints. Panelists will discuss bits of actual history that are hard to believe, and perhaps mention the stories that stole and modified the events.

Speakers

Anna

1/7 of a ConChair, Treasurer

You may have met her many moons ago as an energetic teen who was brought to her first con by Bahb, Son of Bob. You may have been there when she got engaged to her now husband, Ryan, during an elven toast. Maybe you attended one of many epic room parties she hosted or listened in as... Read More →

Marie Vibbert

Author

Lloyd Williams

Game Room Staff

I am a long-time gamer, both of board games and RPGs. I love good sci-fi and fantasy novels so tell me about any new authors you like.

Michael Cieslak

Dragon's Roost Press

Michael Cieslak is a lifetime reader and writer of horror, mystery, and speculative fiction. A native of Detroit, he lives in a house covered in Halloween decorations in October and dragons the rest of the year. He is a member of the Great Lakes Association of Horror Writers and is... Read More →

Saturday January 25, 2025 11:00am - 11:50am EST
Ballroom C Access via the Ballroom Assemble Hall.

Literature

12:00pm EST

An Introverts Guide to Showing Up: The Reprise

Saturday January 25, 2025 12:00pm - 12:50pm EST

Ballroom C

Last year we did a great panel on tips and tricks for introverts and similarly neurodivergent folks to not only survive but thrive in large social events, like a convention. It would be great to continue this conversation.

Moderators

Anna

1/7 of a ConChair, Treasurer

Speakers

Christian Klaver

This author of Science Fiction and Fantasy lives in the suburbs just outside the sprawling decay of Detroit, Michigan. There he resides with his wife (Kimberly) his daughter (Kathryn) and a group of animals he refers to as 'The Menagerie'. He has been selling short stories since... Read More →

Katie Spina

Author, Awesome Authors Kids

Saturday January 25, 2025 12:00pm - 12:50pm EST
Ballroom C Access via the Ballroom Assemble Hall.

Fandom

1:00pm EST

So you want to be a Game Master

Saturday January 25, 2025 1:00pm - 1:50pm EST

Ballroom C

Tips and Tricks

Speakers

Stephanie Lorée

Writer & Copy Editor

Ursula Whitcher

Jeff Beeler

Stilyagi Air Corps

Event planningScience FictionGamingHistoryReference work

Saturday January 25, 2025 1:00pm - 1:50pm EST
Ballroom C Access via the Ballroom Assemble Hall.

Gaming

2:00pm EST

The Do’s and Don’ts of Fandom

Saturday January 25, 2025 2:00pm - 2:50pm EST

Ballroom C

Supporting one another is always important, especially in small communities. What is the best way to
support others? How do we keep ourselves from hurting other fandoms? And how to draw boundaries in the parasocial relationships we build?

Speakers

Anna

1/7 of a ConChair, Treasurer

JD DeLuzio

JD DeLuzio's novel, The Con appeared to positive reviews in late November 2020 while 2022 saw Live Nude Aliens and Other Stories, a collection of previously-published and new fiction. He is currently shopping a new novel and working on a non-fiction book, with the artist D.S. Barrick... Read More →

Steph Campbell

owner, TTRPGkids

Steph C (they/them) is the founder, owner, and writer for TTRPGkids.com, the 2023 ENNIE awarded resource for youth-related tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs). They have written over 350 articles providing tips, game reviews, reading lists, and more, all focused on TTRPGs for kids and teens. Steph has self-published over 50 digital TTRPG titles for all-ages that focus on social-emotional... Read More →

Michael Cieslak

Dragon's Roost Press

Saturday January 25, 2025 2:00pm - 2:50pm EST
Ballroom C Access via the Ballroom Assemble Hall.

Fandom

3:00pm EST

Con Running 101

Saturday January 25, 2025 3:00pm - 3:50pm EST

Ballroom C

Have you ever wondered what happens behind the curtains?

Moderators

Brian Decker

Brian Decker is a pillar of the fannish community, and it in turn has permeated every aspect of his life.Brian was part of the team that moved ConFusion into the digital age in the early Naughts, coding a registration and tracking system that moved the con off of paper. He was ConChair for two of the largest ConFusion events (2011 and 2012), bringing in Scientist Aubrey de Grey and Authors Cherie Priest... Read More →

Speakers

Anna

1/7 of a ConChair, Treasurer

Ska

Saturday January 25, 2025 3:00pm - 3:50pm EST
Ballroom C Access via the Ballroom Assemble Hall.

Fandom

5:00pm EST

The Horror, The Horror

Saturday January 25, 2025 5:00pm - 5:50pm EST

Ballroom C

Why do we read horror? What makes good horror so effective? What classics should we still be reading, and who are the new must-read voices in horror? Horror writers will discuss these topics and more.

Moderators

Sarah Hans

Sarah Hans is an award-winning writer, editor, and teacher whose stories have appeared in more than 40 publications, including Apex Magazine, Love Letters to Poe, and Pseudopod. Her debut horror novel, Entomophobia, was released in 2022. You can read Sarah’s short stories in the... Read More →

Speakers

Christian Klaver

Jason Sanford

Author

A.L Deleon

A.L. DeLeon

Ray Tabler

Author, Science Fiction You Can Enjoy

My aim is to write science fiction you can enjoy. So far that's manifested as what I call Light Space Opera. Imagine Starship Troopers, hijacked by Monty Python, or space opera as produced by Gilbert and Sullivan, while bankrolled and bullied by Flo Ziegfeld. Additional links:Ray's... Read More →

Saturday January 25, 2025 5:00pm - 5:50pm EST
Ballroom C Access via the Ballroom Assemble Hall.

Literature

6:00pm EST

Social Media for the Creative Community

Saturday January 25, 2025 6:00pm - 6:50pm EST

Ballroom C

So you’re an artist with 25,000 FB friends and a killer Deviant Art gallery. Is that enough? What works and what doesn’t in getting fans engaged in your creative work? What new approaches look good to you?

Speakers

Lloyd Williams

Game Room Staff

I am a long-time gamer, both of board games and RPGs. I love good sci-fi and fantasy novels so tell me about any new authors you like.

Jen Nagle

Katie Spina

Author, Awesome Authors Kids

Saturday January 25, 2025 6:00pm - 6:50pm EST
Ballroom C Access via the Ballroom Assemble Hall.

Fandom

10:00am EST

Missing Stairs and Bad Actors

Sunday January 26, 2025 10:00am - 10:50am EST

Ballroom C

Since fandom began there have been bad actors and predators in it. A
frustratingly storied tradition exists for using tools like gaslighting, sexual
harrassment, logrolling, plagiarism, and other kinds of eminently unethical and
unprofessional means to get ahead, and as progressive and mutually supportive
as genre fandom seems, we're in no way immune. So let's talk about how to
actually provide support to emerging writers, how to spot and avoid bad actors
so we can ensure more people get lifted up instead of stepped on.

Speakers

Anna

1/7 of a ConChair, Treasurer

A.L Deleon

A.L. DeLeon

E.D.E. Bell

Author, Editor, Atthis Arts

E.D.E. Bell (she/her or e/em) is a quiet fantasy writer and small press editor. A passionate vegan and earnest progressive, she feels strongly about issues related to equality and compassion. Eir works are quiet and queer and often explore conceptions of identity and community, including... Read More →

Marsalis

Sunday January 26, 2025 10:00am - 10:50am EST
Ballroom C Access via the Ballroom Assemble Hall.

Literature

12:00pm EST

Writing as resistance

Sunday January 26, 2025 12:00pm - 12:50pm EST

Ballroom C

Stories help us build the ideas for better worlds. Discuss works of art that are resistance and how we find creativity and resistance in these times

Moderators

Sarah Hans

Speakers

Christian Klaver

Jim C. Hines

Pro Guest

Catherine Stein

Author, Catherine Stein

Award-winning author Catherine Stein believes that everyone deserves love and that Happily Ever After has the power to help, to heal, and to comfort. She writes sassy, sexy romance set during the Victorian and Edwardian eras. Her books are full of action, adventure, magic, and fantastic... Read More →

Stephanie Lorée

Writer & Copy Editor

Steph Campbell

owner, TTRPGkids

Sunday January 26, 2025 12:00pm - 12:50pm EST
Ballroom C Access via the Ballroom Assemble Hall.

Literature

1:00pm EST

Legitimate uses of Neural Network AI

Sunday January 26, 2025 1:00pm - 1:50pm EST

Ballroom C

ChatGPT is the best known AI, but it's only one of thousands of AI's in daily use, ranging from Expert Systems to help diagnose your ailments to the algorithms that balance your investment portfolio. We all agree (at least should agree) that stealing copyrighted work to write your novel is bad, but what are legitimate uses you can make of an AI? Even ChatGPT?

Speakers

Eric McGlohon

Wayland Smith

Author, Gamer, Fandom

Wayland Smith is the pen name for a native Texan who has lived in Massachusetts, New York, Washington DC, and presently makes his home in Virginia. His rather unlikely list of jobs includes private investigator, comic book shop owner, ring crew for a circus (then he ran away from... Read More →

Storm Humbert

Ray Tabler

Author, Science Fiction You Can Enjoy

Sunday January 26, 2025 1:00pm - 1:50pm EST
Ballroom C Access via the Ballroom Assemble Hall.

Literature