ConGregate 6: Full Schedule

con-gregate.com

AP = Audience Participation | ET = Experts Talk

8:00pm EDT

Pre Con Meet-up

We will have an informal meet-up in the hotel bar (Pub 135) on Thursday night. While we would love to be able to buy everyone a drink, sadly, we are not able to do so... you are on your own for drinks and food.

Thursday July 11, 2019 8:00pm - 11:00pm EDT
Pub 135 (Hotel Bar)

Special Event

4:30pm EDT

Authors Roleplaying Live! The Next Generation (ET)

We had so much fun last time, we thought we'd do it again - with a brand new DM and both new and returning players. Join our super group of players as they face the challenges given to them in classic D&D fashion by DM Todd Massey.

Guests

Chris A. Jackson

Literary Guest, Writing

As a professional sailor, writer, scientist, and life-long gamer, writing nautical and RPG tie-in fantasy came naturally for Chris. His Scimitar Seas novels from Dragon Moon Press have won multiple gold medals from Foreword Reviews Magazine, and his Pathfinder Tales novels, Pirate's... Read More →

Alexandra Christian

Literary Guest, Writing

Alexandra Christian is an author of mostly romance with a speculative slant. Her love of Stephen King and sweet tea has flavored her fiction with a Southern Gothic sensibility that reeks of Spanish moss and deep-fried eccentricity. Her guiding principle as a romance novelist has always... Read More →

John G. Hartness

Literary Guest

John G. Hartness is a teller of tales, a righter of wrong, defender of ladies’ virtues, and some people call him Maurice, for he speaks of the pompatus of love. He is also the award-winning author of the urban fantasy series The Black Knight Chronicles (Bell Bridge Books), the Bubba... Read More →

Misty Massey

Programming, SAGA

Misty Massey is the author of the Mad Kestrel series of rollicking pirate fantasy adventures on the high seas, and the upcoming Dead Man series (featuring Doc Holliday returned from beyond!) She works as a proof and developmental editor for Falstaff Books, Loreseekers Press and Mocha... Read More →

Melissa McArthur

Literary Guest

Melissa McArthur is the founder and president of Clicking Keys Writer Services, a full-service editing, cover design, and layout company based in the upstate of South Carolina. She also serves as Associate Publisher for Falstaff Books, and is an accomplished editor and proofreader... Read More →

Michael G. Williams

Literary Guest

Michael G. Williams writes wry horror: stories of monsters, macabre humor, and subverted expectations. He is the author of two series for Falstaff Books: The Withrow Chronicles, including Perishables (2012 Laine Cunningham Award), Tooth & Nail, Deal with the Devil, Attempted Immortality... Read More →

Friday July 12, 2019 4:30pm - 6:30pm EDT
Provincial

Special Event

Set Up able w/ 6 chairs around - front of room, theatre style

7:00pm EDT

E Koma Mai (Opening Ceremonies) and The Manly Wade Wellman Award (ET)

“eh koh-moh my-ee” (means Welcome! in Hawaiian)

This is our version of opening ceremonies.

This is the time and place to decompress from the rigors of travel, meet friends old and new, and make the transition to being at the Con!

The Manly Wade Wellman Award will also be presented at this time.

Each year, ConGregate remembers contributors that we have lost from the science fiction and fantasy world. The tradition began in memory of Aaron Allston, who was well known for his love of Hawaiian shirts. We encourage everyone to wear a Hawaiian shirt on Friday, July 12.

Guests

Toni Weisskopf

Special Literary Guest

Toni Weisskopf succeeded Jim Baen as publisher of Baen Books, a leading publisher of sf and fantasy, in 2006. She has worked with such authors as David Weber, Mercedes Lackey, David Drake, Lois McMaster Bujold, Eric Flint, Wen Spencer, Larry Correia, Charles E. Gannon, and many others. With Josepha Sherman she compiled and annotated the defi... Read More →

Allen Wold

Literary Guest

Allen Wold was born in south-western Michigan, finished high school in Tucson, Arizona, and graduated from college, in Claremont, California, where he later met his wife, Diane. They married in 1972, and moved to North Carolina, where he began his career as a full time writer. In... Read More →

Michael A. Stackpole

Special Literary Guest

Michael A. Stackpole is the multiple New York Times bestselling author of over forty fantasy and science fiction novels, his best known books written in the Star Wars® universe, including I, JEDI and ROGUE SQUADRON, as well as the X-Wing graphic novel series. He has also written... Read More →

Valentine Wolfe

Special Musical Guests

Valentine Wolfe is a gothic metal duo blending the ethereal soprano vocals of Sarah Black and the thunderous roar of Braxton's electric upright bass to evoke the imaginary soundscape of Mary Shelley and Edgar Allan Poe.In addition to their gothic metal stylings, their eclectic musical... Read More →

Friday July 12, 2019 7:00pm - 7:55pm EDT
Salon B-C-D

Special Event

Set Up projector, screen, tickets, fishbowl, prizes

7:00pm EDT

Book Launches

Book Launches!

Nancy Northcott
Chris Jackson
John G. Hartness
Stuart Jaffe
Darin Kennedy
Gail Z. Martin
Jason Gilbert
Theresa Glover
Larry Martin

Friday July 12, 2019 7:00pm - 11:00pm EDT
Suite 207

Special Event, Publishers Show

8:30pm EDT

Friday Night Frights: Nosferatu with Valentine Wolfe (ET)

Join Valentine Wolfe as they provide a live musical score to the silent film, Nosferatu.

Guests

Valentine Wolfe

Special Musical Guests

Friday July 12, 2019 8:30pm - 10:30pm EDT
Salon B-C-D

Special Event

Set Up theatre, projector and screen, laptop, *turn off volume on projector

9:30pm EDT

The Return of the Dating Game...with Books! (AP)

Hosts: Carol Cowles

Before you commit to a night of "Kindle and Chill" - find out which book you really want to date. Readers will get to "interview" characters from different books to see which one they want to take home. Authors will get in to character and answer dating-style questions based on the popular 70s game show.

Guests

Carol Cowles

Fan Guest, Geek Life

Carol Cowles - Carol has long been a fixture of Geek Culture in Charlotte. 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 the weekly... Read More →

Stuart Jaffe

Literary Guest

Stuart Jaffe is the madman behind the Nathan K thrillers, The Max Porter Paranormal Mysteries, the Parallel Society novels, The Malja Chronicles, The Bluesman, Founders, Real Magic, and much more. He trained in martial arts for over a decade until a knee injury ended that practice... Read More →

Chris Kennedy

Literary Guest

A bestselling Science Fiction/Fantasy/Alt History author, speaker, and small-press publisher, Chris Kennedy has written over 15 books and published more than 60 others. Chris’ stories include the “Occupied Seattle” military fiction duology, “The Theogony” and “Codex Regius... Read More →

Darin Kennedy

Literary Guest

Darin Kennedy, born and raised in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, is a graduate of Wake Forest University and Bowman Gray School of Medicine. After completing family medicine residency in the mountains of Virginia, he served eight years as a United States Army physician and wrote his... Read More →

Misty Massey

Programming, SAGA

Michael G. Williams

Literary Guest

Friday July 12, 2019 9:30pm - 10:50pm EDT
Provincial

Special Event

Set Up theatre

11:00pm EDT

Friday Night Frights: Ghost Stories with Tally and Valentine Wolfe (ET)

Join us for some ghost stories told by author Tally Johnson, with ambiance provided by Valentine Wolfe.

Guests

Tally Johnson

Literary 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 he also has a story in An... Read More →

Valentine Wolfe

Special Musical Guests

Friday July 12, 2019 11:00pm - 11:55pm EDT
Salon B-C-D

Special Event

Set Up theatre

9:00am EDT

Falstaff/Sol Road Show (ET)

Join John G. Hartness and Larry and Gail Z. Martin as they showcase the upcoming releases from both their Publishing houses: Falstaff Books and Sol Books. (And gives away free stuff!)

Guests

John G. Hartness

Literary Guest

Gail Z. Martin

Literary Guest

Gail Z. Martin writes urban fantasy, epic fantasy and steampunk 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, the Chronicles... Read More →

Larry N. Martin

Literary Guest

Larry N. Martin is the author of Salvage Rat, coming in September 2018, co-author of the Steampunk series Iron and Blood: The Jake Desmet Adventures with Gail Z. Martin and a series of related short stories: The Storm & Fury Adventures set in the Jake Desmet universe. These short... Read More →

Melissa McArthur

Literary Guest

Saturday July 13, 2019 9:00am - 10:50am EDT
Provincial

Special Event, Publishers Show

Set Up theatre, projector and screen

10:00am EDT

Inside the Publisher's Studio: Toni Weisskopf (ET)

Kindly filling in for Eric Flint, Toni Weisskopf will be interviewed by Michael D. Pederson. Michael will interview Toni on everything from being a fan to being the owner/editor of a publishing house and maybe even ask her about the Triple Crown of Southern Fandom awards - The Rebel, The Phoenix and The Rubble. Of course, he will end with the infamous 10 questions posed by James Lipton.

Guests

Toni Weisskopf

Special Literary Guest

Michael D. Pederson

Fan Guest

Michael D. Pederson is the publisher/editor/graphic designer responsible for Nth Degree. Mike began his career as a writer/publisher in 1988 when his SF short story, “Dust Storm,” won first place in a local writing contest. In the 1990s, he wrote and published the Raven comic... Read More →

Saturday July 13, 2019 10:00am - 10:50am EDT
Boardroom

Special Event

Set Up theatre

1:30pm EDT

Baen Travelling Road Show (ET)

Join the publisher from Baen Books, Toni Weisskopf, as she shares upcoming releases and gives away Baen Swag!

Guests

Gray Rinehart

Literary Guest

Gray Rinehart writes fiction, nonfiction, and music. He is the only person to have commanded an Air Force satellite tracking station, written speeches for Presidential appointees, and had music on The Dr. Demento Show. He is currently a contributing editor (the "Slushmaster General... Read More →

Toni Weisskopf

Special Literary Guest

Saturday July 13, 2019 1:30pm - 3:20pm EDT
Provincial

Special Event, Publishers Show

Set Up theatre, projector and screen

4:00pm EDT

Prospective Press Road Show (ET)

Join Jason Graves and some of his authors as he showcases upcoming releases from Prospective Press publishing house and gives away some swag!

Guests

Jason Graves

Literary Guest

Jason is the publisher and chief editor at Prospective Press, a traditional publisher of genre fiction and select non-fiction titles, currently with twenty-five books in print and over thirty authors represented. The company now encompasses seven traditional imprints and two hybrid... Read More →

Samantha Bryant

Literary Guest

Samantha Bryant is a middle school Spanish teacher by day and a mom and novelist by night. That makes her a superhero all the time. Her secret superpower is finding lost things. She writes because it’s cheaper than therapy and a lot more fun. She’s best known for her Menopausal... Read More →

Jason Gilbert

Literary Guest

Jason is the author of The Clockworks of War series, The Rifle Chronicles, and urban fantasy series The Coldstone Files. His stories are Alternate History with an Urban Fantasy and Horror element set in worlds of the supernatural!

Tally Johnson

Literary Guest

Gail Z. Martin

Literary Guest

Saturday July 13, 2019 4:00pm - 4:50pm EDT
Boardroom

Special Event, Publishers Show

Set Up theatre, projector and screen, move from Provincial at 3:30pm

5:30pm EDT

ConGregate's Charity Auction (new time!) (AP)

Proceeds from the auction will benefit the Greensboro Urban Ministry food bank. We hope you are able to come to the auction and support this year’s worthy cause, as we try to raise money for something that doesn’t usually get a lot of attention in July!

NOTE: THIS IS A NEW TIME FROM PREVIOUS YEARS!!

Saturday July 13, 2019 5:30pm - 7:30pm EDT
Provincial

Special Event

Set Up theatre, auction set up

7:00pm EDT

ConGregate Costume Contest (AP)

Host: Rich Sigfrit

Judges: Mark MacDicken, Derek Nieman, Daphne Reeder

In grand convention tradition, ConGregate will host our annual costume contest. Bring your best costume and show of your skills or just enjoy the show!

Bonus: While the judges are judging, White Plectrum will entertain us with some filking.

Note: Prejudging begins at 6pm in Victorian A.

Guests

Rich Sigfrit

Fan Guest

To say that I enjoy podcasting and new media would be a gross understatement. My credits include mentions in high school and collegiate papers, newspapers, Podcasting for Dummies, and Advanced Podcasting Tricks. I have been called an innovator, having created the first fandom podcast... Read More →

Mark MacDicken

Performing Artist, Flabbergast the Wizard

Derek Nieman

Costuming Guest

Derek Nieman has been part of the south east convention scene for over 15 years. An original member of the Carolina Garrison of the 501st Legion, it goes almost without saying that Derek is a huge Star Wars fan and avid costumer. Not limited to just being a one trick fan boy, Derek... Read More →

Daphne Reeder

Costuming Guest

Daphne Reeder has been a creative force from a very young age. Beginning at the age of 5, she's been on television programs on WTVI, in plays & stage performances, and modeled, both in front of a camera and on the runway. She has always enjoyed the freedom of dressing up, and became... Read More →

Saturday July 13, 2019 7:00pm - 8:00pm EDT
Salon B-C-D

Special Event

Set Up theatre, costume contest set up

7:00pm EDT

Book Launches

Book Launches!

Nancy Northcott
Chris Jackson
John G. Hartness
Stuart Jaffe
Darin Kennedy
Gail Z. Martin
Jason Gilbert
Theresa Glover
Larry Martin

Saturday July 13, 2019 7:00pm - 11:00pm EDT
Suite 207

Special Event, Publishers Show

8:00pm EDT

Match 'em Up - Live Game Show!

Host: Rich Sigfrit

ConGregate brings you our next geeky challenge! Contestants will try to guess how our four celebrities will answer a question. Prizes for the contestant with the most matches!

Guests

Carol Cowles

Fan Guest, Geek Life

Gary Mitchel

Online Media Guest, RevolutionSF

Gary Mitchel is a writer, reviewer, geek blogger, voice actor, gamer, sf/fantasy fan, comics reader, podcaster and International Man of Mystery (who's too dangerous for the entire country of Canada) currently living near Atlanta.Gary is the Co-Director, with Joe Crowe, of the Am... Read More →

Michael D. Pederson

Fan Guest

Janet Iannantuono

Fan Guest

Janet Iannantuono is a convention runner, Star Wars collector, and all-around fan. As a child in 1977, Star Wars combined her interests of mythology, science fiction, fantasy, and the adventure stories of Jules Verne and Edgar Rice Burroughs. Forty years later, her Star Wars collection... Read More →

Rich Sigfrit

Fan Guest

Saturday July 13, 2019 8:00pm - 9:00pm EDT
Salon B-C-D

Special Event

Set Up special, (table on stage, 1 chair, podium - needs white boards, fishbowl and tickets

9:00pm EDT

Meatloaf Sing-along (AP)

It probably comes as no surprise that Meat Loaf got his start in musical theater. After all, the songs on his 1977 classic album Bat out of Hell are pretty much big Broadway showstoppers with louder guitars. So join us as we pick a few of his classics and maybe some deep cuts to sing a long to.

Guests

Darin Kennedy

Literary Guest

Saturday July 13, 2019 9:00pm - 10:00pm EDT
Kittinger

Special Event

Set Up theatre, sound, tv monitor, laptop

9:30pm EDT

The Xeno-Archaeology Road Show (ET)

Moderator: Jim Beall

Our intrepid group of explorers has landed on a planet in uncharted territory. Join them as they explore the artifacts left by the previous owners.

Guests

Jim Beall

Science Guest

Jim Beall (BS-Math, MBA, PE) has been a nuclear engineer for over 40 years, a war gamer for over 50, and an avid reader of science fiction for even longer. His experience in nuclear engineering and power systems began as a naval officer, shortly after surviving one of Admiral Rickover’s... Read More →

Jason Gilbert

Literary Guest

Les Johnson

Science Guest

Les is a physicist, a science and science fiction author, and a NASA technologist. His science fiction books include Mission to Methone, Back to the Moon, Rescue Mode, and the soon-to-be-released Stellaris: People of the Stars. His popular science books include Graphene: The... Read More →

Chris Shrewsbury

Fan Guest

PLEASE NOTE: The following bio was written by Chris himself, so it may well be filled with exaggeration, self-importance, and outright bulls#!t. You have been warned. Chris has volunteered, paneled, guested, staffed, and been committee at literally dozens of cons along the east coast... Read More →

Chris A. Jackson

Literary Guest, Writing

Saturday July 13, 2019 9:30pm - 10:20pm EDT
Provincial

Special Event

Set Up theatre

9:30pm EDT

The Rogue 105th (Live Reading) (ET)

Members of the 105th go rogue and showcase their verbal skills instead of costuming talent with a surprise script reading.

Saturday July 13, 2019 9:30pm - 11:30pm EDT
Victorian B

Special Event

Set Up theatre

10:00pm EDT

ConGregate Karoake (AP)

Join us in some very random Karaoke choices - from musicals to modern, grab a drink from the bar for courage and show off your best tune.

Guests

Drew McFayden

Dimensional Riffs

Saturday July 13, 2019 10:00pm - 11:30pm EDT
Kittinger

Special Event

Set Up theatre, sound, laptop, tv monitor, Drew's equipment

10:00pm EDT

The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra (ET)

Charming Underclothes is a movie recreation performance group that brings films to life! Shadowcasting, as it’s called, is a midnight movie phenomenon that started with The Rocky Horror Picture Show. ConGregate is excited to partner with them to present the The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra.

The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra: A bad scientist and wife, a mad scientist and skeleton, two aliens and their escaped pet are all searching for the elusive element "atmospherium".

Guests

Rich Sigfrit

Fan Guest

Charming Underclothes

Performing Artists

Charming Underclothes is a movie recreation performance group that brings films to life! Shadowcasting, as it's called, is a midnight movie phenomenon that started with The Rocky Horror Picture Show. We began conquering castles with our RHPS debut on February 26, 2016, in Roanoke... Read More →

Saturday July 13, 2019 10:00pm - 11:55pm EDT
Salon B-C-D

Special Event

Set Up theatre, projector and screen

9:00am EDT

Non Denominational Prayer Service

This is a non-denominational prayer service open to anyone who wishes to attend.

Guests

Gray Rinehart

Literary Guest

Sunday July 14, 2019 9:00am - 9:50am EDT
Provincial

Special Event

10:00am EDT

Amadeus: The Strange Tale of Mozart's Requiem (ET)

Braxton Ballew of Valentine Wolfe takes you into the past to discover the strange tale of Mozart's final composition, the one that inspired the play and movie Amadeus: Requiem in D Minor, K. 626. Truth is indeed stranger than fiction.

Guests

Valentine Wolfe

Special Musical Guests

Sunday July 14, 2019 10:00am - 10:50am EDT
Salon B-C-D

Special Event

Set Up theatre, projector and screen (same as Nosferatu)

10:00am EDT

Chris Kennedy Publishing Road Show (ET)

Come see what will be released in the coming months from Chris Kennedy Publishing… and maybe win a free book for the effort!

Guests

Chris Kennedy

Literary Guest

Sunday July 14, 2019 10:00am - 11:20am EDT
Provincial

Special Event, Publishers Show

Set Up theatre, projector and screen

11:30am EDT

Magic Jam (AP)

How about a “Magic Jam”? Share a card trick, coin trick, or other sleight of hand; math-magic, brain teaser, 1-minute mystery, etc. Open participation to either flabbergast or be flabbergasted! Bring your own supplies or borrow from the magician moderator. Ages 7 and up.

Guests

Mark MacDicken

Performing Artist, Flabbergast the Wizard

Sunday July 14, 2019 11:30am - 12:20pm EDT
Provincial

Special Event

Set Up theatre

2:00pm EDT

What's Next for ConGregate?

Join us for a quick preview of ConGregate 2020 (and beyond?). We'll announce our Featured Guests (well, those we have booked) and maybe share some events that are in the works.

Sunday July 14, 2019 2:00pm - 3:00pm EDT
Salon B-C-D

Special Event

Set Up theatre, projector, screen