AuthorCon V PRELIMINARY Programming

What follows is the PRELIMINARY Programming Schedule for AuthorCon V (a Scares That Care charity event), which you can purchase tickets to and learn more about here.

Jonathan Janz and myself have worked very hard to accommodate everyone who requested to be inluded in programming and have cross-checked this schedule 507 times. HOWEVER… mistakes will invariably creep in. Which is why this is the PRELIMINARY schedule.

All participants should read over this carefully. If you asked for a panel or reading, you should be included. In most, but not all, cases, you may have multiple programming slots. Everyone should have at least one, however.

If you see that Janz and I have double-booked you (say a reading and a panel with overlapping times) or if you were somehow left off the list even after filling out a programming survey, or if you somehow ended up doing something you have no desire to do, you have until 11:59pm on Monday, March 17th to let me know. The only acceptable way to let me know is to send an email to briankeene @ live dot com and put AUTHORCON V in the Subject Heading. If you send me a Direct Message via social media or a text message or a carrier pigeon, they will be ignored.

— Brian Keene

Preliminary Programming Schedule For AuthorCon V

THURSDAY

7:00pm to 10:00pm - Spirited Giving (Auditorium): The popular Spirited Giving reading series makes it Scare That Care  debut! Host James Sabata emcees and evening of live readings by Jamie Flanagan, Rebecca Cuthbert, and D.M. Guay. Plus, the debut of an original LIVE Midnight Pals performance  with Midnight Pals creator Bitter Karella and a bevy of your favorite  horror authors playing themselves (including Laurel  Hightower, Todd Keisling, Wile E. Young, Stephen Kozeniewski, and Brian Keene). Cocktail hour and mixer from 6pm to 7pm with drinks designed by Scares That Care's very own Sonora Taylor.  Show begins at 7pm sharp. All proceeds benefit Scares That Care. 

FRIDAY

3:00pm to 4:00pm – Relaxation and Wellness Session (Second Floor, Room J): Time and opportunity to learn and practice several wellness activities, including breathing exercises and supportive games. Designed to get you ready to enjoy a busy day of fun convention activities. This one-hour session is facilitated by Scares That Care board member Alfred Guy, Training Officer at the University of Maryland, Baltimore School of Social Work UMB-SSW. Take home a custom yoga mat (available only at this event) along with meditation scripts and affirmations. Participate at your own level of comfort and attend any or all three of the sessions. This is a ticketed event. Tickets are available at convention registration.

4:00pm to 5:00pm – Opening Ceremonies (First Floor, Auditorium): Brian Keene and Joe Ripple welcome all Guests of Honor, vendors, and attendees, give you important weekend information, and present the 3rd annual Wilburn-Thomas Award and the 12th annual Crystal Award. Attendance by all is strongly encouraged.

5:00pm to 9:00pm – Vendors (Ballroom and Promenade)

5:00pm to 9:00pm – Silent Auction (First Floor, Auditorium)

5:00pm to 9:00pm – Brian Keene’s Horror Comic Museum (First Floor, Rooms A & B): Selections of horror comic books from throughout the years, all taken from Brian Keene’s personal collection.

5:00pm to 10:00pm – International Film Festival (First Floor, Amphitheater)

6:00pm to 8:00pm – Ask An Agent (First Floor, Center Lounge) – Literary agent Becky LeJeune (Bond Literary Agency) hosts this workshop for writers of all levels. Learn how to pitch your manuscripts to an agent, how to write the perfect query letter, and much more. This is a ticketed workshop. Tickets are available for purchase at convention registration.

8:00pm to 10:00pm – Found Money For Writers (First Floor, Center Lounge): There are thousands of grants available for writers every year, but most writers never take advantage of this resource. Regardless of if you're just starting out or already a full-time writer, you can benefit from grants. In this two-hour workshop, best-selling author Maurice Broaddus teaches you the tips and tricks for finding them, applying for them, and what to do when you get them. This is a ticketed event. Tickets are available at convention registration.

10:00pm – Music Trivia (First Floor, Auditorium): Test your musical and horror knowledge. Hosted by Thomas R. Clark and Chase Will.

Readings:

Second Floor, Room 8

6:00pm – 6:45pm: Nathan D. Ludwig and Viggy Parr Hampton
7:00pm – 7:45pm: Jonathan Janz and Wesley Southard
8:00pm – 8:45pm: Wile E. Young and Kenzie Jennings

Second Floor, Room 11

6:30pm – 7:15pm: Thomas R Clark and M Ennenbach
7:30pm – 8:15pm: Shane Hawk and Dorian J. Sinnott
8:30pm to 9:15pm: Anton Cancre and Cassandra Celia

Second Floor, Room 12

6:45pm – 7:30pm: Laurel Hightower and Todd Keisling
7:45pm – 8:30pm: Gary Frank and Craig Brownlie

Panels:

Second Floor, Room 16

5:30pm – 6:15pm: Writing Short Stories – Dorian J. Sinnott (moderator), Shane Hawk, Eric LaRocca, Valerie B. Williams, Bert Lestrange, and Rebecca Rowland discuss their tips and tricks for writing effective short horror fiction.

6:30pm – 7:30pm: Ask A Prison Guard – Correctional Officers and horror authors John Lynch and Dan Shrader lead this informal discussion and answer all of your questions about what really goes on inside prison.

7:45pm – 8:45pm: Writing and Producing For Stage and Screen –Derik Cavignano (moderator), Jamie Flanagan, Douglas Ford, Nathan D. Ludwig, and Craig Brownlie discuss what’s involved in writing horror for film, television, and theater productions.

9:00pm – 10:00pm: Kill, Marry, Shag (Monster Edition) – Host James Sabata and panelists Philip Fracassi, Gemma Amor, V Castro, Mike Slater, Bitter Karella, Scott Cole, and Elizabeth Broadbent decide which monster they’d most love to kill, wed, or shag. Attendee Discretion Is Advised.

Second Floor, Room 17

7:00pm – 8:00pm: Indie Publishing In A World Gone To Hell – Joshua Loyd Fox (moderator), Katherine Silva, L.P. Hernandez, Sirrah Medeiros, and Andrew Van Wey discuss the challenges facing small press and indie publishing in 2025.

8:30pm – 9:30pm: Horror Writer’s Guide To Networking Etiquette – Joseph Pesavento (moderator), Shane McKenzie, B.C. Lienesch, John Lynch, Rebecca Cuthbert, and Rebecca Rowland discuss the Dos and Don’ts of networking with authors, editors, publishers, and agents.

Second Floor, Room 18

5:30pm – 6:30pm: Blending Genres: Stephen Kozeniewski (moderator), Derik Cavignano, Jennifer L. Collins, Rowan Hill, and Andrew Najberg discuss mixing your horror peanut butter with the chocolate of other genres.

6:45pm – 7:45pm: Hagsploitation: Witches In Horror – Daniel Braum (moderator), Tony Evans, Garrett Boatman, and Chris DiLeo discuss the history of witches and crones in horror.

8:00pm – 9:00pm: Writing YA Horror – Christopher Golden, Adam Cesare, and Heather Mihok lead this informal discussion and answer all of your questions about writing for Young Adults.

9:15pm – 10:00pm: Self-Defense Made Easy: Experts Patrick Tumblety and Wrath James White lead this informal discussion and answer all of your questions about self-defense and what a real fight feels like.

SATURDAY

9:00am to 10:00am – Relaxation and Wellness Session (Second Floor, Room J): Time and opportunity to learn and practice several wellness activities, including breathing exercises and supportive games. Designed to get you ready to enjoy a busy day of fun convention activities. This one-hour session is facilitated by Scares That Care board member Alfred Guy, Training Officer at the University of Maryland, Baltimore School of Social Work UMB-SSW. Take home a custom yoga mat (available only at this event) along with meditation scripts and affirmations. Participate at your own level of comfort and attend any or all three of the sessions. This is a ticketed event. Tickets are available at convention registration.

10:00am to 5:00pm – Silent Auction (First Floor, Auditorium): Winners will be announced at 5:00pm sharp.

10:00am to 6:00pm – Vendors (Ballroom and Promenade)

10:00am to 6:00pm – Brian Keene’s Horror Comic Museum (First Floor, Rooms A & B): Selections of horror comic books from throughout the years, all taken from Brian Keene’s personal collection.

Noon to 7:00pm – International Film Festival (First Floor, Amphitheater)

8:30am to 10:00am – Just Add Writer / From Script To Page (First Floor, Center Lounge): Bestselling, award winning author Tim Waggoner teaches you all of the ins and outs of writing media tie-in fiction, and movie novelizations. This is a ticketed workshop. Tickets are available for purchase at convention registration.

1:00pm to 2:00pm – How to Create an Amazing Author Website (First Floor, Center Lounge): In order for readers, agents, and publishers to find you online, you need a website. In this seminar, author and digital communications professional Sonora Taylor will share the unique advantages a website has over other online spaces like social media, then walk you through what makes a great author website. There will also be a Q&A session to answer any questions you may have. If you don’t have a website or you have one that’s in serious need of updating, then this seminar is for you. This is a ticketed workshop. Tickets are available for purchase at convention registration.

7:00pm to 8:00pm – An Evening with Psychic and Medium Dakota Lawrence (Second Floor, Room 17): In this group setting, renowned psychic and medium Dakota Lawrence will conduct live readings regarding loved ones, participant’s lives, and more. This is a ticketed event. Tickets are available for purchase at convention registration. Please note that participants will be chosen at random, and a ticket does not guarantee a reading.

8:00pm – The Fowl Players of Perryville Murder Mystery Event! (Second Floor, Room 18): Join us for this fun and interactive Murder Mystery event - where "The Fowl Players of Perryville" utilize YOU to help figure out the killer! Cash bar and light fare will be served. This is a ticketed workshop. Tickets are available for purchase at convention registration.

10:00pm – The Gross-Out Contest (First Floor, Auditorium): A 35+ year tradition continues as a new generation of your favorite horror authors square off once again in the literary world’s most vile, hilarious, and incendiary showdown. Each contestant has five minutes to gross out the crowd and impress hosts Stephen Kozeniewski and Wile E. Young, and celebrity judges L.P. Hernandez, Kenzie Jennings, Bitter Karella, Eric LaRocca, and Judith Sonnet. Adults Only. No One Under 18 Permitted. No Phones or Recording Devices. Attendee Discretion Is Strongly, Strongly, Strongly Advised.

Readings:

Second Floor, Room 8

10:15am – 11:00am: Shane McKenzie and Sultan Z. White
11:15am – Noon: Amanda Headlee and Katherine Silva
12:15pm – 1:00pm: Philip Fracassi and Ronald Malfi
1:15pm – 2:00pm: Tim Waggoner and Robert Swartwood
2:15pm – 3:00pm: John Durgin and Tony Evans
3:15pm – 4:00pm: Wrath James White and Judith Sonnet
4:15pm – 5:00pm: Nikolas P. Robinson and Austin Shirey
5:15pm - 6:00pm: D.W. Hitz and Alex Matsuo

Second Floor, Room 11

10:30am – 11:15am: Adam Cesare and Scott Cole
11:30am – 12:15pm: RJ Roles and Lucas Milliron
12:30pm – 1:15pm: Bitter Karella and Stephen Kozeniewski
1:30pm - 2:15pm: Douglas Ford and Jay Bower
2:30pm - 3:15pm: Justin Holley and Larry Hinkle
3:30pm – 4:15pm: Stephen Mark Rainey and Richard Dansky
4:30pm – 5:15pm: Carol Gyzander and Cassandra O’Sullivan Sachar

Second Floor, Room 12

10:45am – 11:30am: Chase Will and Zach Lamb
11:45am – 12:30pm: Dan Shrader and Edwin Callihan
12:45pm – 1:30pm: Tommy B. Smith and Joseph Pesavento
1:45pm - 2:30pm: Valerie B. Williams and Jenny Allen
2:45pm – 3:30pm: Chris DiLeo and Andrew Najberg
3:45pm – 4:30pm: Kit Power and Justin Lutz
4:45pm – 5:30pm: Rowan Hill and Erin Kelly

Panels:

Second Floor, Room 16

10:30am – 11:30am: Teaching Writing -- Cassandra O’Sullivan Sachar (moderator), Jonathan Janz, Tim Waggoner, Mary SanGiovanni, and Andrew Najberg discuss how to effectively teach writing.

11:45am – 12:45pm: Horror In Gaming – Richard Dansky (moderator), Mike Slater, Jamie Flanagan, Anton Cancre, and Andrew Najberg discuss what goes into creating good horror tabletop role-playing and video games.

1:00pm – 2:00pm: Horror Nonfiction -- Mark Sieber (moderator), Victoria Price, Mike Slater, Kit Power, Cassandra O’Sullivan Sachar, Rick Hipson, and Nikolas P. Robinson discuss writing biographies, memoirs, reviews, literary criticism, and more.

2:15pm – 3:15pm: LGBTQIA+ Storytelling – Cat Voleur (moderator), Jamie Flanagan, Dorian J. Sinnott, Cassandra Celia, Amanda Headlee, discuss what they’d like to see more of and what they’d like to see less of when it comes to LGBTQIA+ representation in horror fiction.

3:30pm – 4:30pm: Marketing For Indie Writers: Joshua Loyd Fox (moderator), Jay Bower, John Durgin, Sirrah Medeiros, Chase Will, and Andrew Van Wey discuss guerilla marketing and DIY promotion.

4:45pm – 5:45pm: Creature Features – James Sabata (moderator), Chase Will, Gary Frank, Tom Rimer, and Garrett Boatman discuss their favorite creature features.

6:00pm – 7:30pm: The End Of The World As We Know It: New Tales of Stephen King’s The Stand – Brian Keene, Christopher Golden, V Castro, Wrath James White, Jonathan Janz, Ronald Malfi, and Maurice Broaddus discuss the most anticipated anthology of the year, all while signing signature sheets for the limited edition.

Second Floor, Room 17

10:15am – 11:15am: Writing Thrillers, Crime, Noir, and True Crime – Marie Lestrange (moderator), Laurel Hightower, Robert Swartwood, Edwin Callihan, and Robert Whitmore discuss their favorites from the genre, and tips for writing it.

11:30am – 12:30pm: Podcasting 101 -- Kit Power (moderator), Viggy Parr Hampton, and Rick Hipson tell you everything you want to know about starting your own podcast.

12:45pm – 1:45pm: Paranormal nonfiction and investigation Justin Holley (moderator), Alex Matsuo, and Nikki Nelson-Hicks discuss investigating and documenting real-life paranormal occurrences.

3:00pm – 3:45pm: Victoria Price In Conversation: Angel Hollman moderates this Q&A with author and public speaker Victoria Price.

Second Floor, Room 18

10:45am – 11:45am: Editing and Publishing Anthologies: Stephen Kozeniewski (moderator) Shane Hawk, Carol Gyzander, Rebecca Rowland, and Candace Nola discuss the trials, tribulations, and triumphs of editing anthologies.

Noon – 1:00pm: Time To Roar (Not Just Another Women in Horror Panel) – Mary SanGiovanni (moderator), Laurel Hightower, Red Lagoe, Gemma Amor, V Castro, Candace Nola, Jenny Allen, and Elizabeth Broadbent discuss what’s improved for Women In Horror over the last thirty years, what hasn’t improved, and what the hell they’re going to do about it. Note: ALL women are welcome to attend this panel. Fellas are invited to attend something else, per Brian Keene and Joe Ripple. If any fellas have a problem with that, take it up with them. Or better yet, take it up with the panelists. They’ll be glad to correct you.

1:15pm – 2:15pm: Full-Time/Time-Full – Lucas Milliron (moderator), Red Lagoe, Philip Fracassi, Scott Cole, Adam Cesare, Wesley Southard, and Ben Farthing discuss writing full-time, writing part-time with a full-time job, and other combinations of time management.

2:30pm – 3:30pm: Our Favorite Reads of 2024 – B.C. Lienesch (moderator), Eric LaRocca, Shane Hawk, Gemma Amor, V Castro, Erin Kelly, and Eric Butler discuss the books and stories that stuck with them over the last year.

3:45pm – 4:45pm: Grief Horror – Dorian J. Sinnott (moderator), Laurel Hightower, Red Lagoe, William F. Gray, Katherine Silva, and Chris DiLeo discuss why this sub-genre has become so popular, and the joys and perils of writing and reading it.

5:00pm – 6:00pm: Folk Horror Thomas R. Clark (moderator), Todd Keisling, Tony Evans, Marie Lestrange, RJ Roles, Douglas Ford, and Nikki Nelson-Hicks discuss folk horror’s history and enduring popularity in these modern times.

SUNDAY

9:00am – 10:00am – Worship Service (First Floor, Auditorium): Maurice Broaddus leads this non-denominational service, open to all attendees and members of all faiths.

9:00am to 10:00am – Relaxation and Wellness Session. (Second Floor, Room J): Time and opportunity to learn and practice several wellness activities, including breathing exercises and supportive games. Designed to get you ready to enjoy a busy day of fun convention activities. This one-hour session is facilitated by Scares That Care board member Alfred Guy, Training Officer at the University of Maryland, Baltimore School of Social Work UMB-SSW. Take home a custom yoga mat (available only at this event) along with meditation scripts and affirmations. Participate at your own level of comfort and attend any or all three of the sessions. This is a ticketed event. Tickets are available at convention registration.

10:00am to 3:00pm – Vendors (Ballroom and Promenade)

Readings:

Second Floor, Room 8

10:30am – 11:15am: Marie Lestrange and Nikki Nelson-Hicks
11:30am – 12:15pm: S. M. Sykes and B.C. Lienesch

Second Floor, Room 11

10:45am – 11:30am: Andrew Van Wey and Kalvin Ellis
11:45am – 12:30pm: Joshua Loyd Fox and Patrick Tumblety

Second Floor, Room 12

11:00am – 11:45am: Red Lagoe and Elizabeth Broadbent

Panels:

Second Floor, Room 16

10:15am – 11:15am: Splatstick – James Sabata (moderator), Bitter Karella, D.M. Guay, Viggy Parr Hampton, Nathan D. Ludwig, Stephen Kozeniewski, and Wile E. Young discuss the thin line between humor and horror.

11:30am – 12:30pm:

Second Floor, Room 18

10:30am – 11:30am: Music and Horror – Justin Lutz (moderator), Edwin Callihan, Craig Wesley Wall, Tommy B. Smith, and Cassandra Celia discuss the long connections between music and horror.

11:45am – 12;45pm:

1:30pm – 2:30pm: The Twenty-Fifth Annual Yell At Brian Keene Panel – Brian Keene, Brian Smith, Jake Lerner, Joe Ripple, Sonora Taylor, Angel Hollman, Alfred Guy, and the rest of the Scares That Care staff welcome your feedback in this open forum, so that we can implement it next year. Please don’t really yell at Brian, though… (Second Floor, Room 18)