March 29-30, 2025
North Baltimore County, Pikesville
This panel will give you the knowledge, tips and tricks needed to create your most creative characters through the art of Makeup, along side learning how to include props like headpieces and prosthetics to take your look even further! @keshokage Andromeda Alien mini tutorial! I have to shoutout @pinkyparadiseofficial Cyberdoll Purple contacts @indi beat cosmetics […]
Meet the author of the French paranormal steampunk novel Esprit de Corpse and chat about the writing life, the joys of doing the research for steampunk fiction, and her plans for the continuing adventures of Jacqueline and Angélique, the Twins of Bellesfées.
What type of leather do I have? Can I change the color of my leather? Can you sew leather with a sewing machine? What tools do I need? All these questions and more can be answered by our expert panel of leather workers. Panelist are: Leah Blaydon & Steve Blaydon, Silverwolf Donald Dodson from Dodson […]
Plotters, pantsers, and in betweeners: join steampunk author Jessica Lucci and learn fun, easy to follow, writing plans to execute your next story!
Beyond The Oblong Box is a podcast born of a need to eliminate misinformation about Edgar Allan Poe. Join your hosts Levi Leland and Virginia Poe as they discuss the loves, life, works, and the world in which Poe once resided.
Join the flock for a Question and Answer session on all things Costume Design featuring The Ravens! There’s so much more to design than ruffled feathers, piles of trimming, and hours of meticulous sewing, so we invite you to pose your favorite questions to the professional designer and technician behind this group of dark victorian […]
Come celebrate the launch of A Cast of Crows, the premiere volume in the Forgotten Lore series, edited by Danielle Ackley-McPhail and featuring stories by David Lee Summers, Michelle D. Sonnier, Judi Fleming, Aaron Rosenberg, Ef Deal, Dana Fraedrich, Jessica Lucci, Doc Coleman, and Danielle Ackley-McPhail. Also launching: Grimm Machinations and Grease Monkeys. Contributing authors […]
Take a brief journey into the fun and unusual ways Victorians entertained themselves. Speakers Nancy Lasco-Smith and Heather Rachiele. Victorian Hair Weaving
Leather is an ancient material used for a number of goods and products for over 7,000 years. Since leather is a durable material and lasts craftsmen began finding a number of ways to decorate leather over the years and created the art of tooling. Tooling is the art of engraving leather with an image, patterns, […]
A fresh approach to rediscovering artifacts and solidifying “one man’s junk into another man’s treasure.From picking to assembling, this fun presentation is meant to inspire the creativity in everyone. No matter the size of your budget, with a little imagination, good old fashioned elbow grease, and a pinch of ingenuity anyone can identify and create […]
Dana Fraedrich has explored every audiobook creation route so you don't have to. From DIY to hiring a professional voice actor, ACX to Findaway, and more. Come with your audiobook creation questions and allow Dana to demystify this daunting (and rapidly growing) corner of the market for you.
Join a round table, intimate discussion with writer, editor and publisher Danielle Ackley-McPhail. She will discuss suggestions for taking your writing, crafting, or costuming to the next level by paying attention to the relevant details.
What's the T is a Q&A with dynamic duo makers Brian and Sheila Fradosh from Building Steam. Sip on some hot tea and pick the brains of this crafty couple! Brian and Sheila Fadrosh are the dynamic steampunk cosplay duo behind the YouTube channel Building Steam. This award-winning couple are self-taught cosplay creators and love […]
Michelle D. Sonnier to read a section from The Clockwork Witch and speak about creating creatures to fit in with native folklore in alternate world interpretations.
An interactive panel detailing the crimes of Jack the Ripper, the possible suspects. Debunking some of the rumors and how Jack the Ripper has been portrayed in media.
Author Round Table, A Reading from A Cry of Hounds with Danielle Ackley-McPhail
Author Round Table, A Reading from A Cry of Hounds with Keith R.A. DeCandido
The game is certainly afoot in Devon, a small town in rural England that has seen several deaths as of late. These killings seem to be the work of wild animals of unknown origin. There are rumors that the fabled Hound of the Baskervilles from one of Sherlock Holmes' most famous cases was not killed, […]
Steampunk themed pictionary
A primer on the use of the cane as a defense in the Victorian era. Victorian Cane Defense with Kevin M Houghton 2:45 - 3:45 pm
Want to go down a rabbit hole of technological change? My panel is for the arms enthusiasts interested in the weapons of the Victorian era. I'm a collector specialising in firearms technology and have a comprehensive collection of antiques which show that not all steampunk is just fantasy. In one century we went from flintlock […]
Dad, people who wish to participate will face off against each other best 2 our of 3 per round, jokes will be judged by me for fairness and by the audience for hilarity, with the winner advancing until they are deemed the top dad. The winner will receive a starboard Sky watch (to be shipped […]
Don't be nervous! Join our cast of crows (aka authors) for a madcap game of Mad Libs. The authors will take you on a wild ride of steampunk, Poe, and pure madness with stories that need some help from the audience to finish. Why do we insist they're mad? Yell out while the crazy, creative, […]
You're staring at 10 yards of ribbon. This shouldn’t be this hard, right? Pull laces, tie knot. Right? Don’t let the panic set in. Bring your favorite corset buddy to hang out with Corsets and Cogs and lace each other up! Bring your own Corsets and Cogs corset or try on one of ours. Masculine […]
Author Round table, Basics of Indie Publishing (I've written book, now what?) with JC Wade
An interactive poetry reading encouraging original poetry or poetry by Poe. Arrive early to sign up and get on the schedule. Each participant will be limited to 3 poems or 5 minutes. Audience members encouraged. Come hear spoken word, it adds a new dimension to poetry if you've never experienced it.
Take on the role of a Bakerstreet Irregular in this mystery solving game. It is you and your fellow detectives against the mind of Sherlock himself. You will have an hour to try and solve a case, be it a murder, a theft, or one of Sherlock's many cases. If you and your team can […]
Join local author and paranormal investigator Lennon Gross for a discussion of the history of paranormal fascination since the rise of spiritualism as well as tips, tricks, and live demonstrations of intuitive practices. While we won't be conducting a live seance, you will leave with a firm understanding of how to improve your ghost-hunting game.
"Enjoy some rounds of Cards Against Humanity with a con themed twist."
The panel begins with an introduction into basic electronic tools and techniques. The remainder of the panel focuses on repurposing electronics from inexpensive toys and decorations to add LED lights and easily-programmed LED arrays to props and costumes.
Join Michael Bracco (The Creators, Adam Wreck, Novo, The Monuments) as he shares his experiences with comic making and self publishing. In this panel we will explore the basics of making comics on your own or with a team, as well as the basics to promoting, printing, and selling your books in stores, at conventions, […]
Amazing restoration are possible! Tindell's Restoration Studios specializes in the conservation and restoration of various artworks and precious items including oil paintings, works on paper, maps, books, textiles, graphics, photos, frames, sculptures, figurines, crystal, glass, as well as rare and unusual items. They will talk about preserving and restoring lost treasures and images. www.TindellsRestorationStudios.com […]
Want to go down a rabbit hole of technological change? My panel is for the arms enthusiasts interested in the weapons of the Victorian era. I'm a collector specialising in firearms technology and have a comprehensive collection of antiques which show that not all steampunk is just fantasy. In one century we went from flintlock […]
Demonologist, paranormal investigator Kevin Meares will be giving a workshop on the bsaics of paranormal investigation and recognizing the presence of a demonic being as opposed to ghosts. Kevin will combine practical demonstrations using emf, and spirit box as well as a discussion of investigations in the US and the time that he was yelled […]
Mary Shelley was the daughter of social revolutionaries William Godwin and Mary Wollstonecraft, wife of romantic poet Percy Shelly, and mother of Frankenstein and his monster. But beneath the sweeping romantic tale of love unbound by societal convention and a life of travel, is the truth of the life of Mary Shelley; abandoned, disowned, and […]
Join author Brian McKinley for a fun and surprising look at some of the wild and varied vampires from world folklore. Before Bram Stoker's Dracula became the standard template, there were dozens of strange creatures who claimed the title.
Join author Brian McKinley for a fun and surprising look at some of the wild and varied vampires from world folklore. Before Bram Stoker's Dracula became the standard template, there were dozens of strange creatures who claimed the title.
Author Round Table with Ef Deal In the wide variety of settings for steampunk fiction, three elements anchor them all. Let's talk about the role of history and real science in works of the utterly imaginary realm of steampunk.
The authors from An Assembly of Monsters invite you to join us for a madcap session of Literary Improv, where you provide the prompts and we tell the stories! Our illustrious authors will be divided into teams and have ten minutes to craft a tale using the elements provided. Several rounds are anticipated, with the […]
From the Arkenstone to Kyber Crystals, games and fiction are full of tempting, shiny objects mined out of the earth for power, glory, or adornment. Join jeweler and rockhound Meredith Bare on a romp through her collection to find out what's real, what's not, what's somewhere in-between, and WHY WE DO NOT LICK THE ROCKS […]
You and several others have made the trek to Frankenstein's castle for various reasons, but not everything is as it seems. Game master Josh Widdowson will lead participants from the audience through a game of Ultimate Werewolf, as the participants tell a story of dread, horror and suspense through the machinations of the game. Will […]
Children of all ages, Miss Lala implores you to attend her story time where she will read picture books of questionable repute, teach you how to do appalling tricks with your appendages, allow you to squish another person's organs, and relate a tale so squeamish that it will be forevermore branded into your memory. But […]
Author Christine Norris will discuss her latest novel, A CURSE OF TIME AND VENGEANCE. A reading of the novel and discussion of writing historical fantasy, fairy tale retellings, and the challenges of writing a time-travel adventure to follow.
Are you an author who loves vampires, werewolves, Frankenstein's monster and other classic creatures? Aren't sure how to write your own in a way that is either a unique take on the lore or the monster itself? Let's discuss ways to make your favorite public domain creature your own via characterization, genre-blending, and more. EveryTHING old can […]
Demonologist and paranormal investigator Kevin Meares will lead a workshop on the fundamentals of paranormal investigation, focusing on how to distinguish between ghostly activity and the presence of a demonic entity. Through practical demonstrations with EMF meters and spirit boxes, Kevin will provide hands-on insights into the field. He’ll also share experiences from investigations across […]
Dacre Stoker’s compelling and informative Keynote presentation, Stoker on Stoker, the Mysteries Behind the Research and Writing of Dracula, weaves together the details of Dracula’s history with Stoker family lore, and Bram Stoker’s life in Dublin and London, then separates fact from popular fiction, revealing the truth about all things Stoker and Dracula. Stoker on […]
Monsters and Mocktails - Join Denise Cutair on a journey into genre cookbooks to discover recipes that will enchant you and your guests. We will look at cookbooks, the artistry of the drawings and photography. We will discover the commonalities between their fantasy and our mundane recipes. We will look at creating delightful beverages that […]
“In Jessica Lucci's latest book of poems, it's like meeting her at a cemetery gate so to explore the marble gardens she created. Her poems may be eulogies of regret and grief, but they allow the readers to have their own personal redemption." - Douglas Yeager
In their novel, Frankenstein: Monsters of the Abyss, John L. French and Patrick Thomas literally rewrote Mary Shelly's Frankenstein. The panel will discuss the why and the how of what they did, what they added and what they left out.
Join Michael Lake for an introduction to essential electronic tools and techniques, including wiring, repurposing affordable toys and decorations, and sourcing materials to create fantastical and imaginative costumes, cosplay accessories, and decorative items.
Round Table Discussion with Doc Coleman The right villain can make or break a story. Come talk about what makes a good villain, and how the bad guy fits into your world building for your story.
Challenge your intellect and artistic flair! Join Louis Wolf (Unlockable Content) for a digital Pictionary game with a unique steampunk twist.
And the tradition lives on with another Forgotten Lore anthology! (Yes… it’s officially an annual event.) Following in the eerie footsteps of A Cast of Crows and A Cry of Hounds, we invite you to the grand unveiling of the latest collection—An Assembly of Monsters! Meet the brilliant authors behind these haunting tales and hear […]
Join Unlockable Content for a convention-themed twist on the classic fill-in-the-blank game, where your awkward personality and lackluster social skills turn into pure fun and chaos!
Step into the eerie world of Transylvanian legend with The Dracula Séance, an immersive evening led by renowned paranormalist Vince Wilson. In this spine-chilling experience, Vince will guide guests in summoning the spirit of Vlad Tepes, the infamous ruler who inspired Bram Stoker’s Dracula. Centered around a black river rock taken from the historic Olt River, which […]
Uncover the chilling truth in Vince Wilson's Haunted Murder Mystery: Dracula's Descendant! Among the unsuspecting guests lies the descendant of Dracula, harboring a dark and dangerous secret. As eerie events unfold and supernatural forces stir, it’s up to you to piece together the clues, expose the dhampir, and confront the haunting legacy of the world’s most infamous […]
Following the success of Bullshot Baffles Brains at Key City 2024, the panel show will return. Based on the British TV Game Show 'Call My Bluff, the panels will have to determine if the descriptions offered by the opposing team are truth or pure Bullshots! Only one competitor in each round will hold the card […]
Round Table Discussions with Michelle D. Sonnier Join us for an engaging reading and discussion on how small changes can have a profound impact when crafting alternate world fantasy and steampunk fiction. We'll explore how subtle shifts in history, technology, culture, or even a single character’s choices can create ripples that reshape entire worlds. Through […]
Join us for a captivating roundtable discussion with award-winning author Danielle Ackley-McPhail as she delves into the eerie and evocative world of To Those Who Are Ancient, from Assembly of Monsters. This haunting tale weaves together myth and memory, bringing forth the presence of the Cihuateteo—divine vampire spirits of Aztec legend. Experience a live reading […]
Join Debra Miller, actress and author of Historical Women of Letters for an overview of the subsequent novels written by the mother of science fiction. This one hour presentation will begin with a brief timeline of Mary Shelley's life, her influences, and an overview of her published works, with an emphasis on her other six […]
oin panelist Diana Miller for an eye-opening discussion on the impact of fast fashion, textile waste, and landfills. Explore where your fabrics and clothing come from—and where they end up. Learn practical strategies to reduce waste in both costuming and everyday fashion while making more sustainable choices for the planet.
Join Dacre Stoker, great grandnephew of Dracula author Bram Stoker, as he facilitates an investigative session using copies of rare papers borrowed from libraries and archives around the world. Dacre will lead 20-30 attendees into a hands on 75 min session of discovery into his famous relatives life, his research and writing of Dracula in […]
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