Mazelle Attiya
Mazelle Attiya has always been interested in sewing. She learned to sew at the young age of 10 with Barbie clothes and by high school was making the costumes for the school plays. In 1987 she joined the Society For Creative Anachronism, Inc (SCA, Inc) and quickly moved up the ranks in the field of historical costuming. In 1999 she was inducted into the Order of the Laurel which is the SCA s highest level of expertise in the Arts and Sciences for her beautiful Elizabethan clothing and hat making skills. Between 1996 through 2005, Mazelle had her own custom sewing business in Memphis, catering to bridal parties, pageant, dance competition and Civil War re-enactors. During this same time period she also worked in the Wardrobe department for Opera Memphis. She went back to college and now has an MBA in Accounting so she can work to support her hobby of making costume for herself not only for the SCA but also for Sci-Fi/Fantasy conventions. Over the years she has won and judged numerous competitions at Costume Con, ShadowCon and MidSouthCon. Mazelle was the Costuming Guest of Honor at ShadowCon in 2011, 2012, 2013. She currently lives in Arlington, TN where her skills in sewing have now reached out to cosplay outfits for dolls too.
Angel of Azarath
Angel of Azarath is a Memphis-based professional costumer, filmmaker, and cosplayer. She has traveled to conventions and costuming gigs across America and works as the Costuming Director of Howl FX and Lupin Productions LLC. She has won prestigious awards from both national and local conventions for her costuming work done by herself and with Howl FX. While in school full-time to be a filmmaker and marketer, she enjoys dedicating her free time to the world of costuming, Netflix, and her horse.
Robert Bear
20 years experience in film and video. Have written and produced a large number of videos. and won: Two Regional Emmy’s for editing, Four Gold Addy Awards, and Six Telly Awards.
Michael Bielaczyc
Michael Bielaczyc has been working professionally in the art field since 2001 when he founded Aradani Studios with his brother Paul. Together they have exhibited across America selling both their artwork and costuming. He works in many mediums from oil paint to latex prosthetics, video to graphite.
Paul Bielaczyc
PAUL BIELACZYC resides in Nashville, TN, where he co-owns Aradani Studios with his brother Michael and sister Sara. Aradani Studios focuses on two unique aspects, fantastical artwork and fantastical costuming. The brothers are both deeply involved with the creation of art and the production of prosthetics. While Paul has been drawing and sketching for as long as he can remember, he wouldn’t be an artist today if it weren’t for his brother’s dream. Paul is currently a licensed Wheel of Time artist, and his work has been featured in such popular gaming properties and publications as Dragon Lance, Apex Digest, White Wolf, Masters of Fantasy Vol 3, and Sagaborn RPG. Paul has won numerous awards over the years from many conventions around the country, as well as the Chesley Award for “Best Monochrome Unpublished” for his piece “Nightmare,” which also won “Best Action” in Masters of Fantasy Volume 3.You can find him this weekend selling his art (and ears!) in the MidSouthCon Dealer’s Hall.
H David Blalock
H. David Blalock has been writing speculative fiction for over 40 years. His work has appeared in novels, novellas, stories, articles, reviews, and commentary both in print and online. Since 1996, his fiction has appeared in over two dozen magazines including Pro Se Presents, Aphelion Webzine, Quantum Muse, Shelter of Daylight Magazine, The Harrow, The Three-Lobed Burning Eye, The Martian Wave and many more. His current novel series is the three book Angelkiller Triad from Seventh Star Press. He served as editor for parABnormal Digest from its inception until the end of 2012 and currently serves as an editor at Alban Lake Publishing. His work continues to appear on a regular basis through multiple publishing houses.
Walt Boyes
By day, Walt Boyes is the not-so-mild-mannered partner in a high-technology consulting firm, Spitzer and Boyes LLC. Ah, but by night, he transforms into the Bananaslug of Baen s Bar, and begins to write. Walt has written 10 non-fiction books, articles and columns too numerous to count (Bananaslugs have very few fingers anyway) and has published several fiction pieces, including a half dozen short stories in the 1632 Universe (some with his wife Joy Ward) and some children s stories. Walt is currently working on two non-fiction books, and a novel (of course — doesn t every writer have one stashed somewhere?). Walt was Associate Editor and Marketing Director for Jim Baen s Universe magazine, is a member of the Editorial Board of the Grantville Gazette, and is an active memberof SFWA. He is Editor in Chief of The Grantville Gazette and Eric Flint s Ring of Fire Press.
Robin Burks
Robin Burks is an entertainment and science/technology writer, published author, avid con-goer and cosplayer. She also writes about pop culture and entertainment for Screen Rant.Robin is also the author of a series of speculative fiction novels: Zeus, Inc.; The Curse of Hekate; and Return of The Titans. In 2014, Indie Reader named the protagonist of that series, Alex Grosjean, as one of its Top Five Smart, Strong and Relatable Female Characters. The series was also inducted into the 2018 Darrell Awards Coger Hall of Fame.Robin, who currently lives in Missouri with her five cats, loves all things French and has a serious obsession with Doctor Who.
Jesaiah Burnett
He is the Program Director for the Desoto Arts Institute in Southaven Mississippi. We are a non-profit made up of filmmakers, musicians, and artists that teach kids and teenagers about the film-making process in an accessible and hands-on environment. I love a good story with lovable characters.
Jacqui Castle
Jacqui Castle is a professional freelance writer and novelist. She lives and writes in the Blue Ridge Mountains near Asheville, North Carolina. Castle has been published in a variety of publications, both regional and national, including Mountain Xpress, WNC Woman, Asheville Grit, and Explore Asheville. The Seclusion is her first novel and was selected as a Kirkus Reviews Best Science Fiction Book of September, and was mentioned as an i09 New Sci-Fi and Fantasy Books You Need to Put On Your Radar This Fall.
Jp Chapleau
Father of 3. Avid role player since 1984. Since 2000, I have been writing role-playing material for events around the world. I am the owner of FOE (First Ones Entertainment) and lead the Legacies Organized Play campaign. My other interests include history and miniature war-gaming.
Rey Clark
YA & MG fantasy and science fiction indie author from Pekin IL. The Path of Ascension Trilogy (YA Fantasy): Flames of Valor (2016), Fire Forged (2017), and Inferno Rising (expected 2019). Titan Code Series (YA Science Fiction): Dawn of Genesis (2018) and Age of Redemption (expected 2020). Legends of the Vale (MG Fantasy): 2019
Brian Cooksey
Brian Cooksey is an RPG editor and designer based in Nashville, TN. He co-designed the SagaBorn RPG and he has edited rules and supplements for many RPG companies. He is a co-host of the Play On Target podcast and is the former chairman of HyperiCon.
Greg Cravens
Greg Cravens, career cartoonist and caricaturist, hasn’t held a job that didn’t require a drawing board since he was briefly a busboy in 1982. In 1991, he started his freelance cartooning career in Memphis TN, a town with an inexplicably large number of ad agencies. He has drawn many thousands of cartoons, a dozen comic books of one kind or another, a stack of children’s books, and a lot of ads and signage you’ve had to look at over the years.
Lionel Crews
Lionel Crews was born in Nashville, TN and obtained a bachelors, masters, and doctorate in Physics and Astronomy at Vanderbilt University. He lives with his wife Lori and their three children, Amelia, Emma, and William in Sharon, TN. He has been a professor of Physics and Astronomy at UT Martin since 2000. He very much enjoys working with K-12 teachers and students to enhance science education, and traveling to various locations around the world including Belize, Kitt Peak National Observatory, Las Campanas Observatory, the UK, and Italy for research and educational purposes. He has been involved with the Honors Programs at UT Martin since 2006, but will be returning to full time faculty this Summer. He enjoys working with the public, doing a variety of astronomy and physics demonstrations at places such as Discovery Park of America in Union City. He also very much enjoys attending MidSouthCon, being a regular attendee since 2001.
Loren Damewood
Loren is a professional knot-tyer, focusing his energies on fancy knots tied in precious metal to make jewelry. When not engaged in doing that, he ties knots for fun, and gives most of them away, but those are in cotton. He loves to teach others how to do what he does.
Aaron Christopher Drown
Aaron Christopher Drown is a native of Brunswick, Maine, who currently resides in Memphis. His short stories has appeared in numerous magazines and anthologies. The first edition of his debut novel, A Mage of None Magic, won the 2010 Darrell Award for Best Novel. His story, Path of an Arrow, received the 2012 Darrell Award for Best Novella. Also an award-winning graphic designer, when not slogging away at his trusty MacBook, Pedro, he can be found hiding around a nearby corner waiting to leap out at either of his unsuspecting children.
Paul Fischer
University of MemphisMasters in Public Health 2013Bachelors of Professional Studies in Alcohol and Drug Abuse Services 2008New York Institute of Photography 1995Retired from the US Navy 1986-2006.Currently working at one of local hospitals in the Memphis area and eagerly looking forward to getting married this fall to the love of my life Traci Cox.
Charlie Forrester
Charlie Forrester’s keen eye absorbed all the rich styles and influences that swirled around him. He reflected them right back sharpening his pencils on comic book characters and storytelling throughout middle school. His drawing was constant and he paid his dues with drive and desire. Early on he zeroed in on pencil and ink, and displayed himself most proficient at sequential art, comics, and storyboarding.In college, he ran the courses of figure drawing and anatomy, but majored at the school of hard knocks. There was no money involved then, and even if there wasn t now, he d still be creating. Charlie currently creates and teaches art in Memphis, devoted to his wife and three children.
Mitch Foust
Mitch Foust discovered a passion for Fantasy, art, and history at an early age. He started his art career producing comic books in the black and white comic boom of the 1980s. Foust has gone on to produce many illustrations for comics, book covers, role playing games, and t-shirts. Mitch has developed a fascination with textures and details in his work. He strives for as much realism as possible, creating his own unique look to his fantasy paintings. Since 2009, he has compiled his work into an annual Yearbook. These Yearbooks contain all of the work produced in the previous year. His work may be found online at mitchfoustart.com.
Melissa Gay
Melissa Gay is a Chesley Award winning illustrator of books and tabletop roleplaying games whose diverse list of clients include Baen Books, Llewellyn Worldwide, Hay House, Apex Press, and many game companies. Her Imaginative Realist work has been featured in ImagineFX Magazine, tor.com, and several of the Infected By Art anthologies. She is an ASFA member, a co-founder of the Bird Whisperer Project, a member of the Changeling Artist Collective, and is on the moderating team of the art business group One Fantastic Week. Her passion projects are her acrylic space paintings, which have met with international success. A former scientific illustrator, she is constantly seeking the perfect balance between precise detail and hazy obscurity to better engage the imagination of the viewer.
T. Kyle Gentry
“I use my character design and illustration skills to bring ideas to life”T. Kyle Gentry attended college at the Ringling School of Art and Design in Sarasota, Florida. Soon after graduating with a BFA in 1997, he began illustrating professionally.Kyle is a character designer for the animation and video game industry. He has also illustrated for the children s book, medical, editorial, music, and print industries. Although his first love is pencil, he completes his illustrations on a Mac utilizing Corel Painter X3, Photoshop CC 2014, Clip-Studio Paint, and a Wacom Cintiq 24HD.T. Kyle Gentry currently lives in Orlando, Florida with his wonderful wife Katie & beagle ‘Watson’.
Mandi George
I am a seamstress . I have been sewing since age 10. I am experienced in costuming and alterations. I have experience also I beauty makeup and some special fx makeup! I work full time at a uniform company and make costume in my spear time. I am married and mother of two great kids.
Allan Gilbreath
Allan Gilbreath denies that he was raised by wolves, but still enjoys quiet moonlit evenings. He is an accomplished skeptic, cook, gardener, computer geek, martial artist, and avid student of arcane knowledge. Allan is also a nationally recognized and award-winning author, publisher, speaker, and instructor. He has appeared on television, stage, movies, radio, web/podcast, and tours the country in live appearances. Allan is the executive producer of Question X, a paranormal research show. He is the villainous co-host of the I Heart Media hit show, Geek Tank Radio(www.geektankradio.com), and a monthly co-host on the Internet radio show Renee Live Paranormal Show (TMVCafe.com). Allan has played a wide variety of characters from a crazed Englishman to a silent leather-clad assassin. Allan is a principal performer in the Pyrate Blades, who perform live action pirate based stage fighting. He enjoys serving on panels and covers a wide range of topics from the serious to the outrageous. In his adult vampire novels, Galen and Dark Chances, he links sensual fantasy with danger and predation to excellent effect. His exceptional use of plot tension between the various characters sets a wonderful stage for the little details that bring it all to life. Allan’s Jack Lago supernatural mysteries are known for their attention to detail and suspense. His short stories have appeared in numerous anthologies and his collection, Allan Gilbreath: A Short Story Collection covers his three favorite genres; science fiction, dark fantasy, and steampunk. He is currently working on several media projects including paranormal research, comedy shows, and action movies. For more information please see: http://www.darkoakpress.com.
Ciara Kwartz Kitty
Ciara is a curvy journeyman cosplayer from Mississippi. She’s been cosplaying since March 2017 and doesn’t plan on stopping anytime soon. She mainly cosplays from videogames, anime and comics. She has made a total of over 15 cosplays so far and wants to spread the word that cosplay is for everyone no matter your size, shape, color or gender.
Tommy Hancock
Steeped in pulp magazines, old radio shows, and all things of that era s pop culture, Tommy Hancock lives in Arkansas with his wonderful wife and three children and obviously not enough to do. He is Partner in and Editor in Chief for Pro Se Productions, is an organizer of the New Pulp Movement, and has worked as an editor for various companies, including Moonstone and Dark Oak Press. He is also an award winning writer for various companies, including Airship 27, Mechanoid Press, Pulpwork Press, Dark Oak, and Moonstone.
Michelle Hanlon
Michelle is an Associate Director of the National Center for Remote Sensing, Air and Space Law and an instructor of aviation and space law. Michelle received her B.A. in Political Science from Yale College and her J.D. magna cum laude from the Georgetown University Law Center. She earned her LL.M in Air and Space Law from McGill University where the focus of her research was commercial space and the intersection of commerce and public law.Michelle is a Co-Founder and the President of For All Moonkind, Inc., a nonprofit corporation that is the only organization in the world focused on protecting human cultural heritage in outer space. For All Moonkind has been recognized by the United Nations as a Permanent Observer to the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space
Jared Hedleston
Cyndy Hendershot
Cyndy Hendershot is a Professor of English at Arkansas State University.
Louise Herring-Jones
Louise Herring-Jones writes mainstream, historical, and speculative fiction as well as mystery, humor and non-fiction. She practices law in Alabama under her legal name Amy L. Herring and is an advocate for privacy rights, First Amendment guarantees, and other constitutionally protected freedoms. No representation is made that the quality of the legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers.
Tenitia Hobson
Always ready to lend a helping hand, the majority of Tenitia s free time is spent putting in volunteer hours for many of Memphis theatre and arts organizations. She s a rabid fangirl of more fandoms than she can count, lover of all things costume and cosplay, and is thrilled to be back for another Midsouthcon!
Jim Hodgson
Jim Hodgson is a bestselling author. He likes his wife, bikes, cars, and the outdoors. He is an Ironman finisher, an ultramarathon finisher, and has climbed two of the world s tallest mountains.
Ric Honey
The Memphis Astronomical Society. A non-profit, public service organization promoting interest and education in astronomy and related sciences. Founded in 1953
HOWARDART SPFX MAKEUP STUDIO
A.G. Howard has been creating custom sculpted, castings for appliances and applying this makeup since 1984.His passions for this craft led him to Boss studios and now HOWARDART SPFX MAKEUP STUDIO is with Ultimate Halloween Guide! ( find us on Facebook)
Larry Hoy
Larry HoyBiker Writer Legend Larry is a short story author also a contributing member of the Malice in Memphis & Memphis Writers clubs.When not writing, Larry can be found on the back of his motorcycle. Over those years he has collected an endless supply of stories. Now, on days when he isn t thundering down backroads, he has been spotted putting some of his stories down on paper. This is one of those stories. Other high water marks in his life include his wife and daughters. Together they have shared many adventures and somehow come out safe on the other side. The family also trains in Kempo-Karate, where they earned enough belts so they can all hold up their pants. To find out more you can contact him at: https://larryhoyjr.wordpress.com/
John Hornor Jacobs
John Hornor Jacobs, is an award-winning author of genre-bending adult and YA fiction. His first novel, SOUTHERN GODS, was nominated for a Bram Stoker Award for Excellence in a First Novel, and won the Darrel Award. The Onion AV said of the book, A sumptuous Southern Gothic thriller steeped in the distinct American mythologies of Cthulhu and the blues . . . Southern Gods beautifully probes the eerie, horror-infested underbelly of the South. His second novel, THIS DARK EARTH, Brian Keene described as quite simply, the best zombie novel I ve read in years and was published by Simon & Schuster s Gallery imprint. Jacobs s acclaimed series of novels for young adults beginning with THE TWELVE-FINGERED BOY, continuing with THE SHIBBOLETH, and ending with THE CONFORMITY has been hailed by Cory Doctorow on BoingBoing as amazing and mesmerizing. 2014 saw the publication of Jacobs s first fantasy novel, THE INCORRUPTIBLES, from Hachette/Livre. Pat Rothfuss has said of this book, One part ancient Rome, two parts wild west, one part Faust. A pinch of Tolkien, of Lovecraft, of Dante. This is strange alchemy, a recipe I ve never seen before. I wish more books were as fresh and brave as this.His fiction has appeared in Playboy Magazine, Cemetery Dance, Apex Magazine and his essay have been featured on CBS Weekly and Huffington Post. Jacobs resides in the American South and spends his free time when not working on his next book speaking with high-school students about fiction and adults about becoming writers.
Cynthia Jerkins
Cynthia Jerkins is a long-standing member of the Memphis Gaming community, currently working as staff for Riverside Opera, a local Vampire: The Masquerade LARP. She often works with Studio Agate Productions as a rep for the RPG Shadows of Esteren.
April Jones
April spends her days editing her way through various realms and worlds, essays and articles. She received her M.F.A. from Antioch University and a bachelors in English from Brigham Young University-Idaho. She hails from Tennessee, but currently lives in Michigan with her husband and three children.
Bryan A. Jones
Bryan Jones is a chain mail smith and digital artist who proudly hails from Huntsville, Alabama, the “Rocket City.” He grew up in a computer-literate home long before computers were cool and enjoys transferring his imagination into digital space vistas. On the other end of the space-time continuum, Bryan is a fan of Renaissance Faires and medieval combat, translating that interest into chain mail creations that will delight any fair lady and her knight in shining armor. Visit Bryan at www.whitebearfantasies.com .
Katie Jones
A Memphis native, Katie Jones is a local artist and art educator at St. Ann’s Catholic School. She obtained her bachelor of fine arts in painting and masters of art in teaching in art education from the Memphis College of Art. Her main focuses art education and in the integration of anime into the curriculum after writing her masters thesis on the subject. Currently she is building up her portfolio in painting again to show professionally again.
Mat Kaminski
Mat Kaminski is a cyberpunk and dark fantasy artist currently knee deep in a card project entitled, Metal Marionettes. In the past he has worked on numerous RPG illustrations as well as book covers.To see more of his work, visit www.artofmatk.com and to learn more about the Metal Marionettes project, visit: www.patreon.com/artofmatk.
Robert J. Krog
Robert J. Krog is an author, editor, and book reviewer, native to Memphis, TN, where he still resides with his family. He has been a climber for his father s professional arborist company, a grocery store clerk, a waiter, an order out delivery guy, a legal runner, a substitute teacher, and a high school History teacher. He has a master s degree in Ancient History. He currently works for a chemical lawn care and organic services company in Memphis, TN. He is a devout Catholic, and this influences all of his writing. His published works include the collection, The Stone Maiden and Other Tales, the novelette, A Bag Full of Eyes, and numerous short stories in anthologies from various publishers. He edited the anthologies A Tall Ship, a Star, and Plunder for Dark Oak Press, Potter s Fields Five, and Potter s Field Six for Alban Lake Publishing. A Bag Full of Eyes won the Darrell Award for Best Midsouth Novella in 2013. His short story, The One s Who Remember, won the Darrell Award for Best Midsouth Short Story in 2016. His most recent work as writer and editor appears in End of the World Potluck, from Alban Lake Publishing. He is currently working on a pair of short novels to be released, hopefully, in 2019. He is a regular author guest at science fiction and fantasy conventions in and around the Midsouth. www.krogfiction.wordpress.comhttp://www.amazon.com/Robert-J.-Krog/e/B008ONYZDIrobertj.krog@gmail.com
Melinda LaFevers
Melinda LaFevers is a Renaissance Woman with a wide variety of interests and hobbies. As an Arts in Education residency artist, she tries to make history come alive for student of all ages. As an Arkansas A+ Fellow and educator, she helps to train teachers to use hands on experience and art to teach. As a musician, she explores the world of traditional, medieval, and modern folk and filk. As a writer, one of her goals is to eventually have something published in almost every genre. Her other goal is to get at least one of the 4 novels that she is working on finally finished!
Rebecca Love
Vice President Programs of the Memphis Astronomical Society. A non-profit, public service organization promoting interest and education in astronomy and related sciences. Founded in 1953
Terry Maggert
Left-handed. Husband to a half-Norwegian. Herder of cats and dogs. Lover of pie. I write books. I’ve had an unhealthy fascination with dragons since the age of– well, for a while. Native Floridian. Current Tennessean. Location subject to change based on insurrection, upheaval, or availability of coffee. Thirty-one books and counting, with no end in sight. You’ve been warned.
Amanda Makepeace
Amanda Makepeace is an award winning artist and illustrator. Her career in art began more than a decade ago while living abroad in the UK. In recent years, Amanda has worked with independent publishers and game companies. She is a regular at Fantasy and SciFi conventions in the southeast, and an award winner at JordanCon, DragonCon, ChattaCon, and LibertyCon.Through her art, she explores mythology, magical beings, our connection to the planet, and even distant worlds. She is a member of the Changeling Artist Collective and Co-Founder of the Bird Whisperer Project. When she’s not in the studio, she can be found reconnecting with nature and the woods that inspired her as a child.
Mike McCarthy
Mike McCarthy’s art is based on three original Pop Culture contributions that America gave the world during the twentieth century: Comic Books, Rock and Roll, and Drive-In Cinema (not just the physical things themselves, but the ideas behind them). The most progressive and brilliant period of this pulp trinity occurs between 1935 to 1977 (“Bride of Frankenstein” to “Star Wars”, Will Rogers death to Punk Rock, the first comic books until the death of underground comics); and the Life and Death of Elvis Presley.Elvis Presley is not just the king of rock and roll, he is the king of American Pop Culture.McCarthy notes that the Golden Age and it’s darker pre-period with Silent Film and the Euro Avante-Garde (along with capitalism’s intrinsic regard for linkage) creates a monstrous family tree where film, comics, and movies are related, often succeeding one over the other. This could be the subject of a book or a documentary (‘The Rise and Fall of American Pop Culture’), but instead McCarthy (in the precious time that he has) contributes new regionalistic and millennial (not post-modern) pieces based on ideas gleaned from the past -when American Pop Culture cyclically went from the underground to the mainstream with a quickness and sincerity while sometimes crossing oceans to do so. Guerrilla Monster Films was founded by McCarthy in 1994, and has become a catalog of sorts for his pre-film comic book work, music, and ideas.
Logan McNeil
Local Dungeon Master of fifteen years. Experience in running many different game systems including D&D, Shadowrun, Call of Cthulhu, Blood of Heros, Exalted, and more. IHe has been on panels at several conventions sharing his knowledge and experience on World Building, Character Design, Story Telling, Pantheon Creation, How to make a great Villain, and other such topics of interest to my fellow gamers.
Jimmy Misfit
As a child, Jimmy Misfit wrote soap-operatic letters on motel stationery and left them for the housekeepers to read. This ended when his mother informed Jimmy that heiresses saying goodbye to their husbands forever before jetting off to South America rarely stayed at Travelodge, that they likely didn t write in green magic marker, and that if motel housekeepers were his target audience, he needed to be much less messy so they d have time to read. Jimmy has been published in SNReview, Nuvein, Help: The Preditors and Editors Anthology, and in the anthology, Foolish Hearts. Jimmy now writes ridicu-lit fiction, and his book, The Silliest Stories Out of Bustleburg: America s Worst City is a 2018 release from JMS Books.Jimmy Misfit is not his real name. You probably knew that.
Alvin R Mullen
I am Alvin R Mullen; owner, editor, of Myriad Paradigm Publishing. While at a convention in the early 90s, I attended a writer s workshop run by Barry B. Longyear, and was hooked. I started writing. In 94 I was accepted to the Center of the Study of Science Fiction s short story class, at UK with Prof. James E. Gunn I sold a couple of short stories, and planned to start my own publishing co., but with a move to Florida and a new job, writing and publishing took a back seat. Finally four years ago I secured the name Myriad Paradigm Publishing and immediately found out I was not ready. After two years of research, helping my wife publish high school literary magazines, which are available on Amazon.com, and talking to several successful small publishers for advice, I felt I was ready. I still have a couple more years until I retire, but I put the money aside to pay authors and I published two anthologies. OH, and we have basset hounds, that s important.
Kevin Andrew Murphyn
Kevin Andrew Murphy is an American novelist and game writer from Northern California. He is a graduate of University of California at Santa Cruz and has a Master of Arts from University of Southern California. He has written gamebooks for Steve Jackson Games and White Wolf. He is one of the contributors to the Wild Cards book series edited by George R. R. Martin. His first solo novel, Penny Dreadful was released in 2007.
Ethan Nahté
Ethan Nahté worked many years in TV/film/radio. He is a photojournalist and a musician who just happens to write when he can find the time. He currently has 30+ stories & poems published over the past eight years by Yard Dog Press, Alban Lake Publishing, 4 Star Stories, and Pro Se Press to name a few. Ethan has two short story collections: “Of Monsters & Madmen” (Beagle Mountain Press) and “The Undead Ate My Head” (Yard Dog Press). He is also the author of the novellas “The Savage Caged” based on David Martinez’s comic book character The Savage Cat and the YA Sci-Fi tale “Wings of Mercury,” both from Beagle Mountain Press. When not writing, reading, or jamming out, he enjoys running around in the mountains and water activities on the creeks and lakes in the Ouachita or Ozark Mountain regions.
Paul Nunis
Paul Nunis teaches Criminal Justice at Arkansas State University, he is a former police officer and member of the Board of Directors for the Fraternal Order of Police lodge in Virginia. His study of crime as a social science developed from a life long fascination with Sherlock Holmes, Doc Savage, and Hercule Poirot. He is currently preparing a course on Blues and Popular Culture at ASU that will explore the mythos of the blues,.
Ginger Oh Snap
Ginger Oh Snap is an award-winning costumer, actor, cosplay entertainer, and burlesque performer based in Nashville, TN. Over the years, Ginger has grown a successful business in the cosplay community – creating custom costumes, props, and adorable geeky things that are available for purchase online and at conventions. Although she specializes in textiles, Ginger also enjoys creating armor and props and weathering things within an inch of their life. She is a self-proclaimed fantasy and sci-fi obsessing, video game loving, D&D playing, friend of canon, who is probably just a bunch of cats in a costume.
Katie Ostrand
Katie is stay at home mother of 5 where she studies and talks in all things geek related. For the past 5yrs she is an active panelist at the local cons as well as a regular guest on several popular podcasts, including Star Wars, Gamers diversified, costuming on a Budget and many more. This will be her 6th year as a guest at Midsouth Con and looking forward to many more to come.
Grayson Peters
Grayson Peters, Owner and Director of Lupin Productions LLC and Howl FX, has been an avid video game and comic fan since childhood. He is the writer and director of two viral Overwatch fan films that have won several film awards and even been featured in the Rolling Stone. He is also the CEO of Howl FX, a professional costuming company based out of Nashville, TN.
Pierogi
Malka, known as Pierogi on Twitch, YouTube, and Cosplay. Pierogi has been cosplaying professionally for over 3 years and is a local award winning seamstress. Pierogi is also solo idol who produces, writes, and choreographs their own songs. Taking inspiration from idol animes and jpop idols, Pierogi adds a slight hint of Slavic culture to the world of Idols with their performances with the can do idol spirit!
H.C. Playa
HC Playa is mad scientist by day and a writer, well any time not occupied by science and the domestic challenge of raising three minions.She adores all things fiction, but science fiction and fantasy have long been her favorite genres. Once in awhile she tackles the challenge of writing strictly within a genre, but more often than not tosses genre elements into a blender, performs dark writing alchemy, and laughs maniacally at her creations.
Josh Plock
Being raised on; comics, horror movies, and the paranormal set Josh Plock on a path he would follow for the rest of his life. He became one of the first staff writers for the House of Geekery, where he writes about his passions. Frequently featured on the Aymerich Show podcast, where he discusses cult films, the paranormal, and comics. Most recently, he was a contributing author on the book the American Superhero: Encyclopedia of Caped Crusaders in History.
John Pyka
John Pyka is a professional Dieselpunk entertainer, broadcaster and author. He is the producer and host of the Dieselpunk Podcast, and author of the Tales From The Flip-Side series from Pro Se Press.
H R Raymer
Herika R. Raymer grew up consuming books – first by eating them, later by reading them. Her mother taught her the value of focus and hard work while her father encouraged her love literature and art. She has been writing for years and after much encouragement, Mrs. Raymer finally published a few short stories and, more recently, a collection: MAKE MINE WITH A SIDE OF CREEPY. She continues to send submissions, sometimes with success, and currently has another collection of stories in the works. She edits, so has a healthy respect for proofing and editing. Herika R. Raymer is married with two children and a dog in West Tennessee, USA
Tyrone Tony Reed Jr.
Inspired as a child by Superman s alter ego Clark Kent, a go-getter reporter at The Daily Planet, Tyrone Tony Reed Jr. s writing career began in his teen years. in his hometown of Memphis, Tenn.Tyrone has written hundreds of articles for several print and online newspapers and magazines.He is currently the host of the community-focused radio show Hub City Now with Tyrone Tony Reed Jr. Tyrone is also the creator/author of the superhero series, S.O.L.A.D.: Soldiers of Light Against Darkness and is currently writing the follow-up novels in the series. You can find out more about this acclaimed series at www.tyronetonyreedjr.com.
Kimberly B Richardson
Kimberly B. Richardson is the author of Tales From a Goth Librarian, The Decembrists, Tales From a Goth Librarian II, Mabon/Pomegranate, Open A, and The Path of a Tea Traveler. She is the creator of the Agnes Viridian series, the Maven Chronicles, the Tea Traveler Chronicles, and the Order of the Black Silk trilogy. She is also the editor of Realms of Imagination: An Urban Fantasy Anthology and the Steampunk anthology series Dreams of Steam, and has stories in multiple anthologies. Ms. Richardson was the 2015 David McCrosky Volunteer Photographer in Residence for Elmwood Cemetery in Memphis, Tennessee and the Photography II winner of the 2018 Raymond James Affiliate Art Show. Ms. Richardson is the founder and owner of Viridian Tea Company and a certified thanatologist.
Tim Romine
Tim has been the prop master, stage manager, an occasional performer (Eddie, Dr. Scott, Columbia, Janet, Magenta), and jack-of-all-trades for the Memphis “Rocky Horror Picture Show” shadowcast, “Absent Friends”, since September, 2010. Although his primary contributions are prop/set construction and stage management, his periodic surprise appearances as “The Gimp”, Jason Voorhees, Michael Meyers, and other odd characters add one more touch of randomness and comic relief to an already outrageous theatrical spectacle.
Creative Because I Was Created
I am a local Memphis Bellydancer. I have been performing and practicing bellydance for many years now. I started dancing with Amber Lea and when she moved to California I found other local performers to dance with such as Poluminati and many others. I love the art of bellydance and I ant wait to share it with others while including cosplay! This is a wonderful way to promote body positivity and beauty and I am excited to include anyone willing to learn!
Alexandria Perel
Costume Technician at Theatre Memphis Costume Technician at Opera MemphisCostume Stitcher and dresser for IATSE 825Free lance Costume designer
Pat Sawtelle
Pat Sawtelle began writing in August of 2008 simply to make her mind shut up. After filling two spiral notebooks and with dreams still flowing, she decided she needed a laptop. This story wasn t stopping. A short 5 1/2 years later, she finished the 15 novels that became the Chalice Princess series. With the help of a friend at Dark Oak Press, they started preparing the books for production. After publication of Chalice Moon Pat began promotion of her series as a cozy paranormal, defining a new sub-genre. With a full-time job, a family, and home, writing continues to provide Pat a distraction to the ups and downs of life. She fills her free time leading monthly It s All About Writing seminars at the Germantown Community Library, promoting the Chalice Princess series, or pounding out short stories for fun. On gray rainy days, you might find her at the coffee shop drinking hot chocolate, laughing, and dreaming up mischief with other Dark Oak Press.
Dave Schroeder
Dave Schroeder (said SHRAY-der) is the author of the Xenotech Support science fiction humor series and the CongruentMage fantasy series. He’s also the owner of Spiral Arm Press, a publishing house decided to his work. Dave is a retired Chief Information Officer from suburban Atlanta where he lives with his wife, daughter, and two inspirational cats. Learn more at daveschroeder.com.
Laura Sellers
Knox Shelton
Knox Shelton is the Executive Director at Literacy Mid-South. After graduating from Hendrix College in Arkansas, Knox enthusiastically made his move to Memphis. Prior to joining Literacy Mid-South, he worked at the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Memphis. He has experience in engaging with his community and cultivating ways to get Memphians devoted to improving this city. Knox joined Literacy Mid-South team because he believes that through the collaborative spirit that both LMS and our partners hold, we can make a lasting impact on our community. He also enjoys spending his time digging through record crates, reading Latin, and rooting hard for the Grizzlies.
Sara Shughart
If being a professional scholar was still a viable position, Sara Shughart would fit the bill. Instead, she teaches…well…everything and runs games. You may have played in one, and for that, we apologize.
Freddie Silva
Freddie Silva lives in Charlotte, North Carolina. He has a passion for history, religion, and mythology. He strives to use elements from these interests in his writing. He has published stories in a variety of venues including Catfish Stew; Triangulation; The Alchemist Review, Short & Twisted Christmas Tales, and Broadswords and Blasters. His Kingdom of Haven series, The Order of the Wolf, Stenson Blues, and The Eastern Factor are available on multiple e-book platforms. His latest novel, Death-Bringer, will be released in January 2019. He can be found at www.freddiesilva.com.
Diana Smith
“Professional novice” Diana Smith is into a little bit of everything. Her passions are the ukulele, plus-size/comfortable cosplay, anime and Japanese culture, sci-fi, and dieselpunk. She believes you need no credentials to be a geek and that you can cosplay whoever you want, however you feel comfortable doing it.
Rachael Sparks
Rachael Sparks was born in Waco, Texas. She graduated with a degree in Microbiology from Texas A&M University. After a decade-long career in Austin, Texas, as a transplant specialist, she joined a startup fighting healthcare-acquired infections, thus satisfying her lifelong interest in infectious diseases and the science of human health. She relocated with her family to Asheville, North Carolina where she finally put her first novel onto the page. In her free time, she serves on the board of the Asheville Museum of Science and loves to cook, brew, garden, and spend time with friends and family.
Rosalie Stanton
Rosalie Stanton is an award-winning author of paranormal and contemporary romance. A lifelong enthusiast of larger than life characters, Rosalie enjoys building worlds filled with strong heroes and heroines of all backgrounds.Rosalie lives in Missouri with her husband and their dog, Luna. At an early age, she discovered a talent for creating worlds, which evolved into a love of words and storytelling. Rosalie graduated with a degree in English. As the granddaughter of an evangelical minister, Rosalie applied herself equally in school in the creative writing and religious studies departments, which had an interesting impact on her writing. When her attention is not engaged by writing or editing, she enjoys spending time with close friends and family.
Gwenyth Stoecker
Gwenyth is a recent graduate of the University of Memphis with a degree in Exercise Sports Sciences and a triple minor in Theater, English, and Dance. She also did the Disney College Program in Fall of 2017, working in the Spas. This is her 13 year working the Mid South Con.
L.A. Story
L.A. Story is a professional daydreamer and a naturalized Mississippian. She lives in an enchanted forest with her husband, a druid poet, and two dogs and two cats who believe they are the Keepers and we are the Pets. She lives near her four brilliant children, of whom she believes are scary smart with world domination potential. Among said children, two have managed to produce five grandchildren who are possessed of an equally frightening intellect.L.A. has been creating stories in her head and attempting to put them on paper since she was old enough hold a pencil. She is an award-winning staff writer and columnist for a local newspaper. Her poetry and fiction have also been widely published. She has been both a Rhysling and James Baker award nominee. She teaches poetry workshops for the Crossroads Poetry Project and is the former editor of the paranormal romance magazine — Trysts of Fate (Alban Lake Publishing).
Ashton Swiger
Ashton Swiger has a degree in History from the University of Memphis.
Donald Thomas
Don Thomas is a writer and editor of comics, prose, and scripting for TV and film.
Bill M. Tracer
With degrees in Art, History, and Computer Science, Bill M. Tracer, Rogue Philosopher, Artist, Metaphysicist, Ufologist, Science Fiction Enthusiast, Time traveler and writer of that thought provoking stuff, now blends these otherwise dissimilar realms through the creation of computer graphic art with science fiction, fantasy, and paranormal themes, as well as mounting expeditions into fractal geometric realms. He creates abstract works enriched with these fractal layers, as well as book cover art. Posters & other art products including home décor and fashion are available with his work at the following:Zazzle: https://www.zazzle.com/billmtracer, Redbubble: https://www.redbubble.com/people/BillMTracer?asc=u,VIDA: https://shopvida.com/collections/bill-m-tracer, and Fine Art America: https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/william-tracer.html?tab=artwork. Not limited to the art world, Bill writes in the same genres. You ll find Bill s speculative fiction & non-fiction at his Amazon Author s page at: https://www.amazon.com/Bill-M.-Tracer/e/B00KU5ATZ6/
Jeremy Veldman
President of the Memphis Astronomical Society, a non-profit, public service organization promoting interest and education in astronomy and related sciences. Founded in 1953
Joy Ward
Joy has spent time as both a nonfiction and a fiction writer. Her fifteen year career as a journalist helped her learn how to write. The she moved into fiction with her first novel in 2005. Joy had a 20 plus year career as a consumer psychology and branding consultant. Along the way she has spent time as pr specialist, a college administrator and an internationally recognized blogger covering animal issues. Now She and her husnand, Walt Boyes, live in St. Louis with their pack of rescue dogs.
L. Kevin Watson
about Kevin Watson: Kevin Watson is the owner of Dark Naga Adventures which is a small publisher focused on 5th Edition adventures based in Memphis, Tennessee. He has been gaming since 1980 when he played a cleric in a heavily home-brewed version of AD&D at a boy scout event. Moved to Basic D&D early the next year and behind the screen more or less permanently with the release of the Moldvay boxed set later that year. Over many editions, and many side treks into other genres and systems, he returned to Dungeons and Dragons just before 5th Edition started playtest under the title Next and began publishing for 5e in 2016.
James Weakley
James Weakley is a local educator, teaching ESL, whose short story “Plasma’s Bomb” is published by Prose Productions’ anothology ORIGINS &ENDINGS Vol1. He is a guest at local comic conventions, the host of Nerd Nite Memphis, and one who believes that there is value to examining the relationship between our culture and our entertainment.
Terri Weaver
I’m a self taught costumer and artist. I love to create and also to write but I hate writing bios. Currently in my day job I am an apprentice clarinet technician at Amro Music. I spend a lot of time with drag queens and often that means helping them to create a look or a prop or a set piece for a particular event. It’s a weird life but it’s my life and I love it.
Bill Web
Bill realized a long time ago that writing is simply telling stories, same as has been done around family meals and campfires throughout history. Born and raised in West Tennessee, Bill has always been fascinated with the power of the individual to affect historic events. Reading and writing date back to his earliest days and he’s done everything possible to stay a teenager, despite any superficial outward changes. The stories of his youth resonate in his works, from Robert E. Howard and Roger Zelazny to Heinlein and Fritz Leiber.
Mel. White
Known to her kids as “Indiana Mom”, Dr. Mel. is a scientist, writer, artist, comic book creator, poet, storyteller, filker, and World of Warcraft player (not necessarily in that order.) She makes use of her degree in Egyptology as an adjunct professor at Richland College, teaching fun ed courses to senior citizens. She also volunteers in the paleontology lab at the Perot Museum when she’s not teaching. She is currently continuing the Duncan & Mallory series (originally done with Robert Asprin) with her new coauthor, John E DeLaughterShe’s co-written and illustrated several projects with John DeLaughter. They’ve authored several Duncan and Mallory stories (which can be found on Amazon and Smashwords)
Troy Wiggins
Troy L. Wiggins is a writer and editor from Memphis, Tennessee. His short fiction has appeared in the Griots: Sisters of the Spear, Long Hidden: Speculative Fiction From the Margins of History, and Memphis Noir anthologies, and has appeared or is forthcoming in Expanded Horizons, Fireside, Uncanny and Beneath Ceaseless Skies. His essays and criticism have appeared in the Memphis Flyer, Literary Orphans Magazine, People of Colo(u)r Destroy Science Fiction, Strange Horizons, PEN America, and on Tor.com. Troy is Co-Editor of Fiyah Magazine of Black Speculative Fiction, and he blogs (rather infrequently) about writing, nerd culture, and race at afrofantasy.net. Troy lives in Memphis with his wife, Kimberly, and their two dogs. Follow him on Twitter at @TroyLWiggins.
Marvin Williamson
Marvin Williamson poetry has won the Editor s Choice Awards from the International Library of Poetry in 1999, 2000, and 2002. View from the Easley Place, a short story, is on exhibition at Munford Library.** His short stories have been published in numerous anthologies.
Wes Yahola
Wes Yahola is the next best thing to a lifelong Memphian, having bounced around from Raleigh to Midtown to the University Area to just at the eastern fringes. His high school days got him started on the strange path of radio, which brought him through the night to his place as a producer and co-host on the Drake in the Morning show on 98.1 the Max. He can also be heard playing rock songs in the middle of most Saturdays on that same radio station.A lifelong reader who began devouring comics before he could understand all the words, Wes has long been a fan of fantasy and science fiction, and also enjoys thrillers and books about history. Once in a while he s written stories of his own. He s been playing games even longer, enjoying new and classic board games, card games, and tabletop R.P.G.s. Once in a while he s designed and written his own. All this came together with the publishing of his first novel – the Artifice Conspiracy, a fantasy thriller involving spies, sabotage, rebellion, and the unleashing of a powerful weapon of magic. Thanks to Black Oak Press for publishing it, and to everyone who s bought and read the thing. The next novel, The Treasure Betrayals, is coming soon!