ConGregate 11: Full Schedule

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OUR WEBSITE: CON-GREGATE.COM

**** The temperature in the con spaces varies greatly from room to room. Bring layers! ****

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10:00am EDT

Playing Make-Believe - World Building

Sunday July 13, 2025 10:00am - 11:00am EDT

Hearn A (Marriott)

One of the most magical aspects of reading is being immersed in a completely unique world. Authors talk all about worldbuilding: what they think about and how they create the realities in their stories, some common pitfalls when writing, and what other authors' worlds have inspired them the most.

Requests:

Speakers

Darin Kennedy

Literary Guest

Darin Kennedy, born and raised in Winston-Salem, NC, 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 first novel... Read More →

Stuart Jaffe

Literary Guest

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

Timothy Zahn

Guest of Honor

Timothy Zahn was born in Chicago in 1951 and grew up in the western suburb of Lombard. He attended Michigan State University, earning a B.S. degree in physics in 1973, and moved on to the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana. He earned a M.S. degree there, also in physics, in... Read More →

Sunday July 13, 2025 10:00am - 11:00am EDT
Hearn A (Marriott)

Literary/Writing

10:00am EDT

Value of a Critique Group

Sunday July 13, 2025 10:00am - 11:00am EDT

Terrace 2 (Embassy Suites)

Getting feedback is a crucial part of producing consumable writing and improving your craft, but how do you do it? Join us as we discuss the obvious and unexpected values of getting and giving critique, how to find or form a solid critique group, and how to interact with feedback good and bad.

requests: Angela Giddings, Kevin Davis, bill Tracy

Speakers

Molly Ann McDonough

Science Guest

Molly Ann McDonough is an author, poet, and multidisciplinary engineer with short stories featured in science fiction and fantasy anthologies. Jumpmaster Press has scheduled her debut fantasy novel, A World Apart, for release in 2026. When Molly isn’t reading, writing, or coding... Read More →

Michael G. Williams

Online Media Guest

Michael G. Williams writes queer-themed horror and science fiction celebrating the monstrous and the macabre. His books include the award-winning vampire series The Withrow Chronicles (Laine Cunningham Award); the thrilling urban fantasy time travel series Servant Sovereign; the sci-fi... Read More →

Sunday July 13, 2025 10:00am - 11:00am EDT
Terrace 2 (Embassy Suites)

Literary/Writing

11:30am EDT

Writer vs Author

Sunday July 13, 2025 11:30am - 12:30pm EDT

Hearn A (Marriott)

The craft of writing vs. the business of being an author can be a tricky balancing act. Authors chat about finding that balance and how it's evolved as writers and then as published authors. We'll discuss what they wish they knew while starting out and tips that have helped them along the way.

requests: Sarah Sover, Kevin Davis, Molly McDonough, Stuart Jaffe

Sunday July 13, 2025 11:30am - 12:30pm EDT
Hearn A (Marriott)

Literary/Writing

11:30am EDT

Writing for the Body: Engaging the Readers' Senses

Sunday July 13, 2025 11:30am - 12:30pm EDT

Terrace 1 (Embassy Suites)

Speakers

Randal Hayes

Science Guest

Randall grew up on a working farm in Kentucky before studying biology at UK and then doing a PhD in neuroscience at a medical school in Rochester, NY. He did research there and in Texas before teaching at the high school and college levels. Now he runs the biology department's internship... Read More →

Michael G. Williams

Online Media Guest

William C. Tracy

Literary Guest

William C. Tracy (he/him) writes and publishes queer science fiction and fantasy through his indie press Space Wizard Science Fantasy. His largest work is the Dissolutionverse: a space opera with music-based magic including nine books and a TTRPG. He’s also published Fruits of the... Read More →

Sunday July 13, 2025 11:30am - 12:30pm EDT
Terrace 1 (Embassy Suites)

Literary/Writing

1:00pm EDT

Comfort Reads when the World is on Fire

Sunday July 13, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm EDT

Salem (Marriott)

What does a comfort read mean to authors? What is it about genre fiction that can soothe the soul, especially during trying times? We'll chat about our favorite comfort reads, how moments of comfort keep a hero going on their journey, and striking the balance of taking care of oneself while still being present.

(Need to rewrite - stole from Awesomecon)

requests: JE Pittman, John Hartness, Michael G Williams, chris Oakley

Sunday July 13, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm EDT
Salem (Marriott)

Literary/Writing