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

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

1:00pm EDT

Summer Camp Sing a Long

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

Hearn A (Marriott)

Come sing along with our musicians as we wrap up our Geek Summer Vacation!

Speakers

Chuck Parker

Performance Guest

A performer for more than 35 years, Chuck Parker has filled many musical roles: heavy metal guitarist, singer/songwriter, jazz sideman, open mic host, filk circle regular, session player, and World’s Okayest Bassist™.Chuck has been a regular on the con circuit for more than a... Read More →

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

Performance