Introducing the Cozy Fantasy (#CapClave2023)

We’re entering the rise of the Cozy Fantasy! What exactly is that subgenre, and why is it becoming popular? Plus, theories about where it came from.

Out Of Control Characters

Some authors tightly control their characters, requiring them to follow an outline. But other authors say there are things their characters won’t do. What do authors do when their characters go off script?

Do you try to regain control (and how?) or go where the characters take you?

Alternate Morality

What makes a character ‘morally grey’, why do we like them, has the line moved, and how to handle conflicting moral systems. A #Balticon57 panel

Legends and Myths in Urban Fantasy

Most urban fantasy draws upon folklore and legends. How do these old mystical beliefs inform modern fantasy? What place does … More

There’s A Reason You’re Afraid of the Dark (A RavenCon 2023 panel)

Faerie tales used to terrify and in so doing, teach valuable lessons in how not to die. One could argue that they are the original horror stories. Everything in Grimms’ Fairy Tales is particularly… grim. Over the years though, many of these nightmarish creatures became cute and cuddly (or sexy—looking at you, Shape of Water). Have these myths become permanently nerfed or is there hope they can maintain their dark allure?

Creating a Political and Moral Universe (A RavenCon 2023 Panel)

The ingredients of universe-building are morality, science, politics, art, and religion. The interplay of these creates a moral and political universe. Each ingredient packs its own punch, and getting the ratios right means you won’t have an overcooked souffle of a universe.

When you mix morals, ethics, and emotional fears, you get an array of Batman characters. Which match to what world viewpoints?

Encanto and Making Your Own Characters 3-Dimensional

In both stories and the real world, people often find themselves cast in roles: the hero, the good daughter, the … More

The DMV In Speculative Fiction

Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia have rich histories, interesting people, and lots of weird nooks and crannies that make a great setting for a story. Panelists discuss their favorite books set in the DMV and the fun and frustrations of setting stories in and around the nation’s capital.

Reaching Past Riordan

Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson series has led to an explosion of YA speculative fiction that explores mythology and folktales through the adventures of modern-day characters. What made this subgenre so popular? And who are some authors to pick up after Percy Jackson? And how has the genre expanded to feature non-Western mythologies?