In addition to readings, book signings, and the usual assortment of convention panel topics, I’m available to speak on subjects such as urban fantasy, weird fiction, steampunk, science fiction, fantasy fiction, writing education, horror, collaborative fiction, and genre poetry.<\/p>\n
If you’d like to invite me to be a speaker, workshop instructor<\/a>, or program participant at your event, please contact me<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Columbus Book Festival<\/a> in Columbus, OH on July 11-12, 2026.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Featured Literary Guest<\/a> at Grand Rapids Comic-Con in Grand Rapids, MI on Friday, Nov. 14, 2025.<\/p>\n Halloween Horror Fest<\/a> at The Book Loft of German Village in Columbus, OH on Oct. 28, 2025 at 6pm.<\/p>\n Ohio Horror Writers Spooktacular<\/a> at the Columbus Metropolitan Library<\/a> Main Branch in Columbus, OH on Oct. 25th, 2025 from noon-4pm.<\/p>\n Columbus Book Festival<\/a> in Columbus, OH on July 12-13, 2025.<\/p>\n Scary Saturday at the Columbus Metropolitan Library<\/a> Main Branch in Columbus, OH on Oct. 26th, 2024 from 11:30am-2:30pm.<\/p>\n Columbus Book Festival<\/a> in Columbus, OH on July 13-14, 2024.<\/p>\n Ohioana Book Festival<\/a> in Columbus, OH on April 20, 2024.<\/p>\n Author Appearance<\/a> at HPB Springhurst in Louisville, KY on Nov. 8, 2023 at 7pm.<\/p>\n Columbus Book Festival<\/a> in Columbus, OH on July 15-16, 2023.<\/p>\n Book discussion with Maxwell I. Gold<\/a> at the Columbus Metropolitan Library South High Branch in Columbus, OH on April 29th, 2023 from 2-3pm.<\/p>\n Ohioana Book Festival<\/a> in Columbus, OH on April 22, 2023. With Chuck Wendig at The Doylestown Bookshop<\/a> in Doylestown, PA at 6pm on March 13, 2023.<\/p>\n With Gretchen Felker-Martin at Porter Square Books<\/a> in Cambridge, MA at 7pm on March 10, 2023.<\/p>\n With Tara Whitehead at The Midtown Scholar Bookstore<\/a> in Harrisburg, PA at 7pm on March 7, 2023.<\/p>\n With Gwendolyn Kiste at\u00a0Riverstone Books<\/a>\u00a0in Pittsburgh, PA at 7pm on March 6, 2023. With John Scalzi at The Book Loft of German Village<\/a> in Columbus, OH at 7pm on February 21, 2023.<\/p>\n World Fantasy Convention<\/a> in New Orleans, LA on Nov. 3-6, 2022.<\/p>\n Fright Fest Readings<\/a>, October 27, 2022 from noon-1pm Eastern.<\/p>\n Ohioana Book Festival Online<\/a> in Columbus, OH on April 29 – May 1, 2022. Reading\/Q&A for Poe’s Birthday Bash via the Cleveland Heights-University Heights Library<\/a> at 6pm Eastern on Jan. 26, 2022.<\/p>\n Game On! Virtual Writing Workshop via the Wright Memorial Public Library<\/a>, Oakwood, OH on Jan. 22, 2022.<\/p>\n Omnium Gatherum Online Release Day Party<\/a>, 8pm Eastern on January 15, 2022.<\/p>\n Featured Speaker at Writers of Kern<\/a>, 12pm Eastern on November 20, 2021.<\/p>\n Poetry Panel for Fright Fest<\/a> via the Hampton Public Library, Hampton VA from 6pm-8pm Eastern on Oct. 2, 2021.<\/p>\n Online panelist at Origins Game Fair<\/a> in Columbus, OH on Sept. 30-Oct. 3, 2021.<\/p>\n Presenter at the Writing in the Dark Online Symposium<\/a> on Sept. 24-26, 2021.<\/p>\n Presenter at the In Your Write Mind Virtual Workshop<\/a> on July 8-11, 2021. Ohioana Book Festival Online<\/a> in Columbus, OH on April 19, 2021. HWA Skeleton Hour<\/a>: “Writing Horror In a Post-Covid World” at 6pm Pacific on April 8th, 2021.<\/p>\n Southern Nightmares Reading Series<\/a> at 8pm Eastern on Oct. 22, 2020.<\/p>\n Online Book Launch for Halloween Season<\/em><\/a> at 7pm Eastern on October 5th, 2020.<\/p>\n Ohioana Book Festival Online<\/a> in Columbus, OH on August 28-30, 2020. Virtual NASFiC 2020<\/a> on August 21-23, 2020. Gen Con Online<\/a> on July 30-August 2, 2020. ConFusion<\/a> in Detroit, MI on January 16-19, 2020. Seton Hill University MFA residency in Greensburg, PA on Jan. 3-8, 2020.<\/p>\n An Evening of Horror with the Ohio HWA<\/a> at the Bexley Public Library<\/a> in Bexley, OH on Oct. 17, 2019 from 7-9pm.<\/p>\n Saluki Con<\/a> in Carbondale, IL on Sept. 28-29, 2019.<\/p>\n Intensive Genre Writers Weekend<\/a> in Huntington, WV on Sept. 20-22, 2019.<\/p>\n Camp Write in Columbus, OH on Sept. 1, 2019. Gen Con<\/a> in Indianapolis, IN on August 1-4, 2019. Athanor Writing Retreat in Ann Arbor, MI on July 22-26, 2019.<\/p>\n Readercon<\/a> in Quincy, MA on July 12-14, 2019.<\/p>\n Pines Writing Retreat at Our Lady of the Pines Retreat Center in Fremont, OH on July 5-7, 2019.<\/p>\n Seton Hill University MFA residency in Greensburg, PA on June 25-30, 2019.<\/p>\n In Your Write Mind Workshop<\/a> in Greensburg, PA on June 27-30, 2019. Panelist at Origins Game Fair<\/a> in Columbus, OH on June 12-16, 2019. Ohio Horror Writers Association Readings at Kafe Kerouac<\/a>, Columbus OH from 6:30pm-9pm on June 8, 2019.<\/p>\n StokerCon 2019<\/a> in Grand Rapids, MI on May 9-12, 2019. Mo*Con 2019<\/a> in Indianapolis, IN on May 3-5, 2019.<\/p>\n Ohioana Book Festival<\/a> in Columbus, OH on April 27, 2019. Odyssey Online Writing Class: Riveting Descriptions: Bringing Your Story to Life in the Reader’s Mind<\/a>. Online from 7:00-8:30pm on January 3, January 17, and January 31, 2019.<\/p>\n ConFusion<\/a> in Detroit, MI on January 17-20, 2019.<\/p>\n Seton Hill University MFA residency in Greensburg, PA on January 4-10, 2019.<\/p>\n Speaker at\u00a0Wayne County Public Library<\/a> in Wooster, OH from 6:30-8:00 pm on October 29, 2018.<\/p>\n Gen Con<\/a> in Indianapolis, IN on\u00a0August 2-5, 2018. Seton Hill University MFA residency in Greensburg, PA on June 19-24, 2018. In Your Write Mind<\/a> Book Signing, Seton Hill University Performing Arts Center, Greensburg, PA on June 23, 2018 from 6-9:30 pm.<\/p>\n Panelist at Origins Game Fair<\/a> in Columbus, OH on June 13-17, 2018. Penguicon<\/a> in Detroit, MI on May 4-6, 2018. Workshop instructor at the Belmont County District Library on April 28, 2018. Participating author at the\u00a0Ohioana Book Festival<\/a> in Columbus, OH on April 14, 2018. Athanor Writing Retreat in Ann Arbor, MI on April 6-8, 2018.<\/p>\n Judge for Winton Woods High School Writer’s Club contest in Cincinnati, OH on April 2, 2018.<\/p>\n Panelist at ConFusion<\/a> in Detroit, MI on January 18-21, 2018. Seton Hill University MFA residency in Greensburg, PA on January 5-10, 2018.<\/p>\n Workshop instructor for\u00a0Day of Reckoning<\/a>\u00a0on November 18, 2017.<\/p>\n Special Guest\u00a0at AcadeCon<\/a> in Dayton, OH on November 10-12, 2017.<\/p>\n Indie Author Day<\/a> at the Pickerington Public Library in Pickerington, OH on Oct. 14, 2017.<\/p>\n Imaginator Guest at Imaginarium<\/a> in Louisville, KY on Oct. 6-8, 2017. Panelist at the Ohio Library Council in Dayton, OH on Oct. 5, 2017. Panelist at Gen Con Indy<\/a> in Indianapolis, IN on Aug. 17-20, 2017. Workshop instructor for\u00a0Day of Reckoning<\/a>\u00a0on August 12, 2017.<\/p>\n Panelist at Confluence<\/a> in Pittsburgh, PA on August 4-6, 2017. In Your Write Mind Workshop<\/a> in Greensburg, PA on June 22-25, 2017.<\/p>\n Panelist at Origins Game Fair<\/a> in Columbus, OH on June 14-18, 2017. Participant in the Launch Pad Astronomy Workshop<\/a> at the University of Wyoming in Laramie, WY on June 4-10, 2017.<\/p>\n Workshop instructor\u00a0at the Pickerington Library<\/a> in Pickerington, OH on May 6, 2017. Participating author at the\u00a0Ohioana Book Festival<\/a> in Columbus, OH on April 8, 2017. Survival of the Fictitiousest<\/a> in Dayton, OH on April 1, 2017.<\/p>\n Author speaker at the Westerville Public Library<\/a> in Westerville, OH at 7pm on March 27, 2017.<\/p>\n Panelist at ConCoction<\/a> in Cleveland, OH on March 10-12, 2017. World Fantasy 2016<\/a> in Columbus, OH on October 27-30, 2016.<\/p>\n Panelist at Gen Con Indy 2016<\/a> in Indianapolis, IN on Aug. 4-7, 2016. Workshop instructor (“Selling Your Fiction”) at the Goddard College MFA Residency<\/a> in Plainfield, VT on June 25, 2016.<\/p>\n Panelist at Origins Game Fair<\/a> in Columbus, OH on June 15-19, 2016. Panelist and writing workshop instructor at StokerCon<\/a> in Las Vegas, NV on May 12-16, 2016. Writing workshop instructor at Marcon<\/a> in Columbus, OH on May 6-8, 2016. Participating author at the Ohioana Book Festival<\/a> in Columbus, OH on April 23, 2016. Panelist at ConCoction<\/a> in Cleveland, OH on March 11-13, 2016. Workshop instructor (“Selling Your Fiction”) at the Goddard College MFA Residency<\/a> in Plainfield, VT on January 9, 2016.<\/p>\n Author speaker at the Pickerington Library Book Club<\/a> at 7-8pm in Pickerington, OH on Oct. 10, 2015.<\/p>\n Author speaker at Sisters in Crime<\/a> at 12:30-2:30pm in Columbus, OH on Aug. 22, 2015.<\/p>\n Chattel House Books featured guest at AnimeKon Expo<\/a> in Bridgetown, Barbados, on Aug. 15-16, 2015.<\/p>\n Workshop instructor (“Publishing Popular Fiction”) at the Goddard College MFA Residency<\/a> in Plainfield, VT on July 1, 2015.<\/p>\n Seminar leader (“Blog Like A Pro: Tips For Everyone”) at the Teaching & Learning in Higher Education Conference<\/a> in Columbus, OH on June 5, 2015.<\/p>\nUpcoming Events<\/h2>\n
Past Events<\/h2>\n
\nPanel: “Writing LGBTQ+ Genre Fiction”<\/p>\n
\nWith Cheyna Roth at Schuler Books<\/a> in Okemos, MI at 6:30pm on March 2, 2023.<\/p>\n
\nPanel: “Don’t Turn Out The Lights!”<\/p>\n
\nWorkshop: “Characterization and Dialogue”
\nPanel: “Women Writing Dark Fantasy and Horror”<\/p>\n
\nPanel: “Worthington Authors at the McConnell Arts Center”<\/p>\n
\nPanel: “Adventures in Speculative Fiction”<\/p>\n
\nPanels: “COVID-FX: Horror Beyond 2020” \u2022 “COVID-FX Writing & Reading About Pandemics During a Pandemic” \u2022 “The Future of Anthologies”<\/p>\n
\nPanel: “Apocalyptic Fiction: What COVID Has Taught Us<\/a>”<\/p>\n
\nPanels: “Working with a Small Press: What Should I Know?” and “Writing Critique Groups”<\/p>\n
\nWorkshop: “Subtext”<\/p>\n
\nPanels: “Writing About Places You’ve Never Visited” \u2022\u00a0 “Climax: Don’t Let It Fall Flat” \u2022 “Capturing the Creepy: Getting the Details Right” \u2022 “What Makes a Good Cover?”
\nWorkshops: “Writing Horror” \u2022\u00a0 “Blogging 201” \u2022 “Writing Weird Fiction”<\/p>\n
\nWorkshops: “Crowdfunding,” “Descriptions”<\/p>\n
\nPanels: “Short Stories” \u2022 “Next-level Worldbuilding for Prose or Gaming” \u2022 “Crowdfunding” \u2022 “Collaboration” \u2022 “Ask the Editors Anything”<\/p>\n
\nPanels: “Websites, Blogs, Newsletters, and Facebook: What Do I Need?” \u2022 “Writing Horror For Kids and Teens” \u2022 “Creating Memorable Villains”<\/p>\n
\nPanel: “Fantastic Fiction”<\/p>\n
\nPanels: “Minding Your Ps and Qs: Grammar and Punctuation for Authors” \u2022 “Writing Monsters” \u2022 “Freelancing Life” \u2022 “Revising Your Story” \u2022 “Support Systems for Writers” \u2022 “Friendship in Spec Fic” \u2022 “The Ins and Outs of Patreon”.<\/p>\n
\nWorkshop: “Writing Short Stories”.<\/p>\n
\nPanels: “Setting As Character” \u2022 “Writing Short Stories” \u2022 “Character Building: Heroes, Villains” \u2022 “Worldbuilding” \u2022 “Brown Bag Story Time” \u2022 “Crowdfunding” \u2022 “Writer Horror Stories: Don’t Let It Happen To You”<\/p>\n
\nPanels: “Writing Short: Creating the Impactful Short Story” \u2022 “Making a Living as a Midlist Writer” \u2022 “Crowdfunding for Creatives”<\/p>\n
\nWorkshop:\u00a0“Creative Kickstart”<\/p>\n
\nPanels: “Transcending Genres” \u2022 “HERStory”<\/p>\n
\nPanels: “Using Real Scientific History To Enhance Fantasy World-Building” \u2022 “You Got Magic In My Science Fiction!” \u2022 “A Novel Look at the Short Story”<\/p>\n
\nPanels: “Driving Your Story With Your Characters” \u2022 “Sharpen your Point of View” \u2022 “Crowdfunding for Creatives” \u2022 “Fantastic First Lines”<\/p>\n
\nPanel: Horror Discussion Luncheon<\/p>\n
\nPanels: “Writing A Synopsis” \u2022 “Worldbuilding: Creating Fantasy Cultures” \u2022 “World Building: Cataclysms” \u2022 “Writer’s Life: Finding a Mentor, Being a Mentor” \u2022 “Business of Writing: Success Without an Agent” \u2022 “Business of Writing: Story Length Labels: Novel vs. Novella vs. Novelette” \u2022 “Business of Writing: Handling Problem People: From Divas to Needy Fans” \u2022 “Fantasy Fiction: Turning Tropes Upside Down” \u2022 “Writer’s Craft: Using Setting as a Character”<\/p>\n
\nPanels: “Building Secondary Fantasy Worlds” \u2022 “Slightly Out of Phase” \u2022 “Learning For… Free?” \u2022 “Kaffeeklatch: Writing and Selling Short Stories” \u2022 “Playing in Someone Else’s Sandbox” \u2022 “Kickstarter 101” \u2022 “When the Abyss Looks Back at You” \u2022 “Prose That Sings” \u2022 “Bring Me the Head of my Co-Author!”<\/p>\n
\nPanels: “Burning the Envelope” \u2022 “Fear” \u2022 “Character Assassination” \u2022 “Them\u2019s Fighting Words” \u2022 “Pointed Views” \u2022 “The Short and Shorter of It”<\/p>\n
\nWorkshop: “The Plot Thickens”<\/p>\n
\nPanel: “How We Write, What We Write”<\/p>\n
\nPanels: “Shaping the Short Story” \u2022 “Favorite Creatures” \u2022 “What is Urban Fantasy?” \u2022 “Publishing Expectations” \u2022 “Speculative Poetry” \u2022 “Why Villains Matter”<\/p>\n
\nPanels: “Writer’s Craft: Show, Don’t Tell” \u2022 “Crowdfunding 101”\u00a0\u2022 “Crowdfunding: Preparing for the Campaign”\u00a0\u2022 “Writing Novels: Ending It Right”\u00a0\u2022 “Character Craft: Representing Unconscious Motivation”\u00a0\u2022 “Read & Critique”
\nAlso served as a judge for the Gen Con Costume Contest<\/p>\n
\nPanels: “Characterization and Dialog”\u00a0\u2022 “Social Media 101”\u00a0\u2022 “The Plot Thickens”\u00a0\u2022 “The Art of the Short Story”<\/p>\n
\nPanel: “Diversity & the HWA”; Writing Workshops: “The Plot Thickens”\u00a0\u2022 “Selling Your Fiction”<\/p>\n
\nWriting Workshops: “Creative Kickstart”\u00a0\u2022 “The Plot Thickens”<\/p>\n
\nPanel: “Horror, Suspense, and the Supernatural”<\/p>\n
\nPanels: “Writing for YA”\u00a0\u2022 “Graphic Violence – What’s it Good For?”\u00a0\u2022 “What is Urban Fantasy?”\u00a0\u2022 “Self-Publishing vs. Traditional Publishing” \u2022 “Common Problems of New Writers”\u00a0\u2022 “Crowdfunding”<\/p>\n