← BACK TO CONFUSION 2020


Guest of Honor Dinner

Day:
Thursday
Time:
07:00 p.m.
Room:
St. Clair
Track:
Main Events
Join our Guests of Honor for a Thursday night dinner. Anyone is welcome to join.
Panelists: Seanan McGuire, Gwenda Bond, Kameron Hurley, Bogi Takács, Brandon O'Brien, Dr. Julie Lesnik

Karaoke for a Cause

Day:
Thursday
Time:
09:00 p.m.
Room:
St. Clair
Track:
Music
Join Bill Putt for Karaoke for a Cause.
Panelists: Blasted Bill Putt

Working with a Small Press: What should I know?

Day:
Friday
Time:
12:00 p.m.
Room:
Charlevoix
Track:
Pro Track
Our panel of small-press professionals and writers talk about the upsides and downsides of choosing a small press over one of the big publishing houses. When is a small press a good choice for your project? What are the tradeoffs to consider?
Panelists: Michael R Underwood (M), dave ring, Alvin R Mullen, Lucy A. Snyder

Finance for Career Fiction Writers

Day:
Friday
Time:
12:00 p.m.
Room:
Manitou
Track:
Pro Track
The finances of freelancing come with a steep learning curve, and fiction writing is no exception. Our panel of veteran fiction freelancers talk about managing the up-and-down nature of freelance income, making long-term financial plans without a consistent paycheck, and how to put advances to work so that they support you and your career for the long term.
Panelists: LaShawn M. Wanak (M), David Mack

ConSuite: Soft Open

Day:
Friday
Time:
12:00 p.m.
Room:
Mackinac
Track:
ConSuite
ConSuite soft opens at Noon with beverages and small snacks, before closing at 6:00PM for Dessert Reception Set Up.
Panelists:

Game: AttrAction

Day:
Friday
Time:
12:00 p.m.
Room:
Ballroom B
Track:
Gaming
Table: Hiccup - Fun and challenging game in which a mix of skill and luck, plus the strong force of the magnets, produces exciting and unexpected twists!
Panelists: David Green (M),

Game: Smash Up

Day:
Friday
Time:
12:00 p.m.
Room:
Ballroom B
Track:
Gaming
Table: Astrid - Play awesomely weird combinations of characters to break the bizarre lands. Will you be the best around? Can you outsmart your opponents? Come by and try your hand!
Panelists: Heather Williams (M),

Hand-Selling For Fun And Profit

Day:
Friday
Time:
01:00 p.m.
Room:
Manitou
Track:
Pro Track
Hand-selling books is a necessary skill for indie authors--and a really handy skill for traditionally published authors, too. Whether you're talking to readers in person or online, our panel of experienced hand-sellers can give you tips on how to sell readers on your book without coming across like a carnival barker.
Panelists: Anthony W. Eichenlaub (M), Adam Rakunas, E.D.E. Bell, Michael R Underwood

Managing and Overcoming Professional Burnout

Day:
Friday
Time:
01:00 p.m.
Room:
Charlevoix
Track:
Pro Track
The Mayo Clinic defines burnout as "a state of physical or emotional exhaustion that also involves a sense of reduced accomplishment and loss of personal identity." It can affect people of all professions, but it presents particular dangers to creatives, whose work is often tied closely to personal identity. Our panel will discuss how to spot the signs of burnout, how to manage it, and how to overcome it.
Panelists: Marissa Lingen (M), Pablo Defendini, Ken Schrader, Kameron Hurley

Game: AttrAction

Day:
Friday
Time:
01:00 p.m.
Room:
Ballroom B
Track:
Gaming
Table: Hiccup - Fun and challenging game in which a mix of skill and luck, plus the strong force of the magnets, produces exciting and unexpected twists!
Panelists: David Green (M),

Promoting Your Book--What Works And What Doesn't

Day:
Friday
Time:
02:00 p.m.
Room:
Charlevoix
Track:
Pro Track
Most authors put a lot of time and effort into promoting their books, but it can be difficult to sort out best practices from useless gimmicks. When it comes to promotion, what strategies actually drive sales? Which ones are complete duds? How do you sort out the reputable services from the scams? How should new writers calibrate their expectations, and what are the best ways to track success rates for various forms of promotion?
Panelists: Anthony W. Eichenlaub (M), Jen Haeger, Ferrett Steinmetz, Shawn Young

Reading: Bogi Takács and R.B. Lemberg

Day:
Friday
Time:
02:00 p.m.
Room:
Saugatuck
Track:
Main Events
Join Bogi Takács and R.B. Lemberg for a reading session
Panelists: Bogi Takács, R.B. Lemberg

Game: Codenames

Day:
Friday
Time:
02:00 p.m.
Room:
Ballroom B
Track:
Gaming
Table: HIccup - Two teams compete to see who can make contact with all of their agents first. Spymasters give one-word clues that can point to multiple words on the board. Their teammates try to guess words of the right color while avoiding those that belong to the opposing team. And everyone wants to avoid the assassin. This can be drop in and out!
Panelists: David Green (M),

Game: Dark Souls Dungeons and Dragons

Day:
Friday
Time:
02:00 p.m.
Room:
Ballroom B
Track:
Gaming
Table: Phlegma - System: Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition; Synopsis: Adapted from the every challenging action RPG. Prepare to die, a whole lot! Rating: PG-13.
Panelists: Justin Motsinger (M),

The Tools of Self-Publishing

Day:
Friday
Time:
03:00 p.m.
Room:
Manitou
Track:
Pro Track
Discussion on the software and online tools that authors should be familiar with when deciding to self-publish. From manuscript prep, typesetting software, e-book file creation, tools for cover design, to distribution services -- this discussion will help you decide which activities to take on yourself and those you'd be better off hiring someone. Will some live demonstration.
Panelists: Christopher Bell (M), Richard Shealy, Andrew M. "Fish" Popowich, Dyrk Ashton

Career Strategy for Authors

Day:
Friday
Time:
03:00 p.m.
Room:
Charlevoix
Track:
Pro Track
There are as many ways to have a writing career as there are writers. But it isn't always clear what a writer can or should be doing to achieve their specific career goals, or even how to *decide* what you want your career to look like. Join us as we talk about building and adjusting your career strategy and what you can do to maximize your chances of success.
Panelists: Steve Buchheit (M), Elsa Sjunneson, Corry L. Lee, Gwenda Bond

Film: How to Train Your Dragon

Day:
Friday
Time:
03:00 p.m.
Room:
Boardroom
Track:
Film Room
Panelists:

Game: Dragon Reign: The Lonely Spire at Westviolet

Day:
Friday
Time:
03:00 p.m.
Room:
Ballroom B
Track:
Gaming
Table: Light Fury - Dragon Reign is a a Forged from GRAM saga of classic fantasy and dungeoneering set to a backdrop of political drama where the ruling body isn’t unanimously supported. The Lonely Spire is a dungeon - one that you crawl up instead of down - and it’s full of orcs that have no business being close to town and have no rights to the property or the items contained within.
Panelists: Warren Brown (M),

Game: Munchkin Zombies

Day:
Friday
Time:
03:00 p.m.
Room:
Ballroom B
Track:
Gaming
Table: Spitelout - It's the sickest, silliest Munchkin yet! You are zombies, kicking down doors and eating brains. The "monsters" you're attacking are people, some helpless and some hazardous, with a few rogue zombies thrown in. The armor is whatever you've blundered across during your lurching search for brains. So bravely you'll go forth, with mousetraps on your feet and a bowling trophy protecting your poor rotting head . . . to level up, or to die. Again. A SJ Games MIB Event.
Panelists: Walter Schirmacher (M),

Game: Racoon Tycoon

Day:
Friday
Time:
03:00 p.m.
Room:
Ballroom B
Track:
Gaming
Table: Eret - You are animals trying to produce goods to make money using a supply and demand marketplace. You then use that money to fund your railroad and business empire. This game contains many mechanics but all of them are fairly simple to learn. This is a mid-level difficulty game.
Panelists: Aaron Connell (M),

Game: The Haunting

Day:
Friday
Time:
03:00 p.m.
Room:
Ballroom B
Track:
Gaming
Table: Fishlegs - System: Call of Cthulhu 6th Ed. Synopsis: The year is 1922 and the spiritualist movement is in full swing. As members of the Society of Empirical Research, you have taken it upon yourselves to debunk these greedy charlatans. A “medium” has claimed to have knowledge of a real haunted house and wants the Society there to observe the supernatural phenomenon. Just like every other investigation this will be a chance to debunk her claims and offer a rational and natural explanation for her “supernatural phenomenon.” Rating: PG-13.
Panelists: Cris Frank (M),

The Business of Comics Writing For Prose Writers

Day:
Friday
Time:
04:00 p.m.
Room:
Charlevoix
Track:
Pro Track
Comics creators and prose fiction writers have always been creative neighbors. But the comics and prose-fiction industries are completely different worlds, with entirely different publication processes and industry norms. Our panel of writers who've done both talk about how these industry differences work from a writer's perspective: what professional norms do prose writers need to keep in mind to be successful in comics?
Panelists: Dave Klecha (M), David Mack, Seanan McGuire

Independent Publishing - The Next Step

Day:
Friday
Time:
04:00 p.m.
Room:
Manitou
Track:
Pro Track
In music, successful independent musicians created multimillion dollar empires and labels often built around just their own work. We're starting to see independent authors do the same thing. Many independent authors make the leap to full time and wonder what comes after that. Successful indie writers gather to discuss what they did, whether they think it worked, and speculate on what would work now.
Panelists: Richard Shealy (M), Pablo Defendini, Glynn Stewart

TeenFusion: Open Room

Day:
Friday
Time:
04:00 p.m.
Room:
Kensington
Track:
TeenFusion
The TeenFusion room will be open to teens and only teens during this time.
Panelists:

Game: Clank

Day:
Friday
Time:
04:00 p.m.
Room:
Ballroom B
Track:
Gaming
Table: Astrid - Clank! is a deck-building game. Sneak into an angry dragon's mountain lair to steal precious artifacts. Be quick, and be quiet. You can enjoy your plunder only if you make it out of the depths alive!
Panelists: Jim Sheridan (M),

Film: How to Train Your Dragon 2

Day:
Friday
Time:
04:45 p.m.
Room:
Boardroom
Track:
Film Room
Panelists:

A Taxonomy of Publishing Types

Day:
Friday
Time:
05:00 p.m.
Room:
Charlevoix
Track:
Pro Track
"Self-publish," "Indie," "small press," "big four," "trad:" There's a lot of jargon around publishing types. What do these different types actually mean for the writer, and what are the benefits and drawbacks of each?
Panelists: Christopher Bell (M), Dan Stout, Jennifer Blackstream, John Klima

Collaborating With Your Publisher On Book Promotion

Day:
Friday
Time:
05:00 p.m.
Room:
Manitou
Track:
Pro Track
Most writers don't know what book promotion is going to look like when they sign that first contract. What will the publisher do? What are they responsible for doing themselves? How do they best collaborate with their publisher on promotion to get the most out of their joint efforts? Is spending part of your advance on promo ever worth it? Do you need to worry about a publisher pulling back on promotion if they see you doing your own? And is it even possible for author promo to turn a book that's not a lead title into a breakout success, or is that all just down to luck? Our panel of authors and publishing pros discuss the best ways for an author to drive sales of their trad pubbed book.
Panelists: Annalee Flower Horne (M), John Winkelman, Yanni Kuznia, Suzanne Church

Dragon's Den

Day:
Friday
Time:
05:00 p.m.
Room:
Interlochen
Track:
Main Events
Join the Board of Directors for the Ann Arbor Science Fiction Association (AASFA) and pitch your idea that is cool and that can be done during How to Train Your ConFusion. Brings us an idea that you can complete during the con, and a small budget and if it impresses and adds quality to the con, we'll help fund your idea!
Panelists: Lithie Dubois, Anna Carey, Allison Anderson, Bob Brodis, Brian Decker, Dave Klecha, Dan Eckerd

Game: Castle Panic

Day:
Friday
Time:
05:00 p.m.
Room:
Ballroom B
Track:
Gaming
Table: Hiccup - You have a walled castle in the center of a magical forest. Random monsters are trying to break the walls and take over. Can you and the other players keep the minsters out? Can you rebuild the castle walls after monsters take them out faster than the next monsters can get there?
Panelists: Heather Williams (M),

Game: Deception: Murder in Hong Kong

Day:
Friday
Time:
05:00 p.m.
Room:
Ballroom B
Track:
Gaming
Table: Eret - A game for 4-14 people that takes 15-30 mins where one person is a forensic scientist and is trying to get the players to guess what the murder weapon was and the item that left behind as evidence. Most of the people are working together on this, but one of them is the murderer, trying to steer people away from these items. Very simple to learn and play.
Panelists: Aaron Connell (M),

Avoiding Muddled Messes in World-Building

Day:
Friday
Time:
06:00 p.m.
Room:
Isle Royale
Track:
Literature
World-building is one of the most important, and also most daunting, aspects of sff writing. Here we'll examine some of the pitfalls of world-building, from cardboard cultures to "planet of hats" races and beyond. In an effort to get beyond fantasy couched in vague European-ness, and science fiction built entirely of jumpsuits and holodecks, we ask: "What can we do to create better, richer, more interesting, and more thoughtful worlds?"
Panelists: Sarah E Gibbons (M), Cherie Melinda Priest, Tracy Townsend, J. Zachary Pike, R.B. Lemberg

Calibrating a Novel's Length

Day:
Friday
Time:
06:00 p.m.
Room:
Leelanaw
Track:
Literature
Beautiful and engaging stories come in all lengths, but some lengths are easier to sell than others. What's the best way to handle a book that's going to come in 10-15k too short--or too long--for its subgenre? Authors talk about strategies for getting a novel to a marketable length without messing up the pacing and tension.
Panelists: Richard Shealy (M), Elly Bangs, Patrick S Tomlinson, Brian Naslund

Ready, Steady, Flash!

Day:
Friday
Time:
06:00 p.m.
Room:
Keweenaw
Track:
Literature
Join Lee Harris for a flash improv panel! Authors will be given five minutes to write a flash piece to a prompt, then will share their work with the audience. Then you do it again with a new prompt until the panel is out of time.
Panelists: Lee Harris (M), Brandon Crilly, Seanan McGuire, Stephanie Malia Morris, Kameron Hurley

So This is Your First ConFusion

Day:
Friday
Time:
06:00 p.m.
Room:
St. Clair
Track:
Main Events
First time at ConFusion, or science fiction conventions in general? Join us to learn the ins and outs of ConFusion and some of its history. We'll answer any questions you have, and give a little tour that ends at the ConFusion Opening Ceremonies.
Panelists: Lithie Dubois, Anna Carey

Mural of ConFusion

Day:
Friday
Time:
06:00 p.m.
Room:
Ops Hallway
Track:
Art
The Mural of ConFusion returns and is open for your inspired artwork 24/7. Drop by -- it's across the hall from Ops, and has a well stocked bin of colorful markers. Turn great thoughts into pictures, or draw your favorite colored Dragon. Drop by and put your artistic two cents worth on paper. Come back later for an additional contribution. Want to take a finished panel of the Mural home with you? Come to the Mural after Closing Ceremonies on Sunday.
Panelists:

How to Color With Copic Markers

Day:
Friday
Time:
06:00 p.m.
Room:
Interlochen
Track:
Art
Have you been curious about Copic Markers - what they are and what they can do? Then you’ve come to the right panel! Join Karmada Arts to learn what copic markers are, how to care for and refill markers, how to choose proper ink, pens and paper for coloring, and of course – how to color and blend these markers together to make beautiful works of art!
Panelists: Kristie Good (M),

Welcome to KidFusion!

Day:
Friday
Time:
06:00 p.m.
Room:
Room 515
Track:
KidFusion
Join us in Room 515, settle in, and meet the KidFusion staff.
Panelists:

TeenFusion: Puzzles and Cards

Day:
Friday
Time:
06:00 p.m.
Room:
Kensington
Track:
TeenFusion
Hang out with other teens while putting together puzzles and playing games with a deck of 52 cards.
Panelists:

Game: Dice Forge

Day:
Friday
Time:
06:00 p.m.
Room:
Ballroom B
Track:
Gaming
Table: Astrid - Dice Forge is a development game featuring innovative mechanics based on dice with removable faces. In this dice crafting game, players build their own dice to gain resources to purchase upgrades.
Panelists: Jim Sheridan (M),

Film: How to Train Your Dragon 3

Day:
Friday
Time:
06:30 p.m.
Room:
Boardroom
Track:
Film Room
Panelists:

Opening Ceremonies

Day:
Friday
Time:
07:00 p.m.
Room:
Ballroom C&D
Track:
Main Events
Welcome to How to Train Your ConFusion! Please join our Conchair, Lithie Dubois, and our Guests of Honor, Kameron Hurley, Julie Lesnik, Brandon O'Brien, and Bogi Takács, along with our Subterranean Press Special Guests, Seanan McGuire, and Gwenda Bond! Hear about all of the exciting stuff you can expect from them, from us, and this weekend.
Panelists: Lithie Dubois (M), Seanan McGuire, Gwenda Bond, Kameron Hurley, Bogi Takács, Brandon O'Brien, Dr. Julie Lesnik

TeenFusion: Dungeons and Dragons

Day:
Friday
Time:
07:00 p.m.
Room:
Kensington
Track:
TeenFusion
Come play D&D! No previous experience is required. Castle of the Cloud Tyrant! While the great heroes of the realm mount a desperate defense against the Cloud Tyrant and his armies as they attack the last bastion of civilization, our young heroes must mount a desperate and daring raid upon the Cloud Giant's castle to find something that can end this menace. They have no idea what they will face, for no one has entered the Tyrant's castle and returned...
Panelists: Lloyd Williams (M),

KidFusion: Bedtime Snack and Story Time

Day:
Friday
Time:
07:00 p.m.
Room:
Room 515
Track:
KidFusion
Grab your PJs and a blanket and join the KidFusion staff and friends for a bedtime snack and a fairy story.
Panelists:

Game: Ninja Burger

Day:
Friday
Time:
07:00 p.m.
Room:
Ballroom B
Track:
Gaming
Table: Spitelout - Now you can join the elite Ninja Burger delivery team! You will learn to deliver tasty burgers and fries anywhere. You will bring honor to your franchise. Failure is not an option. Based on the popular website at www.ninjaburger.com, this hilarious card game, designed by Steve Jackson, pits you against your fellow trainees in a new Ninja Burger store. Learn the secrets of stealth, swordsmanship, and customer service. Fight for honor, respect, big tips, and that coveted promotion . . . A SJ Games MIB Event.
Panelists: Walter Schirmacher (M),

Game: Roll Player

Day:
Friday
Time:
07:00 p.m.
Room:
Ballroom B
Track:
Gaming
Table: Eret - This is a game about making a character for a fantasy role playing game. Players draft dice to build their statistics out according to their classes, collect items, traits and even beat a few monsters to claim the most fame by the end of the game. This game is around mid-level difficulty to play.
Panelists: Aaron Connell (M),

Game: Maid

Day:
Friday
Time:
07:00 p.m.
Room:
Ballroom B
Track:
Gaming
Table: Phlegma - System: The Maid RPG Synopsis: An Anime Adventure where the players take the role of Maids! Can they work together to keep the house running and their employer happy and alive? Or will this turn into a comedy of errors of epic proportions? Rating: PG-13.
Panelists: Justin Motsinger (M),

Guest of Honor Dessert Reception

Day:
Friday
Time:
08:00 p.m.
Room:
Mackinac
Track:
Main Events
Come enjoy desserts and mingle with our Guests of Honor and Subterranean Press's Special Guests!
Panelists:

[CANCELLED] Concert: Tom Smith

Day:
Friday
Time:
08:00 p.m.
Room:
Ballroom C&D
Track:
Music
[CANCELLED] For over thirty years, Tom Smith has been breaking hearts, minds, and rules of propriety with a huge number of comedic, dramatic, frenetic, and sometimes straight-up ludicrous songs. Winner of fourteen Pegasus Awards for Excellence in Filk, and member of the Filk Hall of Fame, Tom combines the rapid-fire silliness of Robin Williams, the lyrical acumen of Ashman and Sondheim, and the dynamic physique of the Skipper from Gilligan's Island.
Panelists: Tom Smith

Game: Splendor

Day:
Friday
Time:
08:00 p.m.
Room:
Ballroom B
Track:
Gaming
Table: Hiccup - Splendor is a game of chip-collecting and card development. Players are merchants of the Renaissance trying to buy gem mines, means of transportation, shops—all in order to acquire the most prestige points. If you're wealthy enough, you might even receive a visit from a noble at some point, which of course will further increase your prestige.
Panelists: Cheryl Orosz (M),

Game: Dragon Reign: The Lonely Spire at Westviolet

Day:
Friday
Time:
08:00 p.m.
Room:
Ballroom B
Track:
Gaming
Table: Light Fury - Dragon Reign is a a Forged from GRAM saga of classic fantasy and dungeoneering set to a backdrop of political drama where the ruling body isn’t unanimously supported. The Lonely Spire is a dungeon - one that you crawl up instead of down - and it’s full of orcs that have no business being close to town and have no rights to the property or the items contained within.
Panelists: Warren Brown (M),

Game: Wits and Wagers

Day:
Friday
Time:
08:00 p.m.
Room:
Ballroom B
Track:
Gaming
Table: Valka - A trivia game where you don't have to know the answer! Write down your guess, and then choose from everyone's guesses to place a strategic bet.
Panelists: Jim Sheridan (M),

Game: Power and Corruption

Day:
Friday
Time:
08:00 p.m.
Room:
Ballroom B
Track:
Gaming
Table: Fishlegs - System: Witchpunks; Synopsis: A new group of white nationalists have surfaced on the streets of Detroit. They have a charismatic leader and a growing base of followers. Something does not seem right though, because some of your friends and allies have thrown their lot in with this despicable group. Something has to be done about this and put a stop to them before they get out of hand. Rating: PG-13.
Panelists: Cris Frank (M),

Film: The Helpful Fox Senko-Chan

Day:
Friday
Time:
08:30 p.m.
Room:
Boardroom
Track:
Film Room
Panelists:

ConSuite: Friday Night

Day:
Friday
Time:
09:00 p.m.
Room:
Mackinac
Track:
ConSuite
ConSuite Friday Night Open Hours between 8 PM and 2:30 AM.
Panelists:

Friends of Bill W

Day:
Friday
Time:
09:00 p.m.
Room:
St. Clair
Track:
Main Events
Panelists:

Game: Red Dragon Inn

Day:
Friday
Time:
09:00 p.m.
Room:
Ballroom B
Track:
Gaming
Table: Tuffnut - You've defeated the dragon and returned to the inn to spend your well-earned gold. Prove that you can party harder than the rest of your party by being the last adventurer standing in the pub.
Panelists: Kevin King (M),

Game: Wits and Wagers

Day:
Friday
Time:
10:00 p.m.
Room:
Ballroom B
Track:
Gaming
Table: Valka - A trivia game where you don't have to know the answer! Write down your guess, and then choose from everyone's guesses to place a strategic bet.
Panelists: Jim Sheridan (M),

ConSuite: Friday Night

Day:
Saturday
Time:
09:00 p.m.
Room:
Mackinac
Track:
ConSuite
ConSuite Friday Night Open Hours between 8 PM and 2:30 AM.
Panelists:

Film: The Rising of the Shield Hero

Day:
Saturday
Time:
01:30 a.m.
Room:
Boardroom
Track:
Film Room
Panelists:

Film: How to Train Your Dragon

Day:
Saturday
Time:
06:30 a.m.
Room:
Boardroom
Track:
Film Room
Panelists:

ConSuite: Saturday Greetings

Day:
Saturday
Time:
07:00 a.m.
Room:
Mackinac
Track:
ConSuite
ConSuite Opens Saturday at 7 AM.
Panelists:

Geek Parent Meet-Up

Day:
Saturday
Time:
08:00 a.m.
Room:
Mackinac
Track:
ConSuite
Join up with like-minded parents in the ConSuite for treats, juice boxes, and mutual support on the subject of raising kids in Fandom! This one is for the early risers, up with babies and toddlers and other wakeful kids!
Panelists:

Frosty Fun Run

Day:
Saturday
Time:
08:00 a.m.
Room:
Lobby
Track:
Main Events
Urban Fantasy Author and inflatable dragon aficionado hosts her annual Fun Run around the hotel! Do what you can to make it a mile and win a medal!
Panelists: Diana Rowland (M),

Film: How to Train Your Dragon 2

Day:
Saturday
Time:
08:15 a.m.
Room:
Boardroom
Track:
Film Room
Panelists:

TeenFusion: Open Room

Day:
Saturday
Time:
09:00 a.m.
Room:
Kensington
Track:
TeenFusion
The TeenFusion room will be open to teens and only teens during this time.
Panelists:

ConSuite: Saturday Hours

Day:
Saturday
Time:
09:00 a.m.
Room:
Mackinac
Track:
ConSuite
ConSuite will be open Saturday until 2:30 AM.
Panelists:

Game: Deception: Murder in Hong Kong

Day:
Saturday
Time:
09:00 a.m.
Room:
Ballroom B
Track:
Gaming
Table: Eret - A game for 4-14 people that takes 15-30 mins where one person is a forensic scientist and is trying to get the players to guess what the murder weapon was and the item that left behind as evidence. Most of the people are working together on this, but one of them is the murderer, trying to steer people away from these items. Very simple to learn and play.
Panelists: Aaron Connell (M),

Game: Kobolds and the Case of the Paladin Problem

Day:
Saturday
Time:
09:00 a.m.
Room:
Ballroom B
Track:
Gaming
Table: Phlegma - System: Dungeons and Dragons 3.5; Synopsis: You’re just group of kobolds minding your business, that is until a group of paladins show up, kill your chief, and take all your hard earned goods! Now you are to be put on trial for crimes against goodness and law. As fate would have it an opportunity arises, one that could be profitable and rid the town of these menacing paladins once and for all! Rating: PG-13.
Panelists: Cris Frank (M),

Thinking about joining the Masquerade?

Day:
Saturday
Time:
10:00 a.m.
Room:
Leelanaw
Track:
Costuming
Jennifer Swarski and Sharon Bass, our Masquerade directors will talk about what is involved in entering the Masquerade. Topics include what is involved, moving on stage, and YES, your costume is good enough.
Panelists: Sharon B

Evolving Visions of Toxic Masculinity

Day:
Saturday
Time:
10:00 a.m.
Room:
Isle Royale
Track:
Literature
Awareness is on the rise about how toxic social expectations placed on men and masculinity poison men, their relationships, and society at large. We now have the vocabulary to discuss the precise ways in which patriarchy hurts men, too, and how that hurt bleeds into the rest of the world. How has this growing awareness changed our speculative visions of masculinity, and how can speculative fiction help dismantle the cultural poison backing social ills from rape culture to mass shootings?
Panelists: Jason Sanford (M), Marsalis, Jim C. Hines, Kameron Hurley, Brandon O'Brien

How To Train Your Reader

Day:
Saturday
Time:
10:00 a.m.
Room:
Manitou
Track:
Literature
Established authors tend to become known for certain kinds of writing styles, genres, and ideas, which readers come to expect from every work. But how do authors practice this consistency? How do they train readers to look for their specific voice, world-building, characterization, etc, across different works and (sometimes) different genres? How can you use these tricks to keep readers wanting more?
Panelists: Tracy Townsend (M), Dyrk Ashton, Brandon Crilly, Ferrett Steinmetz

Service Animal Teams In Speculative Fiction

Day:
Saturday
Time:
10:00 a.m.
Room:
Charlevoix
Track:
Literature
While human/animal friendships are common in speculative fiction, Toothless and Hiccup's deep partnership in How To Train Your Dragon is notable for making disability central to their relationship. In some ways, their partnership echoes the relationships that service animals have with their human partners. Our panel of service animal teams discusses the ways in which speculative worlds can envision more space for service animal teams in literature and pop culture. Who are our favorite service animal teams in fiction, and what kinds of portrayals of service animals would we like to see?
Panelists: Stephanie Lorée (M), Elsa Sjunneson, Kathleen Dimmich Mahaffy, Jordan Kurella

The Philosophy of Choice-Driven Games

Day:
Saturday
Time:
10:00 a.m.
Room:
Keweenaw
Track:
Media
Video games and modern interactive fiction invite their audience to choose how the story will unfold--and in so doing, they create a unique opportunity to reflect and comment upon the philosophy of choice. What do choice-driven games like The Talos Principle, Mass Effect, The Walking Dead, and the Life is Strange series have to teach us about the ethics and impact of our decisions?
Panelists: Jake Milla (M), Andrew M. "Fish" Popowich, Phoebe Barton, Sandee Rodriguez

Future of Space Travel

Day:
Saturday
Time:
10:00 a.m.
Room:
Interlochen
Track:
Science
The space race is heating up, but as well as traditional world powers we have private companies SpaceX, Virgin Galactic, and Blue Origins. What does the future of space travel hold for us both in the near term and the far distant future?
Panelists: Karen Burnham (M), Elly Bangs, Tobias S. Buckell, Jeff Beeler, Shannon Eichorn

Drum Circle Basics

Day:
Saturday
Time:
10:00 a.m.
Room:
Marquette
Track:
Music
How do drum circles work? What's expected - or not? How do groups eventually find a common groove? How can a facilitator support, shift, or bring the rhythms to a close? Bring a drum or other percussion instrument and we'll have a drum circle with ongoing discussion of what we're experiencing and why.
Panelists: Cathy McManamon, Jason Neerenberg

So This is Your First ConFusion

Day:
Saturday
Time:
10:00 a.m.
Room:
St. Clair
Track:
Main Events
First time at ConFusion, or science fiction conventions in general? Join us to learn the ins and outs of ConFusion and some of its history. We'll answer any questions you have, and then you can get out there and participate in panels, conversations, and fun.
Panelists: Lithie Dubois, Anna Carey

Reading: E.D.E. Bell, Mackenzie Flohr, Shweta Adhyam

Day:
Saturday
Time:
10:00 a.m.
Room:
Saugatuck
Track:
Reading
Panelists: E.D.E. Bell, Shweta Adhyam, Mackenzie Flohr

Reading: dave ring, Izzy Wasserstein, Adam R. Shannon

Day:
Saturday
Time:
10:00 a.m.
Room:
Petoskey
Track:
Reading
Panelists: Adam R. Shannon, dave ring, Izzy Wasserstein

KidFusion: Wake Up Yoga

Day:
Saturday
Time:
10:00 a.m.
Room:
Room 515
Track:
KidFusion
Learn some yoga poses to get your day started.
Panelists:

Film: How to Train Your Dragon 3

Day:
Saturday
Time:
10:00 a.m.
Room:
Boardroom
Track:
Film Room
Panelists:

TeenFusion: Candy for Trivia

Day:
Saturday
Time:
10:00 a.m.
Room:
Kensington
Track:
TeenFusion
Want to earn candy for knowing things? Then come visit us as we test how much you know and our ability to throw.
Panelists:

Game: Dice Forge

Day:
Saturday
Time:
10:00 a.m.
Room:
Ballroom B
Track:
Gaming
Table: Hiccup - Dice Forge is a development game featuring innovative mechanics based on dice with removable faces. In this dice crafting game, players build their own dice to gain resources to purchase upgrades.
Panelists: Jim Sheridan (M),

Game: Dungeon Pets

Day:
Saturday
Time:
10:00 a.m.
Room:
Ballroom B
Track:
Gaming
Table: Eret - Players are imp families attempting to raise baby monsters for enterprising dungeon lords to buy. This game uses a worker placement mechanic to claim goods every round then you draw cards a decide from them what your baby monsters need right now. You have some control over what they need but not perfect control so you will need to plan accordingly. This is a mid to heavy level difficulty game.
Panelists: Aaron Connell (M),

Game: Maid

Day:
Saturday
Time:
10:00 a.m.
Room:
Ballroom B
Track:
Gaming
Table: Fishlegs - System: The Maid RPG; Synopsis: An Anime Adventure where the players take the role of Maids! Can they work together to keep the house running and their employer happy and alive? Or will this turn into a comedy of errors of epic proportions? Rating: PG-13.
Panelists: Justin Motsinger (M),

Kaffeeklatsch with Kameron Hurley

Day:
Saturday
Time:
11:00 a.m.
Room:
Club Lounge
Track:
Main Events
Join Pro Guest of Honor Kameron Hurley for a small-scale conversation and Q&A over cups of coffee or tea. Limit 10 attendees, sign up in Ops.
Panelists: Kameron Hurley

Optimistic Predictions and SFF

Day:
Saturday
Time:
11:00 a.m.
Room:
Charlevoix
Track:
Literature
William Gibson has repeatedly said that he has trouble these days predicting the near-future, and a lot of science fiction and fantasy remains rampant with dark visions of our world or others. However, even futurist Cory Doctorow has said that he can see a light at the end of the tunnel. Could the problem be how focused we are on negative predictions? Has near-future SF been paralyzed by a complete loss of optimism? How many optimistic visions of the next 10-20 years can our panelists come up with, either from recent works or their own imaginings of the future?
Panelists: Michael J. DeLuca (M), Marsalis, Vanessa Ricci-Thode, Kristine Smith

Emotional Non-Violence In Fiction

Day:
Saturday
Time:
11:00 a.m.
Room:
Petoskey
Track:
Literature
A discussion on what it looks like and what it means to integrate themes of emotional non-violence in fiction - is emotionally non-violent fiction important? Going beyond higher level issues of emotional abuse to more subtle topics such as consent, misidentification, and personal questions.
Panelists: E.D.E. Bell (M), Jason Sanford, R.B. Lemberg, Brandon O'Brien

Toothless?: Making Allies of Villains and Monsters

Day:
Saturday
Time:
11:00 a.m.
Room:
Interlochen
Track:
Literature
"Enemies to Friends" and the "Heel-Face Turn" are two of the most beloved and most common tropes in genre lit, particularly in fan writing. Shuffling characters into new teams between novels or seasons also lets us see characters, often villains or anti-heroes, in a new light. In this panel, we'll discuss the appeal of seeing what was once horrific or threatening become (relatively) "safe," the role of "redemption" (if any) in that process, and, of course, both favorite and "failed" Heel-Face turns.
Panelists: Tracy Townsend (M), John Wiswell, Brandon Crilly, Marie Bilodeau

Interstellar Nations and Warfare: Space Opera Worldbuilding

Day:
Saturday
Time:
11:00 a.m.
Room:
Manitou
Track:
Literature
Space Opera often features grand interstellar empires, and, of course, equally grand interstellar battles. But both empires and space battles are swimming upstream against economics, politics, and good ol' fashioned physics. In the face of these scientific realities, how do we weave empires and space battles into our worldbuilding in a satisfying way?
Panelists: Glynn Stewart (M), Jenn Lyons, Karen Burnham, Maquel A. Jacob

Making Fandom Communities Anxiety-Friendly

Day:
Saturday
Time:
11:00 a.m.
Room:
Leelanaw
Track:
Fandom
Anxiety disorders are the most common form of mental illness, affecting nearly one out of every five people a year. As conventions and other geek communities work towards creating more welcoming and accessible spaces, what can we do to remove barriers to participation for people with anxiety?
Panelists: Jeff Beeler (M), Mari Brighe, Sandee Rodriguez, Cathy McManamon, Cislyn M Smith

World-Building Your Zombie Plague

Day:
Saturday
Time:
11:00 a.m.
Room:
Isle Royale
Track:
Literature
Many works of zombie fiction feature plague as the source of the zombie threat--but the specifics can vary widely. What are the zombie plague's specific properties, how does it spread through populations, and what's it's method of action in the host body? Come join our panel of zombie experts to learn how these details can impact the plot and worldbuilding of zombie stories.
Panelists: Seanan McGuire, Keren Landsman, Diana Rowland

Reading: David Mack, K.A. Doore

Day:
Saturday
Time:
11:00 a.m.
Room:
Saugatuck
Track:
Reading
Panelists: David Mack, K.A. Doore

KidFusion: Lunch Break

Day:
Saturday
Time:
11:00 a.m.
Room:
Room 515
Track:
KidFusion
KidFusion is closed 11 AM - 1 PM for lunch.
Panelists:

Game: Abyss

Day:
Saturday
Time:
11:00 a.m.
Room:
Ballroom B
Track:
Gaming
Table: Astrid - The Abyss power is once again vacant, so the time has come to get your hands on the throne and its privileges. Use all of your cunning to win or buy votes in the Council. Recruit the most influential Lords and abuse their powers to take control of the most strategic territories. Finally, impose yourself as the only one able to rule the Abyssal people!
Panelists: Jim Sheridan (M),

Moving and Posing in your Costume

Day:
Saturday
Time:
11:00 a.m.
Room:
Keweenaw
Track:
Costuming
Your costume is more than just clothing and makeup. How you stand, move, and pose for photographs will have a huge impact on how people perceive your costume and the character you're bringing to life. Join us to learn and practice different ways to move and pose to make people believe in your costume. Fan photographers will give you tips!
Panelists: Josef Matulich (M), Brian Bay, David M Stein, Sharon B

Dressing Your Fictional World

Day:
Saturday
Time:
12:00 p.m.
Room:
Manitou
Track:
Literature
They say clothes make the man , but they also tell us a lot about his physical and social world. Come help a team of writers design a fictional world and determine how people in that world would dress , based on their climate , culture , technology , and resources. This is an audience-participation panel.
Panelists: Kathleen Dimmich Mahaffy (M), Elly Bangs, Emma Törzs, Catherine Stein

The Sorting Hat Chats and Personality Taxonomies

Day:
Saturday
Time:
12:00 p.m.
Room:
Charlevoix
Track:
Literature
Join Sorting Hat Chats creators E. Jade Lomax and Kat Sundberg, along with ConFusion's renowned Sorting Hat Chats evangelist Navah Wolfe, for a discussion on the Sorting Hat Chats, and how personality taxonomies from genre fiction can give us a framework for thinking about our behavior and personal relationships.
Panelists: Navah Wolfe (M), E. Jade Lomax, Kat Sundberg

How To Write Your Dragons

Day:
Saturday
Time:
12:00 p.m.
Room:
Isle Royale
Track:
Literature
Dragons are a beloved staple of fantasy, and they come in many forms--from traditional Eastern and Western depictions to modern re-interpretations, often based on real-world animals. How To Train Your Dragon's Toothless was inspired by housecats and birds of paradise. How can we draw on real-world biology and animal behavior to create engaging dragon species, and what are our favorite examples from modern literature?
Panelists: Steve Buchheit (M), Jenn Lyons, Mary Lynne Gibbs, Christopher Morgan

Iron Artist

Day:
Saturday
Time:
12:00 p.m.
Room:
Artist Alley
Track:
Art
Drawing and sculpture isn’t usually a performance art, but our Iron Artists show how they work while creating a piece of art. Our Iron Artist topic is related to How to Train Your Dragon. Artists are working at their Artist Alley Tables or in the Lounge. Iron Art entries will be on display in the hall soon after 3 PM Saturday. Members of ConFusion vote on their favorites -- ballots will be available at Ops from 3-5. Entries will be shown and winners announced at the Masquerade.
Panelists: Crystal Jankiewicz, BluRaven C. Houvener, Amberlie Hutton, Rachel Morgan, Lar deSouza, Joshua Jankiewicz, John Benson, Matt Feazell, Sara Goodwin, Rachel Quinlan, Charlotte Nickerson

Reading: Clif Flynt, Shannon Eichorn, Kristine Smith

Day:
Saturday
Time:
12:00 p.m.
Room:
Petoskey
Track:
Reading
Panelists: Clif Flynt, Shannon Eichorn, Kristine Smith

Reading: LaShawn M. Wanak, Jordan Kurella, TBA

Day:
Saturday
Time:
12:00 p.m.
Room:
Leelanaw
Track:
Reading
Panelists: LaShawn M. Wanak, Jordan Kurella

Film: Dragons: Riders of Berk

Day:
Saturday
Time:
12:00 p.m.
Room:
Boardroom
Track:
Film Room
Panelists:

TeenFusion: A Guide to Being a Good D&D Game Master

Day:
Saturday
Time:
12:00 p.m.
Room:
Kensington
Track:
TeenFusion
Lloyd will cover how to create good adventures, dealing with strong-willed and/or flighty characters, and creating a good story. Most importantly, how to keep the fun going.
Panelists: Lloyd Williams (M),

Game: Dragon Reign: The Lonely Spire at Westviolet

Day:
Saturday
Time:
12:00 p.m.
Room:
Ballroom B
Track:
Gaming
Table: Spitelout - Dragon Reign is a a Forged from GRAM saga of classic fantasy and dungeoneering set to a backdrop of political drama where the ruling body isn’t unanimously supported. The Lonely Spire is a dungeon - one that you crawl up instead of down - and it’s full of orcs that have no business being close to town and have no rights to the property or the items contained within.
Panelists: Warren Brown (M),

Bringing New Life to an old Con

Day:
Saturday
Time:
01:00 p.m.
Room:
Keweenaw
Track:
Fandom
46 year olds can sometimes become stuck in their ways. The same thing can be said of 46 year old Conventions. Join the 2020 ConChair as we seek answers from our Teen Membership on how to bring in more youthful, updated programming and ideas to ConFusion.
Panelists: Lithie Dubois (M), Brian Bay, David M Stein, Anna Carey

Don't Fridge The Messenger

Day:
Saturday
Time:
01:00 p.m.
Room:
Isle Royale
Track:
Literature
We've all seen it before - a character whose only function is to die or get hurt to motivate the protagonist. Often, these characters are women dear to a male protagonist (a problematic trope so common that it led Gail Simone to coin the term "Women In Refrigerators"). Other times, these characters are strangers--a sympathetic bit character who shows up just long enough to die to light a fire under the reluctant hero. But do these characters really have to die, or is it just careless writing that mostly picks on the underrepresented or vulnerable?
Panelists: Nora E. Derrington (M), E. Jade Lomax, K. Lynne O'Connor, Kameron Hurley

Effective Training Sequences in Prose Fiction

Day:
Saturday
Time:
01:00 p.m.
Room:
Interlochen
Track:
Literature
In movies such as How To Train Your Dragon, the sequence in which our dashing hero bumbles through training and eventually triumphs usually has a stirring score and a lot of quick transitions to back it up. In prose, conveying to the reader that a bunch of training has happened can be a trickier matter. What are some good strategies for convincing the reader that our zero is now a hero without dragging down the story's pacing?
Panelists: Steve Buchheit (M), Ken Schrader, Jennifer Blackstream, Corry L. Lee

Horrible Geese And The Lure Of The Dark Side

Day:
Saturday
Time:
01:00 p.m.
Room:
Petoskey
Track:
Media
Video games often invite us to examine our choices, and consider the consequences of our decisions. But sometimes, video games invite us to be horrible geese taking delight in terrorizing a town, or donut shop staff who can split the ground and swallow towns in giant holes. Why are "dark side options" so appealing in games, and why is it even more appealing to have no choice but to wreck the place?
Panelists: Jake Milla (M), Mur Lafferty, Nathan Rockwood, Christopher Morgan

Reading: Brandon O'Brien

Day:
Saturday
Time:
01:00 p.m.
Room:
Leelanaw
Track:
Reading
A Reading with Guest of Honor Brandon O'Brien - How to Unmake It in Anglia
Panelists: Brandon O'Brien

Reading: A. T. Greenblatt, Stephanie Malia Morris, Patrick Lofgren

Day:
Saturday
Time:
01:00 p.m.
Room:
Saugatuck
Track:
Reading
Reading with A. T. Greenblatt, Stephanie Malia Morris, and Patrick Lofgren
Panelists: A. T. Greenblatt, Stephanie Malia Morris, Patrick Lofgren

Reading: Marsalis, Michael R Underwood, Jennifer Mace

Day:
Saturday
Time:
01:00 p.m.
Room:
Manitou
Track:
Reading
Panelists: Michael R Underwood, Marsalis, Jennifer Mace

KidFusion: Origami for Everyone!

Day:
Saturday
Time:
01:00 p.m.
Room:
Room 515
Track:
KidFusion
Learn origami with our special guest.
Panelists:

TeenFusion: Asian Snack Taste Test

Day:
Saturday
Time:
01:00 p.m.
Room:
Kensington
Track:
TeenFusion
Come join us as we delve into the world of Asian snacks, from candy to crisps.
Panelists:

Game: Dresden Files

Day:
Saturday
Time:
01:00 p.m.
Room:
Ballroom B
Track:
Gaming
Table: Hiccup - Solve the same cases and fight the same monsters as Wizard Harry Dresden does in Jim Butcher's series The Dresden Files. Play the good guys and work together to beat the game.
Panelists: Heather Williams (M),

Game: Wingspan

Day:
Saturday
Time:
01:00 p.m.
Room:
Ballroom B
Track:
Gaming
Table: Tuffnut - Build an engine by discovering and attracting the best birds to your preserve. Gain food, lay eggs, find the best new birds to accumulate the most points.
Panelists: Jim Sheridan (M),

Psycho Linguistics for Writers

Day:
Saturday
Time:
02:00 p.m.
Room:
Charlevoix
Track:
Literature
Psycho Lingusitics is where psychology and linguistics come together like two semi-trucks in the wrong lane. It looks at how people with various psychological attributes use simple words like pronouns and noun/verb clusters. As writers, we can go backwards, starting from a psychological state (dominant hero, narcissistic villain) and make sure they speak as a reader expects a character like this to speak.
Panelists: Clif Flynt (M),

Masculinity and Trauma Recovery in Genre Fiction

Day:
Saturday
Time:
02:00 p.m.
Room:
Isle Royale
Track:
Literature
Science Fiction and Fantasy are full of tough manly heroes (and anti-heroes) with trauma in their backgrounds, from murdered families to witnessed war crimes. More often than not, these traumatic backstories serve as a justification for sarcasm, alcohol, and violence. In a world where men are significantly less likely to get professional help to heal from their trauma, how can science fiction and fantasy help to create positive examples of heroes who face their demons constructively?
Panelists: Brandon O'Brien (M), Adam R. Shannon, dave ring, John Wiswell, R.B. Lemberg

Israeli Speculative Fiction

Day:
Saturday
Time:
02:00 p.m.
Room:
Interlochen
Track:
Literature
Israeli speculative fiction is young, and is in a fascinating stage of finding its own voice, after many years of imitating translated fiction. It's moving away from foreign models it tried to emulate and towards new, unique territories. Join authors and fans to discuss the new science fiction and fantasy coming out of Israel.
Panelists: Ehud Maimon (M), Keren Landsman

ClipArt Demo & Discussion

Day:
Saturday
Time:
02:00 p.m.
Room:
Keweenaw
Track:
Art
ClipStudio is a very popular alternative to PS, not least because of its affordability, but it’s incredibly designed specifically for illustration and comic book/sequential art. Join us as we look into this software for artists.
Panelists: Lar deSouza (M),

Here There Be Dragons - Dragon Circle Sing

Day:
Saturday
Time:
02:00 p.m.
Room:
Marquette
Track:
Music
Bring your wyrm, wyvern, and dragon-themed songs for this circle sing.
Panelists: Cathy McManamon

Kaffeeklatsch with Dr. Julie Lesnik

Day:
Saturday
Time:
02:00 p.m.
Room:
Club Lounge
Track:
Main Events
Join Science Guest of Honor Dr. Julie Lesnik for a small-scale conversation and Q&A over cups of coffee or tea. Limit 10 attendees, sign up in Ops.
Panelists: Dr. Julie Lesnik

The Great Telescope of Birr Castle: How a 19th-Century Irish Family Changed Astronomy

Day:
Saturday
Time:
02:00 p.m.
Room:
Leelanaw
Track:
Science
For over 70 years, the largest telescope in the world was to be found in rural Ireland. Years of effort culminated in a moment in 1845 when William Parsons, third Earl of Rosse, gazed into the eyepiece of his 72-inch-diameter Leviathan and glimpsed the spiral arms of distant galaxies. The remarkable scientists, inventors, and artists of the Parsons clan may seem the stuff of steampunk, but Bill Higgins—fresh from a pilgrimage to Birr Castle—will assure you that they were quite real.
Panelists: Bill Higgins (M),

Reading: Glynn Stewart, Dyrk Ashton, Dan Stout

Day:
Saturday
Time:
02:00 p.m.
Room:
Saugatuck
Track:
Reading
Panelists: Glynn Stewart, Dyrk Ashton, Dan Stout

Reading: Elsa Sjunneson, Annalee Flower Horne, Vanessa Ricci-Thode

Day:
Saturday
Time:
02:00 p.m.
Room:
Manitou
Track:
Reading
Panelists: Elsa Sjunneson, Vanessa Ricci-Thode, Annalee Flower Horne

KidFusion: Mask Making

Day:
Saturday
Time:
02:00 p.m.
Room:
Room 515
Track:
KidFusion
Come on over to KidFusion to craft a mask for our special masquerade.
Panelists:

[Cancelled] Game: Rat's-Eye View: To Grandmother's House

Day:
Saturday
Time:
02:00 p.m.
Room:
Ballroom B
Track:
Gaming
Table: Light Fury - Rat's-Eye View: To Grandmother’s House is a Ready to Roll module for Rat’s-Eye View a Forged from GRAM saga of survival in a big bad world, but more so than that, one of building a community around critters who don’t all share the same outlook. The world that animals live in is so fascinating and fierce, compared to ours. Predators are clearly called out and prey understands their place so clearly that they adapt survival mechanisms. It’s a dog-eat-dog world where survival is the first thing you think of, and in Rat’s-Eye View that is no different, though perhaps there is a bit more wiggle room for negotiation.
Panelists: Rebecca Hill (M),

Game: Lords of Waterdeep

Day:
Saturday
Time:
02:00 p.m.
Room:
Ballroom B
Track:
Gaming
Table: Toothless - Waterdeep, the City of Splendors – the most resplendent jewel in the Forgotten Realms, and a den of political intrigue and shady back-alley dealings. In this game, the players are powerful lords vying for control of this great city. Its treasures and resources are ripe for the taking, and that which cannot be gained through trickery and negotiation must be taken by force!
Panelists: Cheryl Orosz (M),

Game: Save Nonsbeck!

Day:
Saturday
Time:
02:00 p.m.
Room:
Ballroom B
Track:
Gaming
Table: Phlegma - System: Lamentations of the Flame Princess Synopsis: The small hamlet of Nonsbeck has been besieged by bandits and with the local noble busy with the wars to the south someone will have to step in to lend a helping hand. The townsfolk do not have any money but they do know the location of an old ruin that could be plundered. A simple enough job: defeat the bandits, loot the ruins, enjoy some easy gained silver. Rating: R.
Panelists: Cris Frank (M),

Game: Azul

Day:
Saturday
Time:
02:00 p.m.
Room:
Ballroom B
Track:
Gaming
Table: Astrid - Collect tiles to decorate your palace. Perfect your strategy to get the most points.
Panelists: Paula Tuttle (M),

Thrift Store Cosplay

Day:
Saturday
Time:
03:00 p.m.
Room:
Keweenaw
Track:
Costuming
How to make a costume using items in your closet or from a thrift store
Panelists: Sharon B (M), Kathleen Dimmich Mahaffy, Brian Bay, Catherine Stein

Iron Artist Artwork Silent Auction

Day:
Saturday
Time:
03:00 p.m.
Room:
Artist Alley
Track:
Art
Have a favorite Iron Artist Art Piece? Want to purchase it? Swing by the Iron Artist Display from 3-10pm on Saturday and put your bid in. Winners will be contacted on Sunday morning, by email provided. Winners pay the Iron Artist and take the art with them when they head home from ConFusion! Must be 18 Years or older to bid. ConFusion not responsible for shipping artwork.
Panelists:

KidFusion: Masquerade and Art Show

Day:
Saturday
Time:
03:00 p.m.
Room:
Ballroom C&D
Track:
KidFusion
This is the time to show off your creations! Join KidFusion down in the bigtop top to show off your creativity! Wear your favorite costume! Bring something that you created! This is your time to shine! (Room 515 is closed during this event.)
Panelists:

Mass Autographing Session

Day:
Saturday
Time:
03:00 p.m.
Room:
St. Clair
Track:
Literature
Panelists: Jason Sanford, E.D.E. Bell, Marsalis, Elsa Sjunneson, A. T. Greenblatt, Cherie Melinda Priest, Jim C. Hines, Anthony W. Eichenlaub, David Mack, Dyrk Ashton, Jen Haeger, Dan Stout, Tracy Townsend, Stacey Filak, Jenn Lyons, Jennifer Blackstream, Ferrett Steinmetz, Seanan McGuire, Michael Cieslak, Gwenda Bond, Mary Lynne Gibbs, Keren Landsman, Mur Lafferty, Nino Cipri, Diana Rowland, J. Zachary Pike, Mackenzie Flohr, Patrick S Tomlinson, Shannon Eichorn, Kristine Smith, Kameron Hurley, John Scalzi

Reading: Ken Schrader, Lucy A. Snyder, Phoebe Barton

Day:
Saturday
Time:
03:00 p.m.
Room:
Saugatuck
Track:
Reading
Panelists: Ken Schrader, Lucy A. Snyder, Phoebe Barton

TeenFusion: Decorate A Dragon Egg

Day:
Saturday
Time:
03:00 p.m.
Room:
Kensington
Track:
TeenFusion
Join us in decorating your own dragon egg.
Panelists:

Game: Colt Express

Day:
Saturday
Time:
03:00 p.m.
Room:
Ballroom B
Track:
Gaming
Table: Hiccup - You play a bandit robbing a train at the same time as other bandits, and your goal is to become the richest outlaw of the Old West. The game consists of five rounds, and each round has two phases: Phase 1: Schemin. Phase 2: Stealin'.
Panelists: Paula Tuttle (M),

Game: Deception: Murder in Hong Kong

Day:
Saturday
Time:
03:00 p.m.
Room:
Ballroom B
Track:
Gaming
Table: Eret - A game for 4-14 people that takes 15-30 mins where one person is a forensic scientist and is trying to get the players to guess what the murder weapon was and the item that was left behind as evidence. Most of the people are working together on this, but one of them is the murderer, trying to steer people away from these items. Very simple to learn and play.
Panelists: Aaron Connell (M),

Game: Ghost Ship

Day:
Saturday
Time:
03:00 p.m.
Room:
Ballroom B
Track:
Gaming
Table: Tuffnut - Exploring a derelict alien ship they discover. Using the Fate system, characters will be created as the beginning and throughout the scenario. They players will interactively create the setting for the adventure. What kind of ship and crew are they? What level of technology do they have? What government(s) does humanity have in this far future. The player decisions will drive the nature of the adventure.
Panelists: Lloyd Williams (M),

Writing With ADHD

Day:
Saturday
Time:
04:00 p.m.
Room:
Manitou
Track:
Literature
ADHD can impact writers in a number of ways, from executive function around deadlines and project organization to managing concentration and hyperfocus while writing and dealing with rejection-sensitive dysphoria. Our panel of ADHD writers will discuss strategies they've found helpful for writing with ADHD.
Panelists: Annalee Flower Horne (M), Shweta Adhyam, Yanni Kuznia, Tim Boerger

News From Space

Day:
Saturday
Time:
04:00 p.m.
Room:
Leelanaw
Track:
Science
Join ex-NASA engineer Karen Burnham and space enthusiast Bill Higgins as they bring you the latest news from around the Solar System.
Panelists: Karen Burnham (M), Bill Higgins

Reading: John Scalzi

Day:
Saturday
Time:
04:00 p.m.
Room:
Ballroom C&D
Track:
Main Events
Panelists: John Scalzi

The Art of Writing Non-Linear Narratives

Day:
Saturday
Time:
04:00 p.m.
Room:
Charlevoix
Track:
Literature
Time travel, alternate realities - what makes a good non-linear story? How is an airtight plot balanced against suspension of disbelief?
Panelists: E.D.E. Bell (M), Jason Sanford, Gwenda Bond, Kameron Hurley

Concert: Random Fractions

Day:
Saturday
Time:
04:00 p.m.
Room:
Marquette
Track:
Music
Random Fractions (formerly known as Three-Fifths) is the Chicago-area trio of Daniel Gunderson (keyboards, guitar, mandolin, harmonica, vocals), Cathy McManamon (guitar, vocals), and Jason Neerenberg (bass, vocals). They play originals and covers, mostly in the folk/rock/filk genres, but their three distinctly different backgrounds provide a rich diversity of music and styles that influence their sound, ranging from Indigo Girls to Iron Maiden, Dave Carter to U2, and others. Individually and collectively they have played in coffee houses, bars, churches, living rooms, basements, and at sci-fi conventions, outdoor festivals, and fundraisers. Random Fractions has been nominated for the Pegasus Award For Best Performer three times - in 2018, and in 2015 & 2016 under its former name, Three-Fifths.
Panelists: Cathy McManamon, Jason Neerenberg

How to Draw Dragons

Day:
Saturday
Time:
04:00 p.m.
Room:
Keweenaw
Track:
Art
Can't draw? Think you can't or are just rusty? Come see how easy it is to learn to draw a basic dragon of your very own! This is open to all ages old enough to love drawing and want to make a piece to remember this year's ConFusion fondly.
Panelists: A. Carina Spears, Star Stramel

Gargoyles

Day:
Saturday
Time:
04:00 p.m.
Room:
Interlochen
Track:
Media
GARGOYLES: Stone by day, warriors by night! Join us while we discuss one of the best animated shows of the 90s.
Panelists: Navah Wolfe (M), Stacey Filak, Nino Cipri, Geralyn Lance

Reading: Michael Cieslak, Jen Haeger, Mary Gibbs

Day:
Saturday
Time:
04:00 p.m.
Room:
Saugatuck
Track:
Reading
Panelists: Jen Haeger, Michael Cieslak, Mary Lynne Gibbs

KidFusion: Time to Hunt Dragons!

Day:
Saturday
Time:
04:00 p.m.
Room:
Lobby
Track:
KidFusion
Meet in the Lobby after the Masquerade, and go on a Scavenger Hunt! (Room 515 is closed during this event.)
Panelists:

TeenFusion: Open Room

Day:
Saturday
Time:
04:00 p.m.
Room:
Kensington
Track:
TeenFusion
The TeenFusion room will be open to teens and only teens during this time.
Panelists:

Game: Bohnanza

Day:
Saturday
Time:
04:00 p.m.
Room:
Ballroom B
Track:
Gaming
Table: Astrid - Players try to collect large sets of beans to sell for gold, there is limited growing space and always new beans to plant.
Panelists: Samantha Orosz (M),

Game: Mystic Vale

Day:
Saturday
Time:
04:00 p.m.
Room:
Ballroom B
Track:
Gaming
Table: Light Fury - Players take on the role of Druidic clans trying to cleanse the curse upon the land. Each turn, you play cards into your field to gain powerful advancements and useful vale cards. Use your power wisely, or decay will end your turn prematurely. Score the most victory points to win the game!
Panelists: Tim Silas (M),

Non-Monarchic Governments in SF&F

Day:
Saturday
Time:
05:00 p.m.
Room:
Manitou
Track:
Literature
Historical fantasy loves its kings and queens almost as much as space opera loves its emperors, but do we need them? What are some interesting (or terrible) alternative methods of government, and how do they show up in our favourite genre stories? From Star Wars’ Senate to Le Guin's Ekumen, what do we learn when we put aside crowns and dig a little deeper?
Panelists: Tracy Townsend (M), John Wiswell, Ehud Maimon, Kristine Smith

Speculative Social Media in Science Fiction

Day:
Saturday
Time:
05:00 p.m.
Room:
Charlevoix
Track:
Literature
Thinly-veiled or even overt references to popular real-world social platforms are common in modern media--including in speculative stories like superhero tv shows and movies. But speculative worldbuilding often calls for a re-imagining of how humans interact--would the social media of the United Federation of Planets really look like ours? Or would a peaceful interstellar society be more likely to arise in a world where Google Reader never died? How can writers incorporate new visions of social media that reflect their speculative worldbuilding?
Panelists: Marissa Lingen (M), John Chu, Jennifer Mace, Annalee Flower Horne, Brandon O'Brien

Ongoing Conversations about AI and Personhood in genre fiction

Day:
Saturday
Time:
05:00 p.m.
Room:
Petoskey
Track:
Literature
The question of whether autonomous constructed beings can be people dates at least as far back as golems in Jewish folklore, and has been explored throughout science fiction's history, from Mary Shelley's Frankenstein to Asimov's Robot series to Annalee Newitz's Autonomous and Martha Wells's Murderbot Diaries. Are there more philosophical aspects to this question to tease out? Where would we like to see this conversation within the science fiction community go next?
Panelists: Anthony W. Eichenlaub, Izzy Wasserstein, Tim Boerger

Preserving The Social History of Fandom

Day:
Saturday
Time:
05:00 p.m.
Room:
Interlochen
Track:
Fandom
When Yahoo Groups shuttered last fall, it prompted a lot of discussion around archives and preservation of community history. As the days of the early science fiction conventions begin to fade from living memory and longstanding cons like ConFusion trundle towards the end of their fifth decade, what steps are we taking to preserve the social history of fandom--not just the history of the books and media we've loved together, but the communities we've formed around them?
Panelists: Natalie Luhrs, Julie Winningham, Jeff Beeler

Science Guest of Honor Reading/Signing: Edible Insects and Human Evolution

Day:
Saturday
Time:
05:00 p.m.
Room:
Keweenaw
Track:
Science
Enjoy a dramatic and comedic reading by our Science Guest of Honor, Dr. Julie Lesnik, from her book "Edible Insects and Human Evolution". Come for the visuals, stay for the learning! After the reading, Dr. Lesnik will have copies available for purchase and signature.
Panelists: Dr. Julie Lesnik

Cardcaptor Sakura: More Than Meets the Eye

Day:
Saturday
Time:
05:00 p.m.
Room:
Isle Royale
Track:
Art
The women of CLAMP have produced some great manga and anime, with intriguing themes and distinctive art style. Sakura may appear to be just another Magical Girl series, but we'll discuss what makes this 92-episode gem a must-see.
Panelists: Paul Kemner, A. Carina Spears

Reading: Catherine Stein, Jennifer Blackstream, Corry L. Lee

Day:
Saturday
Time:
05:00 p.m.
Room:
Saugatuck
Track:
Reading
Panelists: Catherine Stein, Jennifer Blackstream, Corry L. Lee

KidFusion: Evening Break

Day:
Saturday
Time:
05:00 p.m.
Room:
Room 515
Track:
KidFusion
The KidFusion room is closed between 5 PM and 7 PM Saturday, as well as during the 3 and 4 PM events.
Panelists:

Film: The Dragon Prince

Day:
Saturday
Time:
05:00 p.m.
Room:
Boardroom
Track:
Film Room
Panelists:

Game: Space Base

Day:
Saturday
Time:
05:00 p.m.
Room:
Ballroom B
Track:
Gaming
Table: Hiccup - Players assume the roles of Commodores of a small fleet of ships. Ships begin docked at their stations and are then deployed to sectors as new ships are commissioned under your command. Use cargo vessels to engage in trade and commerce; mining vessels to build reoccurring base income; and carriers to spread your influence. Establish new colonies for a new Commodore in a sector to gain even more influence. Gain enough influence and you can be promoted to Admiral!
Panelists: Jim Sheridan (M),

Game: The Derelict

Day:
Saturday
Time:
05:00 p.m.
Room:
Ballroom B
Track:
Gaming
Table: Eret - System: Star Wars the Force Awakens; Synopsis: Set just before Force Awakens, the players are tasked with finding some old info. Rating: PG-13.
Panelists: Aaron Connell (M),

Short Fiction Submission: Advice from the Editor

Day:
Saturday
Time:
06:00 p.m.
Room:
Isle Royale
Track:
Literature
What are the dos and don'ts when submitting short fiction for magazines or anthologies? Hear from editors who've made those selections.
Panelists: Scott H. Andrews (M), Alvin R Mullen, Jennie Ivins, Mur Lafferty, Jeffrey Chapman

Telekinetics Bankrupt My Wagon Business

Day:
Saturday
Time:
06:00 p.m.
Room:
Interlochen
Track:
Literature
- and other challenges of maintaining an economic system in the face of non-newtonian metaphysics. Fantasists revel in creating societies filled with magic, but if a weather mage has a tantrum, what happens to the grain markets? How do trading hubs differ when there are portals involved? Why didn’t Superman strap a generator to a hamster wheel and power the world that way? How do we build believable economic systems that work with our more fantastic worldbuilding elements?
Panelists: Dan Stout, Jennifer Mace, J. Zachary Pike, Brian Naslund

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

Day:
Saturday
Time:
06:00 p.m.
Room:
Keweenaw
Track:
Media
Our panel of writers discusses the structure, pacing, characters, themes, and world-building in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, and how it fits in as the capstone of the Star Wars Saga.
Panelists: Annalee Flower Horne (M), Jordan Kurella

Inventing Mythos

Day:
Saturday
Time:
06:00 p.m.
Room:
Charlevoix
Track:
Literature
Okay, so your secondary-world fantasy has totally awesome gravity-defying dragons, but how do people think they got there? What stories do they tell about the Space Emperor Undying? What do the fables of our speculative universes say about the morals taught to children, and how did The Boy Who Lived become anything more than an urban legend to the wizarding world?
Panelists: K.A. Doore (M), Cherie Melinda Priest, Stacey Filak, Izzy Wasserstein, R.B. Lemberg

Short Lecture on Human Evolution with Science Guest of Honor Dr. Julie Lesnik

Day:
Saturday
Time:
06:00 p.m.
Room:
Manitou
Track:
Science
Join our Science Guest of Honor Dr. Julie Lesnik for a short lecture and hands-on class about the fascinating history of human evolution.
Panelists: Dr. Julie Lesnik

Masquerade Muster

Day:
Saturday
Time:
06:00 p.m.
Room:
Marquette
Track:
Costuming
Mandatory for all competitive entries in the Masquerade. Assemble to muster for the parade, be viewed by judges, and have optimal workmanship judging done. Competitors may enter as Novice, Journeyman, Master, or Junior levels. Please be on time. Exhibition entries may attend the Muster or just join the parade, ending at the Masquerade. Pre-Registration for the Masquerade is required. Sign up at OPS by 4:00pm Saturday.
Panelists: Anna Carey, Brandon O'Brien, Alex Drummer, Jessica Drummer

Zines: A Voice For Everyone

Day:
Saturday
Time:
06:00 p.m.
Room:
Leelanaw
Track:
Art
Join comic artists and Zinester's Karmada Arts and BluRaven C. Houvener as they discuss a medium that's taking the world by storm. It may shock you to find out that Zine's are nothing new - however! Come learn about Zine's humble beginnings, how they have evolved overtime into the powerhouse they are today, and how you yourself can make one in your spare time and for dirt cheap!
Panelists: BluRaven C. Houvener, Kristie Good

Reading: Alexandra Manglis, John Chu, Ferrett Steinmetz

Day:
Saturday
Time:
06:00 p.m.
Room:
Saugatuck
Track:
Reading
Panelists: Alexandra Manglis, John Chu, Ferrett Steinmetz

TeenFusion: Teen Iron Artist

Day:
Saturday
Time:
06:00 p.m.
Room:
Kensington
Track:
TeenFusion
An art competition for teens, judged by teens. Come just to draw or to compete for the prizes! No skill required!
Panelists:

Game: Honor and Glory

Day:
Saturday
Time:
06:00 p.m.
Room:
Ballroom B
Track:
Gaming
Table: Fishlegs - System: Legend of the Five Rings; Synopsis: A Samurai Adventure in an ancient land of Honour and Glory. Rating: PG-13.
Panelists: Justin Motsinger (M),

Game: Warehouse 13

Day:
Saturday
Time:
06:00 p.m.
Room:
Ballroom B
Track:
Gaming
Table: Toothless - Semi-cooperative. Take on the role of an agent from Warehouse 13. Work together to retrieve dangerous, fantastical artifacts. But might one of your fellow agents be working for the Warehouse's adversary?
Panelists: Cheryl Orosz (M),

Masquerade

Day:
Saturday
Time:
07:00 p.m.
Room:
Ballroom C&D
Track:
Costuming
Come see - or show off - the best costumes of the night! Judges will scrutinize. Crowds will cheer. Audiences will swoon. Honors will be awarded, including Iron Artist Award at half-time. If you would like to participate in the Masquerade please stop by OPS and fill out a registration form and pick up a rules and info sheet by 4:00pm Saturday.
Panelists:

Reading: Cherie Melinda Priest, Jim C. Hines, Anthony W. Eichenlaub

Day:
Saturday
Time:
07:00 p.m.
Room:
Charlevoix
Track:
Reading
Panelists: Cherie Melinda Priest, Jim C. Hines, Anthony W. Eichenlaub

KidFusion: Pajama/Pizza Party

Day:
Saturday
Time:
07:00 p.m.
Room:
Room 515
Track:
KidFusion
THIS IS A PAID EVENT. Come ready to party in your pajamas! We will have pizza and snacks along with a dance party. Register for this event at Registration by 12:00 PM Saturday.
Panelists:

Film: Dr. Stone

Day:
Saturday
Time:
07:00 p.m.
Room:
Boardroom
Track:
Film Room
Panelists:

[CANCELLED] Game: Illuminati Second Edition

Day:
Saturday
Time:
07:00 p.m.
Room:
Ballroom B
Track:
Gaming
[CANCELLED] Table: Spitelout - They are all around us. Secret conspiracies are everywhere. In Illuminati, you increase your wealth and power to take over the world until only YOU reign supreme. Now, this classic game of conspiracy and world conquest has been updated to include current events and up-to-date references! A SJ Games MIB Event.
Panelists: Walter Schirmacher (M),

Game: What Happens at the Library Stays at the Library

Day:
Saturday
Time:
07:00 p.m.
Room:
Ballroom B
Track:
Gaming
Table: Phlegma - System: Kult: Divinity Lost; Synopsis: It is the last week of exams at Calvin College before the winter break. Snowfall is heavy, the library is open late, and the campus is deserted. You are working the last shift before they shut down the library for the semester and one of you finds a strange journal with no one around to claim it. The details of the journal are horrifying, but I’m sure it will be fine.
Panelists: Cris Frank (M),

Speculative Open Mic with Brandon O'Brien and Bogi Takács

Day:
Saturday
Time:
08:00 p.m.
Room:
Charlevoix
Track:
Main Events
Join Guests of Honor Brandon O'Brien and Bogi Takács for a speculative poetry open mic. Bring work to read, or kick back and listen as ConFusion's poets share their work. Sign-up at Ops to get priority for the open mic.
Panelists: Bogi Takács, Brandon O'Brien

Masquerade Meet and Greet

Day:
Saturday
Time:
08:00 p.m.
Room:
Lobby
Track:
Costuming
Come meet and greet with the participants of the Masquerade. Look at their costumes up close, ask them questions and get to know our fantastic cosplayers of ConFusion. Meet and Greet in the Lobby and open to all.
Panelists:

TeenFusion: Party!

Day:
Saturday
Time:
08:00 p.m.
Room:
Kensington
Track:
TeenFusion
We will have pizza and be open only to teens aged 13-19 at this time.
Panelists:

[Cancelled] Game: Rat's-Eye View: To Grandmother's House

Day:
Saturday
Time:
08:00 p.m.
Room:
Ballroom B
Track:
Gaming
[Cancelled] Table: Light Fury - Rat's-Eye View: To Grandmother’s House is a Ready to Roll module for Rat’s-Eye View a Forged from GRAM saga of survival in a big bad world, but more so than that, one of building a community around critters who don’t all share the same outlook. The world that animals live in is so fascinating and fierce, compared to ours. Predators are clearly called out and prey understands their place so clearly that they adapt survival mechanisms. It’s a dog-eat-dog world where survival is the first thing you think of, and in Rat’s-Eye View that is no different, though perhaps there is a bit more wiggle room for negotiation.
Panelists: Rebecca Hill (M),

Game: Between Two Cities

Day:
Saturday
Time:
08:00 p.m.
Room:
Ballroom B
Track:
Gaming
Table: Valka - It is the early 1800s, a time of immense construction and urbanization. You are a world-renowned master city planner who has been asked to redesign two different cities. Projects of such significance require the expertise of more than one person, so for each assignment you are paired with a partner with whom to discuss and execute your grandiose plans. Will your planning and collaborative skills be enough to design the most impressive city in the world?
Panelists: Jim Sheridan (M),

Animaniacs Singalong

Day:
Saturday
Time:
09:00 p.m.
Room:
Marquette
Track:
Music
There may be bologna in our slacks, but that doesn’t mean we won’t sing about it. Sing along with a whole ton of songs from Animaniacs.
Panelists: Maggi Rohde

Friends of Bill W

Day:
Saturday
Time:
09:00 p.m.
Room:
Club Lounge
Track:
Main Events
Panelists:

Game: Betrayal at House on the Hill

Day:
Saturday
Time:
09:00 p.m.
Room:
Ballroom B
Track:
Gaming
Table: Toothless - Explore the creepy old mansion, that sounds like a fun time (especially for your evil friend)! Will you defeat the monsters that dwell within and your betrayer or will you never be heard from again?
Panelists: Samantha Orosz (M),

Dance Party With DJ Scalzi

Day:
Saturday
Time:
10:00 p.m.
Room:
St. Clair
Track:
Main Events
Panelists: John Scalzi (M),

Game: Codenames

Day:
Saturday
Time:
10:00 p.m.
Room:
Ballroom B
Track:
Gaming
Table: Valka - Two teams compete to see who can make contact with all of their agents first. Spymasters give one-word clues that can point to multiple words on the board. Their teammates try to guess words of the right color while avoiding those that belong to the opposing team. And everyone wants to avoid the assassin. This can be drop in and out!
Panelists: Jim Sheridan (M),

ConSuite: Saturday Hours

Day:
Sunday
Time:
09:00 a.m.
Room:
Mackinac
Track:
ConSuite
ConSuite will be open Saturday until 2:30 AM.
Panelists:

Film: Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba

Day:
Sunday
Time:
01:00 a.m.
Room:
Boardroom
Track:
Film Room
Panelists:

Film: The Wiseman’s Grandchild

Day:
Sunday
Time:
06:00 a.m.
Room:
Boardroom
Track:
Film Room
Panelists:

ConSuite: Sunday Hours

Day:
Sunday
Time:
07:00 a.m.
Room:
Mackinac
Track:
ConSuite
ConSuite Opens Sunday at 7AM and closes for the event at 3 PM.
Panelists:

Fan Guest of Honor Induction: Bogi Takács

Day:
Sunday
Time:
09:00 a.m.
Room:
St. Clair
Track:
Main Events
The Fan Guest of Honor Introduction and Induction is a traditional ConFusion event, wherein any attending Fan Guest of Honor's of years past welcome the new Fan Guest of Honor to the club.
Panelists: Jeff Beeler (M), Bogi Takács

Game: Dark Souls Dungeons and Dragons

Day:
Sunday
Time:
09:00 a.m.
Room:
Ballroom B
Track:
Gaming
Table: Phlegma - System: Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition; Synopsis: Adapted from the every challenging action RPG. Prepare to die, a whole lot! Rating: PG-13.
Panelists: Justin Motsinger (M),

Game: Movie Magic

Day:
Sunday
Time:
09:00 a.m.
Room:
Ballroom B
Track:
Gaming
Table: Fishlegs - System: Call of Cthulhu D20; Synopsis: Paradise is coming back. The aging Paradise Theater, built in the 1890s and once the finest venue in town, has been closed since the 1970s, until a recent art group bought the theater and began renovations, with the theater scheduled to reopen in a few days. However, there's trouble in Paradise: mysterious accidents and rumors of hauntings are plaguing the renovations. The investigators must solve this mystery, and fast: the secrets of the Paradise are covered by dust and dimmed by age, but those secrets still have teeth! Rating: PG-13.
Panelists: Cris Frank (M),

Kaffeeklatsch with Bogi Takács

Day:
Sunday
Time:
10:00 a.m.
Room:
Club Lounge
Track:
Main Events
Join Fan Guest of Honor Bogi Takács for a small-scale conversation and Q&A over cups of coffee or tea. Limit 10 attendees, sign up in Ops.
Panelists: Bogi Takács

Black Gate Interview with Author GoH Kameron Hurley

Day:
Sunday
Time:
10:00 a.m.
Room:
Charlevoix
Track:
Literature
Join Author GoH Kameron Hurley for a live interview with Black Gate columnist Brandon Crilly, discussing her award-winning novels and her extensive career as an advocate for marginalized voices in SFF and examiner of the genre's past, present, and future.
Panelists: Brandon Crilly, Kameron Hurley

Managing Geek Social Fallacies in Ourselves and Others

Day:
Sunday
Time:
10:00 a.m.
Room:
Keweenaw
Track:
Fandom
Michael Suileabhain-Wilson's 2003 article "Five Geek Social Fallacies" describe common social anti-patterns--specific dysfunctions that tend to develop in geek social circles and communities. How can we spot and constructively address these anti-patterns in ourselves and others, and establish better boundaries and healthier social norms with our friends and communities?
Panelists: Nora E. Derrington (M), Natalie Luhrs, Tracy Townsend, Stacey Filak

Managing Scope Creep In An SFF Series

Day:
Sunday
Time:
10:00 a.m.
Room:
Isle Royale
Track:
Literature
We've all seen it happen: a hero's story begins with relatively small but personal stakes--solving one case, or saving one person--but then as their series progresses, the stakes keep rising, until Book Ten rolls around and they're riding a dinosaur into battle against the universe. When taking on a sequel, how do we keep our heroes grounded in goals in which they have a personal stake, and keep those stakes interesting without escalating them to absurdity?
Panelists: Dave Klecha (M), Jennifer Blackstream, Diana Rowland, Mackenzie Flohr

Their legs are HOW long? An Interactive Panel on Drawing and Proprotions.

Day:
Sunday
Time:
10:00 a.m.
Room:
Leelanaw
Track:
Art
Having trouble drawing people, or maybe you’ve always wanted to learn? Join Karmada, author and illustrator, for an interactive panel on drawing human body proportions! The first half of the panel we’ll discuss proportions, and show examples from comics and animation, and the second half we’ll do some follow-along exercises. Sketchbooks are encouraged, but basic paper and pencils will be available.
Panelists: Kristie Good (M),

Reading: Marissa Lingen, Tim Boerger, John Wiswell

Day:
Sunday
Time:
10:00 a.m.
Room:
Saugatuck
Track:
Reading
Panelists: Marissa Lingen, John Wiswell, Tim Boerger

KidFusion: Wake Up Yoga

Day:
Sunday
Time:
10:00 a.m.
Room:
Room 515
Track:
KidFusion
Learn some yoga poses to get your day started.
Panelists:

TeenFusion: Open Room

Day:
Sunday
Time:
10:00 a.m.
Room:
Kensington
Track:
TeenFusion
The TeenFusion room will be open to teens and only teens during this time.
Panelists:

Game: Splendor

Day:
Sunday
Time:
10:00 a.m.
Room:
Ballroom B
Track:
Gaming
Table: Hiccup - Splendor is a game of chip-collecting and card development. Players are merchants of the Renaissance trying to buy gem mines, means of transportation, shops—all in order to acquire the most prestige points. If you're wealthy enough, you might even receive a visit from a noble at some point, which of course will further increase your prestige.
Panelists: Cheryl Orosz (M),

[Cancelled] Game: Rat's-Eye View: To Grandmother's House

Day:
Sunday
Time:
10:00 a.m.
Room:
Ballroom B
Track:
Gaming
[Cancelled] Table: Lightfury - Rat's-Eye View: To Grandmother’s House is a Ready to Roll module for Rat’s-Eye View a Forged from GRAM saga of survival in a big bad world, but more so than that, one of building a community around critters who don’t all share the same outlook. The world that animals live in is so fascinating and fierce, compared to ours. Predators are clearly called out and prey understands their place so clearly that they adapt survival mechanisms. It’s a dog-eat-dog world where survival is the first thing you think of, and in Rat’s-Eye View that is no different, though perhaps there is a bit more wiggle room for negotiation.
Panelists: Rebecca Hill (M),

Game: Lockup

Day:
Sunday
Time:
10:00 a.m.
Room:
Ballroom B
Track:
Gaming
Table: Eret - This is a game about locked up fantasy races that are generally bad guys trying to get enough fame to be able to fight for their freedom in the arena when the king comes through. It is a game where players bid for locations on the board using your inmates to collect items to make valuables to get you fame. This game is a mid to light level difficulty game.
Panelists: Aaron Connell (M),

Writing with Non-Binary and Neopronouns

Day:
Sunday
Time:
11:00 a.m.
Room:
Charlevoix
Track:
Literature
Nonbinary pronouns like e and xe and, of course, singular they, are becoming more common in English, and are popping up more frequently in Science Fiction and Fantasy. Authors who've used non-binary pronouns in their work discuss what they learned, what feedback they've received, and why it's important to make room for non-binary people in our fantastic and speculative worlds.
Panelists: E.D.E. Bell (M), John Chu, Jordan Kurella, Bogi Takács

Kaffeeklatsch with Brandon O'Brien

Day:
Sunday
Time:
11:00 a.m.
Room:
Club Lounge
Track:
Main Events
Join Creative Guest of Honor Brandon O'Brien for a small-scale conversation and Q&A over cups of coffee or tea. Limit 10 attendees, sign up in Ops.
Panelists: Brandon O'Brien

Speculative Visions of Prosthetics in Science Fiction and Fantasy

Day:
Sunday
Time:
11:00 a.m.
Room:
Interlochen
Track:
Literature
How To Train Your Dragon's Hiccup and Toothless are close friends even before Hiccup loses his leg--but through most of the series, they are both amputees. From Toothless's prosthetic tail to Nathaniel Moon's ninja-hand on Into The Badlands and Furiosa's arm from Fury Road, how can speculative fiction present opportunities to imagine more room in the world for people with prosthetics?
Panelists: Elsa Sjunneson, Stephanie Lorée, Jules Ray

The Epistolary Resurgence

Day:
Sunday
Time:
11:00 a.m.
Room:
Isle Royale
Track:
Literature
Epistolary fiction is experiencing a renaissance: Max Gladstone and Amal El-Mohtar's This Is How You Lose The Time War, K Arsenault Rivera's The Tiger's Daughter, and other titles are showing modern audiences just how much depth and range letters can have as a storytelling device. What do we love most about the epistolary format, and where would we like to see it take us next?
Panelists: Emma Törzs (M), A. T. Greenblatt, Alexandra Manglis, Scott H. Andrews, Sarah E Gibbons

Barbership Community Sing

Day:
Sunday
Time:
11:00 a.m.
Room:
Marquette
Track:
Music
If folk = filk, then barbershop = barbership. Join us for a reprise of the four-part harmony workshop hosted by Steve Macdonald last year.
Panelists: Maggi Rohde

There Be Dragons- In Anime!

Day:
Sunday
Time:
11:00 a.m.
Room:
Keweenaw
Track:
Art
We'll share our favorites from series worth watching, featuring dragons as major characters and open the discussion for audience suggestions too.
Panelists: Paul Kemner, A. Carina Spears, Star Stramel

Plan your Outbreak!

Day:
Sunday
Time:
11:00 a.m.
Room:
Leelanaw
Track:
Science
From influenza to the black death, epidemiologist Keren Landsman discusses what made the world's largest biological disasters happen, and how to use that in worldbuilding.
Panelists: Keren Landsman (M),

Reading: Elly Bangs, Tracy Townsend, Jenn Lyons

Day:
Sunday
Time:
11:00 a.m.
Room:
Saugatuck
Track:
Reading
Panelists: Elly Bangs, Tracy Townsend, Jenn Lyons

KidFusion: Sunday Morning Anime

Day:
Sunday
Time:
11:00 a.m.
Room:
Room 515
Track:
KidFusion
Come and watch youth-appropriate anime with friends.
Panelists:

Film: My Hero Academia: Two Heroes

Day:
Sunday
Time:
11:00 a.m.
Room:
Boardroom
Track:
Film Room
Film Room closes at 12:30.
Panelists:

TeenFusion: Coloring

Day:
Sunday
Time:
11:00 a.m.
Room:
Kensington
Track:
TeenFusion
Come hang out and color with us.
Panelists:

Game: The Mystery of Providence Forge

Day:
Sunday
Time:
11:00 a.m.
Room:
Ballroom B
Track:
Gaming
Table: Tuffnut - Set in the Warhammer 40k universe, the world of Providence Forge has gone silent, and hundreds of thousands of colonists have gone missing. The players are sent to this world to investigate the situation. Using the Fate Core system, characters will be created at the beginning, and a special auction mechanic will allow players to earn special benefits for their characters.
Panelists: Lloyd Williams (M),

Game: Express

Day:
Sunday
Time:
11:00 a.m.
Room:
Ballroom B
Track:
Gaming
Table: Toothless - A unique card game for the 90's. Reminiscent of classic card games but including new play twists, Express is as easy to learn as rummy. Players start with one or two car trains and build on their meld to maximize points and bonuses. But players must be wary of train wrecks and derailments. Unique play allows partners to pass key cards to each other during the game.
Panelists: Samantha Orosz (M),

Living and Involved Mothers in Speculative Fiction

Day:
Sunday
Time:
12:00 p.m.
Room:
Charlevoix
Track:
Literature
How To Train Your Dragon starts off with a common genre trope: the young hero has a dead mother. Though getting parents out of the narrative's way is often necessary to give young protagonists the agency to be heroes of their own stories, mothers seem to have a much higher mortality rate than fathers. How can we make more room for living and involved mothers in genre fiction? Who are our favorite examples of stories whose young protagonists have significant relationships with their living mothers? And how do we make room for mothers to be whole characters with their own interior lives and agency, even while they're serving as supporting roles in their children's stories?
Panelists: Suzanne Church (M), Vanessa Ricci-Thode, Stacey Filak, Merrie Haskell

Star Trek: Picard

Day:
Sunday
Time:
12:00 p.m.
Room:
Keweenaw
Track:
Media
Star Trek: Picard isn't out until next week, but we still have hopes, dreams, theories, and opinions to discuss. All publicly-released information about the show, including trailers, interviews, panel discussions, marketing materials, and Patrick Stewart's instagram are fair game for this discussion, so please avoid this panel if you consider any of that information to constitute "spoilers."
Panelists: Jeff Beeler (M), Adam R. Shannon, David M Stein

When Not To Motivate Your Villain

Day:
Sunday
Time:
12:00 p.m.
Room:
Interlochen
Track:
Literature
Many of pop culture's most compelling villains have well-developed motivation. Their means may be abhorrent, but their goals are relatable--perhaps even compelling. However, the desire to create multi-faceted antagonists sometimes leads to humanizing villains at the expense of their victims: audiences are invited to relate to a villain's "sympathetic" origins more than we relate to people they terrorize and murder. Where's the line between writing a worthy opponent and writing an excuse for monstrous behavior?
Panelists: Nora E. Derrington (M), Shweta Adhyam, Natalie Luhrs, Stephanie Malia Morris

Reading: Gwenda Bond

Day:
Sunday
Time:
12:00 p.m.
Room:
Leelanaw
Track:
Main Events
Readings by Subterranean Press Special Guest Gwenda Bond.
Panelists: Gwenda Bond

Reading: Keren Landsman, Nino Cipri, Cislyn M Smith

Day:
Sunday
Time:
12:00 p.m.
Room:
Saugatuck
Track:
Reading
Panelists: Keren Landsman, Nino Cipri, Cislyn M Smith

KidFusion: Afternoon Break

Day:
Sunday
Time:
12:00 p.m.
Room:
Room 515
Track:
KidFusion
KidFusion is closed between 12 PM and 1 PM for a break.
Panelists:

TeenFusion: Bean Boozled

Day:
Sunday
Time:
12:00 p.m.
Room:
Kensington
Track:
TeenFusion
Test the strength of your stomach and taste buds with this not so terrific snack. The TeenFusion room closes at 2 PM.
Panelists:

Game: Dice Forge

Day:
Sunday
Time:
12:00 p.m.
Room:
Ballroom B
Track:
Gaming
Table: Astrid - Dice Forge is a development game featuring innovative mechanics based on dice with removable faces. In this dice crafting game, players build their own dice to gain resources to purchase upgrades.
Panelists: Jim Sheridan (M),

Great Lakes and Inland Seas In Secondary Worlds

Day:
Sunday
Time:
12:00 p.m.
Room:
Isle Royale
Track:
Literature
It's hard to really get a sense of the scale of the American Great Lakes if you've never stood on one of their shores. Those of us used to thinking of lakes as more akin to very large ponds are often surprised by the dunes, the waves, the wind, the distant horizon. Writers who know the lakes offer advice on how to incorporate great lakes and inland seas into our fantasy worlds--as a narrative setting, what separates lakes from oceans? What unique or surprising storytelling opportunities do lakes provide?
Panelists: LaShawn M. Wanak (M), Marissa Lingen, Phoebe Barton, John Winkelman

Writing Critique Groups

Day:
Sunday
Time:
01:00 p.m.
Room:
Isle Royale
Track:
Literature
Critique groups can be a fantastic resource for writers, but it can be tough to find (or form) one that will suit your needs. Our panel of crit group veterans talks about the good and bad of critique groups, how to find an existing group, what to expect, and when to walk (or run) away from a group. Plus, tips on good practices to adopt in your group so everyone can get the best out of the experience.
Panelists: Clif Flynt (M), Adam R. Shannon, Adam Rakunas, Lucy A. Snyder, Corry L. Lee

A Look at the World of Speculative Poetry

Day:
Sunday
Time:
01:00 p.m.
Room:
Charlevoix
Track:
Literature
Our panel of poets and poetry enthusiasts talk about the current state of speculative poetry--how has it evolved over time, and where is it heading? Where is it situated within the wider world of contemporary poetry? Who are our favorite speculative poets and publishers of speculative poetry?
Panelists: Nora E. Derrington (M), Stephanie Malia Morris, Bogi Takács, Brandon O'Brien

Villains We Hate To Love

Day:
Sunday
Time:
01:00 p.m.
Room:
Manitou
Track:
Literature
Bad guys you despise are a dime a dozen, but then there are the villains you know are terrible people, but somehow you kind of admire them. You wish that maybe, perhaps, they'll be reformed—or at least not get killed. What makes a villain...likeable? Who are some of our favorite antagonists we wish could be the heroes of a different story? Or who we want the satisfaction of their defeat, but hope it takes a long time to get there, so we can enjoy the ride with them just a wee bit longer? What qualities or traits about them make us feel this way?
Panelists: Michael Cieslak, Mackenzie Flohr, Jeannie Szarama

Laser Guns and Gravity Canons: War in Deep Space

Day:
Sunday
Time:
01:00 p.m.
Room:
Petoskey
Track:
Art
We’ve come a long way from Flash Gordon’s pew-pew laser effects. From Ninefox Gambit’s eldritch special attacks to The Expanse’s inventive use of real-world physics, what does warfare look like in modern space opera and scifi? How do space empires protect themselves when borders are three-dimensional and vast? What can we learn from Mass Effect’s biotics and Eve Online’s multi-player strategic webs?
Panelists: Jeff Beeler (M), Ken Schrader, Phoebe Barton, Patrick S Tomlinson

Decolonising Secondary-World Fantasy

Day:
Sunday
Time:
01:00 p.m.
Room:
Interlochen
Track:
Literature
Building the history of an entirely different world to our own has its challenges - and its opportunities. From NK Jemisin’s Broken Earth to Robert Jackson Bennett’s Divine Cities to stories that envision non-colonized worlds, how can (and does) this genre challenge, undercut, or circumvent colonialist narratives? How are writers from colonized communities and their diasporas using speculative fiction to push back on mainstream narratives of colonization as an inevitable, necessary, or even positive force?
Panelists: Alexandra Manglis, Maquel A. Jacob

How Will We Eat in the Future?

Day:
Sunday
Time:
01:00 p.m.
Room:
Leelanaw
Track:
Science
Whether on a climate changed Earth or out in space, there's a good chance that our eating habits will need to change. How will we grow and consume our food in the future? Bring your ideas and we can also share our favorite science fictional foods and beverages.
Panelists: Diana Rowland (M), Nino Cipri, Elizabeth Glover, Dr. Julie Lesnik

Reading: Suzanne Church, Merrie Haskell

Day:
Sunday
Time:
01:00 p.m.
Room:
Saugatuck
Track:
Reading
Panelists: Suzanne Church, Merrie Haskell

KidFusion: Game On!

Day:
Sunday
Time:
01:00 p.m.
Room:
Room 515
Track:
KidFusion
Join our friend, Meri as she brings a selection of games kid friendly games. (Past selections have included Dixit and Hey That's My Fish.)
Panelists:

Game: Jaws

Day:
Sunday
Time:
01:00 p.m.
Room:
Ballroom B
Track:
Gaming
Table: Hiccup - One player is Jaws; up to three players are Brody, Hooper, and Quint. Game has two play modes: Amity Island, where the shark eats swimmers, and Orca, where the shark tries to destroy the boat.
Panelists: Jim Sheridan (M),

Local Resources for Michigan Writers

Day:
Sunday
Time:
02:00 p.m.
Room:
Charlevoix
Track:
Literature
Our panel of local writers is here to tell you about local resources for writers in the Detroit area, including local conferences, talks, and library events. Come find out how to take advantage of everything the area has to offer writers.
Panelists: Jen Haeger, Mackenzie Flohr, Clif Flynt

Speculative Visions Of Pregnancy and Childbirth

Day:
Sunday
Time:
02:00 p.m.
Room:
Isle Royale
Track:
Literature
Depictions of pregnancy and childbirth in speculative fiction often display a startling lack of imagination around how the work's worldbuilding would impact reproductive medicine. We get science fictional and fantastic worlds where magic or technology can cure all ills and even teleport people, but pregnancy and childbirth are as dangerous and painful as they were a century ago. How can writers better integrate their fantastical worldbuilding into their depictions of pregnancy and childbirth, and what are our favorite examples of authors using their speculative worlds to imagine new visions for reproductive health?
Panelists: Corry L. Lee (M), Jennie Ivins, K.A. Doore, Sharon B

Chat-Based Fandom Communities

Day:
Sunday
Time:
02:00 p.m.
Room:
Keweenaw
Track:
Fandom
Fandom communities are flourishing on chat platforms like Slack and Discord. Chat groups offer people the chance to move out of the din of public social media to create smaller communities, with better moderation options for community managers and the chance to develop the kind of camaraderie and cohesion we sometimes see among regular commenters on blogs. How do we find or create a chat community that's right for us, and what steps can we take to keep these communities vibrant and healthy?
Panelists: Jake Milla (M), Jeannie Szarama

Time in a Box: Tips for Comic Panel Layouts

Day:
Sunday
Time:
02:00 p.m.
Room:
Leelanaw
Track:
Art
A picture’s worth a thousand words, but a terrible layout only spells disaster! Join Karmada, comic artist and illustrator, for a discussion panel about Comic Panel layouts and composition. Whether you’re drawing a single comic strip or a full chapter book, the tips and tricks in this panel will help you tell your story your way!
Panelists: Kristie Good (M),

Reading: Maquel A. Jacob, Patrick S Tomlinson

Day:
Sunday
Time:
02:00 p.m.
Room:
Saugatuck
Track:
Reading
Panelists: Maquel A. Jacob, Patrick S Tomlinson

KidFusion: Book Swap!

Day:
Sunday
Time:
02:00 p.m.
Room:
Room 515
Track:
KidFusion
Do you have books that are lonely and unread? Bring them to the KidFusion Book Swap. Books can be dropped off throughout the weekend until Sunday at noon. Come and join us at 2pm to choose a new-to-you book to take home. All children are welcome to participate, it is not a requirement to bring a book first. KidFusion closes for the year after this event: See you in 2021!
Panelists:

Game: Munchkin Starfinder

Day:
Sunday
Time:
02:00 p.m.
Room:
Ballroom B
Track:
Gaming
Table: Spitelout - Munchkin Starfinder combines the roleplaying, backstabbing action of classic Munchkin with the lasers, alien planets, starships, and adorably deadly skittermanders from the Starfinder Roleplaying Game! Defeat The Swarm and loot the universe . . . in Munchkin Starfinder! A SJ Games MIB Event.
Panelists: Walter Schirmacher (M),

Closing Ceremonies

Day:
Sunday
Time:
03:00 p.m.
Room:
Ballroom C&D
Track:
Main Events
Come say goodbye to our Guests of Honor and Subterranean Special Guests, and learn which 2021 Guests of Honor announcements we will be sharing with you!
Panelists: Lithie Dubois (M), Seanan McGuire, Gwenda Bond, Kameron Hurley, Bogi Takács, Brandon O'Brien, Dr. Julie Lesnik

Game: Wizard

Day:
Sunday
Time:
03:00 p.m.
Room:
Ballroom B
Track:
Gaming
Table: Hiccup - Players compete over multiple rounds based on the number of players, and whoever ends with the highest score wins. In each round, players are dealt a hand of cards — one card in the first round, two cards in the second, three in the third, etc. — then trump is determined by flipping the top card of the undealt deck; if a suit is revealed, that suit is trump, while if a Wizard or Jester (or no card in the final round) is revealed, then the round has no trump. Players then state how many tricks they expect to win in the round.
Panelists: Cheryl Orosz (M),