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We are so excited to announce that Misty Massey will be a guest at Ret-Con 2023! Check out the Guest Q&A below to learn more about her work and upcoming projects.

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If someone was interested in your work, what would you recommend they check out first?

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Mad Kestrel, book one of the Mad Kestrel series of pirate fantasy adventures. I'm a big fan of starting at the beginning.

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What is your most popular or best-reviewed work?

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At the moment, also Mad Kestrel, but only because Kestrel's Dance, the long-awaited sequel, was just released. I'm sure it'll catch up soon!

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What are you working on right now, and will it be out by Ret-Con (the last weekend of February 2023)

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I'm finishing the third book for my new Dead Man series, featuring a resurrected Doc Holliday, for Falstaff Books. At the moment I don't have a solid release date, but definitely in 2023. I'm also writing an as-yet-unnamed series of noir-fantasy novellas in the style of the old Kolchak the Night Stalker show, but set in present day, for Loreseekers Press. Again, the release date isn't set, but I'm hoping they'll appear in 2023.

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Who or what are your influences or inspirations?

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I've been a fan of Tim Powers since the mid 80s. He writes mostly secret history, and the way he weaves magic as the catalyst for historical events fascinates me. And of course, I never even considered writing as more than a hobby until I met Faith Hunter, who took me under her wing, encouraged me and taught me so much about the world of writing and publishing. She's been a friend and mentor for many years.

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What are you reading, watching, listening to, playing, or otherwise enjoying that you'd recommend to Ret-Con attendees or your own fans?

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Recently my son introduced me to "Agatha Christie's Poirot", the British series starring David Suchet. How I missed it on its original run, I have no idea, but now I'm utterly entranced. Suchet is perfect in the role and has brought me to a new appreciation of the character. I'm also practically drooling for new seasons of The Witcher, Only Murders In The Building, The Orville and What We Do In The Shadows.

As for books, I've been focused on reading as much work by women and people of color as I can, and as a result, I've found some really wonderful authors to follow. I highly recommend the Hugo-nominated A Master of Djinn by P Djeli Clark, Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, The Last Stand of Mary Good Crow by Rachel Aaron, The Conductors by Nicole Glover and Jade City by Fonda Lee.

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Is there anything you'd like to share with our social media followers that isn't included above?

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I've lately started learning how to post things on TikTok, so please drop over and take a look at my videos. If any of them make you smile, give me a like!

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Attention gamers! Jason Morningstar, the owner, creative Director, and lead designer of Bully Pulpit Games, will be a guest at Ret-Con 2023! Check out the Guest Q&A below to learn more. - - - - - ____________________ If someone was interested in your work, what would you recommend they check out first? - www.bullypulpitgames.com ____________________ What is your most popular or best-reviewed work? - Fiasco, a game about powerful ambition and poor impulse control: https://bullypulpitgames.com/games/fiasco/ ____________________ What are you working on right now, and will it be out by Ret-Con (the last weekend of February 2023)? - Desperation, a game of survival horror, often without the survival: https://bullypulpitgames.com/games/desperation/ ____________________ Who or what are your influences or inspirations? - Neo noir film, Barbara Tuchman and Richard Brautigan, nordic larp, The Scrap Exchange ____________________ What are you reading, watching, listening to, playing, or otherwise enjoying that you'd recommend to Ret-Con attendees or your own fans? - Fall of Magic, from Heart of the Deernicorn and Ross Cowman, a lyrical picaresque fantasy game you play out on a screen printed five foot long scroll. Excellent! https://heartofthedeernicorn.com/product/fall-of-magic-revised-edition/?v=7516fd43adaa Apollo 47, from Tim Hutchings, a wonderful game about the extremely mundane 47th landing in the Apollo program. https://thousandyearoldvampire.com/products/apollo-47-technical-manual-an-rpg The Straights Are Not OK, a hilarious larp by Ash Kreider about a gender reveal party gone extremely wrong. https://peachpantspress.com/larps/straights/

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Attention all Ret-Con 2023 Dealers - don't forget, the payment deadline for tables is January 16th! Make sure to mark the date so you don't miss out!

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We are so happy to announce that urban fantasy author Eli Rainwater will be a guest at Ret-Con 2023! Check out the Guest Q&A below to learn more about her Jessie’s Bar series and upcoming projects.

- - - - - ____________________ If someone was interested in your work, what would you recommend they check out first? - My first book, Welcome to Jessie's ____________________ What is your most popular or best-reviewed work? - Welcome to Jessie's ____________________ What are you working on right now, and will it be out by Ret-Con (the last weekend of February 2023)? - Where the Ogrekin Roam (sequel), and yes, also the first books for three other series that are not titled yet ____________________ Who or what are your influences or inspirations? - David and Leigh Eddings, Seanan McGuire, Mercedes Lackey, Wendy & Richard Pini, H.P. Lovecraft, Tolkien, Kat Richardson, Kelly Barnhill, Terry Brooks, Neil Gaimon, Terry Pratchet, Charlaine Harris, Diana Wynne Jones ____________________ What are you reading, watching, listening to, playing, or otherwise enjoying that you'd recommend to Ret-Con attendees or your own fans? - Reading: Tracy Deonn, the latest two Ben Aaronovitch books from Rivers of London, Kelly Barnhill, the Genesis of Shannara series from Terry Brooks, Jasper Fforde, the Preacher graphic novels Watching: The Magicians Listening to: Console Kids Podcast, my personal playlists that range from E.S. Posthumous to Dua Lipa to KMFDM to Slayer, Playing: Witcher, Kingdoms of Amalur, Dragon Age (all of them, they never get old), Kena Bridge of Spirits, Omen Sight, Hellblade, Call of Cthulu, Any and all Ratchet and Clank, Child of Light, Diablo (the best when I need to just get really aggro for about five minutes), and God of War

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We are excited to announce that Aaron Christopher Drown will be a guest at Ret-Con 2023! An author and

award winning graphic artist, check out the Guest Q&A below to learn more.

If someone was interested in your work, what would you recommend they check out first?

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My new short story collection, The Gods Must Clearly Smile, would be a good place to start. It

runs the gamut of genres and I think makes for a decent primer on my work.

What is your most popular or best-reviewed work?

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At the moment, The Gods Must Clearly Smile.

What are you working on right now, and will it be out by Ret-Con (the last weekend of February

2023)?

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I’m working on the follow-up to my first novel, titled The Book of the Hated One. And no, it won’t

be ready by Ret-Con. In fact, I’m pretty sure my publisher thinks it will never, ever be done.

Who or what are your influences or inspirations?

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My father loaned me a copy of the first novel I ever read, Dragonflight by Anne McCaffrey, which

enthralled me. After that, Asimov’s Foundation Trilogy. But the book that set me on my path was

“The Sleeping Dragon,” by Joel Rosenberg. Ray Bradbury is a key influence, as is Fredric

Brown. And the work of Joseph Campbell is a constant source of inspiration.

What are you reading, watching, listening to, playing, or otherwise enjoying that you'd

recommend to Ret-Con attendees or your own fans?

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Just finished The Night Circus by Erin Morgensten, and before that Project Hail Mary by Andy

Weir, The Once and Future King by T.H. White, and Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power by Jon

Meacham. I’ve just started This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger. On the flatscreen I’m

enjoying Severance, and despite the argle-bargle I’m thoroughly appreciating The Rings of

Power. On the music front, I’ve just discovered the band Wet Leg and can’t get enough of them.

Is there anything you'd like to share with our social media followers that isn't included above?

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I’d never deny anyone the freedom to arrange their bookshelves by color, but if you do then you leave me no choice but to offer regular sidelong suspicious glances.

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Ret-Con has a limited number of Ad slots available in our event program book.

Find out more information here:

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Hey there ghosts and ghouls, don't miss our cryptids programming track at the first annual Ret-Con. It'll be a scream!

Pre-registration is open now:

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We are thrilled to announce the man, the myth, the legend, Chris Shrewsbury will be a guest at Ret-Con 2023! Check out our Guest Q&A below to learn more about Chris, his comedy and advocacy work, and what his all time top Star Trek series is, straight from the expert himself.

- - - - - ____________________ If someone was interested in your work, what would you recommend they check out first? - Professionally- Jump into anything dealing with disabilities and accessibility. Start with one issue or condition, so as not to become overwhelmed. Personally- Absolutely anything Star Trek! My start came with the original series and I cannot recommend it enough, but every incarnation has its own merits. Comedy- Go see LIVE stand-up and improv shows. Immerse yourself in the culture and atmosphere of performing before an audience. ____________________ What is your most popular or best-reviewed work? - I think the biggest impact was the creation of Accessibility Services at Animazement. I was able to build something important there, and it survived after I left. Currently, people are really enjoying my improv game Whose Con is It Anyway and the ever-changing Geeky Rants. (I’ve had to postpone all future pole dancing performances after my wheelchair tragically killed three audience members in Chattanooga.) ____________________ What are you working on right now, and will it be out by Ret-Con (the last weekend of February 2023)? - Well, I just got a 500 piece puzzle.  Post-Covid I’m getting back to working with events and venues in their accessibility efforts. I’m also resuming my own performances. I’ve done some workshops and benefits, a number of awesome roasts, and the panels and games I do at various conventions. ____________________ Who or what are your influences or inspirations? - I try to gain something from everyone I encounter. We can learn and grow so much from other’s experiences, and they from ours. In comedy, I’m all over the place. I idolize Don Rickles and Robin Williams, for obvious reasons. I also really enjoy Bill Burr, Chad Daniels, Janeane Garofolo, Nate Bargetze, Taylor Tomlinson, Tom Segura, Eliza Schlesinger, Lewis Black, and Kathleen Madigan. ____________________ What are you reading, watching, listening to, playing, or otherwise enjoying that you'd recommend to Ret-Con attendees or your own fans? - Streaming Is Life! Right now there are five new Star Trek shows being produced on Paramount+, and honestly, Strange New Worlds is probably the best Star Trek ever done. On Hulu, The Orville is a great show, and pretty much everything Star Wars and Marvel going on over on Disney+. ____________________ Is there anything you'd like to share with our social media followers that isn't included above? - Well, I’m having to re-evaluate my tap-dancing career… I just hope that by encountering me, your day has gotten better. I’d love to make you laugh, hope to make you think, and be humbled if you can give those things to others

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Attention all superhero and horror fans!

We are excited to announce that Samantha Bryant will be a guest at Ret-Con 2023! Check out our Guest Q&A below to learn more about her novels, her biggest inspirations, and her recommendation on what to check out at Carolina Theater's Retro Film series this year. - - - - - ____________________ If someone was interested in your work, what would you recommend they check out first? - Since my novels are a series, readers should definitely begin with Going Through the Change, the first one. You can meet Flygirl, Fuerte, Flamethrower, and The Lizard Woman when they were Jessica, Linda, Helen, and Patricia, before the resident mad scientist Cindy Liu stepped in to “help” and changed their lives forever. If you want to try on the series at a lower commitment, The Good Will Tour novella stands alone well, too. ____________________ What is your most popular or best-reviewed work? - Besides the Menopausal Superhero series, I also write short form horror. One of my most universally praised stories is “His Destroyer” in Slay: Stories of the Vampire Noire from Mocha Memoirs Press. It takes place during the 10th plague of Egypt, my Passover vampire story. It chilled me to write, and many readers find it disquieting. If you’re a horror fan, you should definitely check it out and all the other fine work in this unusual collection. ____________________ What are you working on right now, and will it be out by Ret-Con (the last weekend of February 2023)? - I’m writing the fifth and final novel in the Menopausal Superhero series. It won’t be out by Ret-Con, unfortunately, but readers can get the other four and the collection of shorts from Falstaff Books. Once I finish that, I’m excited to get back to my Gothic romance. I love trying on new genres and styles. Keeps the writing fun! ____________________ Who or what are your influences or inspirations? - My earliest influences were the tales of the Brothers Grimm and the Old Testament, mostly as recounted for me by my grandmother and great grandmother, who didn’t believe in sanitizing the stories for little Samantha. Later, I discovered Shirley Jackson. At the same time, I was reading comic books stolen from my uncles or bought in the used comic bin in my small-town bookstore and watching all the 1970s hero shows (and older ones in re-runs), with my dad. So, I’ve always had a mixture of horror and hero running through my literary veins.

I’ve been fortunate to have some great writing mentors in my life, too. Writer-teachers who gave freely of their time and energy in my college years, workshops through organizations and my public library, and countless supporters and friends found through convention life and publishing connections. I’ve been very lucky. ____________________ What are you reading, watching, listening to, playing, or otherwise enjoying that you'd recommend to Ret-Con attendees or your own fans? - I’m finally watching Supernatural. I know, I’m late to the party, but what a party it still is! I’m also finishing up some of the new speculative fiction programs out there: Stranger Things, Sandman, She-Hulk. On the big screen, I’m a devotee of the Retro Film Series at the Carolina Theatre in Durham. They’re having a Kaiju Quest this season!

I’m also an enthusiast of board games. Some recent favorites: Azul, Ascension (all the Ascension!), Gloom, Riftforce, Ticket to Ride, Lanterns, Qwirkle, Horrified, Forbidden Island. When I married my husband, I really leveled up in the games department. You should see our game hoard!

In terms of music, I have a teenager, and I let them choose what we listen to a lot of the time. Thanks to the kiddo, I’ve been getting into Will Wood (Dr. Sunshine is Dead). His music is sort of punk-klezmer. I’ve also been enjoying Penelope Scott (Lotta True Crime), and The Stupendium (The Fine Print). I’ve been revisiting Dolly Parton here lately, too. She’s still amazing. We could all do well by asking ourselves What Would Dolly do?

As for reading, I help run the classics book club at my library, so I read one classic novel a month. Recent choices were David Copperfield, Anna Karenina, and Sense and Sensibility. Otherwise, I try to keep up with some new releases, both on the indie and the mainstream front. Recent great reads: The Weight of Ink by Rachel Kadish, The Beautiful Ones by Sylvia Moreno Garcia, Akata Woman by Nnedi Okorafor, The Princess and the Peonies by Lucy Blue, and The Half Life of Ruby Fielding by Lydia Kang. ____________________ Is there anything you'd like to share with our social media followers that isn't included above? - I’m a nature enthusiast. Follow me on instagram (@samanthabwriter) for pictures of flowers, mushrooms, and other small beauties seen on my daily walks. Find me at Ret-Con to talk about Universal monsters, baking, superheroes, old movies, board games, books, and writing.

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WE NEED YOU!

JOIN THE SQUATCH WATCH

Ret-Con is a volunteer run convention and we need good folk willing to participate in our Squatch Watch. We couldn't run a fun convention without the help of volunteers, so if you're interested in helping keep the peace among the Sasquatches, Jersey Devils, and Flatwoods Monsters among us, please head to https://www.ret-con.org/volunteer to apply!

Artist Credit belongs to https://www.facebook.com/jessicastalveyart

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Special hotel block rates are here! Check out the link below to find information and get that hotel rate locked in for Ret-Con. Block rate available Feb 23rd- Feb 27th so we can hang out even longer!

This rate is available on both King and 2 Double Suites. Includes Evening Reception and Made to Order Breakfast! Can't beat that deal!

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Did you know Pre-Registration is open for Ret-Con 2023? Swing on over to ret-con.org to check it out. Weekend badges are available now for $25. You don't want to miss out on the debut of the newest Speculative Fiction Convention in the NC Triangle!

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Ret-Con is thrilled to announce our 2023 Guest of Honor:Michael G. Williams  Swing on over to http://ret-con.org to check out his full bio! And don't forget you can pre-reg now to lock in the early bird rate.