Category: Panels

Posted on

D.L. Carter: The Sorceress of Storytelling, The Weaver of Worlds

DL Carter!

Magic Approaches.

“It means that of all God’s creatures a cat is at all times himself. When in the presence of a king, mere mortal man must bow and lady, curtsy. A dog, well trained, will grovel and beg. Horses wait patiently in the rain upon his pleasure. But a cat cares but for himself. He will walk into any room and stare you in the eye, be you king or clown and he will hold his own opinion of you. He will turn his back on you if you displease him, stand, sit, or walk away as is his will. And a king will tolerate this from a cat, but from no one else, since to protest would be the veriest waste of time.”
― D.L. Carter, Ridiculous!

Now, we asked ourselves: “Would D.L Carter slay us with a sword for creating a sample bio for her?”

“No,” we decided. “She will slay us with an axe.”

From the untamed wilds of Australia, where she was decanted from an ancient incubation pod (an event so traumatic it caused the local wildlife to demand a recount), D.L. Carter emerged as a force of literary chaos and creativity. With a wit sharp enough to slice through the densest of magical tomes, Carter has carved her name into the annals of fantasy literature with the fervor of a dragon claiming its hoard.

Once upon a time, in a land where coffee is currency and cats rule with an iron paw, D.L. Carter began her epic journey into the realms of the fantastical. Her tales mix the humor of a mischievous imp with the romance of a star-crossed elvish saga, creating a tapestry so vibrant, you’d swear it was woven by the Fates themselves.

Carter’s pen is mightier than a sword, especially when it comes to crafting Regency-era adventures with a twist of magic, or diving into the depths of paranormal romance where the only thing thicker than the plot is the fog of mystery. Her characters are as audacious as they are enchanting, often navigating worlds where the only law is the law of the absurd.

Now residing in New Jersey, in what can only be described as a magical box filled with toys, human companions, and a variable number of feline overlords, D.L. Carter continues to spin tales that are both ridiculous and profound. Her stories are a beacon for those who seek laughter amidst the chaos of alternate realities, where every page turn might just reveal a new layer of madness or a secret so sweet, it could only come from a world where dragons bake the best pies.

So, beware, ye who enter the realm of D.L. Carter’s imagination, for here be dragons, and they’re serving tea!

Posted on

The Business of Cosplay: Tips on how to make money in the Imagination Industry

Alfonso Todd III


The seminar titled “The Business of Cosplay: Tips on how to make money in the Imagination Industry” is presented by Alfonso Todd III of Imagination Nation. Here’s an overview based on available information:

Alfonso Todd III: Alfonso Todd III is the founder and managing partner of Imagine Nation Concepts, showcasing his entrepreneurial spirit and his passion for turning creative hobbies into legitimate businesses. His profile on LinkedIn highlights his role and his eclectic approach, blending street-level creativity with corporate strategy, focusing on community organization without political ambitions. This background makes him particularly suited to discuss the business aspects of cosplay, given his experience in both creative and business environment.

Seminar Overview:

  • Title: “The Business of Cosplay: Tips on how to make money in the Imagination Industry”
  • Focus: This seminar is aimed at providing insights into transforming the passion for cosplay into a profitable venture. It explores various avenues for monetization within the cosplay and broader imagination industry.

Content Highlights:

  • Making Money through Cosplay: The seminar would likely delve into multiple strategies for generating income from cosplay, such as:
    • Selling Cosplay Merchandise: Including costumes, wigs, props, and digital content like tutorials or patterns.
    • Content Creation: Utilizing platforms like YouTube, Twitch, or Patreon for monetizing through ads, sponsorships, and memberships.
    • Event Appearances: Participating in conventions for both performance and selling opportunities, offering custom services or workshops.
    • Brand Partnerships: Engaging with brands for modeling or promotional activities at events.
  • Building a Career: Insights on how to transition from a hobbyist to a professional cosplayer, including:
    • Networking and Community Engagement: Understanding the importance of social media presence, community involvement, and networking at conventions.
    • Skill Development: Tips on enhancing one’s skills in costume creation, performance, and digital marketing to increase marketability.
    • Economic Considerations: Practical advice on managing the costs associated with cosplay while aiming to make it a sustainable income source.
  • Innovative Approaches: Given Todd’s knack for turning hustles into businesses, the seminar might also discuss:
    • Innovative Business Models: Exploring new ways to monetize creativity, perhaps through unique cosplay-related services or products.
    • Using Imagination for Business: How imagination can be leveraged not just for cosplay but for any entrepreneurial venture within the creative industry.

Expected Takeaways: Attendees would leave with a better understanding of how to professionalize their passion for cosplay, learning from Todd’s experience in merging creativity with business acumen. The seminar would likely encourage participants to think outside the conventional cosplay box, pushing for entrepreneurial thinking in the imagination industry.

This seminar would be particularly beneficial for those looking to turn their cosplay hobby into a part-time or full-time career, offering both inspiration and practical steps from someone who has navigated similar paths.

Posted on

Our Guest of Honor Panel

Our Guest of Honor panel.

“I remember my first convention, and it was terrifying. I walked into this room, and there were all these people, and they were all looking at me. I thought, ‘What am I doing here? I don’t have a script.’ And then I realized, they were there because they loved the show. It was overwhelming, but in a good way.”

~William Shatner

Music. Writing. Art. Swinging pillows at monkeys. These are some of the most classic of human art forms, and our Guests of Honor will come together to talk about their creativity, their struggles, their advice for others, and, really, anything they want; they’re our guests of honor, we can’t exactly tell them what to do.


Buckle up, earthlings, for a cosmic collision of creativity at our Guest of Honor panel! We’ve summoned a motley crew of wizards, bards, and other dimension-hopping artists for a spectacle that’ll make your neurons dance. Prepare for tales that’ll warp your mind, from battling writer’s block with a magic quill to jamming with intergalactic beats. They’ll spill the beans on how to conjure art in an age where AI might just be your next collaborator, or archenemy; who knows?

General Creativity and Inspiration

  1. What are some unusual sources of of inspiration for your works?
  2. How do you overcome creative blocks or periods of low inspiration? Is murder essential, or just a good idea?
  3. Can you describe a moment when you felt your work truly resonated with an audience?

Cross-Genre Exploration

  1. Which genre outside of your primary one would you love to explore or have explored, and why?
  2. Do you use other genres for inspiration or ideas?

Process and Technique

  1. What’s the most challenging aspect of your creative process, and how do you tackle it?
  2. Can you share a technique or tool that has significantly changed how you create?
  3. In your field, what’s one thing you wish you knew when you were starting out?
    • Wisdom for new creators, potentially touching on both successes and mistakes.

Collaboration and Influence

  1. Have you ever collaborated with someone from a different art form? What was that like?
    • Explores the dynamics of inter-disciplinary work and its challenges or benefits.
  2. Who or what has been the biggest influence on your style or approach to your work?

The Future and Adaptation

  1. How do you see your medium evolving in the next decade?
  2. What’s the most exciting project you’re working on currently, or planning for the future?
  3. With the rise of AI and new technologies, how do you see these tools affecting your creative process?

Audience Interaction

  1. What’s the most memorable feedback you’ve received from a fan or critic?
  2. If you could give one piece of advice to someone who wants to follow in your footsteps, what would it be?

Posted on

Weird Worlds: A Symphony of Abductions, Hauntings, and Tales Beyond Reality

“But art is the distillation of intelligence, the essence of human understanding. It is not a luxury, it is a necessity. Art is the opposite of chaos. Art is the enemy of chaos. It’s what we do to keep from going insane. We create order out of chaos, patterns out of randomness, beauty out of the mundane.”
-Harlan Ellison

Embark on an extraordinary journey where film, music, and literature converge into a celebration of the bizarre. In “Weird Worlds: A Symphony of Abductions, Hauntings, and Tales Beyond Reality,” we invite filmmakers, musicians, and writers to weave together a narrative of the uncanny, exploring:

  • Creative Fusion: How do these artists blend their crafts to create a universe where alien abductions harmonize with ghostly symphonies, and literature paints pictures of the surreal?

Discussion Topics:

  • Storytelling Techniques:
    • How do you visually depict the indescribable in film, or musically score an encounter with the unknown?
    • What narrative devices do writers use to make bizarre fiction resonate with audiences?
  • Interdisciplinary Inspiration:
    • Can the melody of an alien language inspire a new story arc or a film scene?
    • How does the rhythm of prose influence the pacing of a film or the composition of a song?
  • The Weird Experience:
    • What makes a story, song, or film truly “weird”? Is it the setting, the characters, or the twist in the narrative?
    • How do you balance humor, horror, and the surreal to keep an audience engaged?
  • Psychological Impact:
    • How does the weird affect our perception of reality in each medium?
    • What ethical considerations come into play when depicting the otherworldly or the supernatural?
  • Practical Applications:
    • What are some practical tips for creating an atmosphere of the weird in your work?
    • How can sound design in films mimic or enhance the eerie elements of a literary piece?
  • Collaboration and Influence:
    • How have these artists collaborated in the past, and what unique challenges did they face?
    • Can we see examples where music inspired a plot twist, or where a film scene led to a new musical composition?
  • The Role of Audience:
    • How can audience feedback shape the direction of weird art across these mediums?
    • What role does the reader, listener, or viewer play in completing the weird narrative?
  • Workshop Element:
    • A hands-on session where panelists might start with a weird concept, and each adds their layer – a writer with a plot twist, a musician with a theme, and a filmmaker with a visual.

Audience Interaction:

  • An open Q&A where participants can ask about personal experiences with weird art or how to begin their journey in these genres.
  • We may be able to convince some of the performers to create something spontaneous, like a song or a dance or an Omniversal Universal Destructoo-Device. Something cool.

Panelists:

  • A group of artists known for their boundary-pushing work across film, music, and literature, with a history of collaboration or mutual influence.

Posted on

The Machinations of Mayhem: A Grand Conclave on the Governance, Gallantry, and Grand Larceny of Steampunk’s Splendidly Sinister Souls, Mad Scientists, and Airship Brigands

“Airships are like steampunk’s version of the Internet: everyone wants to be connected, but the connections are slow and occasionally explode.”

– George Mann

Explore the governance, ethics, and societal structures of a steampunk world, with an emphasis on the roles and influences of its rogues, pirates, and those who operate on the fringes of society.

  • Discussion Points:
    • Piracy in the Skies: Discuss the legitimacy of airship piracy as a form of resistance or redistribution, akin to Robin Hood in the air. What laws govern the skies, and how are they enforced?
    • Villainy as Catalyst for Change: How can villains or scoundrels push for technological or social advancement by challenging the status quo?
    • The Ethics of Villainy: Explore the ethical considerations of using technology for personal gain versus societal good. Is there honor among thieves in a steampunk world?
    • The Role of Scoundrels in Society: How do these characters fit into the societal structure? Are they necessary for balance, or do they disrupt the order?
    • Power Dynamics: Discuss how power might be redistributed or contested with the advent of steampunk technology, especially by those outside traditional power structures.
  • Activities:
    • Mock Trial: Stage a trial where an airship pirate is on the stand for their crimes. Panelists and audience members can act as judge, jury, or witnesses, debating the pirate’s actions in the context of steampunk ethics.
    • Debate: A structured debate on a topic like “Should pirates be seen as heroes or villains in a steampunk society?” with audience participation in voting or suggesting points.
    • World-Building Exercise: Break into groups to design a utopian or dystopian steampunk society where villains and pirates play key roles, either as rulers or revolutionaries.
  • Outcome:
    • A Declaration of Airship Rights: Draft a document that outlines the rights, responsibilities, or even the lack thereof for airship pirates, considering their unique position in society.
    • The Scoundrel’s Code: Create a set of principles or a “code” that might govern the behavior of villains and scoundrels in this universe, possibly with humor or irony reflecting their nature.
  • Setting:
    • Transform the room into a steampunk courtroom or a captain’s quarters aboard an airship, using thematic elements like brass fixtures, wood paneling, and maps of the skies.

This panel celebrates the darker, more rebellious sides of steampunk, offering a nuanced look at how these characters shape the world around them, challenging attendees to consider the ethics of rebellion, innovation, and the pursuit of personal freedom in a society bound by gears and steam.

Posted on

Why You Need To Support Authors And Purchase Their Books Or Else The Universe Will Explode Tomorrow

Tomes of power!


In this panel, you will meet some of our amazing authors, hear about the writing process, and understand that if you don’t spend a great deal of money on their tomes, all of Reality will be unmade, but hey, no pressure.

Step right up, bibliophiles, cosmic enthusiasts, and those who’ve ever wondered if their reading habits might perhaps be the key to universal destruction. Welcome the most pivotal panel at Wonderplace Alpha: “Why You Need To Support Authors And Purchase Their Books Or Else The Universe Will Explode Tomorrow.” Here, we’ll have a nice, cozy discussion with our authors about their work, art, writing in general, and the Universe ending.

The Panel Setup:

Imagine stepping into a room designed like the interior of a colossal, steampunk library where books don’t just sit on shelves; they orbit around you like planets around a star. The walls are adorned with gears that turn with each thought-provoking discussion, and authors, in their space suits, are perched on floating podiums.

Doesn’t that sound awful?

We’ll offer you a nice room with chair and such. It’s the people and the words that matter, after all.

Part 1: The Cosmic Impact of Fantasmic Literature

What would the world be like without Science Fiction and Fantasy literature?

Part 2: The Author’s Plight and Your Role

Wherein we meet our authors!

  • The Existential Crisis of Authorship: It’s hard enough to put words together on a page, virtual or otherwise. Ransoming them to a happy audience is a unique and challenging skill. It also helps to have great readers.
  • Writing For A Very Stressed Modern Audience.
  • Trying To Write The Future Faster Than We Can Invent It

Part 3: The Call to Action

Oh, go ahead…tell us why we ought buy your books!

  • The Economics of Existence: Sure illustrating how book sales correlate with the stability of time-space continuums.
  • Interactive Q&A: A chance for the audience to engage with bizarre questions like, “Can horror stories scare away dark energy?” or “Is there a genre that could prevent the heat death of the universe?” Answers will be a mix of playful speculation and real insights into literature’s influence.
  • The Art of Storytelling as Cosmic Glue: Discussion on how storytelling not only entertains but also binds the fabric of reality together, with each tale adding a thread to the cosmic tapestry.

Conclusion: The Real Stakes

As the panel concludes, the playful threats of universal doom will segue into a heartfelt appeal for the support of authors. The panelists will emphasize that while the universe might not literally explode, our cultural and intellectual landscape could certainly diminish without the continuous creation and consumption of literature.

“Every book you buy supports not just an author but the collective imagination of humanity. It’s about preventing the explosion of our shared consciousness, keeping the spark of creativity alive in an ever-expanding universe.”

Post-Panel Experience:

  • Book Signing: With each book signed, authors will offer a “Cosmic Stability Certificate,” humorously ensuring the buyer has contributed to universal harmony.
  • Photo Op: Capture your moment with a giant, mock book titled “How I Saved the Universe by Buying This Book.” Due to the whimsical nature of this universe, you might need to pose, send us your photo, and we’ll photoshop it for you. Compromise is key in the cosmos, after all.

This panel at Wonderplace Alpha is a quirky, yet profound reminder wrapped in humor of why we must support our creators. Because, in a way, they truly do keep our universe from exploding – both metaphorically and in the vibrant world of our collective imagination.

Posted on

Genoveva Rossi

Genoveva Rossi

 “Genoveva Rossi is one of the best-known cult film stars in the world.”
~Clare Nixon of The Digital Dead (UK)

Genoveva Rossi has carved out a distinctive niche within the horror genre, earning her the revered title of “Scream Queen.” Her appearance at various horror-themed events, conventions, and film projects has not only solidified her status as a cult icon but also highlighted her versatility and deep connection to the horror community.

Rossi’s journey as a scream queen began with her love for horror from a young age, which naturally transitioned into her acting career. Known for her roles in films like “Herschell Gordon Lewis’ Bloodmania,” “Apocalypse Kiss,” and “Death House,” she has portrayed a wide array of characters, ranging from gypsies and witches to fortune tellers and soldiers. These roles showcase her ability to dive into the dark and macabre with authenticity and passion, traits that make her a beloved figure in horror circles. Her deep, sultry voice is often cited as one of her trademark characteristics, adding layers to her performances, whether she’s playing a psychopathic killer or a troubled mother.

Her guest appearances are events in themselves. At conventions like Scare-A-Con or the Birmingham Horror Con, where she has been a guest, Rossi engages with fans through activities that blend her acting prowess with her other talents. She has been known to perform tarot readings, leveraging her professional background as a psychic reader, which adds a unique dimension to her public appearances. Her involvement in such events also includes Edgar Allan Poe readings, further cementing her status as a multifaceted horror enthusiast.

Rossi’s visual style at these events is as captivating as her performances on screen. Often seen with dark, dramatic makeup and costumes that reflect her characters or pay homage to horror classics, she embodies the spirit of horror. Her love for the genre is visibly expressed through her attire, which can range from gothic elegance to outright terrifying, fitting perfectly with the atmosphere of horror conventions. Her interactions with fans are marked by her warm, engaging personality, contrasting yet complementing her on-screen personas

Her contributions extend beyond acting; Rossi is also a writer, contributing to horror magazines like UKHorrorscene.com and The Digital Dead with features titled “A Life in Blood: Tales of a Horror Queen” and “Genoveva Rossi’s Screaming Corner.” These writings give fans an intimate look into her life and the experiences that shape her work, from her adventures in horror to her reflections on the genre’s impact on her life.

Rossi’s presence at any horror event is a testament to her dedication to the genre. She not only entertains but also educates and inspires, often sharing insights into her craft, her love for horror, and her journey from a fan to an icon. Whether she’s discussing her roles, sharing stories from her acting career, or engaging in her other creative pursuits, Genoveva Rossi’s appearances are a celebration of horror’s enduring allure and its community’s passion. Her work continues to influence and inspire a new generation of horror fans and creators, ensuring her legacy as a scream queen will resonate for years to come.

Posted on

The Unseen Library: Imaginary Books and Their Influences

Imaginary books!

Imaginary books have played a role in so much of our lives. The Necronomicon, for example, is quite real, as I’m sure you know; but Mr. Lovecraft’s fictionalized depiction of it has inspired a number of fascinating movies, television shows, works of art, cosmic horror summonings, and so forth.

So many works of creation are improved by the things they nearly contain, those liminal possibilities. “The Other Complete Works of William Shakespeare” contains “The Tempest II: The Revenge”, for example, which

Description: A discussion on books that are referenced in fiction but don’t actually exist, exploring how these imagined texts can influence real-world culture, art, architecture, futurism, art, and…pretty much everything else.

Possible Topics: We asked Captain Hook for help here.


Aye, gather ’round ye landlubbers, and listen to tales of the high literary seas:

  • The cultural impact of books that exist only in the minds of characters from other literary works: “Arr, ’tis like a phantom ship, known only through the yarns spun by other sailors. These books, never penned, yet they shape the seas of stories, guiding the winds of plot and character like a lighthouse in a storm.”
  • Imaginary books as a reflection of societal fears and desires: “Hoist the sails, for these books are like the deep, dark waters. They reflect what lies beneath society’s surface, fears as dark as the ocean’s depths, and desires as vast as the horizon, unspoken yet felt by every soul on deck.”
  • The role of unwritten books in fan fiction and fan culture: “Ye see, it’s like finding a treasure map with no X to mark the spot. These uncharted books spark the imaginations of fans, leading them to craft their own tales, much like a crew charting their own course through unknown waters.”
  • The philosophical implications of books that could exist but haven’t been written: “Aye, consider this, mateys: books that could be, but ain’t. It’s like pondering over the vast, empty ocean where no ship has sailed. What truths, what adventures lie in those unwritten pages? It’s philosophy on the high seas of the mind.”
  • Imaginary books as a metaphor for missed opportunities or unexplored possibilities in life: “Every sailor knows the sting of a port left unvisited, a treasure left unclaimed. These books are like that, a reminder of what could’ve been, the winds of ‘what if’ whispering through the sails, urging us to explore beyond the known charts.”

Now, back to yer duties, and may the winds of imagination ever fill yer sails!

Here are some bonus ideas:

  • Conceptual Books: In the Discworld, especially within the Library of Unseen University, there’s a notion that the library contains books that were never actually written in our reality. These might include:
    • Atlases of Imaginary Places: Maps and guides to lands that exist only in the imagination or in other dimensions.
    • Dictionaries of Illusory Words: Compilations of words that are either magical in nature, exist in languages spoken by mythical or imaginary beings, or are simply concepts that have never been given form in our world.
    • Spotter’s Guides to Invisible Things: Books that would teach one how to identify and understand things that are not perceivable by normal human senses, like ghosts, spirits, or the essence of magic itself.
  • L-Space Implications: The concept of L-Space (Library Space) suggests that every book that could ever be written exists in some form within the Library’s infinite dimensions. This includes works by authors who never finished their books, ideas that were never put to paper, or even stories that are dreamt up but never told.
  • Books as Living Entities: The magical nature of the Library means that some books might be considered “alive.” This could imply that they write themselves, or that they contain knowledge that evolves or changes over time, thus books that have not been written could still exist in a nascent form, waiting for someone to open them or for the right moment to come into being.
  • Cultural and Philosophical Reflections: This concept also serves as a commentary on the nature of knowledge and potential. Pratchett uses it to explore themes of what could be, the power of imagination, and how history and literature might diverge in different realities or dimensions.