Edge of the Universe

A free mid-year, mini, online, LTUE Event

Saturday August 26, 2023
11am-2pm MDT

Edge of the Universe Presentations

Saturday – August 26, 2023, 11 AM to 2 PM (Mountain), Live on Discord and YouTube 

Streaming Live on YouTubeThree hours (nine sessions)
Channel Links: Dragon Room Cat Room Rocket Room

Channels will go live about 1 hour before the first sessions start

The three-hour (nine session) class matrix of presentations is shown below. Additional presenter and presentation details are included below the  class matrix.  Meet presenters, panelists and committee on Discord about an hour before the event starts.

Presenter Daniel Schwabauer

Description– We all recognize great stories when we encounter them. But what makes stories work? Where does their power originate? Often what seems to be genius is the result of hard work and the careful application of story techniques. The real magic of our favorite stories is usually found in their emotive conflicts and honest treatment of human nature. In this presentation, we’re going to look behind the wardrobe, dig beneath the Shire, and take apart the light saber by exploring the five elements of story. The point is not to spoil our sense of wonder but to demystify the process so you can follow it yourself. (Writing)

Biography –Daniel Schwabauer, M.A., is a lifelong reader of speculative fiction. He studied the genre under science fiction great James Gunn before graduating with honors from Kansas University’s Masters program in Creative Writing in 1995. Winner of the Eric Hoffer and Ben Franklin awards for his middle grade fantasy series, The Legends of Tira-Nor, and the Realm Award for his adult science fiction novel, Operation Grendel, Daniel enjoys riding his motorcycle on country roads and pondering other worlds. His newest novel, Maxine Justice: Galactic Attorney, released in 2022 from Enclave. He lives outside Kansas City with his wife and dogs.

Committee – Brenda Sills Writing Presentations Track Head

 

Presenter C.M. Kosemen

C. M. Kosemen is an artist, author, and independent researcher from Ankara, Turkey. He studied at Cornell University, Istanbul’s Sabancı University and holds a Master’s degree from London’s Goldsmiths College.

His art work ranges from scientifically accurate portrayals of prehistoric and imaginary lifeforms, to figurative surreal paintings that draw inspiration from the land, history, and the lifeforms of the Mediterranean world. C.M. Kosemen’s surreal art has been displayed in exhibits in Catania, Vienna, Ulcinj, Istanbul, Ankara, Eskişehir, London and Tel Aviv. His book credits include Osman Hasan and the Tombstone Photographs of the Dönmes published by Libra Books of Istanbul; a book that earned the Eduard-Duckesz History Prize and has been purchased and used by renowned universities and research institutes around the world.

He authored All Yesterdays: Unique and Speculative Views of Dinosaurs and Other Prehistoric Animals, which has been described as the ‘most important palaeoart book of the last four decades.’ His science-fiction book, All Tomorrows, has more than 11 million audiobook listens. He also worked as an editor for Benetton’s Colors magazine and continues to work for various advertising agencies as an editor and copywriter.

(Art Track presentation)

Committee Contact – Logan Kearsley

Presenter Stephan Fassmann

How to develop a system to keep your research safe and accessible using Scrivener. 

Committee – Stephan Fassmann Pro-Dev Track Head

 

Presenter Robert Hatch

*This is for both novelists and screenwriters.

Join writer and director Robert Hatch as he teaches a variety of acting, directing and writing principles used in filmmaking that can help make your novels and screenplays much better, and more adaptable. He will cover elements of directing actors which can help you in your written character development. The class will also touch on comparisons between filmmakers location management and world building in written story. We will cover the power of subtext and knowing your audience to help inform your story decisions. 

Biography –

Robert Hatch started making films at a young age while still in high school. Writing, teaching acting, directing and creating great films are Robert’s passions. He has over 30 years experience as a director/producer/writer of dramatic films, documentaries, and television series. His work includes: Masque, Infinite Gift, fifty-six network television programs aired on VISN and PBS, seven TV programs for BBC, a TV series currently airing on FNX, Peace: Dream or Vision (a documentary on viable initiatives for gaining a just and lasting peace in the Middle East), Miracle Kids television specials and many more including an interactive series for Toyota USA. In addition to his commercial success, Robert’s films have received over three hundred awards and honors from film festivals in the U.S. and internationally.

Robert is the owner of Knowledge Network LLC.

Committee – Matt Harding TMA Track Head

Presenter DJ – Butler

Ten Rules for Successful Worldbuilding and Worldtelling

Biography – DJ Butler 

D.J. (Dave) Butler has been a lawyer, a consultant, an editor, a corporate trainer, and a registered investment banking representative, and he is now a Consulting Editor for Baen Books. His novels published by Baen Books include the Witchy War series: Witchy Eye, Witchy WinterWitchy Kingdom, and Serpent Daughter, and In the Palace of Shadow and Joy, as well as The Cunning Man and The Jupiter Knife, co-written with Aaron Michael Ritchey. He also writes for children: the steampunk fantasy adventure tales The Kidnap Plot, the Giant’s Seat, and The Library Machine are published by Knopf. Other novels include City of the Saints from WordFire Press and The Wilding Probate from Immortal Works. His novels have won the Whitney Award, the Association for Mormon Letters Award for Novel, and the Dragon Award.

Dave also organizes writing retreats and anarcho-libertarian writers’ events, and travels the country to sell books. He tells many stories as a gamemaster with a gaming group some of whom he’s been playing with since sixth grade. He plays guitar and banjo whenever he can, and likes to hang out in Utah with his wife, their children, and the family dog.

Committee – Worldbuilding Track

 

 

Presenter John Jensen

Creating the Largest DND Game in History (John Jensen – Guinness World Record Holder) Gaming Track (contact is Ryan)

Biography – John Jensen bio Pending

Committee contact – Ryan Bouche Gaming Track Head

Presentation – Christine Nielson

The Morning After: I Have My Edits Back. Now What? You wrote a book, hooked up with a good editor, and now your book is back in your hands. What’s next? 

Biography – Christine Nielson bio Pending 

Committee contact – Ashley Higbee Editing Track Head

Presenter Beth Cutrer-Parraga

Reframing Past Bullying Experiences through the Lens of Harry Potter

(Academics Track)

Committee contact – Deidre McCleary co-chair

 

Presenter Tys Grenz

Content, Covers and Choice – Judging a book by its cover and more – Insights on how the insides and outsides of the greatest books capture and keep our attention as reader’s. (Tys Grenz) – Books track (contact is Nick)

Biography 

In the small town of Dayton, near the center of Oregon’s Willamette Valley, sits a 1937 farmhouse. Most days, if you peered inside, you would find two cats, a man and his wife. That farmhouse is home to Tys Grenz, a retired English professor (MA), turned Epic Fantasy author. As a child, Tys read hard-core science fiction like Asimov and Clark because robots were cool. Being an avid reader, he ran out of things to read. One day his parents bought him a Fantastic Four comic book. Comic books became his obsession; The visual style; the heroes and their superpowers; The storytelling. It all shaped his way of thinking. So, it was only natural for him to channel that heroic response into fantasy role-playing games when he got to college. Those various gaming systems helped further shape his imagination and fueled his need to write his own stories. With his grounding in literature from Beowulf to the adventures in Conrad’s Heart of Darkness, illuminated by just a sprinkle of mythology, symbolism along with a dash of science fiction, he knew he had stories to tell. Tys is currently finishing “Ghostclaw” (book one) of his Manacles of Madness fantasy series which is forthcoming in early 2024.

Committee contact – Nick Mills co-chair

Discord Discussions

Conversations and commentary will take
place on the app Discord. Join “The Edge of the Universe” Discord Server!

If you need help Downloading or Using Discord,
we have a handy tutorial here.

And here’s a tutorial for setting your Nickname.