Discord Room: DRAGON – 11 AM

Publishing TTRPGs

Presenter Will Munn

Biography

Will Munn is the award-nominated and bestselling creator of Arium, the worldbuilding RPG. He runs the Adept Icarus game design studio and has collaborated on RPGs such as Cold Shadows, Tiny Frontiers, and Zorro, the Roleplaying Game. Will also serves as a publisher for multiple award-winning and bestselling game designers. All four continental US timezones have been his home, but he’s never moved without his towel.

(Gaming Track)

Committee contact – Daniel Yocom – Track Head

Discord Room: CAT – 11 AM

Muse on Demand: Creativity and the Neuropsychology of the Creative Mind

Presenter Danny Potter

Biography

Danny was the head writer for DUST, (an educational “augmented reality” game from NASA, the NSF, BYU, and U of MD).  He also is a Mental Health and Addiction counselor. His aim is to help others truly know themselves. With the combination of his writing and counseling he can help you as a writer understand and invoke the “muse” on demand. Some of his other projects include collecting twisted fairy tales for an anthology. He has also written a retelling of Cinderella as a space opera spy thriller and submitted it to various markets.

(Writing Track)

Committee Contact – Nick Mills Track Head

Discord Room: Rocket – 11 AM

How I Became an Accidental Author

Presenter Jill Bearup

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Biography

Jill Bearup is a YouTuber, actor combatant, and accidental author. On her Youtube channel, you’ll find movie fight analyses from a story-telling perspective, costume design from a “someone has to fight in that” perspective, how to fight in a dress from a “that sounds hilarious” perspective, and, occasionally, corset-related maths.

Her first novel, Just Stab Me Now, was released in February 2024.

Based on her popular Fantasy Heroine YouTube Shorts series, Jill Bearup’s debut novel brings us the best of worlds both meta- and medieval-inspired: Caroline wants to write a romantasy novel. Rosamund, her heroine, isn’t quite the compliant eighteen-year-old she expected. . . . Together Rosamund and Caroline learn what it means to be the hero of your own story.

See more about Jill https://www.youtube.com/@JillBearup

(Pro-Dev Track)

Committee – Stephan Fassmann Track Head

Discord Room: DRAGON – 12 Noon

Top Ten Sci Fi Movies Seen Through the Eyes of an Ethnobotanist

Presenter Dr. Paul Cox

Biography

Dr. Paul Alan Cox was named one of TIME magazine’s eleven “Heroes of Medicine” in recognition of his search in remote island villages for new medicines. He was awarded the Goldman Environmental Prize recognizing his establishment of Seacology, an island conservation charity in Berkeley. 

He received his Ph.D. at Harvard, and then was appointed as a Miller Fellow at the University of California, Berkeley. After serving as Dean at BYU, he became the King Carl XVI Gustav Professor in Sweden.

He leads the not-for-profit Brain Chemistry Labs in Jackson, Wyoming, searching for new treatments for ALS, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s disease. A recent CNN documentary with Dr. Sanjay Gupta highlighted his research.

(Worldbuilding Track)

Committee contact – Lisa Fassmann Track Head

Discord Room: CAT – 12 Noon

The Evolution and Power of Children’s Books

Presenter Jessica Day George

Biography 

Jessica Day George is the NYT bestselling author of over a dozen fantasy books for young adults and middle readers. She is passionate about knitting, the Vikings, dragons, small dogs, and dark chocolate. She has lived in four states, crossed the Arctic Circle and gone through the Panama Canal, but she has never seen the Grand Canyon.

(Books Track).

Committee contact – Brenda Sills Co-Chair

Discord Room: ROCKET – 12 Noon

Sensory Storytelling: Driving the Story Through Character Experience

Presenter Craig Nybo

Biography

Craig Nybo is a multi-talented writer and artist with a diverse portfolio that spans literature, music, and gaming. As a novelist, Craig has published eight novels, including the acclaimed titles “Dead Girl,” “Bieber’s Finger,” and “Allied Zombies for Peace.” His passion for storytelling extends to his serialized fiction podcast, “Terrifying Lies,” where he weaves suspenseful tales that keep listeners on the edge of their seats.

Beyond writing, he has designed eight board games, including “CHOPS,” “Shoot Your Friends,” and “Rites of Cthulhu,” showcasing his skill in immersive game design.

Additionally, his musical talent shines through in his composition of two innovative musicals, “Tesla V Cthulhu” and “Space Funk: A Sci-Fi Funk Opera.”

As a solo artist and a member of The Rustmonster Band, Craig has released an impressive 11 musical albums, reflecting his versatility as a musician. With a background as a professional copywriter, Craig’s knack for language and communication further enriches his creative endeavors.

Join Craig Nybo at LTUE, where he intends to share his insights on crafting compelling stories, creating captivating podcasts, designing engaging board games, and finding harmony between his literary and musical pursuits.

(TMA Track)

Committee contact – Nick Mills & Blake Casselman Track Heads

Discord Room: DRAGON – 1 PM

Book Evaluations

Presenter Nadia Geagea Pupa

Biography

CEO and co-founder of Pique Publishing Inc, Nadia is a skilled project manager, editor, writer, and designer in all areas of the publishing process. She served as president for the San Diego Professional Editors Network (SD/PEN) from 2021–2022. Prior to that, she served on the board as a director. After her term as president ended, she was inspired to launch The Editor’s Half Hour podcast—a monthly podcast that focuses on the craft of editing, industry trends, and editorial resources for advanced editors. In July of 2023, she was named a winner of the 40 Next Top Business Leaders Under 40, and in November of 2023, she was the winner of Business Women of the Year (small companies category) by the San Diego Business Journal in recognition for her efforts in launching the podcast and for creating the first-ever Affirmation Cards for Editors. She currently serves on the “Women of the Club” committee at the University Club Atop Symphony Towers, which is a unique women-led initiative meant to empower and inspire women by creating community within the club and in the San Diego area by hosting and supporting a variety of charity-related events.

When she’s not editing, designing, presenting, or recording episodes of the podcast, she enjoys being outdoors with her husband, Phil, and her two little ones, Teddy and Niko.

(Editing track)

Committee contact – Ashley Higbee Track Head

Discord Room: CAT – 1 PM

Book Cover Development

Presenter Jim Zaccaria

Biography

Boston-based, award-winning freelance illustrator and book cover designer. Jim’s work has won acclaim from Bookbuilders of Boston, The New York Book Show, and the Boskone Art Show. His work has appeared in the Bookbuilders of Boston annuals and the Infected by Art annuals.

Honors and Recognition: Writers and Illustrators of the Future 2022,  Boskone 59 Art Show Judges Choice Award for Body of Work, Infected by Art Volumes 3, 4, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12,  Boskone 53 Art Show Judges Choice Award.

(Art Track)

Committee contact – Tremani Sutcliffe Track Head

Discord Room: ROCKET – 1 PM

The First Time Publishing Process

Presenter Allison Anderson

Biography

As a life long fantasy nerd and fantasy writer, Allison Anderson finds it natural to create stories of her own and you can often find her jotting down new story ideas or talking about dragons. She’s spent most of her life across the southwestern United States. She lives her best life as a wife, a mom, and a dedicated member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. 

(Special track)

Committee contact – Ryan Bouche – Co-Chair