Hal-Con 2018 has ended

Create Your Own Event

Hal-Con 2018

2:00pm ADT

Writing YA Fiction

While Young Adult fiction looks to capture the imagination of the next generation of readers, you will often find it in the hands of adults reclaiming their inner awesomeness.

Psssssst ... for even more awesome, be sure to drop by the author guest tables located on the vendor floor, level 5.

Guests

S.M. Beiko

Author

Samantha Mary Beiko is, primarily, an author of young adult fantasy. Her first novel, The Lake and the Library, was released in 2013 and was nominated for the Manitoba Book Award for Best First Book, as well as that year’s Aurora Award. Her recent novel, Scion of the Fox (ECW Press... Read More →

Kristen Ciccarelli

Author

Kristen Ciccarelli is an internationally bestselling author of fantasy fiction. Before writing books about deadly dragons, badass girls, and enemies who save each other, she made her living as an artisanal baker, an indie bookseller, and a ceramic artist. Her first novel, The Last... Read More →

Delilah S. Dawson

Author

Delilah S. Dawson is the New York Times bestselling author of Star Wars: Phasma, as well as the Blud series, the Hit series, Servants of the Storm, and Kill the Farm Boy and the Tales of Pell, co-written with Kevin Hearne. As Lila Bowen, she’s the author of the award-winning Shadow... Read More →

Presenters

Rhys Bevan-John

Moderator

Rhys is an award winning actor and writer who spent over 25 years working in the Theatre. He has created a number of theatre shows for children, and performed in many more – having toured elementary school gymnasiums throughout Nova Scotia many times with the Neptune Young Company... Read More →

Friday October 26, 2018 2:00pm - 2:45pm ADT
Room 502 Ballroom Level 5

Edutainment, Guest

3:00pm ADT

Comics are for Girls

Ponies, Powerpuffs, and Princesses, despite what you may have heard comics aren’t just for boys! Learn about some of the content being produced with a more feminine young reader in mind.

Psssssst ... for even more awesome, be sure to drop by the author tables located on the vendor floor, level 5.

Guests

Brenda Hickey

Comics

Brenda Hickey is a comic artist from PEI who works on Hasbro/IDW's My Little Pony Friendship is Magic comic series. She has illustrated the Legends of Magic series, the 2017 Holiday Special, and some more issues on the main series. She is pleased to announce the release of brand new... Read More →

Megan Kearney

Comics

Megan Kearney is a Canadian sequential artist and writer, and a recovering Navy Brat who spent much of her childhood in Nova Scotia. In addition to her award-winning adaptation of Beauty and The Beast, Megan is a regular contributor to the Disney Princess series, and the illustrator... Read More →

Troy Little

Comics

Three time Eisner nominee and Harvey nominee, Troy began a career in animation after graduating from the Interpretive Illustration course at Sheridan College in Ontario, Canada. In 2000 he began self-publishing his comic series Chiaroscuro which garnered him both a Xeric and PEICA... Read More →

Presenters

Rhys Bevan-John

Moderator

Rhys is an award winning actor and writer who spent over 25 years working in the Theatre. He has created a number of theatre shows for children, and performed in many more – having toured elementary school gymnasiums throughout Nova Scotia many times with the Neptune Young Company... Read More →

Friday October 26, 2018 3:00pm - 3:45pm ADT
Room 502 Ballroom Level 5

Edutainment, Guest

3:30pm ADT

Tying History & Myth to your Novel

Myths and legends are part of every society. They have been tales of grand adventures, moral lessons, explanations of how the world worked, comforting companions to ease the uncertainty of life. So many modern tales can be traced back into myths of ore.

Please join our guest Chuck Wendig as they talk about these ancient, cornerstone tales and how they are used even today!

Guests

Chuck Wendig

Author

Chuck Wendig is the New York Times bestselling author of Star Wars: Aftermath, as well as the Miriam Black thrillers, the Atlanta Burns books, Zer0es/Invasive, and his upcoming epic, Wanderers (Del Rey, 2019). He’s also worked in a variety of other formats, including comics, games... Read More →

Presenters

Jamie Bradley

Moderator

Jamie has something to say about everything, whether he knows about the subject or not. Favourite things that he can talk endlessly about are time travel, fountain pens, and all types of shape-shifters (biologically annoying). If a TV show or movie has the word “Star”, “Space... Read More →

Friday October 26, 2018 3:30pm - 4:15pm ADT
Room 501 Ballroom Level 5

Edutainment, Guest

5:15pm ADT

Visual Effects 101

Please see visual effects artist Jennifer Maillet as she endeavors to teach us the basics of her digital effects craft and tell us more about her history and journey into the industry.

Guests

Jennifer Maillet

Artist

With over 8 years experience in visual effects, Jennifer Maillet has worked on many shows including Star Trek Discovery, Vikings, The Runaways, Orphan Black, The Gifted, and The Walking Dead, and feature films such as Harry Potter, Elysium, Into the Woods and Flatliners. She was also... Read More →

Presenters

Rhys Bevan-John

Moderator

Rhys is an award winning actor and writer who spent over 25 years working in the Theatre. He has created a number of theatre shows for children, and performed in many more – having toured elementary school gymnasiums throughout Nova Scotia many times with the Neptune Young Company... Read More →

Friday October 26, 2018 5:15pm - 6:00pm ADT
Room 502 Ballroom Level 5

Edutainment, Guest

5:30pm ADT

From Script to Storyboard

Comics don't just pop into existence, a lot of work goes into them. Join some of our esteemed comic guests as they explain a little bit about the lengthy process that all of your favorite books go through before you can add them to your collection.

Psssssst ... for even more awesome, be sure to drop by the comics guest tables located on the vendor floor, level 5.

Guests

Ed Brisson

Comics

Ed Brisson is a comic book writer who first started to garner attention with his self-published crime series MURDER BOOK. He broke into the public spotlight in 2012 with the crime/time-travel thriller series COMEBACK (Shadowline/Image Comics). In the short time since then, he's written... Read More →

Mike Feehan

Comics

Mike Feehan is a Newfoundland-based comic book artist whose work includes the critically acclaimed Exit Stage Left: The Snagglepuss Chronicles from DC Comics. In addition to his work in comics, Mike has also worked as a storyboard artist for international commercials as well as a... Read More →

Mike Rooth

Comics

Mike Rooth is a Canadian Freelance Art Mercenary with an illustration career that spans two centuries. Rooth has created comics, covers and interior illustrations for numerous magazines, children’s book publishers, and both indie and mainstream comic companies (such as Aftershock... Read More →

Kurtis Wiebe

Comics

Kurtis Wiebe is a comic writer based in Calgary, Alberta. He is a two-time Joe Shuster Award winner, including an Outstanding Comic Book Writer award for his contribution to the critically acclaimed Green Wake. He currently writes the Eisner-nominated series Rat Queens with Image... Read More →

Presenters

Jamie Bradley

Moderator

Jamie has something to say about everything, whether he knows about the subject or not. Favourite things that he can talk endlessly about are time travel, fountain pens, and all types of shape-shifters (biologically annoying). If a TV show or movie has the word “Star”, “Space... Read More →

Friday October 26, 2018 5:30pm - 6:15pm ADT
Room 501 Ballroom Level 5

Edutainment, Guest

6:00pm ADT

Representation in Science Fiction and Fantasy

Anything can happen in genres like Science Fiction and Fantasy, so why don't we see a lot of diversity in our favourite stories? The world is changing and so are our expectations to see our community represented. Now's your chance to learn from two authors who are working hard to make sure we all have a place in the genres we love.

Psssssst ... for even more awesome, be sure to drop by the author tables located on the vendor floor, level 5.

Guests

S.M. Beiko

Author

Samantha Mary Beiko is, primarily, an author of young adult fantasy. Her first novel, The Lake and the Library, was released in 2013 and was nominated for the Manitoba Book Award for Best First Book, as well as that year’s Aurora Award. Her recent novel, Scion of the Fox (ECW Press... Read More →

Justin Little

Author

Justin Little started writing LGBT fiction at a young age after scouring his local libraries and realising there was little to offer in this area, particularly in the science fiction and fantasy genres. This hobby continued into adulthood and the stories grew from small short stories... Read More →

Friday October 26, 2018 6:00pm - 6:45pm ADT
Room 106 Convention Level 1

Edutainment, Guest

6:45pm ADT

Rat Queens

Fantasy, comedy, badass ladies, Rat Queens has it all. Meet the writer and illustrator of one of the most compelling fantasy series around.

Psssssst ... for even more awesome, be sure to drop by the guest tables located on the vendor floor, level 5.

Guests

Owen Gieni

Comics

Owen Gieni is the artist for the Image Shadowline series Rat Queens, as well as the colourist for the Skybound title Manifest Destiny. Previous works include Shutter, Glory, Negative Space, Debris, and Sore Thumbs. He currently resides in Vancouver, BC, where his interests include... Read More →

Kurtis Wiebe

Comics

Kurtis Wiebe is a comic writer based in Calgary, Alberta. He is a two-time Joe Shuster Award winner, including an Outstanding Comic Book Writer award for his contribution to the critically acclaimed Green Wake. He currently writes the Eisner-nominated series Rat Queens with Image... Read More →

Friday October 26, 2018 6:45pm - 7:30pm ADT
Room 506 Ballroom Level 5

Edutainment, Guest

11:30am ADT

Star Wars

Star Wars is a powerhouse of a fandom, especially now that it is backed by Disney. So, how does it feel to take the reins and write for such an Intellectual Property, like Star Wars? To be the ones who decides the future of these characters?

Our panelists will shed some light on what it's like!

Guests

Delilah S. Dawson

Author

Delilah S. Dawson is the New York Times bestselling author of Star Wars: Phasma, as well as the Blud series, the Hit series, Servants of the Storm, and Kill the Farm Boy and the Tales of Pell, co-written with Kevin Hearne. As Lila Bowen, she’s the author of the award-winning Shadow... Read More →

Chuck Wendig

Author

Chuck Wendig is the New York Times bestselling author of Star Wars: Aftermath, as well as the Miriam Black thrillers, the Atlanta Burns books, Zer0es/Invasive, and his upcoming epic, Wanderers (Del Rey, 2019). He’s also worked in a variety of other formats, including comics, games... Read More →

Presenters

Jamie Bradley

Moderator

Jamie has something to say about everything, whether he knows about the subject or not. Favourite things that he can talk endlessly about are time travel, fountain pens, and all types of shape-shifters (biologically annoying). If a TV show or movie has the word “Star”, “Space... Read More →

Saturday October 27, 2018 11:30am - 12:15pm ADT
Room 106 Convention Level 1

Edutainment, Guest

12:30pm ADT

The Plot Thickens: Plotting Your Novel

While a character is often a mirror that a reader uses to bring themselves into a story, and the setting can set the tone of what awaits; it is seldom that putting characters in a room to see what happens can constitute as a good plot. And, while it can and has worked, the plot of one's narriative is the journey that you are taking your characters and readers on. Let's face it, Lord of the Rings wouldn't have been the same if they didn't need to make that little jaunt into Mordor.

Our panel is here to discuss plotting out your story, how to trouble shoot those moments when you're not sure where to go next and maybe even what to do when your character takes your story someplace you hadn't meant to go.

Psssssst ... for even more awesome, be sure to drop by the author tables located on the vendor floor, level 5.

Guests

S.M. Beiko

Author

Samantha Mary Beiko is, primarily, an author of young adult fantasy. Her first novel, The Lake and the Library, was released in 2013 and was nominated for the Manitoba Book Award for Best First Book, as well as that year’s Aurora Award. Her recent novel, Scion of the Fox (ECW Press... Read More →

Kristen Ciccarelli

Author

Kristen Ciccarelli is an internationally bestselling author of fantasy fiction. Before writing books about deadly dragons, badass girls, and enemies who save each other, she made her living as an artisanal baker, an indie bookseller, and a ceramic artist. Her first novel, The Last... Read More →

Justin Little

Author

Justin Little started writing LGBT fiction at a young age after scouring his local libraries and realising there was little to offer in this area, particularly in the science fiction and fantasy genres. This hobby continued into adulthood and the stories grew from small short stories... Read More →

Presenters

Rhys Bevan-John

Moderator

Rhys is an award winning actor and writer who spent over 25 years working in the Theatre. He has created a number of theatre shows for children, and performed in many more – having toured elementary school gymnasiums throughout Nova Scotia many times with the Neptune Young Company... Read More →

Saturday October 27, 2018 12:30pm - 1:15pm ADT
Room 502 Ballroom Level 5

Edutainment, Guest

3:00pm ADT

Truth in Legends

Tara Audibert explores the real events that bring fantasy to life. Join her for a screening of her short animated film "The importance of Dreaming" as well as two short animated stories from her Nitap: Legends of the First Nations Game, that are legends based on real events. She'll also talk about how stories and legends are passed through generations in First Nations communities as a way of keeping track of history.

Guests

Tara Audibert

Artist

Tara Audibert is a Wolastoqey artist and the owner of Moxy Fox Studio, an independent animation, comics and illustration studio located in New Brunswick. Tara produced her 1st animated film, “The importance of Dreaming” (2017), appearing in film festivals worldwide, winning several... Read More →

Saturday October 27, 2018 3:00pm - 3:45pm ADT
Room 106 Convention Level 1

Edutainment, Guest

3:45pm ADT

Visual vs. Practical Effects

When it comes to special effects, usually one is split between the flash and scale of visual effects and the realism and workmanship of practical ones. So, is one better? What situations can you never get away with using CGI? When is a practical effect next to impossible?

Come out and listen to these two effects artists as they talk their individual crafts and how they often work together to make your movie experience.

Psssssst ... for even more awesome, be sure to drop by the guest tables located on the vendor floor, level 5.

Guests

Marc Deveault

Makeup Artist

Owner, SPFX makeup artist, and pyrotechnician at Devo FX. Marc is a retired Military Medic with 20 years of experience including tours of duty in Bosnia, Haiti and Afghanistan. He began his career doing casualty simulation for the military which ignited his passion and childhood dream... Read More →

Jennifer Maillet

Artist

With over 8 years experience in visual effects, Jennifer Maillet has worked on many shows including Star Trek Discovery, Vikings, The Runaways, Orphan Black, The Gifted, and The Walking Dead, and feature films such as Harry Potter, Elysium, Into the Woods and Flatliners. She was also... Read More →

Presenters

Rhys Bevan-John

Moderator

Rhys is an award winning actor and writer who spent over 25 years working in the Theatre. He has created a number of theatre shows for children, and performed in many more – having toured elementary school gymnasiums throughout Nova Scotia many times with the Neptune Young Company... Read More →

Saturday October 27, 2018 3:45pm - 4:30pm ADT
Room 506 Ballroom Level 5

Edutainment, Guest

10:45am ADT

Nerds in Intersection

Women of color making it in a white nerd boy's world. From cosplay, to animation, to comics, these ladies have broken the glass ceiling and they wanna tell you all about it.

Psssssst ... for even more awesome, be sure to drop by the guest tables located on the vendor floor, level 5.

Moderators

Floyd Peyton

Moderator

Floyd is a former radio DJ, seasoned event host, and lifelong nerd. She’s an avid D&D player, occasionally tries to get the hang of video games, and reads all of the things. She has instructed her immediate family to cremate her after she dies, turn her into a diamond... Read More →

Guests

Akakioga

Cosplay

Dorasae Rosario, known as Akakioga, has been cosplaying for over 4 years and is most known for her Genderbend Static Shock and humanoid Orisa from Overwatch. She is a activist for all cosplayers, promoting that no matter what size, race, sexuality, gender, or even skin tone, should... Read More →

Tara Audibert

Artist

Tara Audibert is a Wolastoqey artist and the owner of Moxy Fox Studio, an independent animation, comics and illustration studio located in New Brunswick. Tara produced her 1st animated film, “The importance of Dreaming” (2017), appearing in film festivals worldwide, winning several... Read More →

Emmanuelle Chateauneuf

Comics

Emmanuelle Chateauneuf is a passionate old soul who cares too much, is genuinely eccentric, and is on a whole, a general weirdo. With one foot planted firmly in her subconscious and the other kept floating sufficiently above ground, the fresh-faced comic creator lives merrily alongside... Read More →

Sunday October 28, 2018 10:45am - 11:30am ADT
Room 106 Convention Level 1

Edutainment, Guest

12:00pm ADT

Managing Your Online Presence: The Good, The Bad and the Ugly

Social media is growing ever more prevalent as a way to reach people, have your voice heard and to communicate with the world. It is a very visible platform with a global reach.

Please join our esteemed guest, Chuck Wendig as he talks about the pros and cons of having a strong presence on social media.

Moderators

Floyd Peyton

Moderator

Floyd is a former radio DJ, seasoned event host, and lifelong nerd. She’s an avid D&D player, occasionally tries to get the hang of video games, and reads all of the things. She has instructed her immediate family to cremate her after she dies, turn her into a diamond... Read More →

Guests

Chuck Wendig

Author

Chuck Wendig is the New York Times bestselling author of Star Wars: Aftermath, as well as the Miriam Black thrillers, the Atlanta Burns books, Zer0es/Invasive, and his upcoming epic, Wanderers (Del Rey, 2019). He’s also worked in a variety of other formats, including comics, games... Read More →

Sunday October 28, 2018 12:00pm - 12:45pm ADT
Room 502 Ballroom Level 5

Edutainment, Guest

12:45pm ADT

SMASH! Into the Industry

It's not easy to break out into the world of illustration but these guys have done it! Now they wanna tell you how to get noticed as an artist.

Psssssst ... for even more awesome, be sure to drop by the artist guest tables located on the vendor floor, level 5.

Guests

Mike Feehan

Comics

Mike Feehan is a Newfoundland-based comic book artist whose work includes the critically acclaimed Exit Stage Left: The Snagglepuss Chronicles from DC Comics. In addition to his work in comics, Mike has also worked as a storyboard artist for international commercials as well as a... Read More →

Owen Gieni

Comics

Owen Gieni is the artist for the Image Shadowline series Rat Queens, as well as the colourist for the Skybound title Manifest Destiny. Previous works include Shutter, Glory, Negative Space, Debris, and Sore Thumbs. He currently resides in Vancouver, BC, where his interests include... Read More →

Troy Little

Comics

Three time Eisner nominee and Harvey nominee, Troy began a career in animation after graduating from the Interpretive Illustration course at Sheridan College in Ontario, Canada. In 2000 he began self-publishing his comic series Chiaroscuro which garnered him both a Xeric and PEICA... Read More →

Mike Rooth

Comics

Mike Rooth is a Canadian Freelance Art Mercenary with an illustration career that spans two centuries. Rooth has created comics, covers and interior illustrations for numerous magazines, children’s book publishers, and both indie and mainstream comic companies (such as Aftershock... Read More →

Presenters

Jamie Bradley

Moderator

Jamie has something to say about everything, whether he knows about the subject or not. Favourite things that he can talk endlessly about are time travel, fountain pens, and all types of shape-shifters (biologically annoying). If a TV show or movie has the word “Star”, “Space... Read More →

Sunday October 28, 2018 12:45pm - 1:30pm ADT
Room 106 Convention Level 1

Edutainment, Guest

1:15pm ADT

Storytelling Through Role Playing

Learn how to make your RPG campaign intricate and immersive from these expert story crafters.

Guests

Mark Seifter

Gaming

Mark Seifter is a game designer at Paizo, working mainly on the Pathfinder RPG. Mark started with Pathfinder Unchained and Occult Adventures, moving on to Bestiary 5, Ultimate Intrigue, Horror Adventures, Villain Codex, and Ultimate Wilderness. He is a creator of the Starfinder and... Read More →

Linda Zata-Palmer

Gaming

Linda Zayas-Palmer is a developer at Paizo on the Organized Play team. As a part of her work with Paizo, she produces adventures for Pathfinder Society Roleplaying Guild and is the lead developer for the Pathfinder Society Adventure Card Guild. She is also a freelance author for the... Read More →

Sunday October 28, 2018 1:15pm - 2:00pm ADT
Room 501 Ballroom Level 5

Edutainment, Guest

4:15pm ADT

Licensed vs. Creator-Owned Storytelling

Creating a story and character from scratch is a very different thing from learning the history of characters already fleshed out and taking them on adventures. Both have their own challenges, benefits, headaches and triumphs.

Our guest panel knows all about this topic as each have experience both with self created and licensed properties.

Psssssst ... for even more awesome, be sure to drop by the comic guest tables located on the vendor floor, level 5.

Guests

Brenda Hickey

Comics

Brenda Hickey is a comic artist from PEI who works on Hasbro/IDW's My Little Pony Friendship is Magic comic series. She has illustrated the Legends of Magic series, the 2017 Holiday Special, and some more issues on the main series. She is pleased to announce the release of brand new... Read More →

Troy Little

Comics

Three time Eisner nominee and Harvey nominee, Troy began a career in animation after graduating from the Interpretive Illustration course at Sheridan College in Ontario, Canada. In 2000 he began self-publishing his comic series Chiaroscuro which garnered him both a Xeric and PEICA... Read More →

Presenters

Rhys Bevan-John

Moderator

Rhys is an award winning actor and writer who spent over 25 years working in the Theatre. He has created a number of theatre shows for children, and performed in many more – having toured elementary school gymnasiums throughout Nova Scotia many times with the Neptune Young Company... Read More →

Sunday October 28, 2018 4:15pm - 5:00pm ADT
Room 504 Ballroom Level 5

Edutainment, Guest