I’ve Divined the Best DCC Author Panels

Everyone has their own method for choosing from the massive list of comic con panels. I like to focus on writing panels, since often times they will devolve into arguments over whether books should be planned within an inch of their life, and if you should let your four year old be your editor, and more hilarity any writers and readers can enjoy. Oddly enough though, my favorite panels in the past weren’t topics I thought would create my favorite panels. I am beginning to see that yes, topic matters, but the people matter more.

For instance Jim Butcher, Neil Gaiman, and Patrick Rothfuss. Anytime any of them are on a panel I would go. It doesn’t matter if they are talking about weaponizing spruce trees in space. The people often make the panel. I’m applying this new theory to choosing my author/literary panels for Denver Comic Con 2016. To this end, I’ve read sample chapters to just about every writer coming to Denver Comic Con this year. Many of them I’ve never heard of, which is my own fault, for not quitting my job to read more. I really should find a way to read more. Does listening to audiobooks while you’re sleeping work, or does it just lead to confusing dreams?

Here are some authors who really wowed me with their voices, plotting, and silliness. They really have a good grasp on how to construct a thing. Now I’m not saying they can TALK, which as a speaker is very important. I’m just saying if they can express themselves verbally half as good as they do with written, their panels will be great.

For silliness, I think Dana Simpson will be a great panelist. She’s a best-selling author and a unicorn. I’m not kidding; she says so on her site. She writes the ultra-cute Pheobe and Her Unicorn. If she’s cornered on a panel that has turned serious, I’m sure we can count on her to bring up poop rainbows, and save us all from boredom.

For more silliness (you really can’t have enough), Carrie Vaughn writes the Kitty Norville books about a werewolf DJ who saves the world.

For stories, Trina Robbins is an excellent panelist. She was the first woman to draw Wonder Woman, and has written many great female characters including Wonder Woman and Honey West. When she was told women didn’t draw comics, she started researching and found hundreds at the time. Now she’s recognized as a historian, and recently published Pretty in Ink: North American Women Cartoonists 1896-2013.

For award winning talking, Patrick Hester won a Hugo award for his podcast The SF Signal. If the moderator falls down on the job, he can definitely take over. His quick little ebook Witchcraft & Satyrs is about a cranky witch who loves sweet potato pie, and hates to be bothered by the locals. It is a character I readily identify with, and I wish he’d write more cranky witch stories.

For passionate talking, Amalie Howard always brings a lot of passion and energy to a conversation. In panels this is essential, especially in afternoon panels, after lunch, in a slightly hot room when you just start to drift off. I’ve been to Amalie panels before and they are never boring. Amalie wrote the Riven Chronicles and the Cruentus Curse.

For social commentary, A.G. Henley isn’t afraid of setting up an all-female society that steals young girls, in her A Brilliant Darkness series. They are called Fire Sisters. I’ve only read the first few chapters, but I’m hoping living without men gives them the power to start fires with their mind! A.G. Henley is also a clinical psychologist, and if things get slow, can start diagnosing the other panelists. All writers are crazy.

For silly social commentary, Kevin Hearne dissects modern America through the eyes of an ancient druid in the Iron Druid Chronicles.

For Terry Brooks, he has two Shannara Chronicles events, but more importantly, he’s part of the best-selling authors panel with Kevin Hearne and Carrie Vaughn.

Here are the major speaking events and panels these authors are participating in at Denver Comic Con 2016.

Friday

10:30-11:20pm Women Working in the Comics & Animation Industry Today Bellco Theater Dana Simpson, Trina Robbins

10:30-11:20am Lost (and Stressed) in Space: Addressing Mental Health in SF/F Room 506/507 A.G. Henley

2:45-3:30pm Terry Brooks and The Shannara Chronicles Bellco Theater (Not technically a panel)

4-4:45pm The Shannara Chronicles w/ John Rhys-Davies and Manu Bennet, & Terry Brooks Bellco Theater

4-4:50pm Damsels Not in Distress Room 502/503 Trina Robbins, A.G. Henley

6-6:45pm World Building in Fiction Lab 8bit Stage Kevin Hearne (Not technically a panel)

6:30-7:20pm Putting the Apocalypse in Post-Apocalyptic Stories Room 502/503 A.G. Henley, Amalie Howard

Saturday

10:30-11:20am Homage: The Impact of Scifi Pop Culture on Writing Room 506/507 Carrie Vaughn, Amalie Howard

1-1:50pm The Writing Process of Best Sellers Room 506-507 Carrie Vaughn, Kevin Hearne, Terry Brooks

2:45-3:35pm Steampunk: Beyond Gears and Cogs Room 502/503 Carrie Vaughn

5-6:30pm Keynote Address: Here Are the Great Women Cartoonists Room 301 Trina Robbins (Not technically a panel)

Sunday

11-11:50am Womanthology – the Comics and Creators Room 607 Trina Robbins

11-11:50am Twisted Fairy Tales in Media Today Room 502/503 Dana Simpson