Author: ravenchair (Page 12 of 16)

Lawrence M. Schoen

March 11, 2026 / ravenchair

Lawrence M. Schoen holds a Ph.D. in cognitive psychology, is a past Astounding, Hugo, and Nebula finalist, twice won the Cóyotl award for best novel, founded the Klingon Language Institute, and occasionally does work as a hypnotherapist specializing in authors’ issues.

His science fiction includes many light and humorous adventures of a space-faring stage hypnotist and his alien animal companion. Other works take a very different tone, exploring aspects of determinism and free will, generally redefining the continua between life and death. Sometimes he blurs the funny and the serious. Lawrence and his wife live just outside Philadelphia, PA. He has bested both Multiple Myeloma and Leukemia and is a chimeric cancer survivor.

Second Chance Heroes

March 11, 2026 / ravenchair

Second Chance Heroes Rat Adoptions is a 501(c)3 nonprofit based in Richmond, VA. We rescue and re-home domestic rats in need—giving each rat the second chance they deserve. Since opening our doors in 2019, we have rescued and re-homed over 800 rats—survivors of laboratory settings, hoarding situations, and outdoor abandonment—matching each one with a loving home where they can thrive. We believe every rat deserves to be known, loved, and cared for. Learn more about adopting, fostering, or supporting our work at secondchancerats.org.

Chris Semtner

March 11, 2026 / ravenchair

Chris Semtner is an award-winning, internationally exhibited visual artist whose work can be found in numerous private and public collections. He has written several articles and chapters in addition to eight books about Poe, visual art, horror, pop culture, and cryptography. His writing has appeared in Biography.com, Crime Writers’ Chronicle, Resources for American Literary Study, and other publications. He has been featured in publications including the New York Times, Mental Floss, Atlas Obscura, SyFy Wire, and Rue Morgue Magazine, in addition to appearing in documentaries in the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain, Venezuela, and Japan. As the curator of the Edgar Allan Poe Museum in Richmond, VA, he regularly speaks about strange and macabre subjects at various venues from the Steampunk World’s Fair to the Library of Congress and as far away as Paris and Kyoto, Japan. He has participated in several RavenCons, and they even gave him a Webster Award.

Xexilia O. Shadows

March 10, 2026 / ravenchair

Xexilia O. Shadows is a “retro” webcomic artist who began her magnum opus Eternity Concepts in 1999, a mystery-romance. She has since continued and crossed into gallery and museum showings of her work, along with publishing her web-comic series in an ongoing collection of volumes. With an urge to express millions of unsaid moments, screams, and cries, Shadows’ works are both cryptic and emotionally deep, functioning as a storytelling medium. Using her own unique symbol language parsed within many wider meanings of imagery, she calls her pieces “visual mysteries” and maintains that most, if not all, works contain one, often several, puzzles. Far more complex than appearances let on, with the puzzles never publicly acknowledged or discussed, Xexilia has opted to present viewers with an intellectual test and allow curiosity, boldness, and willingness to accept failure all as solutions to help unlock the deepest meanings of each work.

This year marks the second edition release of her original first volume of Eternity Concepts, which was first announced and released at RavenCon 2015! She hopes to release the second volume this year. Eternity Concepts was also the subject of her solo exhibition at ArtWorks Gallery, featuring a collection of pieces of characters and themes from the series, and chosen as the subject as she wanted to ensure Eternity Concepts—and webcomics—crossed over into serious art pieces rather than being just a mere online hobby. Her pieces will show in London, Paris, Milan, Tokyo, and NYC over the course of 2026, and are always on display at ArtWorks Gallery in downtown Richmond at her resident studio space in studio 108.

Daniel Sherrier

March 10, 2026 / ravenchair

Daniel Sherrier writes the Terrific series of superhero novels, which began with The Flying Woman in 2018. He’s a William & Mary graduate, a former community newspaper writer and editor, and a black belt in Thai kickboxing. And there was that one time he jumped out of an airplane, which was memorable.

Sign Guy

March 9, 2026 / ravenchair

Your friendly neighborhood Sign Guy is a professional nerd from a family of professional nerds who occasionally convinces people he’s competent enough to present things at conventions. When not talking at crowds, he works with satellites, ships, and dives far deeper into pulp-era sci-fi than is medically advisable.

Alan Smale

March 9, 2026 / ravenchair

Alan Smale writes alternate history, historical fantasy, and hard SF. His novella of a Roman invasion of ancient America, “A Clash of Eagles”, won the Sidewise Award for Alternate History, and his novels set in the same universe, Clash of Eagles, Eagle in Exile, and Eagle and Empire (2015-2017) are available from Del Rey. His “Roman baseball” collaboration with Rick Wilber, The Wandering Warriors, came out from WordFire Press in 2020. Hot Moon, his alternate-Apollo “techno-thriller with heart”, set entirely on and around the Moon, was launched by CAEZIK SF & Fantasy in 2022, with sequels Radiant Sky in 2024 and Burning Night in 2025.

Alan has sold over fifty stories to Asimov’s and other magazines and anthologies, and his short story “Gunpowder Treason” earned him a second Sidewise Award in 2022. His non-fiction essays have appeared in Lightspeed, Journey Planet, and Galaxy’s Edge.

Alan grew up in Yorkshire, England, and earned degrees in Physics and Astrophysics from Oxford University. Until recently he performed astronomical research at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, and served as director of an astrophysical data archive. He also sings bass with high-energy vocal band The Chromatics, and is co-creator of their educational AstroCappella project, spreading astronomy through a cappella in schools across the country.

SmashB

March 9, 2026 / ravenchair

SmashB is an award-winning costumer and international cosplay model. She got her start in cosplaying with her kids back in 2022. From there she pursued paneling and volunteering with local cons. She’s currently taking a break from the competition circuit to dive in more behind the scenes of cosplay programming. Her newest projects include Bridalverse gowns and co-hosting the Bigger Boat Podcast.

Gaylien Space

March 9, 2026 / ravenchair

Gaylien Space, of the Science Fiction Double Feature Drag Show, is from out of this world and has decided to make Earth their destination for partying, having fun, and exploring all that Earth has to offer with the Earthlings here.

Devo Spice

March 8, 2026 / ravenchair

Devo Spice is a nerdy comedy rapper from New Jersey who has been called “the red-headed stepson of ‘Weird Al’ Yankovic and Eminem.” Over funky beats with crisp, clear vocals Devo raps about technology, Doctor Who, life’s daily frustrations, and even ridiculous suggestions sent in by his fans.

Devo Spice performs regularly across the country at science fiction conventions, music clubs, comedy clubs, and any place that has a sense of humor. He has shared the stage with Dr. Demento, Psychostick, MC Lars, Jonathan Coulton, Paul and Storm, and many others.