Hal-Con 2017: Full Schedule

2:00pm ADT

Urban Fantasy

More and more people are leaving rural areas and migrating to urban centers. Current literary trends have reflected this. Fantasy, once soley set in distant lands and far off places can now be found nestled in the neighbourhood next door. Our panel will discuss this change in setting and what it means to the genre of fantasy.

Guests

Nicola R. White

Author

Nicola R. White is the award-winning author of the New England Furies urban fantasy romance series. She was born and raised in Halifax, where ghost stories and superstitions abound, and she has always been fascinated by the strange and morbid. In 2017, Nicola looks forward to the... Read More →

Tanya Huff

Author

Tanya Huff's 30 novels and 75 short stories include horror, heroic fantasy, urban fantasy, comedy, and space opera. Her Blood series was turned into the 22 episode BLOOD TIES and writing episode nine allowed her to finally use her degree in Radio & Television Arts from Ryerson Polytechnic... Read More →

Friday September 22, 2017 2:00pm - 2:45pm ADT
Room 301 WTCC

Panel, Guest

3:00pm ADT

Writing Historically

Fantasy can take many forms in many universes, including our own. Our panel will talk about how to create believable fiction in any time period.

Guests

Ami McKay

Author

Ami McKay is the bestselling author of three critically acclaimed novels: The Birth House, The Virgin Cure and The Witches of New York. The latter has been described as: “historical fiction with a twist: part Victorian fairytale, part penny dreadful, part feminist manifesto... Read More →

Steven Erikson

Author

Steven Erikson is the author of the ten volume Malazan Book of the Fallen, an epic fantasy series, as well as numerous other works in Fantasy and Science Fiction. He worked as an archaeologist before becoming a full-time writer and is a graduate of the Iowa Writers' Workshop. He has... Read More →

Tamora Pierce

Author

Tamora Pierce is the winner of the 2013 Margaret A. Edwards Award for Lifetime Achievement in Young Adult Literature, the RT Book Reviews Career Achievement Award, and the 2005 Skylark Edward E. Smith Memorial Award for Imaginative Fiction. She is a New York Times and Wall Street... Read More →

Friday September 22, 2017 3:00pm - 3:45pm ADT
Room 301 WTCC

Panel, Guest

4:00pm ADT

Die Kitty Die!

Worlds collide in Die Kitty Die! as a witch named Kitty finds herself in the world of comics in a Chapterhouse Title unlike any other. Join comic creator Fernando Ruiz and artist Gisele Legace as they talk about this very special creation.

Guests

Fernando Ruiz

Comics

A 1994 graduate of the Kubert School, Fernando Ruiz has been working as a cartoonist and illustrator for over twenty years. Much of his work has been for Archie Comics and has appeared in many of their various comics and digests. Fernando has been the regular penciller for Archie's... Read More →

Gisele Lagace

Comics

Gisele Lagace is a Canadian comic book artist from New Brunswick. She has worked on various webcomics, e.g. Menage a 3, Penny & Aggie, Eerie Cuties, & more. She has also drawn for Archie Comics (e.g. Archie Meets Ramones), IDW (Jem and the Holograms), Dynamite Entertainment (Betty... Read More →

Friday September 22, 2017 4:00pm - 4:45pm ADT
Room 301 WTCC

Panel, Guest

4:45pm ADT

Getting Over Creative Hurdles

Ever write yourself into a corner? Or can't figure out an ending? Or not sure where to start? No matter the medium, creative hurdles exist. Join our expert panelists as they answer questions and discuss how to overcome all the barriers that stand in the way of being creative.

Guests

Margarita Gakis

Author

Margarita loves the art, creativity and romanticism of storytelling. Sometimes, however, the act of putting pen to paper proves challenging, elusive. She develops genuine, relate-able characters which grow in the hearts of her readers. From that foundation, the stories flourish into... Read More →

Tim Hanley

Author, Comics

Tim Hanley is a comic book historian and the author of Wonder Woman Unbound: The Curious History of the World's Most Famous Heroine, Investigating Lois Lane: The Turbulent History of the Daily Planet's Ace Reporter, and The Many Lives of Catwoman: The Felonious History of a Feline... Read More →

Friday September 22, 2017 4:45pm - 5:30pm ADT
Room 302 WTCC

Panel, Guest

5:00pm ADT

Making a Cosplay Character

Cosplay is a unique way to take a comic, anime or videogame character and bring them fully into the real world. Panterona will discuss this process, and how to bring life to a character as more than just a costume.

Guests

Panterona

Cosplay

Panterona is an award winning cosplayer, fashion/costume designer, model and convention organiser from the Caribbean island of Trinidad and Tobago. She has been actively cosplaying for the past 13 years has won a number of cosplay competitions in Trinidad and Tobago, across the Caribbean... Read More →

Friday September 22, 2017 5:00pm - 5:45pm ADT
Room 301 WTCC

Cosplay, Guest | Panel, Guest

5:45pm ADT

Being Paid for Fanfiction

The internet is full of fanfiction, presented as tributes to comics, novels, movies and other licensed properties by fans who want to spend more time with the characters and keep the story going. How does one get paid for their fan-made creations instead of sued? This panel will enable attendees to conquer the path towards getting paid for fan-fiction.

Guests

Alexander Freed

Author, Gaming

New York Times bestselling author Alexander Freed has worked as a writer and editor in the realms of video games, novels, and comics for over a decade. His video game work includes six years spent at BioWare as well as time consulting with Kabam, Obsidian Entertainment, Stoic, WB... Read More →

Ryan North

Comics

Ryan North is a New York Times bestselling author and cartoonist. He is the author of the choose-your-own-path Shakespeare adaptation To Be or Not To Be (which became Kickstarter’s most-funded publishing project when it launched) and its sequel, Romeo and/or Juliet. Ryan also writes... Read More →

Friday September 22, 2017 5:45pm - 6:30pm ADT
Room 304 WTCC

Panel, Guest

6:00pm ADT

Diversity in Media

We live in a multicultural society and fans come from all ethnicities, beliefs, genders and sexual preferences. Our heroes should reflect this. How diversity is handled in media has become a key issue in media from portrayals in film and comics, to video games and cartoons.

Join Canadian comic creator Lateef Martin as he delves into the important issue of diversity in media.

Guests

Lateef Martin

Comics

Lateef Martin is a graduate from the Illustration & Design program at Dawson College. He is a multi-disciplinary artist, from music production, voice overs, cosplay and graphic design. At the core of it, he is an illustrator with a taste for video games, comics, sci-fi and 80s Saturday... Read More →

Friday September 22, 2017 6:00pm - 6:45pm ADT
Room 301 WTCC

Panel, Guest

6:00pm ADT

Sketch Battle: Gerhard vs. John Kovalic

Want to see great artists face off in a battle of sketches? Please join us as Gerhard and John Kovalic take unique fan suggestions and turns them into works of art. Sure to contain great art and conversation as the guests answer questions, talk about the industry, and have truly unique give-aways.

Guests

Gerhard

Comics

Gerhard is best known for his work on Cerebus with Dave Sim. A 300-issue series, it is a milestone in comic book publishing as the longest running creator-owned comic book series! For 20 years, Gerhard worked as background artist, environmental designer and cover colorist on the... Read More →

John Kovalic

Comics

John Kovalic is a best-selling, award-winning, cartoonist, game designer and writer. The most in-demand illustrator in gaming, millions of copies of his games and books have been sold worldwide, giving his magical, frenetic artwork and unique with a truly global fan base. Games like... Read More →

Friday September 22, 2017 6:00pm - 7:00pm ADT
Coca-Cola Stage, 2nd Floor WTCC

Interactive, Guest | Panel, Guest | Special Event, Guest

11:45am ADT

Cosplay for Everyone

If you love a character, how much does race, sex or physicality matter? Kiss A Frog will discuss the role this plays in cosplay, and how to own a character, regardless of all of these things.

Guests

Kiss a Frog Cosplay

Cosplay

Kiss a Frog Cosplay (AKA Alicia Renaé) is a 26 year old plus-sized, body-positive Cosplayer from Charleston, WV with a cosplay and J-Fashion career spanning 5 years. She has been featured on the interwebs by AFROPUNK, Black Girl Nerds, Anime Complexium, Art of Cosplay, Black Nerd... Read More →

Saturday September 23, 2017 11:45am - 12:30pm ADT
Room 302 WTCC

Cosplay, Guest | Panel, Guest

11:45am ADT

Adapting Novels to TV

Television is currently being dominated by shows based upon popular novel series. Series like Blood Ties, by author Tanya Huff. But are they always faithful? What is the process? And how does the author feel seeing their work displayed on the screen? Come sit down with Tanya Huff as she discusses the highs and lows of adapting books to television.

Guests

Tanya Huff

Author

Saturday September 23, 2017 11:45am - 12:30pm ADT
Room 304 WTCC

Panel, Guest

12:00pm ADT

Dork Tower and Munchkin - A +10 Life in Gaming!

John Kovalic has had a robust career creating comics and games. Come celebrate the 20th Anniversary of Dork Tower, and find out more about this legendary creator.

Guests

John Kovalic

Comics

Saturday September 23, 2017 12:00pm - 12:45pm ADT
Room 301 WTCC

Panel, Guest

12:15pm ADT

Fernando Ruiz on Drawing

Fernando Ruiz is sharing some of his wealth of artistic skill with our attendees in this drawing workshop.

Guests

Fernando Ruiz

Comics

Saturday September 23, 2017 12:15pm - 1:00pm ADT
Room 306 WTCC

Panel, Guest

12:45pm ADT

Pattern Creation 101

Please join Panterona in this crash course on creating a simple bodice top pattern for beginners and those looking to learn the basics of sewing!

If you can, please bring a ruler and note pad.

Guests

Panterona

Cosplay

Saturday September 23, 2017 12:45pm - 1:30pm ADT
Room 304 WTCC

Cosplay, Guest | Panel, Guest

1:00pm ADT

Women in Media

Damsel in distress. Femme fatale. Ditzy blonde. Stereotypes long held by women in media. But slowly, this is changing. Tim Hanley and Margarita Gakis will be discussing how far we've come with the introduction of strong, well-rounded female characters; and also how far we've yet to go.

Guests

Margarita Gakis

Author

Tim Hanley

Author, Comics

Saturday September 23, 2017 1:00pm - 1:45pm ADT
Room 301 WTCC

Panel, Guest

1:45pm ADT

Character Creation

What is the difference between something being drawn and a character being created? Is it the care put into the details? A name that the artist gives it?

Please join Piper Thibideau as she tells you how!

Guests

Piper Thibodeau

Comics

Piper Thibodeau is a freelance character designer from Montreal, QC. She has worked on projects for studios such as Dreamworks TV, Nickelodeon, Sesame Street and Penguin Books. Her work is mostly known for her "Daily Paintings", where she challenged herself to create one painting... Read More →

Saturday September 23, 2017 1:45pm - 2:30pm ADT
Room 304 WTCC

Panel, Guest

2:00pm ADT

Relationships in YA

Young Adult fiction is a growing genre, and provides youth with new and growingly diverse role models. This panel will look at the relationships found between characters in YA, both romantic and platonic.

Guests

Nicola R. White

Author

Tamora Pierce

Author

Saturday September 23, 2017 2:00pm - 2:45pm ADT
Room 301 WTCC

Panel, Guest

2:45pm ADT

Building Horns and Headdresses

Ever wanted to create a lightweight but door-frame-defying set of antlers? How about a horned crown that even Loki would be envious of? Then this is the panel for you! This panel will be exploring the entire process from patterns to painting for creating your own set of impressive headgear out of lightweight and inexpensive materials.

Presented by Luca-Jean Kelly (Wuckajuice Cosplay)

Saturday September 23, 2017 2:45pm - 3:30pm ADT
Room 304 WTCC

Cosplay, Guest | Panel, Guest

3:00pm ADT

The Creative Process

Being creative can mean different things to different people. It's a journey that varies for every artist from every medium. And...it's a journey that our panelists will be sharing their own perpectives on!

Guests

Alexander Freed

Author, Gaming

Ami McKay

Author

Conor McCreery

Comics

Conor McCreery is the co-creator of Kill Shakespeare, the swashbuckling tail of Bardicide published by IDW, which has been adapted for the stage, and is being developed for television. He’s also written for Dynamite, Titan, and BOOM! His creator-owned, YA adventure series Catacombers... Read More →

Saturday September 23, 2017 3:00pm - 3:45pm ADT
Room 301 WTCC

Panel, Guest

3:30pm ADT

Roy Wooley's Monster Painting Techniques

Learn different techniques to add depth and dimension to your mass, prosthetics and make-ups. Walk away with your own custom painted prosthetic piece in hand.

(Workshop cost $30. All materials included in the price.)

Ensure you have a spot, pre-register now!
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/hal-con-2017-roy-wooley-workshops-tickets-37471366867

Guests

Roy Wooley

Makeup Artist

Roy Wooley is an amazing special effects makeup artist and prop master whose impressive resume spans more than two decades and includes work on such box office hits as Zombieland and Rob Zombie’s Halloween II. In 2012, Roy appeared as a contestant on Syfy’s number one reality... Read More →

Saturday September 23, 2017 3:30pm - 5:30pm ADT
Room 306 WTCC

Cosplay, Guest | Panel, Guest

4:30pm ADT

Handling Game Group Dysfunction! – with Tom Vasel and Rodney Smith

Playing games is all about getting people together to have fun, and nothing can get in the way of fun, like a bunch of people! Bring your game group challenges to Tom and Rodney who will provide you with strategies to handle tricky situations and share stories of their own personal experiences.

Guests

Rodney Smith

Gaming

Rodney had a passion for teaching and playing board games that led him to start a Youtube channel in 2011 dedicated to the idea of sharing the hobby. Since then, Watch It Played has fully taught over 100 games and produced over 750 videos, growing to be the number one source for board game instructional content in the hobby. A project that began as a part time hobby from his basement in Prince Edward Island, has turned into full-time work that now has him worki... Read More →

Tom Vasel

Gaming

Tom is the President of the Dice Tower, an audio podcast and video show dedicated to promoting board games and the people who play them. For the last fifteen years, the Dice Tower has published thousands of board game reviews, top ten lists, variety shows, and more - and Tom doesn't... Read More →

Saturday September 23, 2017 4:30pm - 5:15pm ADT
Room 302 WTCC

Gaming, Guest | Gaming - Board Game, Guest | Panel, Guest

4:45pm ADT

Writing in a Visual Media When You Can't Draw

Comics and graphic novels are a marriage of words and images in a dynamic story-telling format. But do you have to be able to draw to tell a visual story effectively? Ryan North talks about being a writer in such a medium... when you can't draw.

Guests

Ryan North

Comics

Saturday September 23, 2017 4:45pm - 5:30pm ADT
Room 304 WTCC

Panel, Guest

7:30pm ADT

Storytime with Fat Apollo (PG 13+)

You're in for a treat, although the event organizers won't guarantee what kind.

Fat Apollo is back with a story time unlike any other. Be prepared to be confused, enthralled and thoroughly entertained by this latest installment. (PG 13+)

Presented by Fat Apollo

Guests

Fat Apollo

Local Celebrity

Fat Apollo, Michael McCluskey, is a mixture of all things geeky and nerdy rolled up in a crunchy comedic shell. Fat Apollo was the first to harness the raw sexuality of geek culture, and has, 4 times, been voted “Sexiest Person in Halifax”(ending Ellen Page’s undefeated seven-year... Read More →

Saturday September 23, 2017 7:30pm - 8:15pm ADT
Room 302 WTCC

Panel, Guest

11:00am ADT

Adapting Shakespeare

The Bard's stories are classic staples of theatre and literature, with timeless tales that still resonate with audiences of all ages... when they understand the language. So, in the world of jaded youth and 140 character stories, making Shakespeare relevant is not always easy. Join our panel as they discuss updating Shakespeare for a new generation.

Guests

Conor McCreery

Comics

Ryan North

Comics

Sunday September 24, 2017 11:00am - 11:45am ADT
Room 301 WTCC

Panel, Guest

11:45am ADT

Believable Evil

Tamora Pierce tackles this panel on learning about sympathizing and understanding a villain's motivations in a way that an audience can understand by enabling attendees to help identify what makes a villain evil and how to write evil in a way that it is believable.

Guests

Tamora Pierce

Author

Sunday September 24, 2017 11:45am - 12:30pm ADT
Room 302 WTCC

Panel, Guest

12:00pm ADT

Indie Comics

If you've heard of comics, you've probably heard of DC and Marvel, the powerhouses of the industry. But there are so many other options when it comes to comics.

Our panel will answer questions and discuss the freedoms, shortcomings, pros and cons of creating Indie Comics.

Guests

Gerhard

Comics

Lateef Martin

Comics

Piper Thibodeau

Comics

Sunday September 24, 2017 12:00pm - 12:45pm ADT
Room 301 WTCC

Panel, Guest

12:45pm ADT

Creating Fun: Game Creation from Script to Sale

Gaming has moved from a niche market into the mainstream, with some predicting it will overtake television in popularity, as interactive media comes to the center of people's focus.

But how are games made? Join our expert panel as they talk game creation, from creating a concept and a script to story boarding and beyond.

Guests

Alexander Freed

Author, Gaming

John Kovalic

Comics

Exhibitors

AJ Morales

Sunday September 24, 2017 12:45pm - 1:30pm ADT
Room 302 WTCC

Gaming, Guest, Presenter | Panel, Guest, Presenter

12:45pm ADT

LenkLewksForLess

Join Tom Lenk for a quick fire Lenk Lewk Challenge. We'll have some supplies on hand but the audience is encouraged to bring random extra fabric, bags, decorations etc to help in the creation of a Red Carpet worthy ensemble!

Guests

Tom Lenk

Actor

Thomas (Tom) Loren Lenk was born in Westlake Village, California, USA on June 16th, 1976. Tom attended Moorpark College until his junior year, then transferred into UCLA's theater program. It wasn't long before others began to notice Tom's talent, and in 1997 Tom won the Carol Burnett... Read More →

Sunday September 24, 2017 12:45pm - 1:30pm ADT
Room 304 WTCC

Panel, Guest

1:45pm ADT

Author Writing Tips

Want to write a novel? Have no idea on how to get published? Join our panel as various authors answer your questions and provide some helpful writing tips.

Guests

Margarita Gakis

Author

Nicola R. White

Author

Tim Hanley

Author, Comics

Sunday September 24, 2017 1:45pm - 2:30pm ADT
Room 302 WTCC

Panel, Guest

2:00pm ADT

Sketch Battle: Gisele Lagace vs. Fernando Ruiz

Want to see great artists face off in a battle of sketches? Please join us as Gisele Legace and Fernando Ruiz take unique fan suggestions and turns them into works of art. Sure to contain great art and conversation as the guests answer questions, talk about the industry, and have truly unique give-aways.

Guests

Fernando Ruiz

Comics

Gisele Lagace

Comics

Sunday September 24, 2017 2:00pm - 3:00pm ADT
Coca-Cola Stage, 2nd Floor WTCC

Interactive, Guest | Panel, Guest | Special Event, Guest

2:45pm ADT

The Science of Indiana Jones

Indiana Jones brought public interest and adventure to the science of Archaeology. But how much of what the movies show reflect what happens in real life?

Author Steven Erikson will shed light of this most interesting field of science, and informs us if Indiana Jones could exist outside of the movies.

Guests

Steven Erikson

Author

Sunday September 24, 2017 2:45pm - 3:30pm ADT
Room 304 WTCC

Panel, Guest

2:45pm ADT

Witchcraft: From History to Fiction

Witches have been a cause of fear and fascination for centuries. In the past they filtered into nightmares and caused the death of dozens of innocent women. More recently, they have taken a role in fantasy and fiction as strong portrayals of these female characters.

Please join Professor Kathryn Morris and Author Ami McKay as they talk the fact and fiction behind witches.

Guests

Ami McKay

Author

Sunday September 24, 2017 2:45pm - 3:30pm ADT
Room 302 WTCC

Panel, Guest