Fairy Tales, Steampunk, and Villains... 💖⚙️📚

I get to talk about all of my favorite things at DemiCon this weekend!

May 01, 2024

Hello!

I hope your May is off to a wonderful start! I’m deep into revisions for my WIP and making final preparations for DemiCon later this week from May 3rd to May 5th. Thank you to everyone who answered the poll in my last newsletter about dual POV! Your insights were helpful as I’m working on my revision notes. Once I’m done with this convention, I’ll be starting work on draft two! 🎉

Last weekend I took a break to visit Beaverdale Books on Indie Bookstore Day. While I was there to get books for my TBR, it was fun to see copies of Forsaken Beauty and the Etherbeast on the shelf. 💖

I started reading The Hexologists first and so far, I love it!! It’s magic, steampunk, mystery, adventure, and a couple that is marriage goals. 😍

If you’re local to central Iowa, come see me at DemiCon this weekend! I will be on several panels and reading Forsaken Beauty and the Etherbeast. My table is in the Dealer’s Room, where I’ll have copies of Forsaken Beauty and the Etherbeast, Monsters and Machines, bookmarks, postcards, and keychains. If you already have my books, please feel free to bring them with you to the con!

Dealer’s Room hours:

Friday — 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Saturday — 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Sunday — 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM

For my panels, I get to talk about fairy tales, steampunk, villains, and more of my favorite things! Here are the details:

Once Upon a Twist: Fairy Tale Retellings in Media — Saturday 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM

Fairy tales are archetypal stories that have been passed down for generations, across cultures and continents. These stories often feature magic, adventure, romance, and moral lessons. Fairy tales have also inspired countless retellings and adaptations in different media, such as novels, films, musicals, comics, and video games. By changing the setting, characters, plot, and genre, the possibilities for reimaginings are endless. In this panel, we will examine some of the most creative examples of fairy tale retellings in media, such as Cinder, Wicked, Fables, and Snow, Glass, Apples.

Kelsey Josephson Reading — Saturday 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Come listen to a steampunk fairy tale retelling from Forsaken Beauty and the Etherbeast!

Steampunk 101 — Saturday 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM (additional panelists Edwin Dane, Mitch Thompson, Molly Ketchum, Susan Leabhart)

Steampunk is an imaginative genre that blends science fiction and fantasy with historical elements, especially from the Victorian era and the Industrial Revolution. Steampunk stories often feature steam-powered inventions, airships, clockwork devices, and alternative histories. It’s also a cultural and artistic movement that expresses itself through fashion, art, music, and pop culture. In this panel, we will give you an overview of the steampunk genre, its origins, and variations beyond the typical goggles and gears. We will also showcase examples of steampunk influences in books, movies, television, comics, games, and more.

Crafting Villains: Writing Antagonists Readers Love to Hate — Saturday 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM (additional panelist Adam Stemple)

Villains are often fan-favorite characters, but what makes a good villain? How do you make your villain believable, complex, and memorable without falling into clichés? In this panel, we will share some tips and tricks for writing effective antagonists, such as giving your villains character arcs and concrete motivations. We will also analyze some of the most iconic and unforgettable villains in books and media, such as Darth Vader, Joker, and Thanos.

What If? Exploring Alternate History in Media — Sunday 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM (additional panelist Adam Stemple)

Alternate history stories can be found in books, movies, television, comics, games, and more. These reimaginings can range from realistic to fantastical, from serious to humorous, from dystopian to utopian. In this panel, we’ll discuss some of the most popular and influential works of alternate history in media, such as Watchmen, Anno Dracula, and Loki. We will also explore the themes, challenges, and implications of creating and consuming alternate history stories.

Though this is a stock photo, I absolutely love her dress! Maybe I can do something like this before the next masquerade I attend 🤔

DemiCon is the last confirmed signing event that I have until fall. While I may end up doing some events in between now and then, it’ll be good to have some time to finish my current book! In early June, I’ll be attending the Nebula Conference to connect with other authors, attend panels, and refill my creativity.

In the meantime, it’s back to revisions for me!

Happy reading!

Kelsey