Ghost Riders, Gothic Shadows, More Monstrous Women, or...💖⚙️📚

My full panel schedule at DemiCon + more convention news! 🎉

Hello from the depths of my writing cave! All this month, I’ve been alternating between revisions, research, drafting a secret project, more research, frantically finishing my reading to vote for this year’s Nebula awards, and making a few notes for an unhinged Bluebeard retelling that I cannot wait to get to between other books.

Today I looked at the calendar and realized that my birthday will already be here on Monday, which also means for me that convention season is coming soon! (I also got the ball rolling for a birthday present to myself for a Forsaken Beauty and the Etherbeast themed tattoo that I’m so excited about!)

The theme for this year’s DemiCon is heavy on space + sci-fi and fantasy

The DemiCon Schedule is Live! 🎉

DemiCon: Outpost 37

Des Moines’ 37th Annual Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Gaming Convention

Holiday Inn & Suites Des Moines–Northwest, Iowa

May 1–3, 2026

I’m so excited to kick off my convention season at DemiCon! This year’s theme, Outpost 37, is all about the influence of Westerns on sci-fi and fantasy. I had so much fun coming up with panels for this year’s convention and my research has taken me some fascinating places. I can’t wait to share more! I’m doing a Monstrous Women 2.0 talk during the convention to fit this year’s theme, and I get to talk about the cowboy in Dracula. So excited!!

Here are my panels:

• Ghost Riders and Gothic Shadows: Ghost Riders in Dark
  Fri at 5:00 PM
  
  Come explore how the mythic American West has shaped Gothic storytelling across literature and media. From the lone wanderer archetype to desolate frontier landscapes, we’ll trace how Western tropes ride straight into tales of monsters, curses, and creeping dread. Discover how figures like the cowboy in Dracula reveal surprising intersections between frontier mythos and Gothic tradition. Together, we’ll unpack how these blended genres illuminate cultural fears, moral tensions, and new creative possibilities for dark fantasy and speculative fiction.
  

• Weird West and Steampunk
  Co-panelist Rachel Aukes
  Sat at 10:00 AM
  
  Learn about the influence of Westerns on steampunk literature and media! We’ll look at everything from tropes to costumes to gadgets. Discover how blending frontier mythos with retro‑futuristic tech creates some of the most imaginative worlds in speculative fiction. Together, we’ll examine how these genres intersect to reveal deeper cultural influences, narrative patterns, and create opportunities for storytelling across diverse backgrounds.
  

• Frontier Witches and Vengeful Spirits: Monstrous Women and the Western Imagination
  Sat at 8:00 PM

  
  Explore how Western folklore and frontier storytelling shaped some of the most enduring “monstrous women” in speculative fiction. From ghostly brides and desert sirens to outlaw witches and shapeshifting heroines, we’ll trace how these figures ride the line between fear and empowerment. Discover how Western tropes—isolated landscapes, lawless borders, and mythic justice—intersect with Gothic and fantasy traditions to redefine feminine monstrosity. Together, we’ll unpack how these archetypes reveal cultural anxieties, challenge expectations, and inspire bold new approaches to character and worldbuilding.

I will also be in the Brass Gears Adventures Radio Show on Sunday at noon! This year's offering is Death On the Falcon, A Locked Airship Mystery. I’ll have more info to share soon, but I can’t wait to do this again! I had a blast in last year’s show.

When I’m not paneling, I’ll be in the Dealer’s Room with my books on Friday from 2 to 6 pm, Saturday from 10 to 6 pm, and Sunday from 10 to 2 pm. Pending her health, my mom will be attending again to cover my table while I’m away at panels. (Mom has been in the hospital a few times this year and is slowly on the mend.) She loves attending DemiCon, too, so we’re hopeful that it works out for her to come.

For the full schedule of DemiCon and more information about things to do at the convention, check out their website here. (And if you’re a fan of TeslaCon, Eric is going to be here as a special guest!)

2026 Convention Schedule

Here is the full list of my upcoming conventions. I’m hoping to share my panel schedule for the Chicago Steampunk Expo soon. (I have another take on Monstrous Women for the show that has been confirmed!) If you have the opportunity and it is feasible (and safe) for you to travel, I’d love to see you at any and all of these events! Tickets are available for all of these conventions:

• DemiCon 37 May 1st-3rd

• The Nebula Awards Conference June 3rd-7th (this one is for writers of all types of speculative fiction)

• Chicago Steampunk Expo The 1893 Exposition’s Adventures in Wonderland June 12th-14th

• Fables and Flames: Romantasy Gala November 6th-8th

• TeslaCon 16: Oz November 12th-15th

Happy reading!

Kelsey

Monsters, mad science, and recklessly brave women collide in an unforgettable trip to the 1893 World’s Fair.

An unconventional beauty, a tormented beast, and the ether that binds their fate…