A. L. Kaplan

Category: Author event

  • Celebrate Halloween at a Catonsville book festival

    Celebrate Halloween at a Catonsville book festival

    Simply Written Here Spooky Author Event

    Saturday, October 31, noon to 3 pm.

    Books and spooky stories, costumes and Halloween candy…more than 20 local authors will have it all to celebrate Halloween at the Simply Written Here book showcase.

    Make sure to get on site by 1 p.m. for a family-friendly Halloween story time by professional storyteller Zoe Copeman. Zoe leads historical and ghost tours for Ellicott City’s historic district.

    Participating authors write everything from romance to thriller, historical fiction to fantasy to children’s stories.

    Novelists will include:

    • Calia Wilde
    • Millie Mack
    • Michelle Paris
    • Nonna Henry
    • Eileen Haavik McIntire
    • Leslie Atkins
    • Erin Fitzgerald
    • David Wessell
    • Sarah Wyeth
    • Laura Tilley, writing as Alyssa Roberts
    • Karen Neary Smithson, who also writes as Karen Leigh Charles
    • Kat LaGue
    • Neal Patterson
    • Edward Swing
    • Judy Sabalauskas
    • Suzanne Forest
    • Lisa Trovillion
    • Tara Ebersole
    • Harry Carpenter
    • Cathryn Lyons
    • A.K. Kaplan
    • and Mary K. Tilghman.

    Readers can further share the love by bringing a non-perishable food item to donate to Catonsville Emergency Assistance.

    The event is free and open to all readers. Parking is plentiful.

    Simply Made Here

    2302 Frederick Road

    Catonsville, MD 21228

  • Writing Workshop: Creating Non-Human Characters

    I’ll be doing a workshop in creating non-human characters for the

    Maryland Writers’ Association South West Baltimore Chapter

    You’ve created an amazing world for your story, but who or what is living in it? You need beings to carry the plot. This workshop will explore how to populate your setting with appropriate and believable non-human characters. Attendees will create a character to use in their science fiction or fantasy story.

    Bring writing materials. This is a hands on workshop!

    Tuesday, October 27, 2026

    6:30 pm

    at

    Simply Made Here

    2302 Frederick Road

    Catonsville, MD 21228

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    Local Author Fair

    Come to our Boozy Local Author Fair and meet an amazing group of local authors! This is an opportunity to learn about incredible new books directly from the authors themselves. That means you can get them signed, personalized, and ask any questions you may have! All while enjoying great food and drinks from Cushwa & Rad Pies Taproom. We can’t wait to see you there!

    Sponsored by

    Queen Takes Book

    and

    Cushwa & Rad Pies

    Cushwa & Rad Pies

    6695 Dobbin Road, STE G, Columbia, MD 21045

    Thursday, September 24, 2026

    6:00pm – 8:00pm

  • Carroll Book Festival

    Carroll Book Festival

    Come to the Carroll Book Festival

    Saturday, September 19, 2026

    10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

    Free Admission, All Ages

    Book lovers from Carroll County and beyond are invited to this special event celebrating literacy, stories, and community. This event is free for all ages. Please note: some events will require tickets or advance registration.

    Featuring

    • 100+ national bestselling and indie authors
    • Book signings, panel discussions, and author talks
    • Children’s character breakfast
    • Literary-themed vendors
    • Local food trucks

    Presented by Carroll County Public Library in partnership with Park Books on Main, Penguin Random House, Carroll County Economic Development, Last Word Bookstore, and Two Sides to the Story Podcast.

    Carroll County Farm Museum

    500 S Center St.

    Westminster, MD 21157

  • My Panels at LAcon V

    My Panels at LAcon V

    The 84th World Science Fiction Convention is in LA on August 27-31, 2026

    Here is where you can find me.

  • Second Edition Books on June 13th from 11:00 – 2:00

    Second Edition Books on June 13th from 11:00 – 2:00

    Come see me at Second Edition Books on Saturday, June 13th from 11:00 – 2:00

    Say hello and pick up a book or two.

    There are some great lunch places nearby.

    Second Edition Books

    6490 Dobbin RD

    Columbia, MD 21045

    Second Edition Books is between Sushi King (one of my favorite restaurants) and the Columbia MVA.

  • Meet Me At Second Edition Books On June 13: 11:00-2:00

    Meet Me At Second Edition Books On June 13: 11:00-2:00

    I will be at Second Edition Books on June 13th from 11:00 – 2:00

    Come say hello and pick up a book or two.

    Second Edition Books

    6490 Dobbin RD

    Columbia, MD 21045

    Second Edition Books is between Sushi King and the Columbia MVA

    Dragon’s Hanukkah

    It’s Hanukkah and Dragon is helping his family celebrate.

    Come join the fun as Dragon makes latkes and lights the menorah.

    Then play the dreidel game and see where it lands!

    Star Touched

    Eighteen-year-old Tatiana is running from her past and her star-touched powers. Her power to heal may be overshadowed by more destructive abilities. Fleeing the persecution of those like her, Tatiana seeks refuge in a small town she once visited. But this civil haven, in a world where society has broken down, is beginning to crumble. Will Tatiana flee or stay and fight for the new life she has built? Only by harnessing the very forces that haunt her can Tatiana save her friends and herself.

    Hummingbird

    Plagued by memories not her own, a young hummingbird struggles to decipher the visions and powers that set her apart from her fellow birds. But the road to awareness is fraught with danger that could doom her to repeat history. One step toward understanding. One stride toward survival. One leap toward flying free from the past.

    MARK OF THE GODDESS

    Sometimes a blessing can be a curse.

    Young Maya bears the mark of the moon goddess, a sign that would doom her to be sacrificed in her village where the death god is revered. Forced to dye her golden eyes dark, Maya lives in constant fear of discovery. To save her family and the village’s future, she must find the courage to stand up to the high priest before he can bring the death god into this world.

  • My Monday Balticon Schedule

    My Monday Balticon Schedule

    It’s the last day of the convention, but not the end of the fun!

    Mon 11:30 AM

    The Structured Pantser

               What if I’m neither a pantser nor a plotter, but something in-between? What if I want to focus my discovery writing without tying myself to an outline? What if I want more discovery writing without ruining a perfectly good outline? Like most things in writing, there is no one answer. Panelists will discuss ways to combine the two methods.

    A. L. Kaplan                                                Samantha Mills -CC 2025 Winner                                              Jen Brinn  mod                                                          Haley Gelfuso-CC 2026 Winner                    Cecilia Tan                                                             

    Balticon Link

  • My Sunday Balticon Schedule

    My Sunday Balticon Schedule

    Sun 10:00 AM

    Memories of Balticons Past                         

               Description No sh*t, there I was… This really happened at Balticon…. And nobody was arrested. Let’s listen to some fans and pros talk about past Balticons.

    A. L. Kaplan  mod                                      Tom Schaad                                                           Thomas The Red                                        Eva Whitley                                                      Brick Barrientos                                                                     

    Sun 4:00

    Autographs                                                                   

               Autograph session with Rigel Ailur, A. L. Kaplan, and Nate Whiting.

    Rigel Ailur                                                                                                                          A. L. Kaplan                                                                                                                  Nate Whiting

    Balticon Link

  • My Saturday Balticon Schedule

    My Saturday Balticon Schedule

    Sat 10:00 AM

    Writing Novels – the Long Haul

               Writing a novel can be a marathon. It can take years – whether from life changes or plot and character problems. Our panelists will discuss staying motivated during the process, and the new perspectives that arise over time.

    Alan Smale  mod                                                     Maeghan Jo Kimball            Patrick                                                                A. L. Kaplan                Sally Wiener Grotta                               

    Sat 1:00 PM

    Where Have All the Parents Gone?             

               Kids are always being thrown into life threatening situations in books, but in real life, their parents would never let this happen. Is that why so many parents in middle grade and young adult stories are either dead or oblivious? How can authors navigate the “parent problem”? What does portraying neglectful adults as normal or even beneficial teach young audiences? Do authors have the responsibility of addressing who should be watching these kids?

    Patrick Thomas                                      DM Mewha  mod                                                                     Wendra Colleen                        A. L. Kaplan                                              Rigel Ailur                                                                                

    Sat 4:00 PM 

    Author Readings

               Authors A.L. Kaplan, DM Mewha, and Mark Painter will read selections from their works.

    Balticon Link