Meet the Authors—YA and Middle Grade
Teen; Young Adult Fiction; Youth
Room 347-348, Thu. 1:30–2:30 p.m.
Come meet the writers who are crafting the stories for you! A selection of YA and middle grade authors are available to answer questions and talk about stories.
Marta Murvosh (M), A. L. Kaplan, CJ Hosack, Kate Ristau, L.J. Melvin, Shana Targosz
Prop Up That Costume with a Prop
Costume
Room 335-336, Wed. 10:30–11:30 a.m.
Props can often make or break a costume. Learn what works and how to make those little special items, hopefully without breaking the bank.
Selena A. Naumoff (M), A. L. Kaplan, Pierre E. Pettinger, Jr.
Readings
Room 428, Wed. noon–12:30 p.m.
A. L. Kaplan
Building Yesterday’s Future–For Everyone
August 13–17, 2025
Here is my Schedule:
Prop Up That Costume with a Prop
Room 335-336, Wed. 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Props can often make or break a costume. Learn what works and how to make those little special items, hopefully without breaking the bank.
Selena A. Naumoff (M), A. L. Kaplan, Pierre E. Pettinger, Jr.
Room 428, Wed. noon–12:30 p.m.
A. L. Kaplan
Meet the Authors—YA and Middle Grade
Room 347-348, Thu. 1:30–2:30 p.m.
Come meet the writers who are crafting the stories for you! A selection of YA and middle grade authors are available to answer questions and talk about stories.
Marta Murvosh (M), A. L. Kaplan, CJ Hosack, Kate Ristau, L.J. Melvin, Shana Targosz
Teen
Room 347-348, Sat. 3–4 p.m.
Decide who will win each contest from our bracket of various characters and determine who will take home the crown!
A. L. Kaplan (M)
Animal Companions in Middle Grade/YA
Room 320, Sun. 4:30–5:30 p.m.
It’s dangerous to go alone! The loyal animal (or monster) companion is a common feature of kids’ stories. These companions do more than tag along—they reveal character, deepen world-building, offer emotional support (or challenge), and sometimes even steal the show. Let’s discuss our favorites and find out what makes these furry (or scaly) friends so great.
Deva Fagan (M), A. L. Kaplan, Jenna Lee-Yun, Kathryn Sullivan, Maya Prasad
Here are some fun Sunday activities at Balticon 59
Sun 1:00 PM, May 25, What’s in a Name? (Kent)
Andrew McDowell (moderator), Bjorn E. Hasseler, Martin Wilsey, A. L. Kaplan, Jo Miles
Sun 2:30 PM, May 25, Short Fire Readings: (St. George)
J. D. Blackrose, Carolyn Ives Gilman, Somto Ihezue, A. L. Kaplan, Mary G. Thompson
Sun 5:30 PM, May 25, The Prop Shop: Making Cosplay Props and Weapons (James)
Tyaz Cosplay, A. L. Kaplan, Aaron Fors, Hanna Fors
Sun 8:30 PM, May 25, Eye of Argon Reading (Mount Washington)
Ian Randal Strock, Jean Marie Ward, A. L. Kaplan, Mary G. Thompson
Looking for something fun to do this Saturday?
Come to the ‘Everybody Eats’ panel at Balticon.
Sat 11:30 AM, May 24, Everybody Eats (Pride of Baltimore II)
Mark L. Van Name (moderator), Ruthanna Emrys, Martin Wilsey, A. L. Kaplan, Jo Miles
Great news! Star Touched is back in print.
You can now get it as an e-book, audio book, and in print!
Check with favorite book store and buy a copy.
Here are links to Amazon and Barnes & Noble
It’s been out of print since my previous publisher went out of business last year. The road to re-publishing entailed extra editing and reformatting. I love the way it looks.
It’s hard to be who you are meant to be.
Especially when your powers can get you killed.
Eighteen-year-old Tatiana is running from her past and her star-touched powers eight years after a meteor devastates earth’s population.
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.
“A unique and finely crafted novel, the characters touched my heart as I was drawn into their plight and compelled to finish!” — New York Times bestselling author Maria V. Snyder
“Star Touched is fast-paced with well-defined characters and dialog that snaps. The ravaged, post-technological American society is depicted with sure strokes. The story draws one in and keeps one reading. And that’s exactly what one wants from a book.” — A. L. Sirois, author of THE BOHEMIAN MAGICIAN
“A great YA dystopian novel exploring the challenges of being different, acceptance, maturity, and friendship.” — Steven Southard
The Seastead Chronicles is a nice collection of stories all connected by underwater cultures and communities. Steven Southard has created a rich undersea culture with varying beliefs and traditions. Even the language and music are water centric.
The stories range from mysterious islands that rise and sink, to smugglers in ships that mimic whales. There are war mongering dictators and religious fanatics along with goodhearted people and nods to racism and overcoming hate. It just goes to show that no matter where it lives, humanity suffers the same faults and weaknesses along with the unending resilience to do more than simply survive. To grow, learn, and defeat obstacles.
Some of my favorite stories were Eyes of Blue, which was about a whale poacher, and Gazelle’s Last Run, an exciting story concerning a smuggler. I love the way that the first story, Arrow of Life, comes full circle with the last story, The Whole Fish.
The Seastead Chronicles
Steven R. Southard
Pole to Pole Publishing
This year’s Balticon is going to be great. These are the panels I’ll be on.
Sat 11:30 AM, May 24, Everybody Eats (Pride of Baltimore II)
Sun 1:00 PM, May 25, What’s in a Name? (Kent)
Sun 2:30 PM, May 25, Short Fire Readings: Blackrose, Gilman, Ihezue, Kaplan, Thompson (St. George)
Sun 5:30 PM, May 25, The Prop Shop: Making Cosplay Props and Weapons (James)
Sun 8:30 PM, May 25, Eye of Argon Reading (Mount Washington)
May 23-26-2025
Renaissance Harborplace Hotel
202 East Pratt Street
Baltimore, MD 21202
It’s official. I will be a program participant at Balticon 59
Science Fiction and Fantasy Convention
4 fun filled days of amazing programing
May 23 – 26, 2025
Renaissance Harborplace Hotel
202 East Pratt Street
Baltimore, MD 21202
The Atholton High School PTA Craft Fair is the perfect place to finish your holiday shopping.
Approximately 50 vendors.
Sunday, December 8, 2024
10 AM – 3 PM
6520 Freetown Rd, Columbia, MD 21044
I’ll be there with books, jewelry, and more!
This will also be the school’s kick off for a 60 day shoe drive campaign to help others in Third World Countries. Bring some clean- still usable shoes and grab some wonderful gifts for yourself or others!
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.
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.
A Hidden Past – A Deadly Secret
Gifted with the ability to wolf-talk, Kara has lived with the wolves since she lost her memories eight years ago. Now at sixteen, snippets of her past send her searching for answers.
But the warm welcome she receives in the human village hides more danger than life with the pack.
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.