Ted is an Oklahoma City-based architect, writer, gamer, and pithy observer of the human condition. As an architect, he's keenly aware of layout, design, and spatial relations, which also benefits him as a storyteller. With short stories and novels published, Ted fills his copious free time with woodworking, friends, family, and endeavoring to create the perfect cheesecake.
Resistance movements are a core element of many popular franchises. This panel explores why stories about defiance resonate across cultures and eras. Discussion focuses on hope, collective action, and moral courage in fiction.
What if the most outrageous claims of the “ancient aliens” crowd were only the beginning? This playful panel imagines extraterrestrial involvement in everything from Stonehenge to the Channel Tunnel. Participants invent absurd explanations for famous human achievements supposedly guided by alien technology. Come celebrate wild speculation and see just how far the joke can go.
What makes worlds like Middle-Earth and Atlantis feel alive? Great worldbuilding! This session will teach you how to craft immersive settings, from sprawling fantasy kingdoms to oceanic civilizations, and make them feel as real as our own.