Wesley Chu is a #1 New York Times bestselling author of sixteen published novels, including the Tao, Io, and Time Salvager series. He was the 2015 winner of the Astounding Award for Best New Writer. His debut, The Lives of Tao, won the American Library Association's Alex Award, and was a finalist for the Goodreads Choice Awards for Best Science Fiction. He is the coauthor of the Eldest Curses series with Cassandra Clare. Robert Kirkman tapped Chu to write The Walking Dead: Typhoon, the first Walking Dead novel set in Asia. Chu is an accomplished martial artist and a former member of the Screen Actors Guild. He has acted in film and television, and has worked as a model and stuntman, and recently returned from summiting Kilimanjaro. His latest series, The War Arts Saga, published by Del Rey Books, beginning with The Art of Prophecy, is an Asian epic fantasy inspired by wuxia. Chu currently resides in Los Angeles with his two boys, Hunter and River, and their very good doggo, Pickles.

I am a neurodiverse LGBTQ+ artist who is equally passionate about sci-fi, fantasy, and wildlife art. I use traditional media such as pencils, acrylics, watercolors, and oil paints. Myths and legends about the natural world inspire me, as does our increasingly detailed view of the Universe through science and technology. From this I can conclude that I love detail!!! But I also love mystery!!! My greatest joy is creating hazy, dreamlike, otherworldly scenes with just enough detail to fire the viewer's imagination and inspire them to fill in the story. I think of it as creating personal myths, and like all good myths, they grow and thrive with what the minds of new observers add to the tales.

For over twenty years I have been an award-winning cover artist and illustrator for publishers such as Baen Books, Llewellyn Worldwide, Hay House, 78 Tarot, and many tabletop RPG companies. Among the ENnie-award-winning and fan favorite games I have helped to illustrate are the Dresden Files RPG, Fate Core, Part-Time Gods, Mermaid Adventures, Hero System, Trail of Cthulhu, 13th Age, The Dracula Dossier, and Surviving Strangehollow. My imaginative realist work has been featured in ImagineFX Magazine, io9, tor.com, and several IBA anthologies, and I have won two Chesley awards. I have two art books, Finding My Familiar (wildlife drawings) and Earth and Water (ink paintings), and I am working on a book of acrylic space paintings called I Dream of Space. I'm a proud member of the Changeling Artist Collective and of ASFA, and I co-founded of the Birdwhisperer Project.

Apart from drawing and painting, I am never happier than when gaming with my spouse, or in the woods hunting for secret waterfalls and climbing on rocks!

Jessie is a non binary cosplay veteran of 27 years who has gone by Rufflebutt and AnimeAngel previously. Back in 2000, They attended their first convention, Demicon, and it changed their life forever. In their cosplay journey, they have been character models for, or made costumess for, companies like Amazon Gaming, FUNimation, Bandai, Aniplex, Ubisoft, Blizzard, Gungho and so many others. They've been featured in videos for Nerdist, Machinima and Soul Pancake. They were in a Windows Phone commercial promoting cosplay and they were a competitor on Syfy's Cosplay Melee.

Jessie now spends their time educating the younger generations and spreading positivity in the community. They are honored to be a guest at their first convention and cannot wait to meet everyone!

Parts Made in Japan-Assembly in the USA

A WORK OF SCIENCE FICTION/Fantasy/Etc.?

Long ago, no no not that far away. An Origin Story?

Tadao was manufactured with parts from Japan and Assembly in the U.S.A.. the confusing part was the Apple OS in a PC system.. or was that the other way around?

Not so typically: Father- Renaissance Scientist of the ages

               Mother- Professor of Japanese/Culture/Professional Translator.

And that all blew up when the family in Japan took pity and sent Japanese toys before they became worldwide wonders.

Fascinated by Giant robots, Science Ninja's super equipment fighting the aliens.

And growing up a bit of a TV head: Watching PBS, Dr. Who, Danny Kaye and John Wayne didn't help.   May have confused people more in schools when the southern accent would pop out.  Or British... followed by Scottish... (don't ask).

And theater was a downfall... or was it being a Radio DJ in Chicago that no one knew about?  “A great face for radio..”

Then California bound: Actor, Singer, dancer(sometimes) Stunts-various. Entertainer, MC, Impersonator, Props, sets, even a period of Director, Writer, Producer even a Comedian with weekly times at the Laugh Factory and the Comedy store back in the day.

With some of the strangest stories- ask sometime about:

How he was not Japanese enough for the movie Pearl Harbor. ONE of MANY… le sigh.

Some of the highlights in Hollyweird:

Mr.Shake-Hands Man – USA/2: For the British/American TV Show “BANZAI”. A game show of various segments.  Mr. Shake-Hands Man would shake hands with celebs on the Red Carpet and how long would he shake hands.  You had to guess.

Maybe even a Baby Septuplet on the Tonight Show.

A bewildered tourist in Inspector Gadget.

NYPD Translator in “HEROES” and yes oddly with the Speaking roles. Makes him BOTH a DC And Marvel Character and you can find his profile in the HEROES graphic novel.

And the least recognized. Was on CyberRadioTV.com.  The world's first 24hr. Internet “Radio” station.  Groundbreaking and innovation provided and IDEAS from Tadao. Which was kind of a base for all other internet shows to eventually things like YouTube and other online productions.

Alas Not much credit.

On the Fannish side was a Con-Chair for Loscon in LA.  Even relaxacons for LASFS.  MC, Toastmaster, Auctioneer. Host or even Booth babe (it's for Worldcon in Anaheim in 2026).

Working at Gallifrey One (yarp Dr.Who). and a “Guardian of the TARDIS”.  They were never clear Tho if it was the White or Black Guardian. Wait? Wrong show?? Um..

Or even working Labyrinth of Jarreth Masquerade (LOJ). Either, onstage with the vaudeville stylings of the Goblins. To Small Crafty service for the rest of the actors er I mean Elves, Sypher Royals, Mermaids, Elementals or even a Dragon or three.. or am I patching up the Knights? The Attendees??  Er never mind.

Mostly retired from Acting.

He has taken over his father's works.  As Dr. Hideo Tomomatsu and Prof. Yuko Tomomatsu had many scientific works since their passings.

So now very Science Adjacent.

Happily finds LosCon to be one of his Home Conventions and happy to have some chosen family time.

And Thanks everyone for their time, efforts, support for putting up with me or at least keeping science fiction and fantasy alive and well.. 😊