New York Times bestselling author and ex-archaeologist Gail Carriger/G.L. Carriger writes to cope with being raised in obscurity by an expatriate Brit and an incurable curmudgeon. She escaped small town life and inadvertently acquired several degrees in higher learning, a fondness for cephalopods, and a chronic tea habit. She then traveled the historic cities of Europe, subsisting entirely on biscuits secreted in her handbag.

Miss Gail’s novels have been published in dozens of languages and have made the New York Times, USA Today, and Locus Bestseller lists multiple times. Her NYT listings include Mass Market, Hardcover, eBook, Combined Print & eBook, Young Adult, Children’s Series, and #1 in Manga. She has received the Prix Julia Verlanger, the Elbakin Award, the Steampunk Chronicle’s Reader’s Choice Award, and a Starburner Award. He books have received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly, Booklist, Kirkus, and Romantic Times.

Her debut novel, Soulless, won the ALA’s Alex Award and was nominated for a Compton Crook and Locus Award, and the Prix des Imaginales. It made Audible.com’s best list, and was a Publishers Weekly Best Book, IndieBound Notable, Locus Recommended Read, and a Finalist for the 2009 PEARL Award. Gail is still trying to recover from the shock.

Gail’s wildly popular steampunk Parasolverse contains multiple series. The Parasol Protectorate features a proper Victorian spinster who has no soul. It has been turned into a graphic novel and optioned for TV. Her YA Finishing School series follows a young lady secretly recruited to an all-girls seminary for spies. Her Delightfully Deadly novellas follow these young ladies grown up. In the Custard Protocol a crack (or possibly cracked) dirigible crew get into trouble around the Empire on behalf of queen, country, and tea. The Supernatural Society novellas follow popular LBGTQ side characters from her Parasolverse as they strike out on their own. And the Claw & Courtship novellas feature werewolves caught up in Georgette Heyer style shenanigans.

As G.L. Carriger, Gail writes the San Andreas Shifter books depicting a whimsical San Francisco full of sexy gay werewolves and smart-mouthed mages. She also has a full cast audio production of her YA sci-fi Crrudrat.

You can find Gail through her agent, Kristin Nelson of Nelson Literary Agency or via her website gailcarriger.com. She has a ridiculously silly newsletter, The Monthly Chirrup and a fabulous podcast about travel, 20 Minute Delay.

Fun extra: Gail’s bio as if written by Mangnall in the 1830s.

“Carriger, a comic writer from the Colonies, born in squalor, 197?; died, ?. Famous for her outrageous characters and questionable inclination to dandify. The celebrated Chubbiest of Foqoures was her cat, and, upon said cat’s decease, Carriger engaged the affections of Lilliput la Pumpkinpucci. Carriger’s works are numerous. She had a peculiar mind, in a top heavy body.”

~ Mangnall’s Questions (the update), 1830 ~ 2015

JOHN PICACIO is a two-time Hugo Award-winning illustrator of science fiction, fantasy, and horror. His artwork is noted for its diversity and range, often combining traditional drawing and painting with digital finishes, as well as exploring methods such as hand-made assemblages. His works have illustrated the covers of books by Michael Moorcock, Harlan Ellison, Robert Silverberg, L.E. Modesitt, Jr., Dan Simmons, Joe R. Lansdale, Jeffrey Ford, Frederik Pohl, James Tiptree, Jr., Mark Chadbourn, and many more. He has produced cover artwork for franchises such as STAR TREK and the X-MEN.

His accolades include the World Fantasy Award, the Locus Award, five Chesley Awards, and two International Horror Guild Awards, all in the Artist category. He has been nominated nine consecutive years for the Hugo Award in the Best Professional Artist category (2005-2013), as well as a nomination for Best Related Book in 2007 (for COVER STORY: THE ART OF JOHN PICACIO). He won the Hugo for Best Professional Artist in 2012 and 2013. His illustrations have often been featured in the pages of SPECTRUM: THE BEST IN CONTEMPORARY FANTASTIC ART.

Clients include Ballantine/Del Rey, Bantam, HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster, Pocket Books, Tor Books, Pyr, Golden Gryphon Press, Subterranean Press, Roc Books, and many more. Recent works include covers and interiors for new Del Rey editions of Michael Moorcock’s legendary fantasy icon ELRIC as well as the 2012 calendar for George R. R. Martin’s A SONG OF ICE AND FIRE.

Becky Kinnamon and David Winterton missed the first DemiCon because they were busy getting married and going on their honeymoon. Although not registered, they visited some friends who were attending DemiCon II, crashing some room parties. Other than a couple of years missed for family obligations, they have attended every DemiCon since. They even renewed their vows at DemiCon X. Becky and David have one son, Dain Winterton, who likes to say that he has attended DemiCon since he was negative two months old.

Becky has been a notable presence at DemiCon (and ICON). She enjoys costuming and has been a frequent participant in Masquerade and Hall costume contests. Humor is the foundation of much of her costuming with her costume ideas often revolving around a play on words or mashup of genres. In addition, Becky has been a judge for DemiCon and ICON Masquerade contests. For a few years, she partnered with Denise Gehling to make and sell fannish fashions in the dealer’s room. Combining her love for Tae Kwon Do (kicky-poundy) with fandom, Becky has participated in panels on martial arts. Becky is also the one behind Zippy’s Karma-Go-Round. (if you don’t know, ask.)

Most of all, Becky enjoys the people. If she doesn’t know you, she’d like to meet you. And it is likely Becky will remember your name when she sees you next year. She loves to talk and she loves to laugh. You can often find her in a common area engaged in a friendly game of Scrabble

IRL, Becky works for the State of Iowa Judicial System on projects related to domestic violence, victim restitution, and other issues. Becky also works doing technical writing for a programmer, translating geek into human service worker language. When not working, Becky helps teach and coach Tae Kwon Do at her local Y

David is Becky’s plus one. He is Griffy to Becky’s Zippy. Let’s be honest, no one would pick him as Fan GOH if he were not attached to Becky. David is the tallish, quiet one lurking around Becky’s center of gravity while she enchants the people around her. David has served as a model, dressing dummy, and general technical assistant for some of Becky’s costuming ventures. His proudest geek moment was being part of getting Dain to put down the video controller and play Dungeons & Dragons

David worked in Human Services for three decades, including working as a mental health counselor, as a substance abuse counselor, and for an Employee Assistance Program. David is currently on a break from the counseling profession from which he may never return.

We welcome Susan Leabhart back as our Toastmaster. This lovely lady hails from DAGOBAH, Davenport Area Gathering of Books and Humanoids.  This Science Fiction and Fantasy book discussion group has been meeting at the Davenport Public Library for more than 25 years.  Susan leads this group and is known as Empress of DAGOBAH.

Susan is no stranger to DemiCon. This will be her third time serving as the DemiCon Toastmaster. She became the first woman to be a DemiCon Toastmaster at DemiCon 25.  She has attended all of the past DemiCons except the first one, when the need to look after very small children took priority (and those children grew up enjoying DemiCon). Susan is known for her costuming, steampunk, bellydancing, hand-made journals, as well as hosting, with all her DAGOBAH “minions,” the famous “Win Lose or Draw” panel on Sunday at DemiCon.  (That panel has been around since DemiCon 3.)  Just remember, “The Box is Cruel!”