Rook Riley
Veteran and former government contractor, Rook Riley splits their time between teaching Reading to middle schoolers in the DFW area and helping run the family farm. They live with anxiety and PTSD by taking medication, writing, and hitting a heavy bag. Collecting tattoos may have been substituted for self-care at one point.
You can find their work in A Lone Star in the Sky, Queens & Courtesans, Rebels and & Revenants, Witches & Warriors, and the Horror Writers Association Poetry Showcases IX and X.
4:00 PM | Location: Boomer B
Tales from the Stacks: Why We Love Libraries!
Talk about your love for the library—early experiences, memorable librarians, the off-limits section, checking out too many books to carry … and the rumors of a secret black-magic section. Plus, there's WAY more than books at the library these days. Since libraries are essential to democracy, how can we better evangelize them?
Moderator: Laura J. Underwood
Panelists: Brook Bullock, Coral Hudson, MLIS - Librarian, Norman Public Library Central, Kimber E Chessmore, Laura J. Underwood, Martha Steele, Rook Riley
Tracks: Writing & Publishing, Pop Culture & Entertainment, Health & Wellness
5:00 PM | Location: Embassy Hotel: JQH Boardroom presented by Morningstar Storage
Author Readings
Authors read selections from their various works.
Moderator: Rook Riley
Panelists: Dennis Spielman, Rook Riley, Steven E. Wedel
Tracks: Writing & Publishing
7:00 PM | Location: Embassy Hotel: Interior Courtyard - Atrium
Literary Beers
Join panelists in the hotel lounge for lively conversation. BYO beverages, please.
Moderator:
Panelists: Chaotic Neutral Cosplay, Crazy Red Artist, Dara Fogel, PhD, Elizabeth Leggett, J.H. Fleming, Julie Barrett, Kent Cordray, Kimber E Chessmore, La Blanke, Mel White, Phillip Drayer Duncan, Rook Riley, Scott Zrubek, Shai Fenwick, Sherri Dean, Sue Sinor, Tall Chick Cosplay, William Ledbetter
Tracks: Meetup, General Interest, Writing & Publishing, Art
1:00 PM | Location: Boomer B
Imaginary Creatures: Essential to Fantasy?
Why are cryptids and creatures so prominent in SF? Can you call it fantasy if it doesn't have fantastic creatures? How do creatives bring these to life in ways that keep us imagining what else there could be?
Moderator: vickey malone kennedy
Panelists: A. Lee Martinez, B. J. Thrower, Linda Donahue, Rachael Mayo, Rook Riley, vickey malone kennedy
Tracks: Fantasy, Supernatural & Paranormal, Pop Culture & Entertainment, Art, Writing & Publishing, Film & TV, Gaming
2:00 PM | Location: University C
Poetry & Acoustic Music Open Mic
Two poems or songs, or six minutes of freestyle, whichever comes first. Share your poetry and music and listen to fellow creatives in this open-mic session.
Moderator: Daniel Erickson
Panelists: Daniel Erickson, David Carrico, Mark Alfred, Melinda LaFevers, Rook Riley
Tracks: Meetup, Performing Arts, Writing & Publishing, Music
5:00 PM | Location: Boomer A
Build a SyFy™ Saturday Night
Soonercon’s classic game-show panel. Panelists spin the wheel for wacky plotline components and actor combinations, and create an original Saturday Night SyFy™ feature!
Moderator: Craig Wolf
Panelists: Allison Stein, Craig Wolf, James Hollaman, Julia S. Mandala, Linda Donahue, Rook Riley, Steven E. Wedel
Tracks: Art, Pop Culture & Entertainment, Gaming, Film & TV, Writing & Publishing
Noon | Location: Sooner A
The Antidote to Toxic Fandom
Toxic fandom hasn't gone away. In fact, it seems to be getting worse, even seeing death threats if fans aren't fed what they want, when they want, the way they want. What can be done about this problem, and what is your personal role in the solution?
Moderator: Aaron Bossig
Panelists: Aaron Bossig, Chaotic Neutral Cosplay, John Eads/Jim Shorts, Mark Finn, Rook Riley
Tracks: Pop Culture & Entertainment, Culture & World Affairs, Internet Life