Guests

Media Guest of Honor

Lindsay Wagner - http://lindsaywagner.com/

Lindsay Wagner makes little distinction between her life as an actress, advocate, mother or author. What unites these various parts is a commitment through her work and her personal life to exploring and advancing human potential.

Lindsay first came to prominence in the critically acclaimed role of Susan Fields in The Paper Chase, but received household recognition worldwide with her iconic portrayal of Jaime Sommers in the "The Bionic Woman"for which in 1977, Lindsay won the Emmy for "Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series".  Her talent, beauty and popularity enabled her to parlay that show into a career as the "queen" of made-for-TV movies and miniseries, starring in 30 of them.  Besides her Emmy award, she has been nominated for two Golden Globe Awards and a Cable Ace Award.

More recently, Wagner has given seminars and workshops for her self-help therapy, "Quiet the Mind and Open the Heart", which promotes spirituality and meditation.  In 2010, Lindsay started appearing in the reoccurring role of Dr. Vanessa Calder in Warehouse 13 (2010-2011) and Alphas (2011) on the SYFY channel.

Patricia Tallman

When she portrayed "Lyta Alexander" in the Hugo Award-winning sci-if series "Babylon 5" (1994), Patricia Tallman was the most powerful telepath in the universe. Seems fitting, considering that the actress knew she was going to be in show business at the early age of two. It was then that she first appeared with her father, Jerry, on his Midwest radio show, soloing on "Bicycle Built for Two."

Pat located to Los Angeles , where she worked on Creepshow 2 (1987). The film she is perhaps best known for followed: George Romero and Tom Savini's remake of the 1968 cult classic, Night of the Living Dead (1990). The move to L.A. was a smart one, Pat discovered, as she was soon cast as undercover cop "Christy Russell" on NBC's "Generations" (1993), and as an evil, sexy swashbuckler in the Ring of the Musketeers (1992) (TV). Other films include Sweet Justice (1992), Benefit of the Doubt (1993), Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997) and Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999). Television shows include "Star Trek: The Next Generation" (1987), Star Runner (1990) (TV) (A USA Network pilot), "Dark Skies" (1996), "Babylon 5" (1994) and "The Universe and Harry Morgann" (an independent pilot).

Author Guest of Honor

Timothy Zahn - http://www.facebook.com/TimothyZahn

Timothy Zahn was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1951. He attended Michigan State University, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in physics in 1973. He then moved to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and achieved an M.S. degree in physics in 1975.  In 1975, Timothy begun writing science fiction as a hobby.  Since then, Timothy has written more than thirty SF novels, including Night Train to Rigel, The Third Lynx, Odd Girl Out, the Dragonback series and Conquerors' Trilogy.  His novella Cascade Point won the 1984 Hugo award.

He is the author of eight Star Wars Expanded Universe novels, including six novels featuring Grand Admiral Thrawn: the Thrawn Trilogy, Hand of Thrawn duology, and Outbound Flight. The Thrawn trilogy marked a revival in the fortunes of the Star Wars franchise, bringing it widespread attention for the first time in years; all three Thrawn-trilogy novels made the New York Times best-seller lists, and set the stage and tone for most of the franchise's Expanded-Universe content.

Gaming Guest of Honor

Jon Leitheusser - http://www.leitheusser.com

Jon is a line developer and editor for Mutants & Masterminds and DC Adventures  for Green Ronin Publishing.  He also designed the game mechanics for Smith & Tinker’s Nanovor electronic trading game and created the new game mechanics and cards for the Matter Group’s game, Xeko.   From 2009-2010, Jon designed and developed an in-game CCG for Champions Online from Cryptic Studios.

Steve Kenson - http://www.stevekenson.com

Steve works for Green Ronin Publishing, a game publisher based in Seattle. He designed the Mutants & Masterminds Superhero RPG and True20 Adventure Roleplaying, both based on the popular d20 System rules. He also does freelance RPG design work and writing, including stuff for Pathfinder and the ICONS Superpowered Roleplaying game for Adamant Entertainment.  Steve freelanced full-time in the RPG industry for a number of years.  His works include The Shaman’s Handbook (Changeling: The Dreaming), DC Adventures Hero’s Handbook, Earthdawn Survival Guide, GURPS Spirits, Avengers: Masters of Evil, and Magic in the Shadows(Shadowrun). 

Steve has nine published novels: seven for the Shadowrun series, and one each for the Crimson Skies and MechWarrior series, all based on properties by FASA Corporation.  He also helps run Copper Cauldron Publishing, an imprint for neo-pagan and New Age books.

 
Fan Guest of Honor

Ken Grimes

Ken Grimes, shown here with one of his many admirers, has been the CoastCon photographer for 15 years and the convention archivist for almost as long. He attended CoastCon 1 in 1978 while a student at USM in Hattiesburg. Completing his Ph.D degree in 1982, he returned to his hometown of Nashville, Tennessee but has continued to drive to Biloxi for CoastCon every year. He is currently employed as a scientist at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.  He regularly attends DragonCon in Atlanta and has travelled to numerous World Science Fiction Conventions across the U.S. and Canada, but feels that CoastCon is the best 3 days of the year !!

Regional Guests

Kurt Amacker - www.facebook.com/kurtamackercomics

Kurt Amacker rose, fully formed, out of the nether realms of New Orleans in 1980.  The place hasn't been quite right since.  He graduated from Loyola University in 2002 and had a brief stint with the Marine Corps that ended honorably in 2004.  During that time, he began work on his first comic miniseries—a bit of supernatural-noir-pulp called Dead Souls (art by Lou Manna and Heather Stanley) that took the underground comics scene by storm.  Watchmen writer Alan Moore called it "a fascinating debut that delivers much and promises a great deal more." Amacker completed his second miniseries, Immortal: 60 (art by J.C. Grande), last year—an urban fantasy adventure about the Angel of Death's private war with a vengeful mother goddess and her minions.  His newest graphic novel, Tad Caldwell and the Monster Kid (art by Karl Slominski), was released in January. The trade paperback collection of Dead Souls will be released in 2012, along with a thus-far-untitled vampire novel—his first published prose work.  Amacker lives in New Orleans with his wife, Sabrina, and their two cats, Vlad and Erzsebet.  You can read more about Amacker's work at www.seraphemera.org and www.facebook.com/kurtamackercomics.

Bayou Paranormal - http://www.bayouparanormal.net/

Bayou Paranormal is a group dedicated to assisting individuals and families who have any interest in exploring and/or investigating "paranormal activity." Bayou Paranormals investigations are conducted with the utmost formality and highest respect for privacy and confidentiality. Our members have come together to form this non-profit organization through insight from personal experience and/or general fascination with unexplainable events, in which we all share the dedication and  responsibility required to be productive in this particular field.

Damon Bowie - http://elnino22.deviantart.com/

Born and raised in the cultural melting pot that is the city of New Olreans, Bowie has been a professional artist since the age of 16.  He has worked in the Design and Illustration field in New Orleans for the largest fabricator to the Entertainment Industry in the Gulf South.  As Art Director and Chief of Design he has helped create parades, sculpture, and elaborate settings for commercial clients and private organizations for over 13 years. Throughout that time he has made a supplemental living with efforts including comic book projects as well as many Art Prints he made available for public sale.  Bowie has been busy as a Conceptual artist, as well doing tons of personal Commissions for clients all over the world. The Iconic book is a lifelong ambition finally realized for Bowie.  There are plans for future Volumes of the seminal book with more exciting art to come.

Rob Cerio -

Rob Cerio was born at an early age, and has since grown much more hair. He may not be nearly as interesting as that Dos Equis guy, but Rob has worked as a paranormal researcher, piloted a riverboat on the Mississippi, stood in 34 out of 50 states, and touched the clouds. He has been writing since the age of nine, but has only recently broken through to the ranks of "professional writer". His first novel, "Dimensional Games" was a Semifinalist for the 2011 Amazon breakthrough novel award, with his writing style being compared favorably to the likes of Douglas Adams and Robert Asprin. In addition, one of his short screenplays, "Mailman of Steel" is currently in pre-production. Rob currently lives in Kenner, Louisiana with his lovely wife Cheri, two adorable stepkids, and one annoying dog named after a giant Japanese monster.

 Jessica Cox - http://requiemforlost.com/index.html

Jessica has three years experience of fantasy illustration and concept art.  She has done work for Rio Grande Games as well as private commissioners and is always looking for new and exciting projects to be apart of.  Jessica has a strong affinity towards fantasy and period illustrations as well as mythological creatures and people.  And is currently doing work for Savage Mojo, Ltd.

Jessie W Craig - http://charismakillsstudios.deviantart.com/

"I've always dabbled in art and reading comics. Since I'm not getting any younger, I decided it was time to put up or shut up. I consider myself more of a cartoonist. A few of my notable influences are Will Eisner, R. Crumb, Elzie Crisler Segar (Popeye the Sailor creator), James Dean Smith (creator of my all time favorite comic, Boris the Bear) and the many artist and writers that worked on Looney Toons."  Jessie is the creator of the web comic "Sweet Dreams are Made of Worms".

Dustin Kahlil Band - http://www.reverbnation.com/dustinkahlil

The Dustin Kahlil Band is a Steampunk Themed Indie Rock outfit from Mississippi. DKB is comprised of vocalist, guitarist & keyboardist, Dustin Kahlil, bassist Jason Milliken, drummer John Quave and guitarist Steve Mills. Kahlil's writing and vocal approach has been compared to such artists as Joy Division, Jeff Buckley, and The Killers; and the band's stage show is intellectual and unforgettable.

Allan Gilbreath - http://www.kerlakpublishing.com/allangilbreath.html

Allan Gilbreath denies that he was raised by wolves, but still enjoys quiet moonlit evenings. He is an accomplished skeptic, cook, gardener, computer geek, martial artist, and avid student of arcane knowledge. Allan is also a nationally recognized and award-winning author, publisher, speaker, and instructor. He has appeared on television, stage, radio, web/podcast, and tours the country in live appearances. He enjoys serving on convention panels and can cover a wide range of topics from the serious to the outrageous. In his adult vampire novels, Galen and Dark Chances, he links sensual fantasy with danger and predation to excellent effect. His exceptional use of plot tension between the various characters sets a wonderful stage for the little details that bring it all to life. Allan's Jack Lago supernatural mysteries are known for their attention to detail and suspense. His short stories have appeared in numerous anthologies and his collection, Allan Gilbreath: A Short Story Collection.

Kimberly Richardson - http://www.kerlakpublishing.com/kimrichardson.html

After being found as an infant crawling among old and dusty books in an abandoned library, Kimberly Richardson grew up to be an eccentric woman with a taste for listening to dark cabaret music while drinking tea, reading books in every genre, and writing stories that cause people to make the strangest faces. Her first book, the award-winning Tales From a Goth Librarian, was published through Kerlak Publishing in March 2009. Her first time as editor is the wildly popular steampunk anthology, Dreams of Steam. In her precious, but little spare time, she enjoys all things Steampunk, Gothic, eccentric and eclectic, and anything that is coloured purple, blue, or green. Her family, albeit normal, loves her as much as she loves them. She currently resides in Memphis, Tennessee with two cats and several hundred books.

Suzaku 7 - www.facebook.com/pages/The-Suzaku-7/165115066900372

Consisting of a compliment of some of the most talented musicians in the New Orleans area, The Suzaku 7 was formed in 2004 by founding members Dreux Blalock and Elricka Fletcher. After having played at various venues, the disaster that was Hurricane Katrina forced the seven celestial warriors to part ways. After seeing the devestation that was caused by the Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami of March 11, 2011, and remembering the aid brought to the Gulf Coast after Katrina by Japan, Blalock decided to reform what he could of The Suzaku 7 in hopes of raising money through their shows to donate to the people of Japan. 

With the rivetting vocals of Megan Geeck and Anna Mannino, the screeching guitars of Thomas DeVille (Alias Orion), complimenting keyboards and trumpets by Billy Reike and Farrar Hudkins (Consortium of Genius), a rythmn section comprising of Jonathan Ruh on Drums and Dreux Blalock (Antarctica vs the World) on Bass, The Suzaku 7 bring forward a show that is unprecedented in today's market: A band of true heroes, who like their mythical namesake, have come together to help save a nation in need.

Lou Zocchi - www.gamescience.com/

Colonel Louis Zocchi has been involved with Adventure games since 1959. He play tested them for the Avalon Hill Company, and later designed its Luftwaffe game, which remained on the top sellers list for the next 20 years. In 1981 Zocchi's Basic and Advanced Fighter Combat game received an Origins Award for designing the best air to air combat rules of all time. His Star Fleet Battle Manual won the British Games Day Award and was nominated for an Origins Award. Zocchi designed the 100 sided die and in 2009, he was given another Origins for co-designing the D-Total die which can generate the numbers for 18 different die shapes.

In 1987 Zocchi was inducted into the Adventure Games Hall of Fame and has lectured every year at Origins and Gencon since 1990. More than 120,000 gamers have gone to YouTube and typed in louzocchi to see both parts of his 20 minute explanation of why all dice are not created equal. You'll discover what the other dice makers want to keep secret.