Meet the Guests of CoastCon 47!
FAN GUEST OF HONOR – Jessica Styons
Conrunner and lifelong fan, Jessica Styons, attended her first convention at seven years old – a VulCon in 1977. Her parents, Michael “Scotty” and Jessica Scott were founders of CoastCon and she was there for the inaugural event. She continued to volunteer and attend every year through college – and was an established regular on the dance floor.
Growing up reading, role-playing gaming, and attending con runner meetings led to her working with her friends to run an annual SF convention out of their high school, ScotCon, and later an SF convention at LSU, TowerCon. In addition to volunteering at various conventions (the most fun was working in the NolaCon II Green Room!), Jessica, along with some amazing friends, founded CONtraflow, three of which she chaired. For her work in southern fandom, she was presented with a Rebel Award in 2019. And whether it is nature or nurture, her daughter is now dipping her toe into con running with Conclave Anime later this year.
She has taken her organizational and con running skills with her to the workplace running libraries and is now leading one of the largest public library systems in Louisiana. This will all culminate in her earning her PhD in Organizational Leadership in 2025.
She feels honored and humbled to be 2025 FGOH for CoastCon and can’t wait to get on her dancing shoes!
COSPLAY GUEST – 13.KATZ
After attending a local con, 13.Katz dived into the cosplay scene in 2014. What started as modifying a few bought cosplays evolved into an enriching hobby of crafting bizarre cosplays, oftentimes from scratch. Her jack-of-all-trades experience spans from basic sewing and foam work to more unusual projects like creating a yarn wig helmet and shaping giant claws out of a PVC pipe. Her drive behind her cosplays has always been learning how to make things work and then sharing that knowledge through social media and panels. In addition to cosplay, 13.Katz can be found with her dice hoard at tabletop role-playing games, such as Monster of the Week and Dungeons & Dragons, as a player and game master with almost 5 years of experience. In the meantime, be sure to check out her socials on Instagram, YouTube, and Twitch.
Her photo is courtesy Honey and Heather Photos.
REGIONAL AUTHOR GUEST – ROB CERIO
Rob Cerio was born at an early age, and has since grown much more hair. As a comedy writer, he denies all rumors of making inappropriate jokes at funerals. He has published four novels, six short stories, and helped author a YouTube web series. He has also won two awards for his writing contributions to his local 48hr Film Festival. He now lives in Metairie, Louisiana with his lovely wife, two adorable step kids, and a small annoying dog named after a large Japanese monster.
REGIONAL AUTHOR GUEST – K. D. WOOD
K.D. Wood lives in north Mississippi with her family, a very spoiled White Waug, one old Goblin, and a princess. She creates love stories and smoking southern erotic romance, but not your mama’s happy ever after. A consumer of chocolate, but not spiders, and is completely composed of liquid awesome. When not in her office pounding the keys she can be found under a blanket, cup of coffee close by with her nose in a book. Her available titles are Unwilling, Unloved, Unboundless (paranormal romance series), and Boys of Fall (contemporary romance) Her catalog of work is available in eBook, print, and audiobook format. Follow her on Twitter at @KDWoodauthor, Instagram at @K.D.Woodauthor, like her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/writerK.D.Wood, get awkward with her on TicTok @kdwoodauthor, or email her at K.D.Woodauthor@gmail.com
REGIONAL AUTHOR GUEST – JULIE WETZEL
Originally from Ohio, Julie always dreamed of a job in science. Either shooting for the stars or delving into the mysteries of volcanoes. But, life never leads where you expect. In 2011, she started writing stories to entertain her sister, deployed with the US Navy. Julie currently lives in Mississippi with her husband and son. She’s a bit of a factotum that’s currently acting as a full-time author and part-time R/C mechanic.
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/JulieWetzelAuthor/
Twitter – https://twitter.com/JulieKWetzel
Website – http://www.juliewetzel.com/
REGIONAL AUTHOR GUEST – J.B. GARNER
Z-tier author/S-class editor, but generally awesome, J. B. Garner has written over a dozen novels across multiple genres and edited hundreds. Born near Baltimore, MD in 1976, she’s seen and done many things in my life, but her true passion has always been the written word. She writes fantasy, sci-fi, and pro-wrestling epics, among other things, and is always out to entertain and amaze!
REGIONAL AUTHOR GUEST – ERNEST RUSSELL
Ernest Russell has written for Pro Se Productions, Beyond the Threshold Studios, and the literary journal Violet Windows. His stories and poetry can be found in All That Weird Jazz, The Further Adventures of Ned Land, and When The Shadow Sees The Sun – all published by Pro Se Productions. Monster Mayhem: An Anthology of Monstrous Proportions from Beyond the Threshold Studios.
He was a content and copy editor for “Tales of The Interstellar Bartenders Guild”- winner of the 2019 Pulp Factory Award for Best New Pulp Anthology, and for “Nightveil: Crisis at the Crossroads of Infinity” winner of the 2020 Pulp Factory Award for Best New Pulp Novel.
Some of his favorite things (besides coffee) are science fiction, horror, steampunk, and fantasy books and movies. His writing splits among those genres. As often as possible, you can find him playing board games, tabletop, or an RPG.
You can find him at ernest.russell.com, Facebook, Twitter, and Amazon
REGIONAL AUTHOR GUEST – DEREK DYKES
Derek is a Mobile, AL native, and terminal Geek. He’s been writing for his friends and family for 25 years, killing characters and bad ideas as needed, and always bringing the need for thought to his writing. Read, think, reflect – and look out; that is the only guide we can offer when reading his work. His overactive imagination is a gift to us all. Pick up his books, and peek into his worlds; you’ll be glad you did.
Derek formally finished his degree at the age of forty. Over the years, he privately continued his studies in art, literature, archaeology, Celtic history, and a cornucopia of other subjects that interested him.
Derek moved home to Mobile, Alabama in early 2008 after living away for almost a decade. His journey home was a catalyst for the foundation of his first novel, MADNESS. In addition to writing, Derek enjoys photography, parenting and using any medium available to bring the creations of his mind to life. More of Derek’s work can be found by visiting www.derekdykes.com