Mission Viejo Library Virtual Comic Fest

The Mission Viejo Library's popular Comic Fest returns this spring in a new virtual format. The excitement takes place via Zoom April 19-25.

Folks can tune in each weeknight from 6:30 to 7:30 pm to enjoy panels featuring fun-filled discussions with and demonstrations by amazing authors, creators and illustrators. Panels will also take place that weekend.

This free event is open to people of all ages and will include great giveaways throughout the week. So, stay tuned to the library's website or Facebook for the latest news and information about the presenters!

To receive the Zoom codes for our nightly Comic Fest presentations, email libraryprograms@cityofmissionviejo.org.

Panel Presentations Schedule:

Monday, April 19
6:30 - 7:30 - What Should I Read Next? Comic-Fest Edition

Penguin Random House reps will discuss the best upcoming books covering a mix of pop culture, sci-fi, YA, graphic novels and more! You'll definitely want to add these titles to your reading list so don't miss out.

Tuesday, April 20
6:30 - 7:30 - How to craft (and submit to) an Anthology

Join USA Today bestselling author and Cthulhu is Hard to Spell editor Russell Nohelty, Elsewhere editor Laurie Foster, Noir is the New Black editor Fabrice Sapolsky, and Red Stylo Presents editor Enrica Jang as they show you how to put together a successful anthology...and how to submit to one, too. Learn the tricks of the trade from editors who have raised over $200,000 through anthologies on Kickstarter and beyond.

Wednesday, April 21
6:30 - 7:30 - Aprilynne Pike - Magic Rules!!

It's easy to think that magic is as simple as "Wave a wand; solve your problem!" but a good magic system has rules. Come learn how to make your magic system more compelling and how to set rules and boundaries that will actually make your magic better. Write sci-fi? There's a section about Tech as Magic too. Q&A to follow.

Thursday, April 22
6:30 - 7:30 - Kim Dwinell - Make it believable! Authenticity in comics by incorporating local research.

Southern California plays a HUGE role as a character in my Surfside Girls graphic novel series- even though Surfside is a fictional town. Go behind the scenes to see what local landmarks and historical stories make my supernatural mysteries more authentic. Digging into local history can be really inspirational!

Friday, April 23
6:30 - 7:30 - Digitizing D&D with Eamon Sheehy - Using Free Online Tools to Safely Play while Social Distancing!

Trying to run a group and maintain a safe social distance or keep friends who have moved out of town in the campaign? Come join me in learning to use FREE tools to convert any Pen & Paper campaign online so you can keep playing! We'll cover free tools, how to get setup, how they are used, and what's the easiest way to get the digital dice rolling!

Saturday, April 24
6:30 - 7:30 - Brian Kesinger - Interactive storytelling through social media

Join filmmaker/author Brian Kesinger as he walks through his process of expanding his memorable characters off the page and into the real world.

Sunday, April 25
4:00 - 5:00 - Writing for Comics with Nicole Andelfinger, Jackie Ball and Marv Wolfman

Have you ever wondered where the ideas in your favorite comic books come from? Three comic pros will talk how great it is to write comics. In this panel, Nicole Andelfinger (Lumberjanes, Jim Henson's The Dark Crystal, Adventure Time), Jackie Ball (Welcome to Wanderland, Goldie Vance), and Marv Wolfman (Teen Titans, Crisis on Infinite Earths, Tomb of Dracula) will share their insights on the whys and wherefores of creating comics.

6:30 - 7:30 - Gretchen McNeil and Zoraida Cordova - Women writing genre fiction

Meet two fantastic and fearless female authors of fantasy, science fiction, and suspense -- genres that have long been dominated by male voices. Acclaimed authors Zoraida Cordova (Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge: A Crash of Fate, Brooklyn Brujas) and Gretchen McNeil (Get Even, #MurderTrending) will discuss their writing journeys and what they love about crafting genre fiction.

Special Guests:

	Nicole Andelfinger - Was crafting stories as far back as when coloring in the squiggles on your composition book was considered cool. Since then, she's only continued to dwell in the realms of magic, monsters, and myth. She writes for a variety of comic books aimed at kids and teens, including Lumberjanes, Jim Henson's The Dark Crystal, and Adventure Time.
	Jackie Ball - Writer and a creative director. Creator of BOOM! Studios' mini-series Welcome to Wanderland, and currently working on BOOM! Studios' GLAAD Award nominated, all-ages teen-detective series Goldie Vance. jackieball.world
	Zoraida CÃ³rdova - is the acclaimed author of more than a dozen novels and short stories, including the Brooklyn Brujas series, Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge: A Crash of Fate, and The Inheritance of OrquÃdea Divina. In addition to writing novels, she serves on the Board of We Need Diverse Books, and is the co-editor of the bestselling anthology Vampires Never Get Old, as well as the co-host of the writing podcast, Deadline City. She writes romance novels as Zoey Castile. Zoraida was born in Guayaquil, Ecuador, and calls New York City home. When she's not working, she's roaming the world in search of magical stories. zoraidacordova.com
	Kim Dwinell - Likes stories more than the beach. Almost. Maybe it's a tie. She first had a career as a beach lifeguard, and then a career in animation, and now combines her two loves in her first graphic novel series, Surfside Girls. She also teaches Animation at CSU Long Beach. When she's not in the classroom or at her desk, she might be running a 10K or out on the ocean in her boat or on her board. kimdwinell.com
	Laurie Foster - Is a Bram Stoker Award-nominated comic book inker and editor. She has provided inks for Valiant, Kymera Press, Antarctic Press, Sheath Comics, Freestyle Komics, Intelligen Comics, and runs her own publishing company, Unlikely Heroes Studios! She grew up in the suburbs of Montreal, Canada, but is now a dual citizen of the USA and lives in the Rocky Mountains with her husband, Erek Foster, their cats, and an inordinately large collection of figurines, books, comics, guitars, and video games.
	Enrica Jang - I am writer of both fiction and non-fiction, as well as a comics and screenplays. My most recent projects include AZTECA, Angel With a Bullet, The House of Montresor, The Star Thief, Guinevere and The 99. I am also editor of the annual Red Stylo Presents series of anthologies. My screenplay "The Freshmen" was made into a short film, Frienemies, winner of a CINE Golden Eagle in 2011. I am also the founder and editor-in-chief at Red Stylo Media. redstylo.com
	Brian Kesinger - An Annie award winning story artist, illustrator and author. His 20+ year career at Disney has spanned both hand drawn and cg animated films from Tarzan to Frozen 2. In addition to Brian's film work, he has also become a celebrated author and illustrator of several books that showcase his style, wit and ability to tell engaging stories in original ways. His artistic journey has lead him to find an additional home with Marvel Comics and Lucasfilm where he blends his animation background with the comic art form to create dazzling and expressive art. briankesinger.com
	Gretchen McNeil - Is the author of several young adult novels for Balzer + Bray including Possess, 3:59, Relic, I'm Not Your Manic Pixie Dream Girl, Get Even, Get Dirty, and Ten, as well as the horror/comedy novels #MurderTrending & #MurderFunding for Disney/Freeform. Her next novel No Escape hits shelves in the fall of 2020. Ten: Murder Island, the film adaptation of Ten starring China Anne McClain (Descendants 2, Black Lightning) premiered on Lifetime in 2017. Get Even and Get Dirty have been adapted as the series Get Even for BBC/Netflix, premiering in 2020. gretchenmcneil.com
	Russell Nohelty - USA Today Bestselling author and publisher at Wannabe Press. He's written comic books like Katrina Hates the Dead, Ichabod Jones: Monster Hunter, and Pixie Dust, along with more than a dozen novels, including his Godsverse Chronicles. He also edits the Cthulhu is Hard to Spell anthology series, and has a very entertaining newsletter, which you can join at www.russellnohelty.com/mail and get a few of his books for free. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife and dogs russellnohelty.com
	Aprilynne Pike - Critically acclaimed, international and #1 New York Times bestselling novelist. Her genre-spanning work has garnered starred reviews from Publisher's Weekly, Booklist, Bulletin, and VOYA and been published in more then twenty-five languages worldwide. aprilynnepike.com
	Eamon Sheehy - Software engineer by day, storytelling nerd by night! I have been playing tabletop games for the last 10 years. I have worked with the City of Mission Viejo before as a LEGO Instructor with Play-Well before I left for university to evolve into my next nerd form: The software developer. Now I play games with my friends when I am not helping get new people started in the hobby, as well as painting miniatures for wargames and other tabletop rpgs.
	Fabrice Sapolsky - A true storyteller, he can write, draw, letter and edit any comic book. His debut comic book as a writer was Spider-Man Noir for Marvel Comics. He came up with the original concept, then refined and enriched it with David Hine, his co-writer on the series.
	Marv Wolfman - Award winning comic book writer and editor of Marvel Comics' The Tomb of Dracula, DC Comics' The New Teen Titans and the Crisis on Infinite Earths limited series. With decades of writing experience, Marv is one of the most prolific comic creators ever. marvwolfman.com