Presenter Line-up 2025

501st Star Garrison

The 501st Legion is a worldwide organization of Star Wars fans who make screen-accurate costumes of the bad guys from the Star Wars universe and wear them to events such as movie openings, comic conventions, children's hospital visits, and more. Much of their work is dedicated to raising funds for charities including Make-A-Wish and Ronald McDonald House. The Texas chapter of the 501st Legion is known as Star Garrison, and the Austin area is represented by the Central Texas Squad. 

Fans are welcome to follow the 501st Legion at https://www.facebook.com/CentralTexasSquad/ 

Jessica Lee Anderson

Jessica Lee Anderson is an award-winning author of over fifty books for children and teens to include titles such as TRUDY, UNCERTAIN SUMMER, and NAOMI NASH: SAVING SNAKES, THE MYSTERY OF THE BALL PYTHON, THE DRAMA NOODLE, and PROBLEMS AT THE POND. She lives in Pflugerville, TX with her husband, daughter, and toothless rat terrier. 

You can learn more about her by visiting www.jessicaleeanderson.com

Miracle Austin is a YA/NA author who loves writing creepy and supernatural stories. She adores Stranger Things, Wednesday, GRIMM, Marvel/DC, unicorns, sparkles, 80s music, and daydreaming up stories.

Jacqueline Smith is the author of sixteen books and nine photography books. Along with writing and publishing, Jacqueline loves the Hunger Games, animals, and BTS.

Fans are welcome to follow Miracle at https://www.amazon.com/stores/Miracle-Austin/author/B01BQELNOA?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

Jan Bozarth

Jan Bozarth is a veteran writer, designer, and producer of children's books, media, games, and music. She has been creating for kids, tween and teen girls for thirty years, including designing or writing for best-selling franchises like Barbie, Diva Starz, Clueless, Dora the Explorer, and many more. Her expertise in creating timely, hip and wholesome properties for children has resulted in critically acclaimed books and awards in music, game design, and theater.

Fans are welcome to follow Jan Bozarth at JanBozarth.com

Kendall Choate is a Round Rock ISD employee who graduated from Round Rock High School. She is a huge fan of many fandoms including Marvel, Star Wars, and Disney. She enjoys playing trivia games and encouraging kids to fall in love with reading.

Childs' Play Comics

Childs' Play Comics is an independent comic publisher based in New Braunfels, TX. It is the brainchild of husband and wife team, Joe Soliz & Sarah Childs. Joe & Sarah have been retailers, YouTubers, and now comic creators! They publish All-Ages & Teen titles as well as carry titles from other independent creators. Their titles include Malia Mayhem, How to Hunt a Hero, and the upcoming Teenstrike.

Fans are welcome to follow Childs' Play Comics at http://www.childsplaycomics.com/

Samantha M. Clark

Samantha M Clark is the author of middle-grade novels THE BOY, THE BOAT, AND THE BEAST; ARROW (both published by Paula Wiseman Books/Simon & Schuster); and AMERICAN HORSE TALES: HOLLYWOOD (Penguin Workshop/Penguin Random House), as well as the GEMSTONE DRAGONS chapter book series (Bloomsbury). She lives with her husband and two funny dogs in Austin, Texas, and helps other writers through her Your Writing Mentor newsletter on Substack. 

Sign up for news and giveaways at www.SamanthaMClark.com. Follow her on BlueSky @samanthamclark, Twitter @samclarkwrites, Instagram @samanthamclarkbooks, Facebook at SamanthaMClarkAuthor, and Pinterest at SamClarkWrites. 

Fans are welcome to follow Samantha M Clark at www.SamanthaMClark.com

Bryan & Selah Douglas

Bryan Douglas is the creator of the all-ages superhero comic book, The Dimensionals. His wife, Selah, colors the comics and contributes to the creative process at several stages of each issue, and together they formed Pathway Comics to publish their work. They live in Austin with their two kids. 

Fans are welcome to follow Bryan and Selah at http://www.pathway-comics.com.

Drew Edwards 

Comic book writer, horror film historian, music journalist , rock promoter, and showman extraordinaire; these are all guises of the creative force known as Drew Edwards. Edwards is best known as the writer and creator of the long-running underground comic, Halloween Man. Chronicle's 2018 Best of Austin Comic Creator winner. 

Fans are welcome to follow Drew at https://drewedwardswriter.blogspot.com/

Lane R. Fobbs

With over a dozen years of experience in the professional writing field Fobbs LOVES creative writing. After graduating Texas A&M to work in local news, Fobbs moved into the independent creative space. What has followed are a wide range of books and titles meant to entertain, educate and enlighten readers of all ages. 

Fans are welcome to follow Fobbs on Instagram @fobbsthechairman

Kevin Garcia

Kevin Garcia is a certified educator and professional writer whose work has appeared in the Associated Press and Marvel Comics. He gives a variety of workshops, moderates panels, and teaches journalism and graphic design at the Liberal Arts and Science Academy in Austin. 

Fans are welcome to follow Kevin Garcia at www.KevinGarcia.com or www.Monomythic.com. 

Sara Goetter and Natalie Riess are a collaborative comic duo from Pennsylvania that currently live together in Austin with their cat, Tilly. Together they've worked on books such as Dungeon Critters, The Bawk-Ness Monster, and the graphic novel adaptations for Warriors: The Prophecy Begins.

Fans are welcome to follow Sara & Natalie at twitter.com/sgoetter 

Malcolm Harris, born on May 2, 1970, in Dallas, Texas, is a multi-talented creative force renowned for his work as an award-winning writer, game designer, artist, and movie producer. Often hailed as “the most creative man alive,” Harris has captivated audiences worldwide with his imaginative creations, developing hundreds of characters and dozens of fantastical worlds.

Best known for the comic series Witch Girls Adventures, Harris has significantly influenced the realms of comics and tabletop role-playing games. As the mastermind behind Nemesis: A Perfect World, he became the first African American role-playing game designer/writer to lead a complete RPG world, introducing the term “Superpunk” to the genre.

Fans are welcome to follow Malcolm at https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8348236/ 

P.J. Hoover

P. J. (Tricia) Hoover wanted to be a Jedi, but when that didn’t work out, she became an electrical engineer instead. After a fifteen year bout designing computer chips for a living, P. J. started creating worlds of her own. She’s the award-winning author of Tut: The Story of My Immortal Life, featuring a fourteen-year-old King Tut who’s stuck in middle school, and Solstice, a super-hot twist on the Hades/Persephone myth. When not writing, P. J. spends time practicing kung fu, solving Rubik’s cubes, and fixing stuff around the house.  

For more information about P. J. (Tricia) Hoover, please visit her website www.pjhoover.com. 

Jakku Temple

SABER GUILD is the largest not-for-profit, recognized Star Wars lightsaber performance group in the world and LFL's preferred costumed lightsaber performance club. Jakku Temple is the Central Texas based branch with members throughout the Austin area. We enhance fan experiences through the use of costumed lightsaber choreography to conduct our Interactive Jedi Experience, full stage performances, and photo opportunities, at charity and local community events, as well as, pop culture conventions. We raise awareness and donations for local charities, such as, but not limited to, The Texas Lions Camp or Make-a-Wish of Central and South Texas. Our mission is to raise and support Texas charities throughout the Central Texas area through our love of Star Wars. 

If you are interested in learning more you can message the group on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/SGJakkuTemple or email us at JakkuTemple@saberguild.org 

Chloe Janowski

Chloe Janowski is an Austin-based independent fantasy artist, art teacher for kids and teens, and aspiring manga creator currently working on her first graphic novel.  She is inspired by elves, nature, magic, ancient mythology, and mental health advocacy.

Fans are welcome to follow Chloe at https://www.chloejanowski.com 

Jungle Movement Academy

We are the Jungle Cats! The Jungle Cats are a FAMILY of people who love to play, explore and go on adventures! The Jungle Movement Academy is where we learn superhuman abilities training outdoors and going on epic adventures. Animals must LEARN how to MOVE and ADAPT in their environment to survive. At the Jungle we follow the same philosophy! 

Fans are welcome to follow Jungle Movement Academy at http://junglemovement.com/ 

Alejandro Juvera

Alejandro Juvera is an independent writer and illustrator and has been self publishing comic books since 2016. Diversity and representation have been core to creating Alejandro's comics and beliefs. 

Fans are welcome to follow Alejandro at https://www.facebook.com/afjart

Little Mavericks

The Little Maverick Graphic Novel Reading List is a recommended reading list designed for children in grades K-5. The purpose of the list is to encourage students to explore a variety of current graphic novels for recreational reading, not to support a specific curriculum.

For more information, visit https://txla.org

Mandalorian Mercs

The Mandalorian Mercs Costume Club is an international STAR WARS™ costuming organization dedicated to celebrating the STAR WARS™ universe through the creation, display, and wearing of quality character costumes that represent the Mandalorian characters and culture from the STAR WARS™ sagas. The MMCC promotes interest in STAR WARS™ and facilitates the use of these costumes for STAR WARS™-related events as well as contributing to the local community through costumed charity and volunteer work. 

Fans are welcome to follow MMCC at http://mandalorianmercs.org/ 

Tobi Padwick is a 2 time comic shop owner as well a traveling vendor working at comic cons.  He is a former computer tech trainer and I love working with kids.

Fans are welcome to follow Tobi at www.facebook.com/wmwbdenton

Amanda Pung 

Amanda Pung is a 2D animator from Austin. Amanda used to work for LankyBox and Took Productions and has been animating on YouTube and Instagram. 

Fans are welcome to follow Amanda Pung on Instagram @dangoes_animation

Gregg Schigiel

Gregg Schigiel (Schigiel rhymes with beagle) fell in love with superheroes, animated cartoons, and comic books at an early age. He loved to draw, create characters, and make up stories.

Now, Gregg is the creator, author and illustrator of the ZOOPERHERO UNIVERSE hybrid chapter book/graphic novels, and the Kids’ Comics Award–winning PIX graphic novel series.

In addition, he’s drawn for Marvel Comics, DC Comics, Disney, and Nickelodeon, and wrote and drew many stories for SPONGEBOB COMICS.

Gregg has baked prizewinning cookies, enjoys comedy, and makes sure he drinks plenty of water. 

Fans are welcome to follow Gregg at greggschigiel.com

Hana Sperschneider

Hana Sperschneider from Hare and Hide Guild has worked as a Texas-Certified art teacher for the last 6 years. She graduated from the Ringling College of Art and Design and has taught anything from pixel art to oil painting to kids of various ages! Nowadays you can find her working with rabbit rescue programs, on most online video games, or drawing in artists alley at cons across the United States.

Fans are welcome to follow Hana Sperschneider at https://www.instagram.com/rabbitsartclass

Ian Walker

Originally from Monterey California, Ian Walker is a full time illustrator and comic book artist out of Austin Texas. He runs his own independent comic book company, Obsidian Studios and is the creator, writer, and artist for the flagship title, PANTHEON. Along with his secular projects, Ian is an art educator who takes the time to teach art to those who are patient and a willingness to learn the one skill he believes EVERYONE is capable of. 

Fans are welcome to follow Ian Walker at www.theartofiandwalker.com

Jeff Webb

Jeffrey Webb is a husband, father, educator, game master, IT professional and RRHS Class of 1993 alumnus living in Round Rock. His thesis, "Shall We Play a Game?" covered games as professional instructional tools and how the discipline of gaming has had an effect on human history. He has been an avid tabletop roleplayer since 1986. He is currently the Regimental Sergeant Major (Game Master/Instructor) of The Royal Dragoon Guards, a tabletop gaming club founded in 1995 with a focus on roleplaying and spreading the hobby.. 

Fans are welcome to follow the Dragoons out at https://www.facebook.com/RDGATX/