A.C. Smart
A.C. Smart, aka Barbara Forman, made her first professional sale, "Broken Canes," to Meisha Merlin’s Bending the Landscape: Horror anthology (2001). As she was teaching at an inner-city middle school at the time, she used a pseudonym, Alexi Smart. Subsequent professional sales were in the fantasy genre as A.C. Smart: Havoc, and Bellwether, both published by Beneath Ceaseless Skies. Since then she has achieved both a bachelor's and master's in forensic anthropology, supplementing previous degrees in biology and psychology. Having left behind the 100-to-148-hour work weeks (no, that was not a typo) required to pay for said degrees, she has settled into a database research position which she enjoys and describes as "working puzzles." She volunteers at a food bank, attends fossil-club field trips, scuba dives, trains cats, and has again taken up the pen. The taphonomy studies in her yard are placed so as not to disturb the neighbors, but the WV DNR has found her queries disconcerting. Her parents live in Oklahoma, where they homesteaded when the author was a teen. She schedules trips home around Soonercon.
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4:00 PM | Location: Sooner A
Distinguishing Factors: How Society Shapes Who We Are
Is individuality a form of freedom, or do societal expectations define us? This discussion examines how culture, identity, and personal expression are shaped by the push and pull of norms and self-determination.
Moderator: Stephen Patrick
Panelists: A.C. Smart, Ted Pennella, Stephen Patrick, Selina Rosen, Andrew Scheffe
2:00 PM | Location: Boomer B
Humanity, F*ck Yeah!
In the vastness of the cosmos, humans might seem small, but we've got something no alien race can match: pure, unrelenting grit. This panel dives into the Humanity, F*ck Yeah!* (HFY) genre, where we're the underdogs who rise to the occasion, outsmarting or outlasting advanced civilizations. From clever survival tactics to showing our superiority in unexpected ways, discover why HFY stories celebrate humanity's surprising strength in the face of cosmic challenges.
Moderator: Cap’n Ed
Panelists: Gypsy Jess, David Rike, Cap’n Ed, Rhonda Eudaly, A.C. Smart
9:00 PM | Location: Embassy Hotel: JQH Boardroom presented by Morningstar Storage
Strum, Sing, & Share: An Open Filk Circle
Join us for a welcoming, all-inclusive filk circle, where music lovers of all skill levels come together to share songs, harmonize, and celebrate the unique tradition of fannish music! Whether you have a song to perform, want to join in on a chorus, or simply enjoy listening, this is a space to sing, strum, and create together. Bring an instrument, your voice, or just your love of music—all are welcome in the circle!
Moderator: Mel. White
Panelists: A.C. Smart, Melinda LaFevers, Mel. White, The Singing Costumer
10:00 AM | Location: Oklahoma G
NIRATIAS: Nothing is Real and This Is a Simulation
Could we all be living in a simulated reality? Explore the scientific theory behind the idea that our universe may be a highly advanced simulation. From cutting-edge physics to the philosophical implications, we'll break down the evidence and ideas supporting this mind-bending hypothesis. Are we truly in control -- or is it all just an elaborate program? Join us for a deep dive into one of the most fascinating and unsettling questions of our time.
Moderator: Dara Fogel, PhD
Panelists: Max Griffin, Dara Fogel, PhD, Ted Pennella, A.C. Smart, David Rike
2:00 PM | Location: Sooner A
Building the Temple: Believable Religion in Speculative Fiction
How do authors create meaningful and nuanced religious systems for their worlds? Panelists discuss the dos and don'ts of cultural worldbuilding.
Moderator: Pigeon
Panelists: J.H. Fleming, Julia S. Mandala, Pigeon, A.C. Smart, David Carrico