Missoula's Science Fiction & Fantasy Convention

Sanan Kolva

MisCon 40 Attending Professional

Sanan Kolva is a technical editor by day, and writer of epic and steampunk fantasy the rest of the time. She is the author of The Chosen of the Spear series and The Silverline Chronicles, and her short fiction appears in a number of anthologies. When not writing, she enjoys baking and decorating cakes. She can be found at http://sanankolva.com.

Scheduled Panels and Games:

Key: =On a Panel =Moderating =GMing

(Tentative)

• Fri 1:00 - 1:50 PM, Informal Author Meet & Greet: Speedfriending Edition, Dragon Pavilion
  Moderator: Justin Barba; Panelists: Justin Barba, Jessica Brawner, C E Chester, Stoney Compton, Katie Cross, Laramie Dean, Jayel Draco, Manny Frishberg, James Glass, Lynsey Griswold (Lynsey G), Rhiannon Held, GS Jennsen, Esther Jones, Frog Jones, Sanan Kolva, Tess Langston, Todd Lockwood, Joseph Malik, Tod McCoy, Danith McPherson, Theresa Miller, Gwendolyn Nix, AM Scott, Steven L Sears, D.L. Solum, Jeff Sturgeon, Patrick Swenson: Fairwood Press, Hunter Kay Wallace, Dean Wells, Danica Winters, Jim Wright (Stonekettle), Matthew Yetter

  If you want to get to know some of MisCon 40's writers/editors, this is the place for you! It's like speed dating, but without the romance. We'll provide lists of question prompts to help break the ice (though you can ask whatever you want), split everyone into pairs, and run quick 3 to 5-minute rounds before rotating to a new conversation partner. Come swap stories, talk art, movies, anime, pop culture, and make a new connection.

• Break Fri 1:50 - Fri 3:00
• Fri 3:00 - 3:50 PM, Worldbuilding: Designing Belief Systems, Monster Tent
  Moderator: Sanan Kolva; Panelists: Sanan Kolva, Danith McPherson, Theresa Miller, Dean Wells

  Part of what defines a culture is its system of shared beliefs--not only religious, but also secular. Designing and understanding the belief systems of your characters adds depth to the world in which they live, so let's discuss how to do so.

• Break Fri 3:50 - Sat 10:00
• Sat 10:00 - 11:50 AM, Writers' Workshop, Green Room
  Moderator: Nicole Edington; Panelists: Manny Frishberg, James Glass, Sanan Kolva

  This restricted event is only open to people with submissions accepted into the writers' workshop.

• Break Sat 11:50 - Sat 2:00
• Sat 2:00 - 2:50 PM, Building a Story on the Fly, Dungeon
  Moderator: Sanan Kolva; Panelists: Sanan Kolva, Cheyenna Krone, Gwendolyn Nix, AM Scott, Steven L Sears

  Your page is blank. Even worse, your map is blank: no lands, no plants, no buildings, no industry, and not a single inhabitant in your world, let alone a culture. So how do you create a story? The panelists will ask questions, the audience will lend a hand giving answers and sharing ideas. Andy will make it all visual, and together we will give shape to a world. No blocking, no wimping, but laughter is encouraged as we show that the blank space is not empty: it's full of potential

• Break Sat 2:50 - Sun 11:00
• Sun 11:00 - 11:50 AM, When Fantasy Meets Reality: Grounding the Extraordinary, Rocket Tent
  Panelists: Jessica Brawner, Rhiannon Held, Sanan Kolva, Dean Wells

  Have you ever read a fantasy novel where the magic felt unearned, the creatures out of place, or the futuristic tech just... didn't quite make sense? Making the extraordinary believable is crucial for reader immersion. Let's examine ways to weave fantastical elements—be it magic, mythical creatures, or cutting-edge technology—seamlessly into a believable framework. We'll explore how to avoid common pitfalls like arbitrary powers, inconsistent rules, information overload, etc.