SoonerCon 28 Toastmaster
Selina Rosen
If you ask Selina Rosen how long she has been in this business of writing and entertaining people, she will probably tell you she is older than dirt. Not entirely true, unless the dirt is the rich soil of an imagination born of living off the land, raising a family, being a carpenter and farmer, sword fighter and all-around renaissance person. It is also the reason Selina is a darn good writer. When you listen to Selina, you can tell her roots are planted deep in the fertile realm of storytelling.
Born in 1960, she is probably best known as the publisher and owner of Yard Dog Press, which she founded in 1995. Her house specializes in a variety of publications, including fantasy, adventure and science fiction. But it also has recently expanded to include some thought provoking nonfiction as well. Selina has a lot of opinions of the world, and she is not afraid to let anyone know. As a rule, listening to her always gets folks laughing. A good thing for someone who is asked to be a Toast Master at many conventions
She has written short stories and novels, and edited many anthologies. Her works include fantasies like Jabone’s Sword and Sword Masters, dark fantasy/horror such as The Host and Material Things, humorous stories like The Bubba Chronicles, The Ghost Writer, How I Spent the Apocalypse, Queen of Denial, and Recycled and in science fiction, Chains Trilogy, Fire & Ice, Hammer Town, Reruns, and Strange Robby. She has even done mystery novels (with Laura J. Underwood) called Bad City and Bad Lands. In addition to being a publisher and a writer, she is the 2011 recipient of the Phoenix Award, a life time achievement award given to professionals in the field of Science Fiction and presented by the Southern Fandom Confederation.
Not a bad career, when you think about it.
by Laura Underwood
http://selinarosen.com/
https://www.yarddogpress.com/
Friday, June 7, 2019 4:00 p.m. | Location: Boomer A
It Was the Aliens
Mankind has been telling stories of invasion for centuries. Modern books and movies are full of stories of how the world would end by aliens. Join our discussion on the alien invasion in pop culture and how it's influenced the apocalyptic genre in general.
Panelists: Mark Alfred, Ethan Nahté, Harold Neal, Joey "Okie Space Queen" Rodman, Selina Rosen, Ann Shelby
Tracks: Supernatural & Paranormal, Pop Culture & Entertainment
Tags: Panel
Friday, June 7, 2019 6:00 p.m. | Location: Oklahoma H
Opening Ceremonies
SoonerCon 28's official opening. Toastmaster Selina Rosen will blast us all into Brave New Worlds.
Panelists: Selina Rosen, Kevin J. Anderson, Rachel Caine, Julie Dillon, Matt Frank, Dr. Lonnie Johnson, Larry Nemecek, Austin Tindle, Toni Weisskopf, Sarah Wiedenheft
Tracks: General Interest
Tags: Ceremony
Friday, June 7, 2019 7:00 p.m. | Location: Oklahoma B
Friends of SoonerCon Reception
Friends of SoonerCon membership-exclusive social event with SoonerCon 28 guests of honor and featured guests. Heavy hors d'oeuvres and beverages provided. Thank you to our Friends of SoonerCon supporters!
Panelists: Selina Rosen, Kevin J. Anderson, Rachel Caine, Julie Dillon, Matt Frank, Dr. Lonnie Johnson, Larry Nemecek, Austin Tindle, Toni Weisskopf, Sarah Wiedenheft
Tracks: General Interest
Tags: Reception
Friday, June 7, 2019 8:00 p.m. | Location: Oklahoma G
Yard Dog Roadshow
Join the crew from Yard Dog Press as they offer their usual brand of comedy.
Panelists: Selina Rosen, Tim Chessmore, Sherri Dean, Linda L. Donahue, Phillip Drayer Duncan, Rhonda Eudaly, Tim Frayser, James Hollaman, vickey malone kennedy, Lee Killough, Julia S. Mandala, Ethan Nahté, Bradley H. Sinor, Sue Sinor, Laura J. Underwood, Mel. White
Tracks: Writing & Publication, Performing Arts
Tags: Performance
Saturday, June 8, 2019 11:00 a.m. | Location: Boomer A
Far-Fetched Doomsdays
Meteors and nuclear war are so last century. Come up with new, intricate, and implausible ways for mankind to check out, or life on Earth to end.
Panelists: Phillip Drayer Duncan, Rhonda Eudaly, Tyrell Gephardt, Michelle Muenzler, Selina Rosen, Adrian Simmons
Tracks: Science Fiction, STEM, History, Pop Culture & Entertainment
Tags: Panel
Saturday, June 8, 2019 Noon | Location: Oklahoma E - Yard Dog Press Booth
Autographs
Panelists: Rhonda Eudaly, Selina Rosen, Bradley H. Sinor
Tracks: Autographs
Tags: Autographs
Saturday, June 8, 2019 2:00 p.m. | Location: Sooner A
Reading: Selina Rosen & Kevin J. Anderson
Panelists: Kevin J. Anderson, Selina Rosen
Tracks: Writing & Publication
Tags: Reading
Saturday, June 8, 2019 4:00 p.m. | Location: Sooner A
Before We Entered Wakanda: Minority Characters in SF Film and TV
Take a look at roles of minority characters in science fiction and fantasy before the popularity of the Black Panther film.
Panelists: Trakena Prevost, Shai Fenwick, Johnnie Johnson, Chaz Kemp, David "Oak" Rice, Selina Rosen
Tracks: Film & TV, Culture & World Affairs
Tags: Panel
Sunday, June 9, 2019 Noon | Location: Sooner A
The B-Movie Panel
Bad sci-fi movies are a guilty pleasure for so many of us! Why do we love movies that love to be bad? The legendary B-movie panel.
Panelists: Melinda LaFevers, Sherri Dean, Tim Frayser, Bekah June, Selina Rosen, Adrian Simmons
Tags: Panel
Sunday, June 9, 2019 2:00 p.m. | Location: Oklahoma G
Evolving Military SF
Military SF is an ever-evolving genre because the tools of war and social mores change. With the rise of private military companies, and the ability of the extremely wealthy to purchase private armies, it often feels like the real world is coming closer to military SF. But military SF's core is the sense of a team, which has not changed since spears and swords. Our panelists talk about the intersection of technology, fiction, and military culture.
Panelists: Toni Weisskopf, David Carrico, William Leaf, Selina Rosen, Brian Trent
Tracks: Writing & Publication, History, Science Fiction
Tags: Panel
Sunday, June 9, 2019 4:00 p.m. | Location: Oklahoma H
Closing Ceremonies
SoonerCon 28's official closing. Toastmaster Selina Rosen will launch us into SoonerCon 29, coming June 26-28, 2020.
Panelists: Selina Rosen, Kevin J. Anderson, Rachel Caine, Julie Dillon, Matt Frank, Larry Nemecek, Austin Tindle, Toni Weisskopf, Sarah Wiedenheft
Tracks: General Interest
Tags: Ceremony