Writer Leanna Renee Hieber Hunts the Paranormal Mediums across the aether have warned of there being many free flow- ing spirits at the inaugural Steampunk Empire Symposium. As a precaution, the Symposium has invited award win- ning, bestselling author, actress and playwright Leanna Renee Hieber to be a guest of honor and paranormal expert for the weekend’s convention. Ms. Hieber grew up in rural Ohio inventing ghost stories. She graduated with a BFA in Theatre from Miami University, a focus in the Vic- torian Era and a scholarship to study in London. She has adapted works of 19th Century literature for the stage and her one-act plays such as Favorite of Gothic Victorian Fantasy novels, cal theatre production currently in Lady have been produced around the landed on Barnes & Noble’s best- development with a team that includes country. Her novella Dark Nest won seller lists, was named a favorite of talent from Tony Award winning the 2009 Prism Award for excellence 2009 by 14 genre blogs, won two shows like Memphis, Wicked, Tarzan in Futuristic / Fantasy / Paranormal 2010 Prism Awards for Best Fantasy and more. In November 2011 Leanna Romance. and Best First Book, the 2010 Orange launched Magic Most Foul, a new Her debut novel, The Strangely County Book Buyer’s Best Award Gothic Paranormal Young Adult series Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker, (Young Adult category) and has been with Sourcebooks Fire. first in her Strangely Beautiful series optioned for adaptation into a musi- Continued on page 21 Gentleman Artist Myke Amend has Seen the Future Myke Amend is a weaver of Dore, Zdzislaw Beksinski, Gerald strange worlds in which darkness and Brom, Derek Riggs, Salvadore Dali, the macabre, fantasy, speculative fic- Albrecht Durer, Pieter Brughel the tion, emotion, and even politics blend Elder, a thing most commonly noted seamlessly into fantastic, surreal, hor- about Myke’s artistic style is his atten- rific, yet serene and wondrous worlds tion to detail and details within details, of tranquil chaos. bordering on “neurotic”. His works are those of mystery His illustrations have been pub- and message, wherein he seeks to lished for Weird Tales Magazine, provide the viewer with endless new Beneath Ceaseless Skies, Gatehouse things to find within a busy sea of tiny Gazette, Kilter Magazine, and the art strokes and intermingled thoughts, collection “Gothic Art Now” hiding visages and artwork within Amend has commissioned art- Brothers Circus, Vernian Process, and each element of every work, and in the works for many names in Steampunk Captain Robert of Abney Park. empty space between. Music, Entertainment, and Literature Influenced greatly by Gustave including Dexter Palmer, The Pickled Continued on page 21 Page 2 Inaugural Gathering of the Empire Ladies and gentlemen! Boys and girls! are behaving in an uncivilized manner. Welcome to the first ever Steampunk 7. Please abide by our weapons policy: Empire Symposium; thank you for All weapons must be non-working being a part of this totally inaccurate and peace bonded. Bladed weapons historical event. (including sword canes) must be cased For the comfort and safety of all or sheathed at all times. Any firearms attendingApril the Symposium, 27-29, please 2012. The Atrium Hotel, orCincinnati, antique firearms used inOhio costum- abide by these common sense rules: ing must have the firing mechanisms weekend jolly well full of Guest Author: Leannadisabled, bolt,Renee flint, Hiebermatch or firing pin 1. You muststeampunk wear your membership festivities and Guest Speaker: Ay-leenremoved or havethe the Peacemaker trigger restrained badgeA (ribbon) at all times to be ad- by a member of our security staff. Live mittedlarks: to any guests, convention panels, function. gaming, Guest Artist: Mykeammunition Amend is prohibited. 2. Possession of alcoholic beverages Honoured Guests:8. No Emilie horseplay P in Bush,the common areas. byworkshops, anyone under 21 yearsmerchants, of age is parlour Any weapon used in an offensive man- groundsgames, for expulsion absinthe, from theevents, con- LARPing,5. Announced eventsSteampunk and guests are Boba ner Fett, will be Lord confiscated Bobbins, and rule #6 vention without refund. subject to changeThe and/or Vagabonds, cancellation enforced.Airship Archon, & more 3.concerts, Please keep all etiquette, behavior that politecuriosities, without notice. Every effort will be 9. Please do not abuse our hotels facili- attendeesdances, would tea, find the publicly awe-inspiring offensive made to announceMusic any changes from: via theFrenchy ties or hotel & the staff. Punk, Room Parties This and in your hotel rooms. Internet and pre-conventionWay to the publi Egress,- other Veronique announcements mayChevalier, be dropped 4.Imperial Steampunk EmpireGames, Symposium and muchcations more but .sometimes . last-minute off at our Information Desk. and Pandora Promotions LLC are not changes will occur.Ford Theatre Reunion,10. Wear appropriate clothing in the responsible for lost, stolen or damaged 6. We reserve the right to ask you to common areas; nudity needs to remain property, or for injuries www.steampunksymposium.comsustained dur- leave the convention and refuse to in the hotel guest rooms. ing the course of the convention. refund your membership money if you 09.28.12 - The Pandoracon Opens! Babylon 5’s Author Jason Carter Teri A. Jacobs Artist More Guests to Billy Tackett be announced Crowne Plaza Blue Ash www.Pandoracon.com Page 3 Noteable Persons of the Aether to Present Panels Emilie P Bush Ay-leen the Peacemaker Steampunk Boba Fett Journalist and writer Emilie P. Steampunk Boba Fett (John F. Known throughout the greater ste- Bush has written two Steampunk nov- Strangeway) is one of the most recog- ampunk community for her work with els. Her first, Chenda and the Airship nized figures in both the Steampunk the popular site “Beyond Victoriana,” Brofman, was a “ripping good yarn!” and Star Wars fan communities. Ay-leen the Peacemaker is a leading and the tale was a 2010 Semi-finalist The idea originated in John’s lifelong voice on multiculturalism in steam- for the Amazon Breakthrough Novel love of Star Wars and in particular punk. For the past few years, Ay-leen Award. New this year, The Gospel the cult figure of bounty hunter Boba has been involved with the steampunk According to Verdu picks up the epic Fett. He had the idea for a Steampunk communities in the New York metro tale where Chenda left off - high in the variation for quite some time but area and New England as a convention skies. Coming in Spring of 2012, Emi- lacked the resources to build the suit speaker and general rabble-rouser. lie P. Bush teams up with illustrator to match his vision. That changed at Her upcoming published work will William Kevin Petty for the first ever AnachroCon 2009, where he met Matt be included in the fashion anthology children’s Steampunk picture book : Silva of Penny Dreadful Productions. “Fashion Talks: Undressing the Power Her Majesty’s Explorer: a Steampunk A few months later the two began of Style” from SUNY Press in 2012. bedtime story. work on the suit, which debuted at She has also been interviewed about Emilie P. Bush loves to laugh and Dragon*Con 2009 to overwhelming steampunk and its evolving subculture makes the audience the stars in her acclaim. John and Matt are featured for many steampunk and sci-fi sites wacky convention game shows: The prominently in the PBS documentary and for the books “The Steampunk Great Debate: Tesla v. Watt and the “Four Days at Dragon*Con.” Bible” (Abrams Image, May 2011) and all new game Verne v. Wells. Only the When he’s not portraying Steam- “Steampunk: Reloaded” (Tachyon audience can decide who’s right, and punk Boba Fett, John serves as PR/ Publications, 2010). better yet, who’s FUNNY! Also, she media relations representative for Ay-leen currently lives and works hosts a gathering of kilt lovers – The Penny Dreadful Productions. He also in New York City. One of her many Men Without Pants Party, and will works with Dragon*Con Media Rela- hats is running Tor.com Steampunk host the first ever Steampunk Worship tions, appearing on Better Mornings on Facebook and Twitter. Service this Spring. Atlanta and 11Alive in 2010. Bobbins utilizes his history in mo- Lord Bobbins of Teslacon tion pictures and theatrics to bring imaginative delight to people of all Described as the Walt Disney of ages. The Steampunk Symposium is Steampunk, Lord Hastings Robert delighted to have Lord Bobbins as a Bobbins III (aka Eric Jon Larson) is distinguished guest as he shares with truly a master of the most splendid all his expertise on a wide range of immersive and interactive conven- Victorian and Steampunk matters. tions this side of the aether. Lord Page 5 Scandalous Musicians Seeking to Corrupt both Young and Old Drunk and Sailor Phillip is usually the drunk, and Capt. Amos is usually the sailor. Sometimes they’re both drunk, and sometimes they’re both sailors. Every once in a great while they are both drunk and both sailors. cheeky ballads sung in English and French, danceable old-world inspired melodies and thunderous tribal- march-style drum instrumentals. Get a Steampunk-lish Chanteuse, and transported to a world full of humor, Spooky Polkanista, who has been theatricality, whirling dance and bo- described as a twisted incarnation of hemian spirit. Come experience their Edith Piaf from an alternate reality - genre-busting non-traditional take on the one in which her parents are Jim world cabaret served with a twist of Morrison, and Elvira, Mistress of the vaudeville and a dash of steampunk Dark, and her godparents are Lucille flavoring rooted in folk, punk and the Ball and Weird Al. Extraordinary Contraptions vineyards of southern France.