Meetings

Learn the secrets to creating memorable settings and worlds that work for all genres from expert world builders Brian Fitzpatrick, Matt Conant, and Dennis K. Crosby on Saturday, April 20, 2024 at 9:30 am at the 19 Restaurant & Lounge, Laguna Woods Golf Course. Our panel will discuss the elements of setting, what makes a setting memorable, and using setting to reveal character and advance the plot.

Brian Fitzpatrick is the author of the bestselling science fiction trilogy, MECHCRAFT, and the co-screenwriter for the upcoming science fiction film, THE SIMIAN TRIALS. Fitzpatrick grew up on Spielberg, Carpenter, Lucas, Cronenberg, King, Rice, Koontz, and Barker. Science fiction and horror are in his DNA. His bestselling novel series, MECHCRAFT, has been dubbed The Matrix meets Harry Potter with a dose of Terminator 2. The novels have spawned a screenplay, a short story, and a song from industrial rock band, Chemical Straitjacket. And in 2024, work will begin on the MECHCRAFT role-playing game, coming from publisher, Storytellers Forge. Recently, his new cyberpunk horror short story, "Deus Ex Synthetica," was published in the Blood Fiction v2 anthology. His current project is a commission to write an epic fantasy adventure novel set in the upcoming Dungeons & Dragons campaign, The Black Ballad. Fitzpatrick navigates Hollywood and the fiction world with hope and perseverance, plus strategic marketing to push his writing career to new heights. Fitzpatrick likes engaging with an audience in person and online, helping other writers when he’s able.

Matt Conant is a screenwriter, novelist, director, and show creator based in Los Angeles, specializing in comedy and sci-fi. He has co-created original series for networks including Amazon Studios and HBOMax, and his involvement in development on the TV show Mystery Science Theater 3000 helped result in its relaunch in 2017. He is now a writer on MST3K (Netflix & beyond). Matt’s production company, Cinevore Studios, has produced digital comedy series including Nerd vs. Geek, OverAnalyzers, and Victorian Cut-out Theatre, and is currently working on a comedy/sci-fi series The Box with collaborator Jon Callan (Star Trek: Resurgence). His first novels, the Parallax trilogy, written with co-author Lauren Cipollo, were published on April 9, 2024, from Aethon Books. Also a huge gaming nerd, Matt is featured on the Actual Play podcast Hella XP, and he is developing two sci-fi TTRPGs with co-author Lauren Cipollo: one based on the Parallax universe, and another based on an undisclosed property with transmedia producer Jenni Powell (The Guild, lonelygirl15). Matt graduated from Temple University Magna Cum Laude with a BA in Film & Media Arts. He and his work can be found at cinevore.com

Dennis K. Crosby is the multi award-winning author of the bestselling Kassidy Simmons Series. Since 2020, he has published three urban fantasy novels and nine short stories. Dennis holds a Master's Degree in Forensic Psychology and a Master of Fine Arts Degree in Creative Writing. With experience in retail sales, private investigation, and social service, Dennis uses his knowledge and experience to craft compelling characters experiencing real world challenges against the backdrop of magical, supernatural, and mythological phenomena. He's been the subject of several interviews and podcasts, a guest speaker at many conferences, and a panelist at Comic-Con International. Dennis grew up in Oak Park, IL, and currently makes his home in San Diego, CA.