Penguicon 2026: Full Schedule

You will be able to validate your attendance (Check-In to sessions) using your personal schedule.

5:00pm EDT

Magic as Metaphor

Friday March 27, 2026 5:00pm - 5:50pm EDT

Making sure our magic (or advanced tech) serves our purpose" This workshop with Storm Humbert will discuss magic system design theory and methods for making sure our magic is more than just window dressing--that it's operating meaningfully at all levels of our story.

Speakers

Storm Humbert

Friday March 27, 2026 5:00pm - 5:50pm EDT
Montcalm

Writing, Workshop

6:00pm EDT

Beginning Locksport

Friday March 27, 2026 6:00pm - 6:50pm EDT

Montcalm

Learn the basics of Locksport (picking). We'll go over how pin tumbler locks work and the theory of lock picking. Then you'll have a chance to work with special practice locks to put the theory to practice. This is intended for people who have never picked a lock before. I have a limited number of practice locks and can really only accommodate 10 people.

Speakers

Kevin Nickerson

Programmer, Photographer, Burner, and geek. I also have strong feelings on the correct formulation of a martini and brew beer.

Friday March 27, 2026 6:00pm - 6:50pm EDT
Montcalm

DIY

7:00pm EDT

Self-Harm Survivors

Friday March 27, 2026 7:00pm - 7:50pm EDT

Montcalm

A panel about suicide and resources for survivors and family.

Speakers

Adriana Petrucci

Clinical Therapist, KaraLee and Associates

Friday March 27, 2026 7:00pm - 7:50pm EDT
Montcalm

Hack your Brain

10:00am EDT

World Building in a Dystopia

Saturday March 28, 2026 10:00am - 10:50am EDT

Montcalm

So you're inspired to write a dystopia but not sure where to start. This workshop walks you through the rules of a dystopia and the multiple approaches to world/story building while leaving time to discuss works/ideas in progress and workshop them as a group.

Speakers

Katie Spina

Author, Awesome Authors Kids

Ms. Katie is an award-winning kidlit author who writes stories for kids where finding your fit means trusting in who you are. An avid reader, she loves all sorts of books across a wide spectrum. With a Bachelor's degree in Writing from the University of Michigan-Flint, she is a professional... Read More →

Saturday March 28, 2026 10:00am - 10:50am EDT
Montcalm

Writing

11:00am EDT

Writing Truth in Fiction

Saturday March 28, 2026 11:00am - 11:50am EDT

Montcalm

Our written voice gives us a connection to our readers. It is important to be truthful to the readers. Through our characters and the situations they endure, we can instill empathy in our readers, help them see new possibilities, or simply help them escape the real world for a bit of time. Our words need to be honest to allow the reader to suspend disbelief and accept the world we’ve created. If what you’ve written doesn’t feel real to you, the writer, the reader won’t believe it either.

Speakers

Leslie Gulvas

I'm a collector of experiences and writer of both fact and fiction. I live on a farm with a giant wolf hound, a disgruntled guard pig, silly cats and an old gray horseMy books are:
Carnival Charlatan an urban fantasy,
Brenda's House a middle grade ghost story, and
Off the Reservatio... Read More →

Saturday March 28, 2026 11:00am - 11:50am EDT
Montcalm

Writing

3:00pm EDT

Worldbuilding Through Food

Saturday March 28, 2026 3:00pm - 3:50pm EDT

Montcalm

How cuisine, trade, and scarcity shape believable fictional cultures more than maps or magic systems ever will.

Speakers

Erika Wagner

Saturday March 28, 2026 3:00pm - 3:50pm EDT
Montcalm

Writing Food Gaming

5:00pm EDT

What Is Style, and Do I Have It?

Saturday March 28, 2026 5:00pm - 5:50pm EDT

Montcalm

This workshop with Storm Humber will focus on breaking down what it means to have a prose style (spoiler, everyone does) and how we go about discovering, fine-tuning, foregrounding, and capitalizing on our personal styles.

Speakers

Storm Humbert

Saturday March 28, 2026 5:00pm - 5:50pm EDT
Montcalm

Writing

7:00pm EDT

Impromptu - Being Prepared

Saturday March 28, 2026 7:00pm - 7:50pm EDT

Montcalm

I am a gamer, a convention attender, and a single dad. Over the years, I have learned that in many situations, there is no substitute for being prepared. But what does that mean? You can not be prepared for absolutely everything, but with a few simple preparations, you can be prepared for many things. In this panel, we will go over making a small everyday first aid kit, a good "Adventure Bag", and having an emergency Go Bag.

Speakers

John Patrick

I like to consider myself a "Nerd of All Seasons." I play and collect many board games, card games, RPGs and miniature wargames. I read almost anything that seemes interesting but especially love sci-fi, cyberpunk, and local history. I am a bit of a tinkerer and enjoy conversation... Read More →

Saturday March 28, 2026 7:00pm - 7:50pm EDT
Montcalm

10:00am EDT

The Wicked, Weird and Wild Side of Setting

Sunday March 29, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am EDT

Montcalm

Crowdfunding has taken the world by storm as a way for creatives to fund their projects. Writers reveal how crowdfunding has helped to make their projects a reality.

Speakers

Llewella Forgie

Llewella Forgie is an award-wining author who creates stories of tenacious women battling injustice and creating their own happily-ever-after. Her current work-in-progress is a pentalogy that takes place in Europe in 1802. France is planning to invade, people with psychic powers have... Read More →

Sunday March 29, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am EDT
Montcalm

Writing

5:00pm EDT

6:00pm EDT

7:00pm EDT

10:00am EDT

11:00am EDT

3:00pm EDT

5:00pm EDT

7:00pm EDT

10:00am EDT

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