#and visit sarem

[the-winds-of-destiny-xxx]

.

#going to london on friday! #gonna stay at my aunty's house #and visit sarem #will probs stay for like 3 days #so happy to get away from bristol for a bit things are getting so bad

[dancinginodessa]

I’ve been doing this survey on New Year’s Eve for thirteen years, which is HALF MY LIFE, and I need to go sit down now.

1. What did you do in 2017 that you’d never done before?

Officiated a wedding, crocheted a shawl, got a joint membership to something with somebody (the New York Botanical Gardens, truly the highest level of commitment before marriage), marched for my beliefs, called my elected officials on a regular basis, got a promotion, genuinely did not give one shit if my dad’s family figured out my sexuality, etc.

2. Did you keep your new years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

My sole New Year’s resolution, as usual, was about how many books I wanted to read. I chose 100. I read 103.

In the new year, I (please hold on to your hats) want to read less, only so I can write more. It’s been a while now since I graduated from the MFA program. I want to go back to the work I was learning to do and keep doing it. That was the point: to keep doing it. 

I always want to learn to be more comfortable with not being in control, which might actually take me the rest of my life, but I might as well start sometime.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

No, though I know of lovely people who had equally lovely babies! Just, you know, not babies I know very well.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

No. People got sick but recovered, and I am so grateful for that.

5. What countries did you visit?

I did not leave America for the...fourth year running? It’s a bummer.

6. What would you like to have in 2018 that you lacked in 2017?

Money that I am not actively setting on fire, and more room in this apartment.

7. What date from 2017 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

August 5: my best friend got married. I remember this on account of how I officiated, and also on account of it was one of the loveliest days of my life.

September 9: I had dinner at the American Girl Café, which I will not stop talking about until I am literally dead.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

I got a therapist!!! 

9. What was your biggest failure?

I was a real dick to myself. And I’m still very bad at emailing people back in a timely fashion. As far as society is concerned, the latter is a graver sin.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

A bunch of weird bruises and scabs from being too clumsy to live, plus a pretty nasty cold or two. And I guess mental illness more or less constantly. But I think I am okayer now, and was okayer all this year, than I have been for a long time.

11. What was the best thing you bought?

G and I went halvsies on a Nintendo Switch! I’m real bad at Mario Kart 8 Deluxe! But I guess love is being real bad at something in front of someone and not caring.

Also: plane tickets to Cleveland and Chicago, bus tickets home, yarn for my mother’s Christmas shawl, a new phone because that means my dad has inherited my old phone and we can send each other emoji-filled texts now.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

Everyone who put up a good fight. The friends who hugged and fed me. G, for riffing off my bad jokes with his own bad jokes for another whole calendar year. My parents, for everything. The McElroy brothers, for making me laugh every time I needed to.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

The government? Evangelical Christianity? Lani Sarem? In no particular order?

14. Where did most of your money go?

Transportation to other cities and mental healthcare. Holy hell am I glad that I now see a therapist who does not cost $$$$$.  

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

Karen’s wedding!! Seeing Welcome to Night Vale live!! Making things to keep people I love warm!! The 5 Boro Bike Tour!! Switching to a shampoo that makes my dry hair less dry and therefore more acceptable in polite society!!

16. What song will always remind you of 2017?

“New Rules” by Dua Lipa, no contest.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:

i. happier or sadder? Happier. Angrier. More willing to put up a fight.

ii. thinner or fatter? The same, I think, because we can’t afford an animator to redraw my sprite and I guess the series is going to be using this model until further notice.

iii. richer or poorer? Poorer. Woof.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?

Being honest about what I needed. Wearing a scarf instead of pretending I wasn’t cold. Watching Netflix, because now it’s almost 2018 and I still haven’t seen Stranger Things or Bojack Horseman and the entire zeitgeist has left me behind. 

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?

Worrying (about whether I am secretly the most unbearable person alive/about what my face is doing/about spending too much money/about what I should be doing with my life/about whether or not I am literally about to die, which, so far so good), though that is kind of a tall order. 

20. How will you be spending Christmas?

I went home and spent December 25th at my grandma’s, where I was very cold and also very happy to be with my family. For Julian calendar Christmas, I think I am going to see family in Connecticut, and I haven’t seen them since I was 12, so this could be great AND/OR very awkward. Say a prayer.

21. Did you fall in love in 2017?

Stayed in it. Bought a time-share in it. Built a house in it. 

22. How many one-night stands?

I’ve been having the same one-night stand for two and a half years, am I doing this wrong?

23. What was your favourite TV program?

I watched little to no TV this year, but I did really like the one episode of My Brother, My Brother & Me I saw! If we’re counting Youtube channels, I would like to give an award to Geography Now! for being the glue that bonds my parents and my boyfriend.

24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?

Honestly, I don’t think so. 2017 is the year of smoldering resentment. I’m too tired to hate anybody extra.

25. What was the best book you read?

Oh geez. Lincoln in the Bardo was way up there. And Version Control. Also Shrill, and Her Body and Other Parties, and maybe a dozen more, but I’m trying to finish this before midnight (in five hours), so let’s stop there.

26. What was your greatest musical discovery?

This was not a year in which I listened to much music! That was weird. So I can’t say I really discovered anything; however, I certainly continued to be grateful for Ween.

27. What did you want and get?

A subscription to New York Magazine. Listen, it’s the little things. (Also, a raise.)

28. What was your favourite film of this year?

Thor: Ragnarok is the most profoundly bisexual movie I have ever seen. I would also like to nominate the trailer for A Wrinkle in Time, even though the movie is not out yet. It’s just that the trailer is very important to me.

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

I turned 26! And my birthday just happened to fall on one of the dates of Welcome to Night Vale’s spring tour, so I went to the Bell House with G. There’s a doofy photo of us on Facebook looking pleased with ourselves on the train, and I treasure it.

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

I’m getting word that everybody else already submitted “a different president,” so how about...a rug in my living room that isn’t white? Come on, Past Nina. Who did you think you were? That kind of hubris is unbecoming, and we’re all paying the price now.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2017?

“Thanks, I Love Cardigans.”

32. What kept you sane?

Podcasts, crocheting, calling my mom to vent my spleen, and therapy (if you want the literal answer).

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

Oscar Isaac is a beautiful man, and St. Vincent is my queen.

34. What political issue stirred you the most?

[tense, angry silence; in the distance, thunder and a horse’s whinny]

35. Who did you miss?

Everyone. All the time. Especially my parents.

36. Who was the best new person you met?

Who did I meet this year? It’s been a decade since January. The new tenants at the office are pretty delightful, and my first bonding activity with my roommate E was going with her and G to the Women’s March. (We three are the best apartment you know.)

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2017:

It’s okay if you aren’t okay.

#the year in review

[jennytrout]

Jealous Hater Book Club: Handbook For Mortals Chapter 2 The Hermit or "Cifnaf annataz""

Jealous Hater Book Club: Handbook For Mortals Chapter 2 The Hermit or “Cifnaf annataz””

So, in Handbook For Mortals news, brace yourselves, because there is a lot. If you need a break, I encourage you to visit author Claribel Ortega’s Tumblr, where she’s writing an excellent Handbook For Mortals fanfic. So, remember when Lani Sarem insisted that no one gamed the system, that her books weren’t bulk-ordered, that she played by the rules and was viciously robbed of her legitimate…

View On WordPress

[theultimatefan]

Goldblum, Levi, Guttenberg Q&A’s, Cosplay, Live Podcasts, Creative Panels Head Programming At Wizard World Chicago; Most Included With Any Admission

Q&A sessions with Jeff Goldblum (Jurassic Park, Independence Day), Zachary Levi (Shazam, “Chuck”), Steve Guttenberg (Police Academy franchise, Cocoon), Cary Elwes (The Princess Bride, “Stranger Things”), Henry Winkler (“Happy Days,” “Barry”), Chris Sarandon (The Princess Bride, Nightmare Before Christmas), and “Charmed” (Holly Marie Combs, Brian Krause, Drew Fuller and Billy Zane) plus Kelly Hu (“Arrow,” “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles”) and more, workshops, cosplayer and comics creator sessions, adult and kids costume contests, live podcasts and more highlight the programming offerings at Wizard World Chicago, Thursday through Sunday at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center. Most programming is included as part of the standard event admission and is in addition to the live entertainment options (dancing, music, etc.) all weekend.

Some highlights of the more than 200 hours of panels scheduled to date include:

Group sessions with “Buffy” stars Amy Acker and Emma Caulfield (Saturday, 11:30 a.m.); “Charmed” foursome of Combs, Krause, Fuller and Zane (Saturday, 12:30 p.m.); “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” voices Rob Paulsen, Barry Gordon, Cam Clarke and Townsend Coleman (Friday, 4:30 p.m.); “The Orville” cast Scott Grimes, Mark Jackson and Kelly Hu (Friday, 5 p.m.); “Heroes” foursome Greg Grunberg, Adrian Pasdar, Jack Coleman and David Anders (Saturday, 1:30 p.m.); The Nightmare Before Christmas stars Sarandon and Ken Page (Sunday, noon); “Arrowverse” trio of Hu, Matt Ryan and Teddy Sears (Sunday, 11 a.m.); Classic TV greats Winkler, George Wendt and Brad Savage (Saturday, 3:30 p.m.); “Batman vs. Superman” Kevin Conroy and Dean Cain (Saturday, 4 p.m.); and The Princess Bride reunion with Elwes & Sarandon (Saturday, 5 p.m.)

CONversations with Levi (Friday, 2:30 p.m.), Goldblum (Saturday, 3 p.m.), Guttenberg (Friday, 2 p.m.), Winkler (Friday, 3 p.m.), Powell (Saturday, 5:30 p.m.), Dan Fogler (Fantastic Beasts, Saturday, 2:30 p.m.) Mark Sheppard (“Supernatural”; Saturday, 1 p.m.), Melissa Joan Hart (Sunday, 1 p.m.)

Pro wrestlers Honky Tonk Man and Rob Van Dam (Friday, 4 p.m.) and “Women of Wrestling Torrie Wilson, Lillian Garcia, Lisa Marie Varon and Katie Forbes dish on their favorite ring promotions (Saturday, 1:30 p.m.)

Disney Trivia panel with Walt Before Mickey star Thomas Ian Nicholas (Rookie of the Year, American Pie), moderated by Handbook for Mortals author Lani Sarem and Samm Levine (Saturday, 6 p.m.)

Creator sessions with industry superstars Mike Watson, Kurt Lehner, Joe Wos, Mostafa Moussa, Jeremy Clark, Stuart Sayger, Gavin Smith, Josh Lyman and more

Blood Drive by Versiti Blood Center of Illinois, all weekend

Podcasts hosted by Seth Everett (Hall of Justice, Sports with Friends) and Mo Lightning (WrestlingAudio.com, 97.7 QLZ host); 3 Geeks, Plus Ultra My Hero, Toys Were Us Podcast tapings and Paranormal Podcasting panel by Hysteria 51, Blurry Photos, Freak of the Week, Bob After Dark and Blastropodcast

Interactive Workshops hosted by experts in Cosplay Foam Building/Foamsmithing; Intro to Sculpting; Intro to Resin Casting; Intro to Drawing; Cosplay Posing & Photoshoot; Cosplay Painting & Weathering; Worbla/Thermoplastics Cosplay (additional ticket required)

Psychologist Travis Langley will be on hand doing deep dives into fan favorite topics including "Supervillain Psychology: Who Wants to Be the Bad Guy?" "Broken Superheroes: Inside the Minds of Spider-Man, Batman, Jessica Jones, Deadpool, The Umbrella Academy and More!" and several others

Author Trevor Mueller will be doing three instructional panels - one on self-publishing, one on crafting fictional worlds and one on making webcomics; James Morris and Jared Bartemeyer will also conduct writing panels

Trivia panels on Family Guy & The Simpsons, Marvel vs. DC, Princess Bride, Stranger Things, and horror movies, plus daily Singo with FreeN’ Fun Bar Bingo

Fan- and industry-based panels on subjects ranging from Game of Thrones, geeks and depression, DC Movies, Black Panther, Dragonball Z, horror film characters, props, audio drama, the MCU phase 4, animation, Disney, Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, toy hunting, pop culture & comedy, dating, underground comics, tabletop games/D&D, brand building, webcomics, positive fandom, diversity in comics, streaming app and more

The Enchanted World Of Rankin/Bass Productions With Official Historian/Biographer Rick Goldschmidt

Kids programming all four days (and Kids 10 and under are free every day with paid adult)

World-famous Wizard World Adult Costume Contest, Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Kids Costume Contests on Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m.

Cosplay with special guests Hendo Art, Thousand Faces, Papa Bear, Galaxy Amethyst, LadyDragon Creations, Shield Labs, Wulfgar Weapons and CosAwesome Studios, throughout the weekend

Unless noted, programming events take place in the designated General Programming Rooms or show floor stages at the convention center. VIP tickets or additional costs may apply to ensure access to select activities, as noted.

A full list of Wizard World Chicago programming is available at http://wizardworld.com/programming-entertainment/chicago (subjects, guests, times and rooms subject to change).

Wizard World events bring together thousands of fans of all ages to celebrate the best in pop culture: movies, television, gaming, live entertainment, comics, sci-fi, graphic novels, toys, original art, collectibles, contests and more. The eighth event scheduled on the 2019 Wizard World calendar, Chicago show hours are Thursday, August 22, 4-9 p.m.; Friday, August 23, noon-7 p.m.; Saturday, August 24, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sunday, August 25, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Kids 10 and under are admitted free with paid adult.

Wizard World Chicago is also the place for cosplay, with fans young and old showing off their best costumes throughout the event. Fans dressed as every imaginable character – and some never before dreamed – will roam the convention floor and participate in the famed Wizard World Costume Contest on Saturday evening.

For more on the 2019 Wizard World Chicago, visit http://wizd.me/ChicagoPR.

[lagilliland]

Debut Novel by Lani Sarem Set For Release August 15

Los Angeles, CA (August 2, 2017) – “Handbook for Mortals” continues countdown to release with an exclusive reveal of the cover art via Nerdist.com, LINK.  The debut novel from former band manager, Lani Sarem, is set for release on August 15 in partnership with GeekNation in their first venture delivering original content.  The first installment of the new young adult series,“Handbook for Mortals,” releases through GeekNation Press in hardcover, as well as ebook.  For more information please visit handbookseries.com and GeekNation.com.

The artwork for “Handbook for Mortals” was created by talented indie comic artist, Ryan M. Kincaid (“Grimm Fairy Tales,” “Zombies vs. Cheerleaders”).  “Getting to work on “Handbook for Mortals” was an amazing new experience for me. It is an honor to bring Zade to life” said Kincaid.  “I was able to add elements and ideas from the book as well as adding my style with an end result I hope the readers will enjoy and love.”

In this series debut, readers will journey from small town southern life to big-time Vegas show life. Our heroine has magick gifts that defy normal life and offer her a new lease on living independently, yet clashing with reality in proving her talents and her place, all teetering with the prophecies of destiny versus death. “Handbook for Mortals” mission is to engage millennials and those of all ages that have ever been touched by magick in any form, as well non-believers.

From internationally known, ultimate pop-culture enthusiasts mecca for entertainments ever-growing geek contingent, GeekNation.com – co-founded by actress Clare Kramer (“Buffy,” “Bring It On,” “House,” “Big Ass Spider”) and producer Brian Keathley (“In Enemy Hands,” “Shortcut to Happiness”) – a new publishing arm exclusive in partnership with longtime actress, Grammy-award winning multi-platinum artists (Blues Traveler, Gnarls Barkley, Plain White T’s,) band and tour manager, and entertainment industry veteran Lani Sarem comes “Handbook for Mortals,” an empowering and intriguing tale about the real power of magick and its effect on life.

A project of true vision that comes from the heart, this uniquely creative magick story is inspired as much by Sarem’s life story coupled with life experiences. “Handbook for Mortals” is a planned feature film franchise with famed Thomas Ian Nicholas (“American Pie,” “Rookie of the Year”) producing and acting, as well featuring the Plain White T’s. An overall thrilling entertainment experience to illicit a new wave audience of geeks, wizards, warlocks, witches, and wonderers alike.

About the Author

Lani Sarem basically grew up in the entertainment industry. She began acting at age three and continued to act and perform through her early years. Lani began writing scripts when she was eleven. Over the years she has become a jack-of-all-trades in the entertainment business. She became a rock n’ roll gypsy at fifteen and started touring with bands and working on festivals. She’s toured with everyone from Ryan Adams to Gnarls Barkley. She also became one of the youngest female managers in the business and managed bands like the Plain White T's, 100 Monkeys and Blues Traveler. Lani has appeared in films like “Mall Cop 2,” “Jason Bourne,” and “Trailer Park Shark.” You can follow Lani on her social networks to keep up with her many adventures and look out for her at a Wizard World Comic Con near you.

About GeekNation

Launched in 2012, GeekNation.com has become the ultimate mecca of entertainment through articles, blogs, podcasts, videos, and web series, serving as a lifestyle and entertainment hub for the ever-growing geek contingency and pop-culture enthusiasts. GeekNation offers a one-stop-shop for a user-base looking for news, opinion, lifestyle and community with interests in entertainment, television, movies, sports, technology, events and all things pop culture. GeekNation is responsible for producing an array of award winning podcasts and shows, such as The Movie Crypt, hosted by directors Adam Green (“Hatchet,” “Frozen”) and Joe Lynch (“Wrong Turn 2: Dead End” and “Everly”). The company has since moved into producing for Network Television with their first show, “Then Again with Herbie Pilato,” selling to Decades (CBS). GeekNation also produces feature films and distributing through their partnership with the shingle, Defiance Entertainment (“Tyson,” a documentary of Mike Tyson). In addition, GeekNation recently launched the event ticketing platform, FanFix, specifically created to handle ticket sales for Film Festivals and Comic Cons. GeekNation was co-founded by actress Clare Kramer (“Buffy,” “Bring It On,” “House,” “Big Ass Spider”) and film producer Brian R. Keathley ("NARC," "Tyson," "In Enemy Hands," "Shortcut to Happiness"). GeekNation is a collaboration of several Hollywood actors, writers, producers and directors that have come together to provide quality content from a studio in Los Angeles. For more information visit GeekNation.com.

# # #

“Handbook for Mortals”

On Sale: August 15, 2017 | ISBN: 9781545611456 and ebook ISBN: 9781545612392

Price: $24.99 and ebook $9.99 | 448 pages

GeekNation Press hardcover, also available as an ebook

http://www.handbookseries.com/

@HandbookforMortals

[the-winds-of-destiny-xxx]

.

#maybe I should visit Sarem more #but she’s always so busy

[theultimatefan]

‘Smallville,’ ‘Charmed’ Q&A’s, Cosplay, Creative Panels Head Programming At Wizard World Cleveland; Most Included With Any Admission

Q&A sessions with the stars of “Smallville” and “Charmed,” plus Richard Rankin (“Outlander”), Sean Astin (The Lord of the Rings, “Stranger Things 2”), Matt Ryan (“Constantine”), Kevin Conroy (“Batman: The Animated Series,” “Justice League”) and Chad Michael Murray (“One Tree Hill,” “Gilmore Girls”), and workshops, cosplayer and comics creator sessions, adult and kids costume contests, speed dating and more highlight the programming offerings at Wizard World Cleveland, Friday through Sunday at the Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland. Most programming is included as part of the standard event admission and is in addition to the live entertainment options (dancing, music, etc.) all weekend. Some highlights of the more than 80 hours of panels scheduled to date include: · Group sessions with the casts of “Smallville” (Tom Welling (Clark Kent), Michael Rosenbaum (Lex Luthor), Laura Vandervoort (Kara / Supergirl), John Glover (Lionel Luthor) and Alaina Huffman (Dinah Lance / Black Canary); Saturday, 4 p.m.); and “Charmed” (Holly Marie Combs, Brian Krause and Drew Fuller; Saturday, 1 p.m.) · Sessions with Rankin (Sunday 11:30 a.m.), Ryan (Saturday, noon), Conroy (Saturday 3 p.m.), Astin (Saturday, 2 p.m.) and Murray (Saturday, 3 p.m.) · Disney Trivia panel with Walt Before Mickey star Thomas Ian Nicholas (Rookie of the Year), moderated by Handbook for Mortals author Lani Sarem (Saturday, 2 p.m.) · Creator sessions with industry superstars Joe Wos, Stuart Sayger, Gavin Smith, Mostafa Moussa, Jeremy Clark, Shawn Coss, Mark Kistler, Mike Watson and more · Action Comedy Nerd Show comedy act (Friday 7:30 p.m., Saturday 6 p.m.) · Immersive, high-intensity interactive workshops on such topics as Cosplay Foam Fabrication, Acting, Worbla, Wiz-Art, Posing and Photography (these workshops have an additional fee, and are limited availability) · Fan- and industry-based panels on subjects ranging from wig care, YouTube 101, Paranormal, self-promotion, NASA and the science of Superman, diversity, Ghostbusters, indie comics, filming fight sequences, Haunted Ohio, animation, Pokemon and more · Kids programming all three days, including story time, face painting, puppet shows, dance parties, magic, learn to draw, (and Kids 10 and under are free every day with paid adult) · Attend a recording session of the Game Fix Podcast (Saturday, 2:30 p.m.), with many giveaways; and the 3 Geeks Podcast (Sunday, noon) · World-famous Wizard World Adult Costume Contest, Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Kids Costume Contests on Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m. · Super Sonic Speed Dating (Friday 7:30 p.m.; Saturday 11:30 a.m.(LGBTQIA+), 1:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m.; Sunday 11 a.m. (LGBTQIA+), 1 p.m., 3 p.m., 60 minute sessions · Cosplay with special guests SuperKayce, Knightmage, Galaxy Amethyst, Meerami, Missy Mayhem, Christina Dark, Rubber City Cosplay and more, throughout the weekend · Drink & Draw hosted by Joe Wos, for pros and amateurs alike… weirdness, drinks, drawing, and prizes (at WXYZ Bar, inside the ALoft Cleveland Downtown, 1111 W. 10th St., Cleveland; Friday, 9-11 p.m., FREE admission with Wizard World wristband) · Cosplay and Industry Workshops (Social Media/Branding/Content Creation, Wiz-Art, Resin Casting, Intro to Sculpting), require additional ticket Unless noted, programming events take place in the designated General Programming Rooms or show floor stages at the convention center. VIP tickets or additional costs may apply to ensure access to select activities, as noted. A full list of Wizard World Cleveland programming is available at http://wizardworld.com/programming-entertainment/cleveland (subjects, guests, times and rooms subject to change). Wizard World events bring together thousands of fans of all ages to celebrate the best in pop culture: movies, television, gaming, live entertainment, comics, sci-fi, graphic novels, toys, original art, collectibles, contests and more. The third event scheduled on the 2019 Wizard World calendar, Cleveland show hours are Friday, March 8, 4-9 p.m.; Saturday, March 9, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sunday, March 10, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Kids 10 and under are admitted free with paid adult. Wizard World Cleveland is also the place for cosplay, with fans young and old showing off their best costumes throughout the event. Fans dressed as every imaginable character – and some never before dreamed – will roam the convention floor and participate in the famed Wizard World Costume Contest on Saturday evening. For more on the 2019 Wizard World Cleveland, visit http://wizd.me/ClevelandPR.

[theultimatefan]

Shatner, ‘Supernatural’ Q&A’s, Cosplay, Creative Panels Head Programming At Wizard World Madison; Most Included With Any Admission

Q&A sessions with William Shatner (“Star Trek”), Dean Cain (“Lois & Clark”), Matthew Lewis (Harry Potter), stars of “Supernatural” (Ruth Connell and Lisa Berry) and “Charmed” (Holly Marie Combs, Drew Fuller and Brian Krause) plus Barry Williams (“The Brady Bunch”), Jason Ralph (“The Magicians”), Kevin Sorbo (“Hercules”), anime, video games, cosplayer and comics creator sessions, adult and kids costume contests and more highlight the programming offerings at Wizard World Madison, Friday through Sunday, at the Alliant Energy Center. Most programming is included as part of the standard event admission and is in addition to the live entertainment options (dancing, music, etc.) all weekend.

Some highlights of the more than 50 hours of panels scheduled to date include:

Interactive group Q&As with the casts of “Supernatural” (Saturday, 3 p.m.) and “Charmed” (Saturday, 4 p.m.),

Sessions with Shatner (Sunday, noon), Sorbo (Saturday, 3 p.m.), Cain (Saturday, 4 p.m.), Lewis (Saturday, 5 p.m.), Williams (Sunday, 1 p.m.), Ralph (Sunday, 1 p.m.) and Kimberly J. Brown (“Halloweentown,” Sunday, 1 p.m.)

Disney Trivia panel with Walt Before Mickey stars Thomas Ian Nicholas (Rookie of the Year) and Jon Heder (Napoleon Dynamite), moderated by Handbook for Mortals author Lani Sarem (Saturday, 2 p.m.)

Voice actor sessions featuring Patricia Summersett (“Legend of Zelda: The Breath of the Wild”), Erica Schroeder (“Pokemon”) and Samantha Newark (“Jem and the Holograms”) (Saturday, 3:30 p.m)

Documentary Beyond The Comic Panels Preview Screening and Artist Q&A with cinematographer Jason C. Gares and Tom Cook, Steve Geiger and Mostafa Moussa (Friday, 6-8 p.m.) -- filmed at Wizard World Madison 2017!

Creator sessions with industry superstars Geiger, Moussa, Trevor Mueller, Mark Stegbauer, Thomas Estrada, Jeremy Clark and more

Fan- and industry-based panels on subjects ranging from Krampus, podcasting, Marvel vs. DC, diversity in cosplay, IDW Transformers, cosplay portrait editing, Haunted Wisconsin, Pokémon and more

Kids programming all three days, including story time, face painting, puppet shows, dance parties, magic, learn to draw, (and Kids 10 and under are free every day with paid adult)

World-famous Wizard World Adult Costume Contest, Saturday at 7 p.m. and Kids Costume Contests on Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m.

Cosplay with special guests Captain K, Mogchelle, Papa Bear Cosplay, Kael Star, cosplay photographer Spyros Henaidis and more, throughout the weekend

Cosplay and Industry Workshops (Pokémon, Sculpting, Worbla, Voice Acting, Foam Building, Resin Casting), require additional ticket

Unless noted, programming events take place in the designated General Programming Rooms or show floor stages at the convention center. VIP tickets or additional costs may apply to ensure access to select activities, as noted.

A full list of Wizard World Madison programming is available at http://wizardworld.com/programming-entertainment/madison (subjects, guests, times and rooms subject to change).

Wizard World events bring together thousands of fans of all ages to celebrate the best in pop culture: movies, television, gaming, live entertainment, comics, sci-fi, graphic novels, toys, original art, collectibles, contests and more. The 13th and final event scheduled on the 2018 Wizard World calendar, Madison show hours are Friday, November 30, 4-9 p.m.; Saturday, December 1, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sunday, December 2, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Kids 10 and under are admitted free with paid adult.

Wizard World Madison is also the place for cosplay, with fans young and old showing off their best costumes throughout the event. Fans dressed as every imaginable character – and some never before dreamed – will roam the convention floor and participate in the famed Wizard World Costume Contest on Saturday evening.

For more on the 2018 Wizard World Madison, visit http://wizd.me/MadisonPR.

About Wizard World (OTCBB: WIZD)

Wizard World, Inc. (www.wizardworld.com) produces comic, gaming and pop culture conventions across North America that celebrate the best in pop culture: movies, television, gaming, live entertainment, tech, comics, sci-fi, graphic novels, toys, original art, collectibles, contests and more. A first-class lineup of topical programming and entertainment takes place at each event, with celebrity Q&A's, comics-themed sessions, costume contests, movie screenings, evening parties and more. Wizard World has also teamed with Sony Pictures Entertainment to find the next generation of movies as well as to engage in a number of strategic initiatives. Additional initiatives may include an augmented touring schedule of Wizard World shows, fixed-site installations, curated e-commerce, and the production and distribution of content both in the U.S. and internationally. Fans can interact with Wizard World at www.wizardworld.com and on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram and other social media services.

The 2018-19 Wizard World convention schedule is available at: http://www.wizardworld.com/comiccon.