LitRPG Con
Added 2025-07-22 05:31:38 +0000 UTCIt's late, but I was having a heck of a time getting photos to upload at the con, so I wanted to drop these before you see too many others and just don't care anymore ๐
I went to a bunch of panels (listed below, along with participants) and the main thing I realized is that a good moderator makes a huge difference ๐ I learned that Matt Dinniman sometimes writes the same scene several different ways, then just releases the one that's craziest. I also discovered that I'm very much Team Dakota Krout, and not Team Matt Dinniman (which I knew, but meeting them solidified it.) Also, James Hunter remembered Broken Knife and said it was really good! (Squee!)
The only real moment of total potential fan meltdown was when I realized that I was in the same room with the author of Heretical Fishing ๐ฒ
Also, Matt Dinniman is the LitRPG version of a Disney princess, who can't make it two feet without someone accosting him for an autograph or a photo op. He looked like he wanted to punch me when I brought him a book in the hallway, but he kindly did not do so, which I greatly appreciate. He even signed the book, and not with my blood. Yay!
I didn't stay at the Grand Hyatt, but I hear there was a fire (linens, though there were mixed rumors about where the linens were when they caught on fire) at about 12:30 AM Sunday morning. I spoke to a lady who was on the floor below the fire (floor 32 maybe?) who said the hall was filled with smoke, and of course the elevators were off, and the guests weren't allowed to use the stairs because the firefighters were using them. They were just left there in smoke-filled halls, 30 stories up, literally sending the 'If I don't see you again, just know I love you' texts until 3:30 AM, at which time they were told to go back to bed. Meanwhile, those on the lower floors barely even noticed anything had happened. Most of the authors were up on the top floors, so needless to say, there were a lot of "I've had too much caffeine/I haven't had enough caffeine" jokes at the panels early Sunday.
I totally forgot to take any of my bookmarks, so I had nothing to hand out. ARGH!
Funny story (I think) about the one game I played while I was there. I'll write that tomorrow.
I've added some more info on the photos, so if you want to read it, click away!
The panels I went to are:
Opening Ceremonies - Jez Cajiao, Jeff Hays, Aleron Kong, Matt Dinniman, Travis Baldree
Writing Fights So Cool They Deserve Their Own Soundtrack: Aaron Michael Ritchey, Jez Cajiao, TJ Lombardi, Waldo Rodriguez, Sean Hall
Crit, Quit, or Rage Quit?: Matt Dinniman, Daniel Schinhofen, Eric "Gary" Ugland, Andrea Parsneau, Jez Cajiao, Brian J. Nordon, K.T. Hanna, Ryan Maxwell, Gabriel L Rathweg, Jeremy Frazier, Gary Furlong
From Royal Road to Revenue: Ryan Tang, Blaise Corvin, Kacey Ezell, Noret Flood, Dakota Krout
Crit Fails and Combat Boots: Women in LitRPG: Shami Stovall, Rose Reynolds (TJ Pen Name), K.T. Hanna, Erin Ampersand, Rachel Nรญ Chuirc
Diverse Realms: Exploring Inclusion in LitRPG: Rose Reynolds (TJ Pen Name), Ryan H. Reid, Jonathan Smidt aka Ryn Stryker, Marsh AKA Reck Well, JP "Nixia" Valentine
Plus 10 to Humor: When LitRPG Gets Funny: Dakota Krout, Hunter Mythos, James Hunter, Matt Dinniman, Brian J. Nordon
Roll for Outline: Plotter, Pantser, or Chaos Mage: Drew Hayes, Adam Beswick, Shami Stovall, Jack Fields, Nicoli Gonnella
Hit by a Truck, Now I'm the Chosen One: Drew Hayes, James Hunter, Nicoli Gonnella, Sean Oswald, Eric "Gary" Ugland
XP, Tea, and Tranquility: The Rise of Cozy LitRPG: S.L. Rowland, Justin Marks, Robert Gagnon, Haylock Jobson, David North
Comments
I've read a lot of their books, but the ones I remember are Matt Dinniman (DCC, of course, and I didn't know he started in horror, but it explains so much), Alleron Kong writes The Land, TJ Lombardi writes Golem Master, Dakota Krout writes Completionist Chronicles, Erin Ampersand is Apocalypse Parenting, Haylock Jobson is Heretical Fishing, KT Hanna is Library System Reset. Lots more, obviously, but these are the ones I have in my notes ๐ I did! I already submitted to Aethon right before I left, but they're the Big Name, so I don't have high hopes there. The Legion encouraged me to submit but didn't seem particularly inspired by my elevator pitch. Shadow Alley actually said they would send my info to their Acquisitions person, and seemed very interested, so fingers crossed! Shadow Alley represents James Hunter, and has a lot of books with my slightly cozy feel, so I think they would be a good match.
Elizabeth Oswald
2025-07-22 18:52:47 +0000 UTCI haven't read her books (not fluffy enough, because I need fluffy rn) but she seemed nice. I wrote down 'ni Kirk' in my notes ๐ I had fun! I didn't get a lot of hard help. I was hoping for specific ways to reach publishers/recommendations, tips and tricks of publishing, kind of actionable items, but mostly everyone talked about their writing styles and how they're all different ๐คฃ Which was fascinating, but I wanted to answer, too!
Elizabeth Oswald
2025-07-22 18:41:50 +0000 UTCGaelic name detected. No idea who she is, but I can say her name. Looks and sounds like you had a blast! And those are some nice scenic photos after the con stuff. Hopefully they gave you some good tips and pointers? Hurray, someone remembering Broken Knife!
Joseph Sikorski
2025-07-22 18:07:36 +0000 UTCSo many names that don't mean anything to me... Sounds like some good panels there. And, could you talk with some publishers or others about your own works?
Veldorn
2025-07-22 09:22:51 +0000 UTC
