Mark Finn

Mark Finn is an author, editor, essayist, and pop-culture critic. He’s a nationally recognized authority on the Texas author Robert E. Howard and has written extensively about him. When not writing something interesting and geeky, he shares his opinions on several podcasts from atop an old movie theater in North Texas.

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2:00 PM | Location: Sooner A

Roots & Influences: Mythology in UF

Authors discuss how mythology from various cultures plays a role in their urban-fantasy works and in those of other writers they admire.

Moderator: Mark Finn

Panelists: Mark Finn, Rosemary Clement-Moore, Kyri Hester, Karen Thrower

Tracks: History, Writing & Publishing, Supernatural & Paranormal, Fantasy

4:00 PM | Location: Sooner B

I Can See a Trope from My Backyard!

Tropes are comfortable standbys for storytelling. But sometimes the cringe factor outweighs the narrative need. When's a trope welcome, and what do we really need to start leaving behind?

Moderator: A. Lee Martinez

Panelists: A. Lee Martinez, Aaron Bossig, Mark Finn, Sally Hamilton, Rook Riley, Tommy B. Smith

Tracks: Writing & Publishing, Comics, Pop Culture & Entertainment, Film & TV, Gaming

9:30 PM | Location: Embassy Hotel: Suite 204 (Upstairs)

SoonerCon @ Midnight: Worst Book Ever

Join us with your beverage(s) of choice in hand as intrepid writers lay on their best purple prose to create titles and openings for the Worst Book Ever, hosted by Larry "Dr. Trek" Nemecek! (Max occupancy 30 at one time.)

Moderator: Larry Nemecek

Panelists: Larry Nemecek, Phillip Drayer Duncan, Daniel Erickson, Mark Finn, Tim Frayser, vickey malone kennedy, Tracy S. Morris

Tracks: Pop Culture & Entertainment, Writing & Publishing, General Interest

9:00 AM | Location: Embassy Hotel: Interior Courtyard - Fountain

Koffeeklatch

Join panelists in the hotel breakfast area for morning networking and conversation. BYO coffee, please.

Moderator: Mark Alfred

Panelists: Mark Alfred, Alice-of-Hearts, Aoi Kitsu, Beku.Cos, Blair Bartlett - Alternate Realities Studio, Aaron Bossig, Brook Bullock, David Carrico, Cat of WhiskersandBeans, Peri Charlifu, Rosemary Clement-Moore, Crazy Red Artist, EBA Comedy, Daniel Erickson, Rhonda Eudaly, Everyday Futurist, Shai Fenwick, Mark Finn, Caleb Haldane, Sally Hamilton, Teddy Harvia, Lyde Van Hoy, Barrett Huddleston, Nick Johnson, Jovial Juggernaut, vickey malone kennedy, Knightmage, Julia S. Mandala, A. Lee Martinez, Moe, Tracy S. Morris, Kathleen M O'Brien, Remy Domino, Joey “Okie Space Queen” Rodman, James Simpson, Seth Skorkowsky, A C Smart, Tommy B. Smith, Squirrelly Jedi Photography, Stevo the Gutter Nerd, B J Thrower

Tracks: General Interest, Meetup, Food & Drink

11:00 AM | Location: Noble

Author Readings

Authors read selections from their various works.

Moderator: Philip Drayer Duncan

Panelists: Phillip Drayer Duncan, Rhonda Eudaly, Mark Finn, vickey malone kennedy

Tracks: Writing & Publishing

1:00 PM | Location: Sooner A

The B-Movie Panel

Bad sci-fi movies are a guilty pleasure for so many of us! Why do we love movies that love to be bad?

Moderator: Caleb Masters

Panelists: Caleb Masters, Buck Berlin, Mark Finn, James Hollaman, Bekah June

Tracks: Fandoms, Pop Culture & Entertainment, Film & TV

3:00 PM | Location: Sooner A

RPG Adventure Writing

So you've decided to write a game module? Awesome! Game writers and developers share advice on how to write adventures, compensate when players derail the plot, and provide inspirational narrative elements to help players develop characters and engage in roleplaying.

Moderator: Michael Cross

Panelists: Michael Cross, Mark Finn, Lyde Van Hoy, Jeff Provine, Seth Skorkowsky, Christina Stiles

Tracks: Writing & Publishing, Gaming

7:00 PM | Location: Embassy Hotel: Interior Courtyard - Atrium

Literary Beers

Join panelists in the hotel lounge for lively conversation. BYO beverages, please.

Moderator: Rosemary Clement-Moore

Panelists: Rosemary Clement-Moore, Daniel Erickson, Everyday Futurist, Shai Fenwick, Mark Finn, Dara Fogel, PhD, Tyrell Gephardt, Sally Hamilton, Sheila Hartney, Carolyn Kay, Chaz Kemp, vickey malone kennedy, Melinda LaFevers, Julia S. Mandala, A. Lee Martinez, Tracy S. Morris, Michael Mosley, Ethan Nahté, Ted Pennella, Rook Riley, Rie Sheridan Rose, Seth Skorkowsky, Karen Thrower, Mel. White, Craig Wolf

Tracks: General Interest, Food & Drink, Writing & Publishing, Meetup

11:00 AM | Location: Sooner B

Groupthink, Misinformation, Moral Panics, and More

Survey the behavior of those caught up in societal panics. Examples are the Red Scare, (fictional) child-abuse rings, Satanic panic and D&D, mad gassers, and such. Must a group define itself by defining and condemning an Other, even if the Other ain’t there?

Moderator: Dara Fogel, PhD

Panelists: Dara Fogel, PhD, Dr Paisley, Mark Finn, Pigeon, Joey “Okie Space Queen” Rodman, A C Smart

Tracks: Culture & World Affairs, General Interest

1:00 PM | Location: Sooner A

Lovecraftian Reinterpretations

The conceit is that HP Lovecraft’s mythos explains every story. For instance, is the shapeshifter in The Thing a shoggoth? Are Tolkien’s Ringwraiths really Night-Gaunts? Don't forget the implications of Star Trek’s “Catspaw” and its “Old Ones”!

Moderator: Mark Alfred

Panelists: Mark Alfred, Mark Finn, Bradley H Sinor, Seth Skorkowsky

Tracks: Writing & Publishing