Guests

Each year LibraryCon welcomes a diverse array of creatives, creators, cosplayers, visual artists, and more as Guest of the event. See below for a breakdown of who’s attending LibraryCon 2025. Our guests will be participating in a variety of Q&A panels and classes. Our list of Guests is always growing, so make sure to check back for more information on who’s attending this year!

The deadline for Guest Application submissions is July 31, 2025. If you have questions about your application, or need further assistance, please email our staff for more information.

Authors

P.J. Hoover

P. J. (Tricia) Hoover wanted to be a Jedi, but when that didn't work out, she became an electrical engineer instead. After a fifteen year bout designing computer chips for a living, P. J. started creating worlds of her own. She's the best-selling and award-winning author of over 50 books. Under the Connor Hoover pseudonym, she is also the author of the popular Pick Your Own Quest series, which are interactive adventures perfect for everyone. When not writing, P. J. loves spending time practicing kung fu, fixing things around the house, and solving Rubik's cubes.

Joe Khachadourian

Joe Khachadourian is a writer, concept creator, and graphic fiction evangelist living in Austin, Texas. Formerly an Executive Editor at MightyVille.com - A Comics Website, Joe has contributed to various websites and periodicals over the years, along with a number of comic book anthologies, including IDW Publishing’s Transformers: Mosaic. A recipient of several awards in journalism and playwriting, Joe decided to make the dive into the world of creator-owned comics with IDENTITY STUNT and Altered Metal, both published by Markosia. A lifelong comic book reader, these are the projects his entire creative career has been building to and he’s thrilled to have you along for the ride!

Mari Mancusi

Mari Mancusi is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than thirty sci-fi/fantasy books for kids, teens and adults and an Emmy award winning former TV news producer. Her series New Dragon City has been selected for major state reading lists, including the Texas Bluebonnet Award list. She also writes movie tie-in novels for Disney including the Nightmare Before Christmas Twisted Tale: Sally’s Lament and several Frozen themed books. In addition to writing, Mari loves to travel, watch horror movies and play video games. She lives in Austin, Texas with her husband and their teenage daughter.

Sean Kelley McKeever

Sean Kelley McKeever is the Eisner Award-winning writer of SPIDER-MAN LOVES MARY JANE, TEEN TITANS, AVENGERS UNLIMITED, X-MEN ORIGINS, BIRDS OF PREY, OUTPOST ZERO and much more. Sean's also written for animation and video games, including the award-winning STAR WARS: THE OLD REPUBLIC at BioWare and THE X-FILES for FoxNext. He's online at seanmckeever.com.

Paul Benjamin

Paul Benjamin is a New York Times bestselling author who has written and produced comics and video games for diverse properties including many Marvel characters such as Hulk, Spider-Man, and Wolverine, as well as Disney Princesses, Star Wars, Star Trek, Starcraft, World of Warcraft, the Muppets, Monsters, Inc., G.I. Joe, and more. His first prose short story appeared in The Protectors anthology. His original manga series Pantheon High was a YALSA Great Graphic Novels for Teens nominee. He is currently Narrative Director on an in-development Warhammer video game.

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Artists

Kazu Kibuishi

Kazu Kibuishi is the writer and artist of the New York Times Bestselling Amulet graphic novel series, published by Scholastic Graphix. Amulet has more than 10 million copies in print and has been translated into 23 languages worldwide. Amulet: Waverider is the 9th and final book in the Amulet series. It was released on February 6th, 2024, becoming the eighth consecutive #1 New York Times Bestseller in the Amulet series.

Kazu Kibuishi was born in Tokyo, Japan in 1978, but is a 4th generation Japanese-American. His grandfather was born in New York City, and his great grandfather opened the Katagiri Store, the oldest Japanese grocery store in the United States in 1907. Kazu’s mother returned to Japan to attend Keio University in Tokyo, Japan, but returned to the United States with her two sons, Kazu and Taka. They grew up in Irvine, California, where Taka currently resides. Kazu lives near San Antonio, Texas.

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Shelby Criswell

Shelby Criswell (they/them) is a multidisciplinary artist and graphic designer from San Antonio, Texas. They have worked with iconic figures and publications like Asleep at the Wheel, Nelly, The Nib, No Depression, and The Santa Fe Reporter. They are known for their comic illustration work in TERMINAL PUNKS (Mad Cave Studios), HEEBIE JEEBIES (Papercutz), as well as their debut graphic novel, QUEER AS ALL GET OUT (Street Noise Books). Rooted in a love for craft and storytelling, Shelby's art explores the intersections of memory, place, history, and personal narrative.

Sam Lotfi

SAM LOTFI is a comic book creator & artist living in Austin, TX. He’s best known for his co-created books MOSELY (Boom! Studios), ALFRED: PAIN in the BUTLER (DC Comics), LAST STOP on the RED LINE (Dark Horse Comics) and TMNT Covers (IDW) as well as other work for DC, IDW, Dynamite, 1First Comics & Antarctic Press. Sam’s artistic contributions include a variety of animated and video game projects, most recently the VR shooter SWARM 1 & 2. When he’s not at the drawing board, Sam enjoys building terrain and painting miniatures for various tabletop RPGs and war games. You can find more of Sam’s work on Instagram @slotfi and SAMLOTFI.COM.

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Ashley Robin Franklin

Ashley Robin Franklin is a queer cartoonist and illustrator based in Austin, Texas, where she lives with her partner and two goofy tiny dogs. Ashley's originally from the Rio Grande Valley (that's south South Texas), and attended college locally at UT-Pan American, majoring in English lit and minoring in Art. Ashley makes sweet and spooky comics with horror and fantasy elements. She is the author of the YA graphic novel, The Hills of Estrella Roja (2023, Harper Collins), as well as the indie horror collection The Skin You’re In (2024, Silver Sprocket). She is currently working on a middle grade graphic novel called The Girl Who Loved Monsters, made in collaboration with writer Insha Fitzpatrick. In her spare time, she loves painting and reading.

Bill Williams

Bill Williams is a seasoned comic book creator with a dynamic career spanning DC Comics, IDW, and beyond. Known for his bold storytelling, Bill’s latest project, PUNCHLINE (Antarctic Press), delivers a thrilling tale of a retired superhero mentoring her successor with grit and heart. His work blends sharp wit, rich characters, and pulse-pounding narratives, earning him a dedicated following in the comic book world.

L.E. Winders

L.E. Winders is a comic artist and illustrator who grew up in the city of Austin. They have contributed as a story artist to animated feature films such as Over the Moon, Back to the Outback, and Leo, where they helped bring a script to life in the form of visual storyboards. Beyond animation, Winders is the creator of Inheritance, a comic that delves into themes of legacy, fate, and personal discovery.

Amanda Pung

Amanda is an animator born and raised in Austin, Texas. She studied for an animation degree at ACC and has worked with LankyBox and Tolok Productions. Most recently, she has contributed to Be Hong, a lighthearted short film about grief. In her free time, she animates and draws for her Instagram and Youtube, which has accumulated over 8k followers and 1k subscribers, respectively.

Puns and Needles

Daniella (Danni) is a designer, artist, and sewist from Austin, Texas. A long-time cosplayer finally pursuing a creative career after years in engineering, she started her art business Puns and Needles in 2023, using a mix of digital art and hand-cut lino prints for her themed and original work. She creates a mix of paper goods (zines, art prints, and stickers) as well as hand-printed upcycled apparel. One of her main goals is to make cute nerdy pieces that bring whimsy into others’ lives while keeping as much anime/comics plastic out of the landfill as she can, so she reuses and thrifts as many of her base materials as possible. On top of her visual art, in her day to day she uses her sewing expertise to teach sewing and mending classes at local makerspaces, working to keep and renew important life skills (including making, altering, and fixing our clothes) within her community.

G.M. Gray

G.M. Gray is an Austin-based science-fiction and fantasy author and illustrator. They are currently working on a queer-normative space opera light novel series, Triple Strike, which they both write and illustrate. Some of their biggest literary inspirations for Triple Strike are Ursula K Le Guin, Terry Pratchett, and Leiji Matsumoto, while the series itself could be described as Star Trek meets Our Flag Means Death meets Phoenix Wright. Given the great deal of affection they have for anime and video game storytelling, they’re not too proud (or too serious!) to incorporate those elements into their own work, so feel free to ask them how much they love Metal Gear Solid if you need to kill an hour or three.

Cosplay Artists

Mochipandacosplay

Mochipanda has been cosplaying for 9 years. They love the creativity and expression that cosplay allows, and they've met so many amazing people through the hobby. They've recently incorporated 3D printing into their workflow, which has opened up a whole new world of possibilities for intricate designs and custom prop creation.

Some of Mochipanda's cosplay accomplishments include winning first place in a cosplay contest, and being invited to be a guest judge at a convention.

Sailor Kikido

Sailor Kikido has been cosplaying for over 10 years. She learned to sew at the age of 5 from her grandmother and has been sewing ever since. Winner of Ikkicon 16 Novice and having taken part in many cosplay contests and events, she enjoys the world of creating and bringing characters to life. She believes that anyone can cosplay.

Faerys.or.Something

Faerys.Or.Something has been cosplaying for 7 years, and has guested/judged cosplay competitions for the past year! They mostly cosplay from video games like FNAF, Hoyoverse, Minecraft, and other small games. They specialize in makeup art, propmaking, and complex wig styling!

Egg

A passionate cosplayer since 2018, Egg has earned multiple major awards for craftsmanship. She specializes in sewing, but her skill set spans wig styling, foamsmithing, prop making, and makeup. She is committed to fostering creativity and community within the cosplay world, always eager to inspire and connect with fellow creators.

Orion Valiant

Orion Valiant (they/them) is a Texas-based cosplayer with a fondness for idol designs, structured jackets, color blocking, taffeta, and all things shiny! They have been crafting cosplays since 2011, focusing on sewing and idol-esque embellishment. They believe that there is space for all kind people in cosplay, and that you should never make major crafting decisions after 9 PM. Meeting fellow cosplayers (especially idol fans!) makes their world go 'round! Come meet Orion for tips on making your cosplays extra sparkly and magical (or just really crisp)!

orionvaliant

Fart Beast Cosplay

Sophie, better known online as fart.beast, is a cosplayer based in Central Texas with six years of experience in the art of transformation. Known for their creative makeup skills and detailed costuming, she strives to create a fun and inclusive community.

Nitpicky Cosplay

Nitpicky Cosplay is an award-winning cosplayer based in Central Texas with 17 years of experience in the cosplay community.

Their specialty is sewing, but they also enjoy making wigs and props. They compete at the Masters level and take great pride in the craftsmanship they bring to each costume. They’ve proudly participated in numerous charity and promotional events throughout the area.

What they love most about cosplay is connecting with the community and building friendships, both new and long-lasting.

Star Garrison

Star Garrison represents Texas within the 501st Legion. The 501st Legion (aka Vader’s Fist) is a worldwide Star Wars fan club celebrating the Star Wars universe using costumes and props, in particular those of the Stormtrooper characters, Imperial forces, and other various “bad guy” characters. The Legion is a volunteer club formed for the express purpose of bringing together costume enthusiasts and giving them a collective identity within which to operate. The Legion’s aims are to celebrate the Star Wars movies through the wearing of costumes, to promote the quality and improvement of costumes and props, and most importantly, to contribute to the local community through charity and volunteer work.

501ststargarrison

Saber Guild

Saber Guild is the largest not-for-profit, LFL-recognized, costumed lightsaber performance club. Jakku Temple is the Central Texas branch with members throughout the Austin and San Antonio greater areas. We enhance local charity, community, and pop culture event experiences through the use of costumed lightsaber choreography to conduct our Interactive Jedi Experience, stage performances, and photo opportunities. We also raise awareness and donations for charity organizations such as The Texas Lion's Camp, Make-a-Wish, and many more. Our mission is to raise and support Texas charities throughout the Central Texas area through our love of Star Wars.

SGJakkuTemple

Mando Mercs Costume Club

Mando Mercs Costume Club, founded in 2007, is one of the largest global Star Wars costuming organizations comprised of and operated by Star Wars fans. It encourages members to focus on adding their personal and distinctive creative individuality to their Mandalorian costumes. Kar’ta Beskar is the local Central Texas clan of the Mando Mercs Costume Club and stretches from San Marcos to Waco, College Station to Fort Stockton. Members of the MMCC have been in central Texas since before Kar’ta Beskar Clan’s formation in 2017. Learn more about Kar’ta Beskar and the Mando Mercs at www.mandalorianmercs.org

Website

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Gaming

GrapeApe

Matt Robertson, also known as GrapeApe, is representing the roleplaying game company Goodman Games. Matt is the host of the Twitch shows RAW: Rules As Written and GrapeApe's Reaver Express, which can be seen both on YouTube and Twitch under the Goodman Games banner. Matt is the founder of the 3rd party publishing company Split the Party Games and has published the Dungeon Crawl Classics (DCC) compatible horror module A Conspiracy of Ravens as well as being a contributing writer and cartographer for multiple publications, the Gongfarmer's Almanac and The Gongfarmer Militia to name a few. Matt can also be found on the DCC fan Discord server DungeonCrawlers where he serves as a moderator and runs DCC and MCC games online. It goes without saying that his favorite color is purple!

Musical Performers

Masters of Unlocking

The Masters of Unlocking consist of Matt and Bryan who are on a mission to take you on a sonic journey across video game history from the deepest depth of the ocean to the furthest reaches of space.

Bookstores & Area Groups

The Book Burrow

The Book Burrow is an independent bookstore. It isn't owned by a big corporation, so people are its mission. We made it a safe space for all our friends and the friends we haven't met yet. We want them to know that this business has a heart and in Pflugerville, we couldn't say it better than Embrace your Weird.

Writers' League of Texas

The Friends of Pflugerville Library

The Friends of the Pflugerville Library raises funds to support library programs, publicizes library activities, and promotes reading and literacy. They also support the summer reading programs, benefitting the entire community. Membership is open. Check out their event booth for graphic novels and manga.

Visit the Friends online

Staple! Independent Media Expo

Chris "Uncle Staple" Nicholas is the founder and lead organizer of STAPLE! The Independent Media Expo, the premier event in the Southwest for independently created Comics, Zines, Art, Crafts, and Games, held annually in Austin, TX.

September 27, 202510 a.m. to 6 p.m. Pflugerville Public Library

Library Con

Pflugerville, Texas