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Welcome to the 2nd Annual Young Authors Short Story contest! To celebrate National Novel Writing Month, we at APLD hope to promote creative writing in young students. This contest is open to all young authors currently in grades 3 - 5 within APLD's service area. This year’s short story prompt is “A Mystery Solved”. Each young author is encouraged to use their imagination and interpret this prompt any way they’d like. One grand prize winner will receive a prize bag and publication on our website. Official Guidelines and Entry Form coming soon!
Thank you to everyone who joined us for our comics and pop culture adventure!
Click here for photos of the event.
in the Santori Library Atrium
Events at the Santori Library
- 10 a.m.
- Draw Yourself as a Superhero - Rooms 125/126
- Manga Translation: Finding the Right Words - Room 224
- 11 a.m.
- Ultimate Superhero Storytime - Rooms 125/126
- Design Games Like a Boss - Room 224 and Virtual via Zoom
- 12 p.m.
- Trading Card Swap Meet - Rooms 125/126
- 1 p.m.
- How to Draw Anything - Rooms 125/126
- Superhero Face Painting** ( 1 - 4 P.M.) - Parker Garden
- 2 p.m.
- Comic Strip Writing Workshop - Rooms 125/126
- Horror as a Storytelling Vehicle in Comics Panel Discussion - Room 224 and Virtual via Zoom
- 3 p.m.
- Using Makerspace Technology in Cosplay - Rooms 125/126
- 4 p.m.
- Cosplay Parade to Alley Art Fest - Rooms 125/126
Doug Wagner - virtual appearance
Doug is a comic book writer best known for his dark comedy, horror work on Image Comics’ PLUSH, VINYL, and PLASTIC. Some of his other works include KLIK KLIKBOOM, BEWARE THE EYE OFODIN, THE HARD PLACE, THE RIDE: BURNING DESIRE, BATMAN: ARKHAM ORIGINS, LEGENDS OF THEDARK KNIGHT, and WORLD OF WARCRAFT: BLOODSWORN. Over the past 15 years, Doug has written for such companies as The CW Network, CBS, NFL, TruTV, Summit Entertainment, Warner Bros. Pictures, Legendary Pictures, DC Comics, Blizzard Entertainment, Image Comics, Dynamite Entertainment, Top Cow Productions, and 12-Gauge Comics. He currently resides somewhere in the mountains of Utah where he conspires with his three-rescue cats about felines ruling the world, reads tons of comics, and attempts to grow the oddest succulents he can find.
Ezra Claytan Daniels - virtual appearance
Ezra is a mixed-race (Black/white) American multidisciplinary artist. Born and raised in Sioux City, Iowa, Ezra is the creator of the award-winning graphic novels Upgrade Soul (Oni Press) and BTTM FDRS (Fantagraphics Books). His work has been featured on the Criterion Channel, at Chicago’s Museum of Contemporary Art, and is in the permanent collection of the Whitney Museum. Ezra currently resides in Los Angeles, where he writes for film and television, including Doom Patrol for HBO Max and Night Sky for Amazon.
Gene Ha
Gene is the artist on Wonder Woman Historia: The Amazons Vol 2 with writer Kelly Sue DeConnick, from DC Comics. He has won four Eisner awards for his art including Alan Moore’s Top 10 and sundry Marvel & DC superhero comics. Gene also writes and draws Mae from Oni Press. The story of Mae Fortell, a girl who follows her long missing sister Abbie to a world of mad science and mystery. Gene lives outside Chicago in Berwyn, IL with his lovely wife Lisa. Check out Gene’s recent profile in Chicago Magazine.
Kevin Steinbach
Kevin has been a freelance translator since 2016. He works primarily on manga, light novels, and other Japanese pop-culture products. His credits include KonoSuba, Chobits, and Whisper Me a Love Song, among others.
Kyle Starks - virtual appearance
Kyle is a two-time Eisner nominated comic creator from Southern Indiana. He is likely best known as the longest tenured writer and occasional artist for Oni Press RICK AND MORTY comic. He was nominated for Eisners for Sexcastle and Rock Candy Mountain for best humor publication. He has also worked on Skybound’s ASSASSIN NATION with Erica Henderson, Dynamite Comics MARS ATTACKS with Chris Schweizer and Oni Press DEAD OF WINTER.
Meradi Agran - virtual appearance
Meradi is an experienced game designer and educator from Los Angeles, California. She holds a Masters in Interactive Media and Games from the University of Southern California in one hand and a red/blue deck of Magic: The Gathering cards in the other. Her work experience in the games industry has spanned a wide breadth of studios and projects, from Minecraft to DC Comics to Activision affiliates to Tokyo Geidai University of the Arts. Currently, Meradi teaches Roblox coding and games design to kids between the ages of 6 and 14.
Rodney Barnes - virtual appearance
Rodney is an award-winning writer, producer, and comic book creator whose vibrant and emphatic creative voice has established him as a Hollywood mainstay. Barnes is currently an executive producer and writer for HBO’s Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty, which chronicles the professional and personal lives of the 1980s Showtime Lakers during the team’s wild and fast-paced golden years.
Tess Foral
Tess is a cosplayer with over 10 years of experience. After being introduced to the hobby by her friends, she jumped in headfirst and has been cosplaying ever since! She specializes in garment construction but has further developed her skills in wig styling and 3D printing in recent years. She loves sharing what she’s learned with newcomers and veterans alike, and firmly believes that cosplay is for everyone.