Panel Bios
Attiba Royster
“Building a Horror Community Through Events” – Shutters West II at 12:30pm
Beth Accomando
Beth Accomando is part of Film Geeks SD, a non-profit organization that brings unique genre film programming to San Diego at Digital Gym Cinema, Cinema Under the Stars and Comic-Con Museum. She is a cultural correspondent for Vanguard Culture and arts reporter at KPBS. She also loves creating haunted houses.
Follow her at:
https://www.facebook.com/TheFilmGeeks
https://vanguardculture.com/category/community-buzz/beth-accomando/
“Building a Horror Community Through Events” – Shutters West II at 12:30pm
Brian Asman
Brian Asman is a writer, actor, and director from San Diego, CA. He’s the author of #Vandeath, as well as Man, F*ck This House (and Other Disasters), Good Dogs, Our Black Hearts Beat as One, I’m Not Even Supposed to Be Here Today, Neo Arcana, Nunchuck City, Jailbroke, and Return of the Living Elves. He’s published short stories in Weird Tales, Punk Goes Horror 2, Waterborne, American Cannibal, The Dark Waves of Winter, DreadPop, and Pulp Modern, as well as comics in Tales of Horrorgasm.
Several of his works have been optioned for film and television. A film he co-wrote and produced, A Haunting in Ravenwood, is available now on VOD. His short “Reel Trouble” won Best Short Film at Gen Con 2022 and Best Horror Short at the Indie Gathering. Brian holds an MFA from UCR-Palm Desert. He’s represented by Dunham Literary, Inc. Find him on social media (@thebrianasman) or his website www.brianasmanbooks.com
“Horror Movies are Having a Comeback” – Shutters East II at 3:00pm
David Neuhausel
David Neuhausel has been a fan of Movies and Music all his life. He is passionate about being part of the comic-convention scene and you can find him either as a patron or member of fans groups such as the Science Fiction Coalition at most conventions in Southern California, especially San Diego Comic-Con. He is also a Science Fiction/Horror author looking to get his first novel published.
“Scary Music!!!” – Shutters West II at 3:30pm
Dennis K. Crosby
Dennis is the award-winning author of the Kassidy Simmons novels, Death’s Legacy, Death’s Debt, and Death’s Despair and sixteen short stories in the horror and supernatural thriller genres. In addition to an MFA in creative writing, Dennis also has a master’s degree in forensic psychology. A former private investigator, he’s spent the last 17 years in the field of community mental health/social service. Dennis uses his knowledge and experience to craft compelling characters, experiencing real world challenges often against the backdrop of magical, supernatural, and mythological phenomena.
“Things that Go Bump in the Night” – Shutters East II at 10:30am
“Healing With Horror” – Shutters East II at 4:00pm
Henry Herz
Henry Herz has written for Daily Science Fiction, Weird Tales, Pseudopod, Metastellar, Titan Books, Highlights for Children, Ladybug Magazine, and anthologies from Penguin-Random House, Albert Whitman, Blackstone Publishing, Third Flatiron, Brigids Gate Press, Air and Nothingness Press, Baen Books, elsewhere. He has edited eleven anthologies and written fourteen picture books.
Learn more at www.henryherz.com
“Kaiju – Go Big or Go Home” – Shutters East II at 1:00pm
Hudson Franzoni
Hudson Franzoni is a Los Angeles-based voice actor specializing in character and creature performance. He has voiced more than 200 characters across video games, animation, commercials, audiobooks, ADR, and documentary narration. Hudson is particularly known for his creature work, bringing everything from monstrous creatures and animals to unique fantasy characters to life through vocal performance and experimentation. With over 15 years of singing and metal screaming experience, he brings a powerful and versatile vocal range to his performances. His credits include the Aza horror game universe, Carnage Offering, ChasmTide, Mortician Meat Market, Mortician: Final Night, Horizons of Achaea, Brimvahl Crown, Drone Commander, Degen Rivals, and more.
Follow him at:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@
“Becoming the Monster: A Creature Voice Acting Workshop“ – Shutters West II at 11:00am
Jason Liu
Jason Liu is a competitive gamer and photographer. He has traveled the country for competitive Magic: The Gathering and Doomtown: Reloaded game play, and his landscape and portrait photography has been featured in galleries. He is the co-creator of Monster Gunslingers The Game, a designer for the horror storytelling Grindhouse expansions, and has various other games in the works.
“Writing and Designing Horror Games” – Shutters East II at 2:00pm
Jendia Gammon
Jendia Gammon is a creative instructor, science communicator, artist, producer, and author. Jendia participates in public speaking, panels, and workshops for conventions and events around the world for creative instruction in writing and art. She holds a degree in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. Jendia is also a science writer and an award-winning artist.
As an author, Jendia is Nebula and three-time BSFA Awards finalist writer of horror, fantasy, thriller, and science fiction novels and short stories. She has also written under the pen name J. Dianne Dotson. Born in Southern Appalachia, Jendia now lives in Los Angeles with her family.
Follow her at:
https://www.instagram.com/jendiagammon/
https://www.threads.com/@jendiagammon
https://www.tiktok.com/@jendiagammonauthor
“Things that Go Bump in the Night” – Shutters East II at 10:30am
“Horror Movies are Having a Comeback” – Shutters East II at 3:00pm
Johnnie Jae
Johnnie Jae is an Otoe-Missouria and Choctaw storyteller, journalist, and unapologetic horror enthusiast. They are the founder of A Tribe Called Geek, Grim Native, and Red POP News, platforms dedicated to celebrating Indigenous creativity, confronting stereotypes, and amplifying underrepresented voices.
As both a writer and a performer, they bring Indigenous horror to life, most recently as Shayla in Mike J. Marin’s First Voice. Johnnie also leads immersive workshops like Surviving the Zombie Apocalypse Rez Style, Mapping the Interior of Indigenous Horror, and hosted the “Whistling at Night” Twitter Space, blending humor, cultural knowledge, and razor-sharp commentary.
Follow Johnnie Jae at:
“Never Whistle At Night” – Shutters East II at 11:30am
Jon Cohn
Jon Cohn is a horror novelist and professional board game designer. Some of his books include best sellers The Creed Falls Massacres and Slashtag, as well as the much less popular, but award winning novel The Island Mother. He gets his best ideas from a tarot reader who lives in Hawaii.
In the board game universe, Jon has had over thirty games published, focusing on, you guessed it, horror. He has been lucky enough to work within some of his favorite licenses, including Halloween, Terrifier, Game of Thrones, Ghostbusters, and The Office.
“Writing and Designing Horror Games” – Shutters East II at 2:00pm
Jonathan Maberry
Jonathan Maberry is a NY Times bestselling author, 6-time Bram Stoker Award-winner, 4-time Scribe Award winner, Inkpot Award winner, editor, writing teacher, poet, playwright, comic book writer, and recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Horror Writers Association. He is the author of nearly 60 novels, 212 short stories, 16 short story collections, 30 graphic novels, 14 nonfiction books, 1200 feature articles, and has edited dozens of anthologies.
He writes in multiple genres including thriller, horror, sci-fi, mystery, and fantasy. V-WARS (Netflix) was based on his books/comics; Alcon is developing his Rot & Ruin novels for film; and Chad Stahelski, director of JOHN WICK, is developing his Joe Ledger thrillers for TV. Marvel’s BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER was partly based on his work. He’s the founder of the Writers Coffeehouse, president of the International Association of Media Tie-in Writers, and the editor of Weird Tales Magazine.
Follow him at:
Website: www.jonathanmaberry.com
Facebook: jonathan.maberry.5
Twitter: @jonathanmaberry
Bluesky: @jonathanmaberry.bsky.social
Instagram: @jonathanmaberry
LinkedIn: @jonathanmaberry
“Things that Go Bump in the Night” – Shutters East II at 10:30am
“Kaiju – Go Big or Go Home” – Shutters East II at 1:00pm
KC Grifant
KC Grifant is a former science journalist and award-winning author based in Southern California. She writes internationally published horror, fantasy, science fiction and weird west fiction. Her books include the award-winning Monster Gunslinger series and the collections Shrouded Horror: Tales of the Uncanny and Fantastica Horrifica. Dozens of her short stories have appeared in podcasts, Stoker-nominated anthologies, games, and magazines.
She is a creative writing instructor at the University of California, San Diego, an associate editor for Stars & Sabers Press, an editor for various anthologies (most recently Dread Coast and Women of the Weird West), a board member of Women in Horror, and a mentor for the Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers Association (SFWA).
She is also the co-chair of the San Diego Horror Writers Association (HWA) chapter, which she founded in 2016. Learn more at www.KCGrifant.com.
“Writing and Designing Horror Games” – Shutters East II at 2:00pm
Luke Dumas
Luke Dumas is the USA Today bestselling author of four horror and thriller novels including We Don’t Call Them Cages, Nothing Tastes as Good, and A History of Fear. His second novel The Paleontologist won an ITW Thriller Award and his short fiction has appeared in anthologies such as Dread Coast: SoCal Horror Tales. His debut middle grade horror novel will be published by Random House Children’s in 2027. A nonprofit professional, Luke was born and raised in San Diego, California, where he lives with his dogs. lukedumas.com
“Kaiju – Go Big or Go Home” – Shutters East II at 1:00pm
Matthew Spenny
“Building a Horror Community Through Events” – Shutters West II at 12:30pm
Paul Caro
Paul Caro is an HWA author, screenwriter, and producer based in Los Angeles, California. He is a producer on the TV series Operation Repo. His movie Penance sold to legendary producer Michael Phillips (Taxi Driver, Mimic). Paul is currently in development on the film Hitchcock Nebraska with horror director Rolfe Kanefsky.
In 2022 Comic Book Resources listed Paul’s debut horror novel The House as one of the top ten horror novels alongside books by King, Malerman, etc. Paul’s short stories appear in multiple anthologies including After the Burn, Horrors of the Deep, Dark Descent, Humans from Earth, The Horror Collection, and others. His short story Last Caller placed in the top five in the 2025 Ghosties horror fiction awards.
Paul is co-editor with Candace Nola on the upcoming anthology: Self (S)care, the Best Self-Published Horror of 2025 releasing in 2026. He is also a columnist for Memento Mori Ink Magazine.
“Horror Movies are Having a Comeback” – Shutters East II at 3:00pm
Rene Thayer
Rene Thayer is a passionate alternative event curator and the creative force behind Macabre Mysterium, a San Diego-based event brand specializing in curated literary and alternative markets. With a background as a vendor and small business owner, Rene has built a loyal community by creating immersive events that bring together authors, artists, makers, live entertainment, raffles, interactive experiences, and unforgettable photo ops.
Rene has hosted a variety of themed markets and literary events throughout San Diego County, partnering with beloved local venues including Weir Beer Company, Local Roots Kombucha, Societe Brewing, and Black Plague Brewery. As Macabre Mysterium continues to evolve, Rene is expanding its focus on book-centered experiences while keeping the alternative, imaginative, and slightly macabre spirit that makes each event unique.
In addition to Macabre Mysterium, Rene serves on the board alongside Tania Yager for the Dark X-mas Market of Vista, helping bring one of Vista’s signature alternative holiday events to life and supporting its continued growth within the community.
Known for a dedication to supporting independent authors, vendors, artists, and local businesses, Rene has made Macabre Mysterium a welcoming space for creative communities to connect, collaborate, and be discovered.
Follow her at:
“Building a Horror Community Through Events” – Shutters West II at 12:30pm
Ronald Coleman
Ronald Coleman, PhD, lives in Oceanside, California, with his wife and two dogs. He works as the principal scientist of a San Diego biotech company. He enjoys traveling and storytelling in all its forms. As a lifelong fan of sci-fi, he loves mixing the science he knows into the fiction he creates.
“Writing and Designing Horror Games” – Shutters East II at 2:00pm
Sarah Faxon
Sarah Faxon is an award-winning author of dark fantasy and horror short stories and long fiction. Sarah is an English Language Arts high school teacher, the co-chair of the San Diego chapter of the Horror Writers Association, and is enrolled in the University of San Diego, pursuing her PhD in Education for Social Justice. She is the author of Tiny Dreadfuls, The Animal Court, Foreign & Domestic Affairs, and The Blue Dragon Society: Origins.
Scott Sigler
#1 New York Times best-selling author Scott Sigler is the creator of twenty novels, seven novellas, dozens of short stories, and thousands of podcast episodes. He is an inaugural inductee into the Podcasting Hall of Fame. scottsigler.com
“Things that Go Bump in the Night” – Shutters East II at 10:30am
“Kaiju – Go Big or Go Home” – Shutters East II at 1:00pm
Shane Hawk
Shane Hawk is an Indigenous horror writer, editor, and screenwriter, and an enrolled member of the Cheyenne & Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma. He is best known as the co-editor of the bestselling anthology series Never Whistle at Night, which is now in its second volume with more than twenty printings. His debut collection Anoka was released in 2020 and became part of a growing wave of Indigenous Horror reshaping the genre. Hawk has an original TV series and feature film in development. He lives in San Diego, California, with his wife and daughter.
Follow Shane Hawk at:
“Never Whistle At Night” – Shutters East II at 11:30am
Tania Yager
Tania L. Yager is a multifaceted visual/performance artist, writer, holistic educator, and shamanic practitioner living in North County San Diego California. A wearer of many hats, Tania has dedicated her life to the art of storytelling in all forms and strives to put education at the forefront of her work. She is the creative director of Twisted Heart Puppetworks, an innovative adult puppetry company in California that specializes in folk-horror and fantasy genres.
She is founder of The Wild Hunt of Vista Krampus Run and The Dark X-mas Market of Vista, as well a primary speaker and the Assistant Producer of 2025 The Krampus America Convention. She is also the event coordinator for Shadow and Bone Oddities and Gothic Market in Vista and the author of the book The Allure of Dark Winter Spirits; The Importance of Keeping Ancient Winter Traditions Alive.
As a longtime North County resident, Tania has seen firsthand the need for more opportunities and programming within her community. Her primary focus is bringing meaningful, accessible, and alternative minded experiences to North County residents so they can engage close to home, without having to travel far to find the programming they deserve.
An animist, seasoned shamanic practitioner, and holistic educator of over two decades, Tania hosts private, in-depth classes and community circles, deeply rooted in healing and spiritual growth. Through her writing, puppetry, events, and workshops, she aims to inspire others to explore folklore, fantasy, myth and magic. Her primary goal is to constantly re-enchant herself and the world, opening all minds to spirit, creativity, and heart-felt connection.
Instagram @twistedheartpuppetworkswildhuntersvista
“Building a Horror Community Through Events” – Shutters West II at 12:30pm
“Winter Folk Horror and Women in The Krampus Tradition” – Shutters West II at 2:00pm