We are absolutely thrilled to be joining San Diego Comic Con in person this year, and even more excited to share some of our AMAZING panels with you! From book spotlights to blood and magic, check out our full panel lineup below, and don’t forget to come say hi to us at booth #2701 for swag, books, signings, and more!

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Thursday, July 21

2:30-3:30 PM

Room 24ABC

From Idea to Shelves: The Remix

A comprehensive and honest look at the state of the book publishing industry post-pandemic. How have publishing, agenting, book-to-film, and related fields changed over the past two years? What do you need to know about the industry today to pitch your project or level up your career? Agents, managers, and publishing pros come together to answer questions about how to take your writing career from the blank page to sold. Ava Jamshidi (Industry Entertainment), Kelly Lonesome (Tor Books), Kathleen Ortiz (KO Media Management), Holly Root (Root Literary), Lars Theriot (Industry Entertainment), and Erika Turner (Little Brown, Books for Young Readers) discuss strategies and tips for writing the breakout project and getting representation. Moderated by Nathan Bransford.

Friday, July 22

11 AM-12 PM

Room 32AB

Crafting the Future: Transgressing Genres in Science Fiction

Charlie Jane Anders ( opens in a new windowDreams Bigger than Heartbreak), Ryka Aoki ( opens in a new windowLight from Uncommon Stars), Pierce Brown ( opens in a new windowRed Rising), Blake Crouch ( opens in a new windowUpgrade), and Paul Cornell ( opens in a new windowRosebud) discuss their individual approaches to SF and what makes it such an inclusive and groundbreaking genre for exploring possibilities of the future. Each of these authors pushes against the limits of what sci-fi can be, melding it with other genres to explore new worlds and new adventures. Moderated by Dr. Jeanelle Horcasitas (educator, technical writer, and speculative futurist).

5:30-6:30 PM

Room 29CD

Tor Spotlight Panel

Tor publishes some of the greatest sci-fi, fantasy, and horror stories around. This panel shines a spotlight on some of the books that Tor, Tor Teen, Tordotcom Publishing, and Nightfire have to offer. The book lovers from the Tor teams—Desirae Friesen (publicity manager), Jordan Hanley (senior marketing manager), Alexis Saarela (senior associate director of publicity), and Renata Sweeney (assistant director of marketing)—present a sneak peek at new and upcoming SFF, and maybe even some surprises.

Saturday, July 23

10-11 AM

Room 7AB

Tor Teen + MCPG Presents: Families of Blood and Magic

The saying goes that blood is thicker than water, but what happens when magic gets thrown into the mix, or when galaxy-spanning friendships form? Susan Dennard ( opens in a new windowThe Luminaries), Aiden Thomas ( opens in a new windowCemetery Boys), Lizz Huerta ( opens in a new windowThe Lost Dreamer), and Namina Forna ( opens in a new windowThe Gilded Ones), join moderator Anne Heltzel ( opens in a new windowJust Like Mother) for a discussion of both found and biological families—and all the positives, negatives, and complexities that come with the territory.

11 AM-12 PM

Room 29AB

Crafting the Creepy Crawly and Throat-Clutching Moments

Creators examine writing scenes of horror, from the slow build to the metaphorical jump scare. Get your spook on with Kiersten White ( opens in a new windowHide), Anne Heltzel ( opens in a new windowJust Like Mother), Clay McLeod Chapman ( opens in a new windowGhost Eaters), and moderator Maryelizabeth Yturralde.

3-4 PM

Room 23ABC

Something Wicked This Way Comes: Frightening Fantasy

Monsters, ghosts, and sorceresses—oh my! Not even an apocalypse can ruin this party! Seanan McGuire ( opens in a new windowSeasonal Fears), James Rollins ( opens in a new windowThe Starless Crown), and Heather Walter ( opens in a new windowMalice) discuss writing at the intersection of fantasy, horror, and suspense. This panel is for anyone who enjoys their fantasy on the dark side and who generally prefers to be chillin’ with villains. Moderated by Michelle Bucud (social media coordinator, Mysterious Galaxy).

8-9 PM

Room 25ABC

The Best Trot: Proving Love to all the True Buckaroos

Moderator, the Dr. Chuck Tingle hosts a group of true buckaroos for a panel about how the best place to find your truest self is often between the pages of books. Authors Ryka Aoki ( opens in a new windowLight from Uncommon Stars), Heather Walter ( opens in a new windowMalice), and Foz Meadows ( opens in a new windowA Strange and Stubborn Endurance) discuss everything from using speculative fiction to exploring ideas of gender and sexuality to what “proving love” means to them. There will also be some discussion of aliens, doughnuts, spooky summer camps, magic.

Sunday, July 24

2:30-3:30 PM

Room 23ABC

Tor Books: It’s Us Against the World

Defeating the bad guy is hard work, and no one can do it alone. A panel of authors discuss what it takes to bring a ragtag team together to defeat incredible odds. Chosen ones are out, and dream teams (or nightmare crews) are in. Olivie Blake ( opens in a new windowThe Atlas Six), Susan Dennard ( opens in a new windowThe Luminaries), James Rollins ( opens in a new windowThe Starless Crown), and R. R. Virdi ( opens in a new windowThe First Binding) join moderator Ryka Aoki ( opens in a new windowLight from Uncommon Stars) for a discussion of uneasy alliances, fellowships, and found families. Whether it’s a shadow thief and her shady friends, secret society exiles, a grifter calling in old favors, a seer gathering a crew to fight the moon, or a cast of six uniquely gifted magicians, these writers are proving that what’s important is not what you know, but who you know.