Presented by Kelsey Josephson
Come explore the evolution of monstrous women through the lens of Wonderland and the Victorian imagination. From the tyrannical Red Queen to the uncanny Duchess and the eerie transformations of Alice herself, we’ll trace how these figures blur the line between menace and empowerment.
Discover how Victorian fears, fairy?tale archetypes, and surreal dream logic shaped their portrayals—and how modern retellings, including works like American McGee’s Alice, reclaim and reimagine their monstrous potential. Together, we’ll unpack how these characters reflect cultural anxieties, challenge expectations, and inspire bold new approaches to dark fantasy and steampunk storytelling.
Kelsey Josephson is a Midwestern author of strange steampunk and reinvented fairy tales. Her creativity is fueled by a love of Universal Monster movies, an obsession with Nikola Tesla, and iced coffee. When she’s not writing, she’s either lost in a fairy tale or searching through archives for inspiration. She is a member of SFWA and ALLi, and the proud winner of the Tippy Golden Teacup Award for Bibliomancy.
Her work includes Strange Happenings, a gaslamp fantasy series set in an alternate timeline, and Forsaken Beauty and the Etherbeast, a steampunk fairy tale retelling. To up to date on her latest releases, events, and more, visit kelseyjosephson.com or follow her on social media @authorkelseyjosephson
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