Author: JP Dean

Presented by Greg Pizzino

An exploration of steam era frauds, fakers, and practical jokers. From faked artifacts like the Cardiff Giant and falsified oddities like the “Feejee Mermaid” to famous pranksters Theodore Hook and Horace de Vere Cole, we’ll see just how much you could get the 19th century public to believe!

Greg Pizzino is an author, playwright and performer from Ypsilanti, MI whose work often intersects with historical oddities. His short fiction, (published under his Thomas Gregory pen name) has appeared in numerous anthologies including “The Queen of Clocks and Other Steampunk Tales,” “Fairytales Punk’d Vol. 1 & 2,” and the Harvey Duckman Presents series. He is the author of numerous plays and audio dramas including “Lee’s Grand Tiki,” “Scav,” “The Gillman Problem,” and “Whatever Happened to Captain Future.” Currently, he serves as technical director at Ypsilanti’s Neighborhood Theatre Group.

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Presented by Jessica Lucci

What if the American Revolutionary War took place in a steampunked British colony?

2026 marks the 250th anniversary of the beginning of a new nation, and this presentation will honor history while exploring an alternate timeline. From Lafayette’s airship to Paul Revere’s horse, plus a surprise character from another dimension, this fast-paced, informative, and titillating presentation will deliver an out-of-this-world take on the days leading to epic changes in society.

Jessica Lucci is a poet and steampunk author who writes about modern issues while maintaining historic integrity. All of her books feature multi-faceted LGBTQ+ main characters. New release: “Rivets and Revolution.”

Rivets and Revolution Rebellion, and the shadow of war, spreads across a British colony powered by steam and mechanisms. Liberty, the printing press master, is desperate to aid the Minutemen. When she risks everything to become a rebel spy, she forges unity with foreign kingdoms against an unexpected foe. All the while, she depends on her lover Georgia, the Lady of the governor’s mansion, to keep her secret, even when their lives hang in the balance. If Liberty cannot navigate in this war of worlds to freedom, a mysterious being will overtake them all. Jessica Lucci is a poet and steampunk author who writes about modern issues while maintaining historie integrity. All of her books feature multi-faceted LGBTQ+ main characters. 

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Presented by Gregory Laffrenzen

The tales of our clothes weave a colorful tale about values, nature, creativity, and ingenuity. Enjoy stories about what we have donned and doffed for the last several millennia.

Gregory Laffrenzen once lost a game of Timeline because he didn’t know when the zipper was invented, so clothing facts became his special interest for a month. He also enjoys creating steampunk costumes and props. He spends free time learning about history and is happy to share what he’s learned.

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• Games Master: Jodie Starks
• Gaming System: Dungeons & Dragons 5e
• Players: 2 – 6
• Gaming Time: 3 hours
• Sign Up at the main Registration Desk in the Atrium Lobby

It’s alive! The dangerous, dragon-like creature that terrorized the woods is roaming once more. Believed to be dead, our adventurers are asked to seek it out and find the secret to its survival. Travel through the dark woods to search for this monster, but beware, the forest is not what it seems. Don’t get lost or this may become home.

Meet Jodie Starks, a traveling bard with a real passion of enjoying time with friends and family (a performance really isn’t as much fun by yourself). She remembers the first time she was invited to play D&D, 2nd edition. Her entire family sat around the table and helped her role up her first character: a male, elven fighter with a wolf companion (some of you will know her inspiration for that). From there, she was hooked! After that, she ran games for family off and on for a while.

For the last seven years, she has ran D&D games weekly. In her free times, she runs one-shots for others. Although D&D is her system of choice, she is familiar with several (and have even run games in Pathfinder and 2d20). She enjoys sharing her passion with others and love to see new players get hooked. This last year she has become the GM for the YouTube stream, Dungeons & Dad Jokes.

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