Featured Presenters

Featured Presenters

Gail Carriger

Gail Carriger has multiple NYT bestsellers and over a million books in print in dozens of different languages. She writes comedies of manners mixed with urban fantasy (and sexy queer joy as G. L. Carriger). She is best known for the Parasol Protectorate and Finishing School series. She was once an archaeologist and is fond of shoes, octopuses, and tea.


Tobias McCurry

Tobias McCurry, the founder of Spring Heeled Studios LLC, is a maker, costumer, and performer out of Seattle, WA. He is known primarily for his participation in the show Steampunk’d on GSN, and for his Steampunk creations such as his “Spring-Heeled Jack” armor. His most notable works involve his unique take on costuming, wherein he strives to integrate special effects knowledge and real world practicality into outfits, props, and other endeavors.

Coming from a strong background of theatre and performance involving anything from breathing fire to sword fighting, Tobias has made himself the jack of all trades of event production. Utilizing his knowledge of the performing arts, he has expanded to platforms such as Live Action Roleplaying (LARP), independent film/commercials, and is producing conventions as well! This April, McCurry will take on a major role in the Exposition own LARP game, Steam & Sorcery.

Learn more about Tobias McCurry at SpringheeledStudios.com


Leanna Renee Hieber

Leanna Renee Hieber is an actress, playwright, ghost tour guide and the award-winning, bestselling author of over fourteen Gothic, Gaslamp Fantasy, Supernatural Suspense and Non-Fiction books for adults and teens with publishers such as Tor, Sourcebooks and Kensington Books. A Haunted History of Invisible Women: True Stories of America’s Ghosts, co-authored with Andrea Janes, marks Leanna’s first foray into non-fiction.

Learn more about Leanna Renee Hieber at LeannaReneeHieber.com


Miya Kressin

Miya Kressin (she/her) has been writing about the fae (among other things) for the last twelve years. After her first novel on changelings turned into months of in-depth research, the fae refused to let go of the author’s heart, and it has become her passion to research as more stories connected threads in a shared tapestry. Mostly, however, she’s a dreamer who never abandoned the faeries she was told stories of in her childhood and hopes to keep those sparks kindled in future generations.

Learn more about Miya Kesssin at MiyaKressin.com


Chicago Steampunk Exposition