Isadora H. Petrovsky is a speculative fiction author, who aims to draw forth the inherent queerness of the SFF, fairytale, historical, and gothic horror genres. Her current project explores the ecological ramifications of monopolistic capitalism and its inherent colonialism on a pre-apocalyptic planet with a fractured crystal core. Isadora finds a Jim Henson’s the Labyrinth sort of humor in the macabre and the weird, which makes the almost apocalypse, dare she say, fun. She is currently attending the MFA Writing program at UC San Diego. When not writing, she can be found teaching it, reading, playing Dungeons and Dragons, watching Monty Python and the Holy Grail, and snuggling with her cat Basil. Isadora was awarded the Ron L. Hubbard Writers of the Future Honorable Mention for her short fiction “Red”, published in Gingerbread House Lit Mag. A reprint of her queer gothic fiction “I AM STRUCK DEAD AT THE CLASP OF HER HAND” can be found in KALEIDOSCOPED’s Winter 2023 issue Ghosts & Gossip. To keep up with Isadora’s work follow her @izzypetrovsky on Instagram or visit her website https://isadorahpetrovsky.wordpress.com/.
Sessions in which Isadora H. Petrovsky participates
Friday 1 July, 2022
The historic romance genre often has only a tangential relationship to the realities of history, but the Bridgerton tv series takes this farther to invent an alt-historic Regency of ethnic equality. What happens when you embrace the analysis of the show as alternate history and explore the implied consequences?
Saturday 2 July, 2022
What are the strengths of each form? The weaknesses? Do people like novels, novellas, or short stories that are part of a series? What about a mix of different lengths in the same universe? What's best for reading these days? Shorter works on your phone, tablet, or ebook reader? Longer works? Microfiction/flash fiction? Settling into an armchair with a nice, comfy printed book? Are cats in laps necessary? If so, what length fiction do...
Sunday 3 July, 2022
These stories make up our cultures, and often present queer adjacent characters in spaces that contemporarily have been bared from us. However, the existence of queer people in folk tales alludes to the longstanding history of queer people as well as the erasure our community has faced (sometimes perpetuated by the very fairy tales we love!)
Sessions in which Isadora H. Petrovsky attends
Friday 1 July, 2022
The joys and perils of independent publishing.
Our panelists discuss misconceptions that hamper artistic growth. Ever been told that using a reference is cheating? Ever been told that your art is bad if it isn't a photographically detailed recreation of your reference? We give you permission to ignore that noise, and provide advice and resources on how you can grow and improve.
Saturday 2 July, 2022
The role of women as creators in horror in written and visual media
I have worked with the deaf for several years and taught ASL for an afterschool enrichment program. I hold an A.A. degree is in American Sign Language and want every American to know at least the Alphabet in sign so the hearing impaired won’t feel so isolated. This workshop will include fun, and prizes.
People have been making things with sticks and string for over a thousand years. In this panel, you'll learn the basics of starting a knit project, knitting, purling, finishing a knit project, what to do if you make a mistake, and where to go if you want to knit more!
When it's a good fit and how to get started.
Need to hit that deadline? Inspired by a panel and want to get it all written out before you lose your train of thought? Just find you stay more focused in silent community? Come enjoy a quiet place to write in company with other attendees.
How to keep it all straight!
How do you get submissions, where do you advertise, how do you handle the subs when they come in, how do you vet the subs, should you do blind submissions, how do you pay and contract the authors, and how to do a charity anthology? Whether you want to start a small ‘zine, publish a print book, or go eBook format, this panel will discuss all the ins and outs.
Who do you think deserves top honors? Come talk about all the wonderful options.
How do we combat false narratives? Is there a way to keep truth at the forefront in spite of efforts to shout it down?
Come help us raise money for Larkin Street Youth Services!
Blame The Whiskey is a 4 piece Celtic rock band with a bluegrass twist, playing originals, Irish Traditionals, and a few of your favorite covers. Raise a glass and sing along with your new favorite band. Sláinte!
Sunday 3 July, 2022
Need to hit that deadline? Inspired by a panel and want to get it all written out before you lose your train of thought? Just find you stay more focused in silent community? Come enjoy a quiet place to write in company with other attendees.
Once upon a time, some teacher may have tried to convince you of the right way to read a piece of literature. Lit theory is not about the "right" or "wrong" way to read a text. It's like a wibbly wobbly group of lenses through which we view writing in order to gain a greater understanding of the work. What's more, nerd and geek culture are already masters at several of these lenses...
You can't just announce that everybody was kung-fu fighting. How do you make combat engaging and believable?
Guest of Honor Bonnie Gordon and other industry professionals discuss the various kinds of voice acting and what they entail.
It's a perfectly normal night at the Nir Cantina on the FS-9 space station... or is it? The cantina sees patrons from all over the Axilon Nebula, both savory and unsavory. However, there is intrigue afoot, involving corporate espionage, bounty hunters, space drugs, and murder. You have the chance to have a fun night at the bar, make a profit, and maybe even find a killer! Original scenario by Ken Blumreich, with additional characters by Rene...
Monday 4 July, 2022
What does it really mean to subvert a fairy tale? How far can you bend an existing story before it's something else entirely? Is it truly subversion if the underlying message remains the same? And why do we enjoy retelling fairy tales so much?
Exotic locales challenge writers to get readers up to speed while keeping the story going. What weird settings have our panelists used and how did they solve the problem—well enough for the editor to buy, anyway.