FantaSciiCon Workshops, Panels & Talks
Below is the agenda of workshops, panels and talks. we will be adding more activities over time as we get closer to the event so please check back often. Please note that all activities have attendee limits and are likely to sell out quickly.
Access to Panels & Talks is included with any general admission ticket.
Workshop tickets include general admission to the event.
Saturday 13th December
Workshops
(all workshop tickets include General Admission)
Create your own fantasy world in a jar with Midnight Ritual! Midnight Ritual is running their popular Oddity Jar workshops on Saturday and Sunday at FantaSciiCon!
Each ticket includes:
-
General admission into FantaSciiCon
-
A 6cm tall glass jar with cork lid
-
Access to all of my supplies, including bones, snake shed, crystals, moss, dried flowers, and more
-
A guided walkthrough of how to create your very own oddity jar!
2:15pm - Midnight Ritual,
Oddity Jar Workshop $35pp
Each session runs for 60 minutes.
10 seats per session available.
3pm - gabian marin,
Fairytale in fiction Workshop $35pp
Looking at the elements of fairytale characters and structures. Participants develop their own original fairytale idea.
About Gabian Marin:
Gabiann Marin (Sydney, Australia) is an award-winning author, screenwriter, editor, academic and lover of all things supernatural. Her very first stage play won the Australian Bicentennial Premier’s prize and her book, A True Person won the international White Raven Literary award for work of outstanding merit and importance.
She has written eight original works of fiction and non-fiction, many of which regularly appear on the Premier’s reading lists across Australia. When not writing, Gabiann runs a successful script and story development agency through which she has edited or helped develop over 200 books, screenplays, multimedia projects and stage plays.
Each session runs for 120 minutes.
15 seats per session available.
3:35pm - the ravensridge emporium,
potion making Workshop $35pp
Have you ever wanted to embody your inner witch and make a magic potion? Join the Ravensridge Emporium potion workshop and learn to create your very own magic potion, perfect as a prop for your DnD games or as a gorgeous decoration for your games room!
You'll pick your favourite bottle shape, mix you favourite magic colours into the liquid, select an appropriate apothecary label and decorate! By the end of the workshop you'll have your very own custom brew to take home.
Each session runs for 60 minutes.
10 seats per session available.
Talks & Panels
(all talks and panels are free to attend and included with General Admission Tickets)
11:00am - kathy shanks, Turtle Publishing
how to publish without loosing your mind
Self-publishing doesn’t have to feel like a never-ending maze of conflicting advice, tech headaches, and “what now?” moments.
In this practical, plain-English session, Kathy Shanks—founder of Turtle Publishing and author of Publish with Purpose—breaks down the publishing journey into clear, doable steps. You’ll get a snapshot of the entire process, from writing to launch, learn the common mistakes that derail first-time authors, and discover the tools that make the whole thing feel manageable.
We’ll also cover the actions you can take post-launch to improve your online visibility and keep your book selling long after release day. Whether you haven’t started yet, feel stuck in the middle, or have already published and aren’t sure why your book isn’t selling, you’ll leave with clarity, confidence, and a plan you can actually follow—without losing your mind along the way.
Each session runs for 60 minutes.
2pm - world building featuring bradon lee mark beren & richard kelly
Every great fantasy or sci-fi story begins with a world worth exploring. But how do creators turn blank pages into living, breathing realms filled with history, culture, and adventure?
Join us for an inspiring discussion on world-building with three incredible voices from the tabletop and storytelling community:
Brandon Lee, Creator at The Raven’s Ridge Emporium, known for publishing several TTRPGs including Cartograph, the acclaimed solo map-making RPG.
Mark Beren, Founder of Armoured Games and publisher of Knight, a thrilling adventure into fantasy, chivalry, and immersive storytelling.
Richard Kelly, The Dungeon Master behind Who’s On First Watch, a live-action roleplay podcast bringing characters and campaigns to life with humour and heart.
Together, they’ll dive into the art of crafting believable settings, designing cultures and conflicts, and giving players and readers worlds they’ll never want to leave. Expect practical tips, behind-the-scenes insights, and plenty of creative inspiration for writers, gamers, and dreamers alike.
Each session runs for 60 minutes.
3pm - author interviews hosted by julie and kristie from the on her bookshelf podcast
Step inside the world of writing with Julie and Kristie, hosts of the popular On Her Bookshelf podcast, as they sit down with a panel of local authors to talk all things creativity and storytelling.
In this lively and engaging session, you’ll hear directly from authors about:
The inspiration behind their books
Their creative processes and writing routines
The highs and lows of their publishing journey
With their warm and insightful interview style, Julie and Kristie will guide an open conversation that’s equal parts entertaining and inspiring, giving readers and aspiring writers a unique look into what it takes to bring a story from idea to bookshelf.
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Each session runs for 60 minutes.
Sunday 14th December
Workshops
(all workshop tickets include General Admission)
10:45am - the ravensridge emporium,
potion making Workshop $35pp
Have you ever wanted to embody your inner witch and make a magic potion? Join the Ravensridge Emporium potion workshop and learn to create your very own magic potion, perfect as a prop for your DnD games or as a gorgeous decoration for your games room!
You'll pick your favourite bottle shape, mix you favourite magic colours into the liquid, select an appropriate apothecary label and decorate! By the end of the workshop you'll have your very own custom brew to take home.
Each session runs for 60 minutes.
10 seats per session available.
12pm - gabian marin,
Myth making for writers and creative practitioners Workshop $35pp
Looking at the elements of myth, through myth discussion, creative and writing prompts. Participants create their own modern myth story outline or creative poem or flash fiction inspired by myth elements
About Gabian Marin:
Gabiann Marin (Sydney, Australia) is an award-winning author, screenwriter, editor, academic and lover of all things supernatural. Her very first stage play won the Australian Bicentennial Premier’s prize and her book, A True Person won the international White Raven Literary award for work of outstanding merit and importance.
She has written eight original works of fiction and non-fiction, many of which regularly appear on the Premier’s reading lists across Australia. When not writing, Gabiann runs a successful script and story development agency through which she has edited or helped develop over 200 books, screenplays, multimedia projects and stage plays.
Each session runs for 120 minutes.
15 seats per session available.
Create your own fantasy world in a jar with Midnight Ritual! Midnight Ritual is running their popular Oddity Jar workshops on Saturday and Sunday at FantaSciiCon!
Each ticket includes:
-
General admission into FantaSciiCon
-
A 6cm tall glass jar with cork lid
-
Access to all of my supplies, including bones, snake shed, crystals, moss, dried flowers, and more
-
A guided walkthrough of how to create your very own oddity jar!
12:15pm - Midnight Ritual,
ODdity Jar Workshop $35pp
Each session runs for 60 minutes.
10 seats per session available.
2:15pm - the ravensridge emporium,
potion making Workshop $35pp
Have you ever wanted to embody your inner witch and make a magic potion? Join the Ravensridge Emporium potion workshop and learn to create your very own magic potion, perfect as a prop for your DnD games or as a gorgeous decoration for your games room!
You'll pick your favourite bottle shape, mix you favourite magic colours into the liquid, select an appropriate apothecary label and decorate! By the end of the workshop you'll have your very own custom brew to take home.
Each session runs for 60 minutes.
10 seats per session available.
Create your own fantasy world in a jar with Midnight Ritual! Midnight Ritual is running their popular Oddity Jar workshops on Saturday and Sunday at FantaSciiCon!
Each ticket includes:
-
General admission into FantaSciiCon
-
A 6cm tall glass jar with cork lid
-
Access to all of my supplies, including bones, snake shed, crystals, moss, dried flowers, and more
-
A guided walkthrough of how to create your very own oddity jar!
3:45pm - Midnight Ritual,
ODdity Jar Workshop $35pp
Each session runs for 60 minutes.
10 seats per session available.
Talks & Panels
(all talks and panels are free to attend and included with General Admission Tickets)
11:00am - kathy shanks, Turtle Publishing
Cracking the Amazon Code: Visibility Secrets for Indie Authors
Getting your book onto Amazon is easy. Getting it seen? That’s where most authors get stuck. In this practical, no-fluff session, Kathy Shanks—founder of Turtle Publishing and author of Publish with Purpose—shares the insider strategies that help books stand out in a crowded marketplace.
You’ll learn how to use keywords, categories, and metadata to boost discoverability, the simple tweaks that can improve your sales page, and why “publish it and they will come” is a myth worth forgetting. Whether you’ve just finished your first draft or already have books online, you’ll walk away with clear, doable steps to make Amazon work harder for you.
Each session runs for 60 minutes.
2pm - author interviews hosted by julie and kristie from the on her bookshelf podcast
Step inside the world of writing with Julie and Kristie, hosts of the popular On Her Bookshelf podcast, as they sit down with a panel of local authors to talk all things creativity and storytelling.
In this lively and engaging session, you’ll hear directly from authors about:
The inspiration behind their books
Their creative processes and writing routines
The highs and lows of their publishing journey
With their warm and insightful interview style, Julie and Kristie will guide an open conversation that’s equal parts entertaining and inspiring, giving readers and aspiring writers a unique look into what it takes to bring a story from idea to bookshelf.
Each session runs for 60 minutes.
3pm - world building featuring bradon lee mark beren & richard kelly
Every great fantasy or sci-fi story begins with a world worth exploring. But how do creators turn blank pages into living, breathing realms filled with history, culture, and adventure?
Join us for an inspiring discussion on world-building with three incredible voices from the tabletop and storytelling community:
Brandon Lee, Creator at The Raven’s Ridge Emporium, known for publishing several TTRPGs including Cartograph, the acclaimed solo map-making RPG.
Mark Beren, Founder of Armoured Games and publisher of Knight, a thrilling adventure into fantasy, chivalry, and immersive storytelling.
Richard Kelly, The Dungeon Master behind Who’s On First Watch, a live-action roleplay podcast bringing characters and campaigns to life with humour and heart.
Together, they’ll dive into the art of crafting believable settings, designing cultures and conflicts, and giving players and readers worlds they’ll never want to leave. Expect practical tips, behind-the-scenes insights, and plenty of creative inspiration for writers, gamers, and dreamers alike.
Each session runs for 60 minutes.
What's on at FantaSciiCon?
Indie Authors
Meet local and emerging authors, discover your next favourite book, and get your copy signed!
Artist & Maker Marketplace
Explore fantasy and sci-fi inspired art, crafts, merch, and collectibles.
Fantasy & Sci-Fi Realms
Step into immersive themed zones with cozy reading nooks and interactive fun.
Writing Workshops & Panels
Learn the craft of storytelling from working authors and creators.
Live Roleplaying Sessions
Join a game or just watch the drama unfold in our dedicated RPG space.
FantaSciiCon FloorPlan
Don’t miss guest announcements, panel reveals, or workshop sign-ups.
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