GUESTS, GUESTS, GUESTS!
Here's a list of our confirmed guests:
- "Furry" Artist Ashley
Holohan
Ashley was our first Guest of Honor after we moved Rising Star to
Bluefield. She's developed a substantial fan following through the
years, with both furry art and costuming.
- Webcomic Creators Studio
Unseen
Chris Impink and Barb Fischer brought their first web project Fragile Gravity online at
Rising Star back in 2002. Their newest project, Sledgebunny. an online graphic
novel, is now available.
- Music and Comedy with White
Plectrum
The rules of Filk: (1) No subject is sacred (but there is such a thing
as good taste); (2) No song is sacred, but see the disclaimer above;
(3) it has to be a recognizable song that the talent can perform; (4)
The Bill Mullis Memorial Rule- it has to contain a G Chord. Got it?
Then get writing. If it's a song Keith knows, you might even get to
hear it at the con.
- Author and Artist Peg
Fisher
Peg is a Rennaissance woman and a closet crusader. She has written for
comics and web dramas, dabbles in Steampunk fashion, and deals in
handmade jewelry and minerals. On top of all this, she also works with
a number of charities, the best known locally being "Smiles for the
Memories", a living memorial to the lives lost in the Virginia Tech
shooting whose goal is to pay for a cleft palate surgery in the name of
every life lost that tragic day.
- Paranormal
Investigators Black
Diamond Paranormal Society
Who you gonna call? Well, if you're in southern West Virginia or
southwest Virginia, you're going to call Black Diamond Paranormal. This
group investigates as requested in driving distance of its center of
operations (mostly Tazewell County, Virginia).
- Historical
Recreationists Abingdon
Historical Combat
Medieval and Renaissance combat is a popular focus of many
organizations, and of course more movies than anyone would care to
count. Abingdon Historical Combat, though, takes a more scholarly look
at the form, but rest assured there are plenty of clashing swords (they
just clash more realistically).
- Filmmaker Drennon Laney
and TWF Fanflims
Did you think the Great Gonzo had it tough trying to go to Bombay India
to become a movie star? Well try taking a film from concept to final
print in southwest Virginia. Now, try doing three feature length
productions. Well, Drennon and his team have done just that.
- The award-winning Bluefield
State College Robotics Team
"Artoo-Detoo, where are you?" Well, judging by the work of the
Bluefield State Robotics Team, maybe not as far in the future as you
think. BSC Professor and team leader Bob Riggins will showcase their
latest project and discuss recent developments in the field of
autonomous robotics.
- Garrison Carida of the 501st Legion
Garrison Carida® is a group of community-minded volunteers serving Pennsylvania, Delaware, and
West Virginia who, through portraying the nefarious characters (or Dark Side
characters) of the Star Wars films and other media, participate in, and spearhead
public service initiatives, charity events, promotional appearances, and public
gatherings to benefit the community. Learn more at
http://501stgarrisoncarida.org/
- Dieter Warringhouse
Dieter Warringhouse (aka Thomas Monaghan) grew up in Roanoke, Virginia and considers
the entire length of Route 460 his personal playground. He is a graduate of Virginia
Tech and began his literary adventures by writing fan fiction for the Starfleet chapters
in Roanoke (USS Pathfinder), Blacksburg (USS McKay), Bluefield (USS Yeager), and Virginia
Beach (USS Maat) before embarking on his ten-year epic, "The Last War". He is currently
on hiatus while earning his masters degree in special education at Old Dominion University
in Norfolk, Virginia.
- Procyon 5
Procyon 5 is trance-fusion retro-techno from the Tangerine Dream/Orbital school of
electronica. Music to chill, dance, or rock to. With a vast and varied background
in the arts and literature behind them, the brothers j+t have set out on a mission
to recreate their creative visions in musical format. Procyon 5's latest project,
"Fear of a Blue Box", is an homage to some of their many sources of inspiration
including the astronaut Michael Collins, Doctor Who, and a very special kitty cat
named Misty Rain. Enjoy!
- Cheralyn Lambeth
Cheralyn Lambeth is a professional prop, costume, and puppet builder/performer
whose work includes multiple feature films (The Muppet Christmas Carol, Leatherheads),
TV shows (Dinosaurs!) and various interactive properties (Star Trek: The Experience
at the Las Vegas Hilton.) She also writes nonfiction "ghost story" books with Schiffer
Publishing.
On the fan side of things, Cheralyn is proud to be an active and long-time member of
the Fighting 501st Legion of Stormtroopers. She also serves as the voice of the
Federation starship Montana in the acclaimed Star Trek fan audio series Star Trek:
The Continuing Mission.
Got questions? Please
feel free to contact us.
