Mark Alfred

Mark has been on more Soonercon ConComms than anybody still kickin’, beginning with Soonercon 1 in 1986. He wants to hear others discuss big ideas and sometimes put in a word or two. He edits non-fiction books on pop-culture subjects from Trek to scandal sheets and the Moody Blues. If you let him near your words, he’ll find a way to trim your word count by 10%. He writes hundreds of poems and songs few have heard. He narrates Soonercon and Central OK fandom on one of his blogs.

http://www.jacobsbrownmediagroup.com/mark-alfred.html

https://markssuperblog.blogspot.com/

https://spocksrecordround-up.blogspot.com/

https://starokc.blogspot.com/

Noon | Location: Boomer A

Immortality in Storytelling

Would you want to live forever? If you could, what would it look like? What are the pros and cons? Our panelists discuss the timeless theme of immortality in storytelling and the art of creating believable everlasting characters.

Moderator: Stephen Patrick

Panelists: Stephen Patrick, Mark Alfred, Madilynn Dale, A C Smart

Tracks: Writing & Publishing, Science Fiction, Fantasy

03:00 PM | Location: Sooner A

Pun and Games

The moderator will choose a topic (cheese, TV shows, all those weird Oreo flavors, whatever) and the puns will fly until the panelists run dry. The topic will be over if one minute passes without a new pun being offered, at which point the moderator chooses another topic, or asks the audience for one. The final ten minutes of the panel will be a pun free-for-all, any topic goes.

Moderator: Phillip Drayer Duncan

Panelists: Phillip Drayer Duncan, Mark Alfred, Sean Hinckley, Melinda LaFevers, Tracy S. Morris

Tracks: Pop Culture & Entertainment, General Interest, Writing & Publishing

05:00 PM | Location: Boomer A

Celebrate the Weirdo

Scholar Paul Radin observed that most successful “primitive” societies readily tolerated eccentricity. In what ways do we “moderns” celebrate or censor oddball behavior? Do wild strains of thought strengthen culture, or threaten it?

Moderator: Jan S. Gephardt

Panelists: Jan S. Gephardt, Mark Alfred, Mark Finn, Rubiee Tallyn Hayes, Carolyn Kay

Tracks: Culture & World Affairs, Pop Culture & Entertainment

09:00 AM | Location: Embassy Hotel: Interior Courtyard - Atrium

Koffeeklatch

Join panelists in the hotel breakfast area for intimate conversation. BYO coffee, please.

Moderator: -

Panelists: Mark Alfred, C.C. Caldwell, Liz Campbell, Paul Carlson, Kimber E Chessmore, Madilynn Dale, Brenna Deutchman, Daniel Erickson, Elijah Farmer, Shai Fenwick, Demi Gray, Sally Hamilton, Carolyn Kay, Chaz Kemp, Mike Kennedy, vickey malone kennedy, Julia S. Mandala, Kathleen M. O'Brien, David Rike, Ela Evella, Mel White, Craig Wolf

Tracks: Meetup, General Interest, Professional Development

01:00 PM | Location: Oklahoma G

Poetry & Acoustic Music Open Mic

Two poems or songs, or six minutes of freestyle, whichever comes first. Share your poetry and music and listen to fellow creatives in this open-mic session.

Moderator: Daniel Erickson

Panelists: Daniel Erickson, Mark Alfred, David Carrico

Tracks: Meetup, Performing Arts, Writing & Publishing, Music

02:00 PM | Location: Sooner A