Christopher Judge

Media Guest

Douglas Christopher Judge (born October 13, 1964) is an American actor best known for playing Teal'c in the Canadian-American military science fiction television series Stargate SG-1. He attended the University of Oregon on a football scholarship and was a Pacific-10 Conference player.

Judge began studying at the Howard Fine Institute in LA in 1989. Some early roles were Bird on a Wire (1990), Cadence (1990), Neon Rider (1989) and MacGyver (1985) with future Stargate SG-1 (1997) star Richard Dean Anderson. In the ensuing years, Judge had small parts in various television shows and movies, such as 21 Jump Street (1987) (with future SG-1 director Peter DeLuise), The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990), and House Party 2 (1991), and as a regular on Sirens (1993) from 1994 to 1995. Judge's largest role came in 1997 with Stargate SG-1 (1997). While at a friend's house, he saw his friend's roommate practicing for an audition and was intrigued. While the roommate was away, Judge looked at the audition notes, then called his agent and insisted he get him an audition, or lose him as a client. At the audition, there were three sets of actors for each of the principle roles, but eight or ten for the role of "Teal'c". Judge was confident he got the part when they dismissed everyone who read for the part, except him. Out of all the actors on "Stargate SG-1", Judge has been in the most episodes. More recent works of Judge's include guest spots on Andromeda (2000) and Stargate: Atlantis (2004), the television movie Personal Effects (2005), and the films, Snow Dogs (2002) and A Dog's Breakfast (2007), the latter written and directed by fellow "Stargate" actor, David Hewlett. Judge has written three episodes of Stargate SG-1 (1997): Stargate SG-1: The Changeling (2003), Stargate SG-1: Birthright (2003) and Stargate SG-1: Sacrifices (2004). After "Stargate SG-1" was canceled, Judge began writing a script for a show called "Rage of Angels". Judge also does voice acting for animated series and video games, including the voice of "Magneto" on X-Men: Evolution (2000) and the canceled "Stargate SG-1: The Alliance". In the season eight episodes of "Stargate SG-1" (Stargate SG-1: Avatar (2004) and "The Warrior"), Teal'c informs SG-1 that he plays Def Jam Vendetta (2003), alluding to the fact that Judge was a voice actor in that game. He is also known for voicing "Jericho" in Turok (2008).

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Emily Rose

Media Guest

Rose appeared in the unaired fourth episode of the American television show Smith, and starred as Cass in the HBO drama John from Cincinnati. She played Lena Branigan on Brothers & Sisters. She portrayed Trish Merrick, an employee of Jennings and Rall, on the CBS drama Jericho.

Rose performed voice acting and motion capture for the 2007 PlayStation 3 game Uncharted: Drake's Fortune as the main female character Elena Fisher, then reprised the role in Uncharted 2: Among Thieves in 2009, Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception in 2011 and Uncharted 4: A Thief's End in 2016. Rose played Dr. Tracy Martin in the final season of ER and guest-starred on the January 12, 2009, episode of Two and a Half Men.

Rose plays the main character of Audrey Parker, a police officer, in the Syfy TV series Haven, which was renewed for a fifth 26-episode split season on January 28, 2014. Rose's character is an FBI agent sent to Haven, a seemingly tranquil seaside hamlet in Maine, to apprehend an escaped convict, which turns out to be an investigation into a mysterious death. As the story proceeds, she finds herself entrenched in a decades-long town mystery and ends up quitting the FBI and joining the Haven municipal police department to assist in ridding the town of its "Troubles." The series was adapted from the Stephen King novella The Colorado Kid. In a rare departure for Syfy (whose production facility for nearly all of its scripted series and TV films is located in British Columbia, Canada), to maintain a sense of "place" (Maine) as much as possible but still film in cheaper Canada, the series is filmed in various locations along the south shore of Nova Scotia, and the main interiors (police station, Audrey's apartment) are shot on a soundstage in the Eleanor Pew Memorial Arena located in Chester, Nova Scotia.

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Lucas Bryant

Media Guest

He was the star of the short-lived UPN television series Sex, Love & Secrets. For television, Bryant has appeared in the movie More Sex and the Single Mom, as well as guest starred in the series Queer as Folk, Odyssey 5 and Playmakers. He has also starred in Canadian television projects, including Crazy Canucks, An American in Canada and The Eleventh Hour. Bryant has appeared on stage all over Canada in many productions, including The Crucible and The King and I.

In 2006, Bryant starred as Calvin Puddie in the TV movie Playing House based on the book by Patricia Pearson. He also starred as Brad in the short musical I Hate Musicals. Bryant had supporting roles in movie A Very Merry Daughter of the Bride and The Vow. In 2010, he and Haven co-star Emily Rose previously starred together in the 2010 "made-for-TV" suspense-thriller Perfect Plan.

In 2010, Bryant landed a lead role as Nathan in Haven, a TV series based on Stephen King's novel "The Colorado Kid". In “Haven,” Bryant plays ‘Nathan Wuornos,’ the wry, hardened local cop who somewhat reluctantly becomes the partner of new-to-town FBI agent ‘Audrey Parker,’ played by Emily Rose. BuddyTV ranked him #72 on its list of "TV's Sexiest Men of 2011".

In late 2012, Bryant starred in the Lifetime original movie Merry In-Laws. Bryant played Peter, a teacher who becomes engaged to an astronomer. When she meets his parents she learns that they are really Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus. The film co-stars former Cheers stars George Wendt and Shelley Long as Mr. and Mrs. Claus. The film is directed by Leslie Hope who previously directed Bryant in A Very Merry Daughter of the Bride. In 2013, he guest-starred in shows CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Cracked and Beauty & the Beast.

In 2015, Bryant played the role of Count Johan Oxenstierna in the historical drama The Girl King. In 2016, he and his Haven co-star Emily Rose had supporting role in the movie Secret Summer, which priemered on PixL. In summer 2016, he starred as Tom Novak in the Hallmark Original Movie Tulips in Spring co-starring Fiona Gubelmann. He also starred as Colin Fitzgerlad in another Hallmark movie Summer Love co-starring Rachael Leigh Cook. In fall, he starred in the highly anticipated CBC series from Jennifer Holness and Sudz Sutherland, Shoot the Messenger.

Cool fact: Bryant's father is from North Dakota!

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Erik Burnham

Artist Guest

Erik Burnham is a Minnesotan writer and artist that first broke into comics by way of the Nick Landime feature from Shooting Star Comics.

This led first to other anthologies and then work for IDW Publishing, up to and including his critically acclaimed work on the GHOSTBUSTERS line of comic books.

He's been fortunate to work with many companies in the last few years, including Cryptozoic, Dynamite, IDW, Insight Editions, Marvel, and Panini on properties such as Ghostbusters, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Back to the Future, Galaxy Quest, Scarlet Spider, New Warriors, and KISS -- with more on the way. (Which is good news, because he loves his work.)

Erik still lives in Minnesota; any rumors about this being because he's completely afraid of the forty-nine other states (and Canada) remain unverified at this time.

SOCIAL MEDIA: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Website |

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Troy Denning

Author Guest (Returning)

Troy Denning is a fantasy and science fiction author and game designer who has written more than two dozen novels.

The New York Times bestselling author of 34 novels, Troy Denning grew up in the mountain town of Idaho Springs, Colorado — which happens to be the home of David Chappellet, Robert Redford’s character in the 1969 ski-racing film, Downhill Racer. After seeing the movie at twelve years of age, Troy was inspired to become an Olympic ski-racing champion.

Sadly, that did not happen.

Instead, Troy retreated into his love science fiction and fantasy, poring over the works of Asimov, Clarke, Heinlein, Bova, Burroughs, Tolkien, Norton . . . pretty much anybody who wrote about something other than ski-racing. By the age of fourteen, he had convinced himself that he could tell a better story than any of those fools, and he began to scribble his masterpieces into 80-page spiral-bound notebooks.

Unfortunately, acquiring editors of the time were a stodgy, short-sighted bunch. Most of them didn’t even read handwritten manuscripts, and those who did pretty much insisted on ink. So Troy dragged out his father’s old Underwood typewriter and began to fill old suitcases with typed manuscripts. Some were even neatly typed. Nevertheless, with his acceptance rate still hovering just below zero, by his eighteenth birthday he began to suspect that this writing thing was harder than it looked.

Then Troy opened a SASE containing his short story, “The Ghosts in the Old Argo.” Inside, he found a rejection slip from the legendary editor, Ben Bova. But this time, there was a signature — and a handwritten note thanking him for the submission.

Wildly ecstatic, Troy decided the thing to do was go college and play some Division III football, and maybe then his writing dreams would come true. (If not, he could always turn pro, right?) Beloit College had a football team, and Troy’s English teacher thought it might have a decent writing program. So he went there.

It turned out that Beloit College did have a fine English department, and by the time Troy graduated, he could put together a respectable paragraph. He landed a job editing game material for TSR Hobbies (the producers of Dungeons & Dragons), then spent the next few years honing his skill by working as an editor and game designer.

In 1989, not quite twenty years after deciding to become a writer, he published his first novel, Waterdeep. It became an instant New York Times bestseller (even if it did make the list by the skin of its teeth), and Troy went on to publish more than thirty novels set in many different game and media worlds, including Forgotten Realms, Dark Sun, Planescape, and Star Wars. Currently, he resides in western Wisconsin with his wife, their two pets, and far too many hosta-eating whitetail deer.

He still writes novels, and it’s still harder than it looks. His most recent book is The Sentinel, the fifth novel in the Forgotten Realms Sundering series.

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Christopher R. Mihm

Media Guest (Returning)

Christopher R. Mihm is the writer, director, and producer of the films of the "Mihmiverse," a series of award-winning, loosely interlinked feature-length films which pay homage to 1950s-era "drive-in cinema."

Mr. Mihm's filmmaking career began in 2006 with the release of his first retro-styled film, "The Monster of Phantom Lake." Made on a nearly non-existent budget, the film went on to garner much critical acclaim, appear in numerous film festivals, win multiple awards and, to this day, continues to screen across the world.

Since his first film, Mr. Mihm has released one new as-authentic-as-possible 1950s-style feature a year, many of which have received numerous accolades, nominations, and awards. "Attack of the Moon Zombies" raked in the most 2011 Dead Letter Awards at mailorderzombie.com. "House of Ghosts" beat out several big budget films to win the coveted Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Award for Best Independent Feature in 2012. Mr. Mihm's ode to the "big bug" films of the 1950s, "The Giant Spider," won the Forrest J. Ackerman Film Award at the Famous Monsters of Filmland Film Festival and the Best Action/Horror Feature award at the Highway 61 Film Festival.

Christopher R. Mihm has been featured in many publications, both online and off, including SCI-FI Magazine, Screem, Famous Monsters of Filmland and Scary Monsters Magazine. Mr. Mihm was the recipient of the first-ever Roger & Julie Corman Intrepid Filmmaker award at the ninth annual Fargo Fantastic Film Festival, won the Best Director award from mailorderzombie.com and received the key to the city of Forest Lake, MN, where July 30th was officially declared "Christopher R. Mihm Day."

“Demon with the Atomic Brain” is his 12th film and will screen at ValleyCon 43 and is safe for kids of all ages!

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Tiffany Johnson

Guest of Honor (Returning)

Acclaimed psychic, Tiffany gives inspiration, insight and understanding into your ever-changing life.

Tiffany, at an early age, showed an interest in the Metaphysical realms. At 14, she began reading Tarot cards for friends and family. Continuing through junior high, high school & college she read, honing her talents and developing others. Further into adulthood, a series of events brought her back to her New Age Spirituality and deeper studies of holistic healing, herbs, oils, stones, energy work, past life work, Angels, Reiki, etc. Having personally worked and trained with well known psychics and healers, she knows what an integral part of life and soul development readings can be. Now, at age 34, Tiffany continues her studies and assists other people in theirs. Through classes, readings and healings she works to enlighten her clients to spirit's/God's/Goddess's nature and beauty.

In her Tarot readings, Tiffany gives inspiration, insight and understanding into your ever-changing life. Tarot offers symbolic guidance to assist you on your personal path. In addition to guidance and clarification, the Tarot is enjoyable and entertaining. It is an energizing way of divining your personal path.

In a channeling session with Tiffany, guidance & messages from our angels, spirit guides, those on the other side and inner light comes through.

In addition to channeling, Tiffany also utilizes her inner voice, intuition. This assists not only in interpreting the message given, but understanding where it applies in your life.

As a healer, Tiffany is a Reiki Master. Reiki is a Japanese healing art developed by Mikao Usui. Reiki can relieve pain, acute problems, and chronic illnesses depending on the specific nature of the disease. Reiki honors the ecology of the person by working on spiritual, mental and emotional levels.

Beyond the spiritual counseling and healing, Tiffany is also an ordained minister. She provides a unique style to many various rites of passage (marriage, baptism, commitment ceremonies, etc.) that adapt and respect all faiths and belief systems. In addition to her officiating at life ceremonies, Tiffany's studies and ordination give her a perspective that is not only comforting, but educating as well.

Tiffany is also a certified Hypnotherapist specializing in past life regression therapies. This modality assists in her practice as a tool to help work through many of those karmic issues we have chosen to bring into this lifetime.

Late in 2006 Tiffany was asked to be a part of the Greater Lakes Search and Rescue team. This team, comprised all of volunteer police, paramedics and emergency medical technicians works on missing persons cases in the Midwest.

http://www.readingsbytiffany.com/

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James Luceno

Author Guest (Tentative)

James Luceno (born 1947) is a New York Times bestselling author. He has written several Star Wars novels and a dictionary about Star Wars. He has written other novels as well and he wrote the film adaptations for a few movies. He authored the new Web Warrior series. He has also written for television cartoon series.

NOTICE: James had a conflict arise and cannot guarantee he'll be able to attend but he is planning on coming if he can! We won't know til VC43 is much closer...

In the Star Wars universe he has written three Star Wars: The New Jedi Order novels, Agents of Chaos: Hero's Trial, Agents of Chaos: Jedi Eclipse and The Unifying Force. He also has written The Visual Dictionary of Star Wars, Episode III – Revenge of the Sith and the ebook Darth Maul: Saboteur (this ebook was effectively a prologue to his prequel trilogy novel, set directly before Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, called Cloak of Deception). Two of his latest novels within the Star Wars universe include Labyrinth of Evil and Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader. He also wrote a novel detailing the history of the Millennium Falcon

In an interview with Star Wars Insider magazine, Luceno said that he would like to write a future novel dealing with the search for immortality that both Qui-Gon Jinn and Darth Plagueis embarked upon in their own separate ways. However, in a talk show interview in February 2007, he indicated that the novel was currently on hold due to Star Wars expanded universe continuity concerns. The novel was canceled and replaced by a Darth Bane novel. The Plagueis novel again became viable in 2009, and Darth Plagueis was released in January 2012.

Luceno's 2014 novel Star Wars: Tarkin was one of the first four novels published in the franchise after Lucasfilm redefined Star Wars continuity in April 2014. His novel Catalyst: A Rogue One Story was published in November 2016.

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