As announced at our Masquerade halftime on Saturday night of Norwescon 47, we are pleased to introduce our first four guests of honor for next year’s Norwescon 48!
Writer Guest of Honor Ursula Vernon (a.k.a. T. Kingfisher)
Ursula Vernon, aka T. Kingfisher is the author and illustrator of far more projects than is probably healthy. She has written over fifteen books for children, at least a dozen novels for adults, an epic webcomic called “Digger” and various short stories and other odds and ends.
Her webcomic “Digger” won the Hugo Award for Best Graphic Story (2012) and the Mythopoeic Award (2013.) Her short story “Jackalope Wives” won the Nebula for Best Short Story, the Coyotl Award, and the WSFA Small Press Award (2015.) Her series Dragonbreath won the Sequoyah Award for Children’s Literature, and her series Hamster Princess has been nominated for the Texas Bluebonnet Award and made the Amelia Bloomer List for feminist children’s literature. Her novel Castle Hangnail won the Mythopoeic Award for Children’s Literature in 2016. Her novelette “The Tomato Thief” won the Hugo Award for Best Novelette in 2017. Her novel A Wizard’s Guide To Defensive Baking won the Andre Norton Nebula, the Lodestar, the Dragon, the Locus and another Mythopoeic in 2021, and her short story “Metal Like Blood In The Dark” won the Hugo in 2021, whereupon she gave a speech about slime molds.
In addition to writing and making art, Ms. Vernon gardens, feeds the birds, and has an unhealthy obsession with mulch.
Science Guest of Honor Summer Ash
Summer Ash has been both a rocket scientist and a radio astronomer, and is now harnessing her powers for science communication to bring the universe down to earth to help those who want to reach for the stars.
Summer is currently the STEAM Education Manager for the National Radio Astronomy Observatory in Socorro, New Mexico. She heads up education and outreach efforts to K-12 audiences including schools, after-school programs, special interest groups, and the general public. She also manages the visitor experience and guided tours at the Very Large Array, the world’s most scientifically productive ground-based telescope.
Summer is also a public speaker and freelance science writer and communicator. She currently moderates Virtual Astro Live for the Intrepid Air & Space Museum. Her written work has been published in The Atlantic, Smithsonian, Now.Space, Scientific American, Slate, and Nautilus. She has hosted and appeared in science and STEM educational videos for NBC News, City University of New York, and Disney Junior. For many years, she was the in-house astrophysicist for The Rachel Maddow Show on MSNBC. If she has any time left over after that, she spends it bringing astronomy + fashion together as a co-founder of STARtorialist.
Spotlight Publisher Orbit
Orbit is a division of Hachette Book Group, comprising the Orbit, Redhook, Orbit Works, and Run For It imprints. Launched in 2007, Orbit has established itself as one of the market-leading speculative fiction publishers in the US. Orbit US authors include New York Times bestsellers James S. A. Corey, Iain M. Banks, John Gwynne, Rachel Gillig, Alix E. Harrow, N. K. Jemisin, Ann Leckie, Kim Stanley Robinson, Andrzej Sapkowski, Brent Weeks, and Hannah Whitten. Learn more at orbitbooks.net.
Bradley Englert, Orbit Representative
Bradley Englert is an Executive Editor at Orbit Books where he acquires for the Orbit, Redhook, and Run For It lists. He has edited numerous New York Times bestsellers and has the privilege of working with authors like James S. A. Corey, Brent Weeks, John Gwynne, Joe Abercrombie, Andrzej Sapkowski, Riot Games, and many, many more. He is also working to build Run For It, Orbit’s new horror imprint, into a premiere destination for diehard horror readers.
Special Guest of Honor: Dutch Bihary
Dutch Bihary is a renowned figure in the world of face and body art, a highly respected international instructor whose foundation was laid in the rugged beauty of the Pacific Northwest mountains. His experience encompasses the precise artistry of tattoo work, the narrative power of comic book illustration, the transformative skills of face and body painting, the techniques of special effects makeup and prosthetics, and the craft of practical special effects for television and film. Furthermore, his expertise extends to large-scale murals, 3D chromadepth attractions, and the commanding presence of large-scale prop sculpting.
Widely recognized from season one of Skin Wars, the competitive reality series focused on body painting, and his return as a celebrity mentor on “Fresh Paint,” Dutch’s accomplishments speak for themselves. His most significant achievement lies in the reputation as a highly qualified and skilled educator that is sought after globally, evidenced by invitations to lead courses at esteemed institutions such as MBS Academies in Korea and the iconic Stan Winston Studios.
Dutch finds profound satisfaction in sharing his hard-earned knowledge with the next generation of dedicated artists, creators, and innovators. His commitment to their growth and understanding is unwavering.