From Cryptid to Fae: My Dragon Con 2025 Recap

Costumes & Chaos

Dragon Con 2025 was, as always, a whirlwind of magic, chaos, and community. It’s the kind of weekend that leaves you both exhausted and recharged, somehow at the same time.

On Friday, I leaned into some cryptid energy as Mothman. I got so many compliments that made my last-minute costume worth every bit of effort.

Saturday, though, was when I really took flight. In my monarch butterfly fae costume, I got stopped constantly! Not just for photos, but for badge ribbons and little trinkets from other con-goers. Of course, I shared my own swag and ribbons along the way. It was such a fun way to connect with people and feel like part of the living, breathing magic of the con.

My Panel Lineup

Here’s how my programming looked this year:

Friday

• 15-Minute Mentor Session: These quick 1-on-1 chats with aspiring authors are always a highlight. Those little face-to-face conversations mean so much. The entire hour, I was fully booked, helping with book pitches to branding.

• Burnout, Boundaries, & Books: This was my first time moderating a panel EVER! I was nervous, but I got compliments on my ability to keep things going smoothly and giving plenty of time for the audience to ask their burning questions. We dug into how to survive online as an author and web comic creator without burning out and how important boundries can be.

Saturday

• It Takes a Village: Collaboration: Writers, artists, narrators, chaos gremlins. Collaboration is messy and magical, and we got into both sides of it. I got to bring an interesting perspective as an indie author to this panel.

• Delphic Oracle: Audience questions, wild interpretations, and pure chaos. This was easily one of the most entertaining events of my weekend.

  
  

Sunday

• Indie Publishing: Dos, Don’ts, Issues, and Opportunities: Breaking down the rollercoaster that is self-publishing: the pitfalls, the wins, and why we keep coming back.

  
  

Every panel was full of thoughtful questions, great discussions, and that irreplaceable feeling of being in a room full of people who love the same things you do.

Gratitude Where It’s Due

I want to pause here and say how thankful I am. Being invited as a guest at Dragon Con for the past three years has been an incredible opportunity, and I’ll never take that lightly. I love getting to share my knowledge, meet readers and writers, and be part of a convention that means so much to so many people. A comped badge is a blessing at any convention, and I recognize that.

But Let’s Be Honest

That said, I also donate my time, knowledge, and energy to Dragon Con’s programming. The least a convention of this size could do is allow me to bring what I’ll call an “emotional support human," whether that’s a PA, a friend, or simply someone to help me navigate the chaos. At Dragon Con, additional badges are available for spouses and children of professional guests, but as a single woman, I am not offered an additional badge. That means I either go alone, which is a scary thought in a city, or purchase a badge for a friend or PA. Adding to my out-of-pocket expenses for this convention.

Covering lodging, travel, parking, an additional pass, and meals entirely out of pocket makes it hard to justify continuing as a professional guest. Especially when I want to enjoy all the amazing things the con has to offer.

Looking Ahead

I still had an amazing time. The panels, the costumes, the sheer energy of Atlanta, it’s unbeatable. But after some reflection, I’ve decided that in 2026, I’ll be back as a fan. I want to soak in the magic without the stress of sprinting between hotels or worrying about logistics.

Dragon Con will always be special to me. It was the very first convention I was an offical guest at and is a convention like no other I've attended since I began going to cons in 2018. But next year, I plan to enjoy it from the other side of the table. Whether I’m wearing wings, antennae, or something entirely new.

I'll see you in 2026, Dragon Con!