Rekha Sharma

Media Guest of Honor

An accomplished Canadian film, stage and television actor, Rekha Sharma was born and raised in Vancouver, British Columbia. Rekha’s ancestors relocated from the state of Uttar Pradesh in India during the British occupation of the country, and settled in the Fiji Islands. Her family moved to Canada where she was born and raised with her elder brother. After briefly living in Alberta as a child, Rekha and her family settled back in North Vancouver.

After graduating from high school, Rekha took the Foundation program at the Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design, followed by a three-year program at the West Coast College of Massage Therapy where she became a Holistic Counselor. Rekha found her love of acting in grade five during an audition for a school play, where she secured the lead role; however, it was in her early twenties, after dabbling in a variety of things that Rekha made the decision to pursue an acting career. She trained at the Ivana Chubbuck Acting Studio and later at the Lyric School of Acting. Most recently, she has worked with renowned acting coach, Larry Moss.

Her career began in stage productions, such as Prisoners, Counter Offense, and Mamet’s Oleanna. She is now rooted firmly in film and television. Rekha’s career in feature films includes Whisper (2007), Memory (2006), Fierce People (2005), Edison (2005), The Chronicles of Riddick (2004) and The Core (2003). In The Core Rekha played Danni, a college student and assistant to Dr.Josh Keyes, played by Aaron Eckhart. She credits The Core as her best movie experience so far. Her latest film Traveling (2008), stars Jennifer Aniston, Aaron Eckhart and Martin Sheen.

Rekha’s recurring roles in television shows have been numerous. In Dark Angel she played Dr Beverley Shankar, the coroner working in cahoots with Max (Jessica Alba) and Logan (Michael Weatherley). She played Stella in John Doe, a brilliant computer geek working at the precinct who has a crush on Doe (Dominic Purcell) and nearly gets killed. In Smallville, Rekha played Dr Harden at the Smallville Medical Center who is often the bearer of bad news. In Da Vinci’s City Hall, Rekha played Cindy Winters, a cop who gets involved in a web of secrets and betrayal after one of her partners is killed during an illegal grow-op bust. Currently working on the Emmy (2007) and Peabody (2006) award winning Sci-Fi series, “Battlestar Galactica”, Rekha plays Tory Foster, chief-of-staff to President Roslin (Academy Award nominated, Mary McDonnell).

When Rekha’s isn’t acting she enjoys painting, playing Sarangi (an Indian Classical Instrument), yoga and meditation. She is passionate about the arts and loves supporting live music, theatre and modern dance. Rekha is proud of her Indian heritage and strives to break stereotypical roles for ethnic women in film and television.

Rekha supports numerous charities including Hurricane Katrina victims in the Southern States, Tsunami victims in Southeast Asia, and housing for outcast women in India. In Vancouver, she supports women’s shelters, has taught acting to street youth on the downtown east side, and supports numerous local venues for the performing arts.

Rekha’s passion for the arts and human rights fuels her dynamic and inspiring performances.

Richard Lee Byers

Literary Guest of Honor

Richard Lee Byers is the author of over thirty fantasy and horror novels, including a number set in the Forgotten Realms universe. His recent titles include The Captive Flame, Unclean, Undead, Unholy, The Rage, The Rite, The Ruin, Dissolution, and The Enemy Within. His short fiction has appeared in numerous magazines and anthologies. A resident of the Tampa Bay area, the setting for a good deal of his horror fiction, he spends much of his free time fencing, playing poker, playing D&D, and shooting pool. Visit him online at www.richardleebyers.com

PikaBelleChu

Cosplay Guest of Honor

PikaBelleChu is most well known in the anime world for her continuing passion for Pokemon. She has appeared in many magazines, newspapers and tv such as Nintendo Power, Animerica, Anime Insider, Pokemon Fan, Beckett Pokemon Collector, Pokemon World UK,Nintendo UK,VW Trends,VW World, EGM, Star Banner, Riverland News, St. Augustine Record, Cartoon Network and is featured in a book published worldwide called, Cosplay in America. Her highest achievement is having being featured in the Gamers Edition of Guinness Book of World Records in 2009 for having the Worlds Largest Pokemon Collection in the World and also featured in the 2010 Main Book of Guinness Book of World Records as well, with over 9,000 items and growing everyday from American to Japanese collectables and including her crown jewel of her collection. the PikaBug, the official Pikachu Volkswagen you can see displayed at many conventions and events she attends.

She does numerous Pokemon events, from Children’s Charity events, Car Shows, Parades, Kids Parties and appears at conventions and other evens world wide for her dedication to Pokemon. Also a cosplayer, she has created more then 90 costumes mostly consisting of Pokemon and her own special twist, creations called Pokewomon Princesses where she takes a Pokemon and creates a royal version of that Pokemon. Some of the costumes have taken more then 3 months to create. When not promoting Pokemon and cosplaying for events for children, she also teaches kids cartooning at local craft stores and paints murals in businesses and private homes in the area she lives.

Kimberly Raiser

Literary Guest

Kimberly Raiser has been published in many journals and online magazines including Silverthought, Another Realm, Twisted Tongue Magazine and more. “Stranded” is a collection of this quirky writers published short stories that range from Science Fiction, Horror, and downright hilarious genres. Her first full length novel is titled “The Family Bones” and is a nail-biting edge of your seat thriller. (It was voted top five best thrillers of 2008 at Preditors and Editors) The reviews so far have been incredible. Currently she is working on several novels, a trilogy titled “Children of Roen”, and has a children’s series being considered for publication by a major publishing house. Kimberly has an infectious laugh and love for life and is always a popular addition to any convention. She has been known to bring puppets with her to entertain children that are dragged to conventions with their wonderfully geeky parents!!

Kevin A. Ranson

Media Guest

Kevin A. Ranson is the creator/webmaster of www.moviecrypt.com as well as the “ghost writer” for the site’s host, Grim D. Reaper. Preferring a supernatural slant from his books and films but willing to watch and review any movie, Kevin has just released the first of a series of books entitled “Reaping and Critiquing,” an annual compilation of the site’s spoiler-light reviews.

With considerable knowledge in film and genre television, Kevin has become a popular panel guest for southeastern conventions with his “Ultimate Occult Showdown” (an impromptu game-show-like panel where audience members become the contestants) and other genre discussions. With credits in the tabletop RPG industry as a freelance game designer as well as co-author of the “Kindling Moon” fantasy setting, Kevin is also currently writing his first novel based on the unique game world.

Kevin currently resides in Jacksonville, Florida.

Gary S. Roen

Literary Guest

Gary Roen is an author, syndicated book reviewer/writer and a book agent with clients in the following genres: horror, fantasy, sci-fi, true crime, and non-fiction. Roen has been writing his appraisals of books for 30 years. His reviews have appeared in over hundreds of daily and weekly periodicals that currently include the Midwest Book Review and the St. Cloud Arrhythmic Souls. He is also the resident book critic for the internet radio show The Andromeda Library. He is the author of two books of poetry Look at Me World (Chateau Publishing), Made By Man (Nest Egg Publications) and a satirical play entitled “Vamp”. He is now writing short fiction and publishing in Computer Legends Lies, Lores Ageless Press, Anotherealm SF magazine, Nest Egg Publications, and Mercury Sky online.

Sci-Fried

Musical Guests

Sci-Fried was formed in early 2008 out of a Love for Science Fiction and Rock Music. We Began by writing Parodies of popular songs with the flavor of our favorite Movies and TV Shows. Once we began to perform live at conventions and other venues we noticed that people really liked what we were doing. We made a Demo CD for free distribution and soon found it difficult to keep up with the demand from the people who wanted one. We soon found ourselves in studio doing work on 2 Projects. Our Brand New, All-Parody Album “Ramming Speed”, and our Debut All-Original Album “Geeks Unite”. The Release of these 2 CD’s have given way to our new plan, TOUR 2010: The Year We Make Con-Tact. It is our plan to perform live at 10-12 conventions in 2010. Bringing our music to the people it is intended for. We are a rock band that is influenced by fans of Sci-fi / Fantasy / Horror. Without them we have no voice.

The Cog is Dead

Musical Guests

The Cog is Dead The Cog is Dead is a time traveling band with a bit of a musical identity crisis. Formed in Grimsby, England in 1893, the Cog is Dead have traveled to various points of time in an effort to save clockwork mechanics and steam power! Along the way they have discovered several types of marvelous music which has helped to inspire their own. They now travel the world in their flying timeship spreading their message and playing their marvelous melodies for all to hear and enjoy. www.the cogisdead.com