Hien Nguyen

Speaker

Hien Nguyen (she/her) is a speculative fiction writer from the Midwest whose work has been nominated for the Pushcart, Best of the Net, and Best Small Fictions. She is interested in the uplifting and haunting forms of human connection, and how writing speculative fiction can lay those bare. Hien mentors for WriteGirl and is also part of Clarion West’s 2026 Novel Writing Workshop cohort under instructor Karen Lord. Twin Tides is Hien’s debut young adult novel. An indoor cat disguised as a human, Hien has ping-ponged across coasts but is currently based in the South. You can find Hien online at authorhien.com, or on Instagram and other social media as @authorhien.

7:00PM - 8:00PM EDT

Friday July 10th

Guest of Honor: DeAndra Davis

Join us for an exclusive interview with Guest of Honor DeAndra Davis! We'll talk about her writing journey, influences, challenges, and more! DeAndra Davis is an award-winning, neurodivergent, Jamaican-American author whose books feature main characters as messy as she is. She loves 100%'ing video games and reading worlds more interesting than her own. She has too many kids, dogs, and songs from Wicked on her phone. (Moderator: Hien Nguyen)

10:00AM - 11:30AM EDT

Saturday July 11th

Staying Safe While Marketing

Some authors will do anything to get their work into reader's hands. However, in the current world, steps must be taken to maintain privacy and safety. Our panel will discuss the potential dangers writers face while promoting their work and how to ensure safety. (Moderator: Hien Nguyen)

11:00AM - 12:30PM EDT

Saturday July 11th

A Matter of Perception: Creating or Minimizing Distance in POVs

Authors agonize over which point of view to choose, but it can strengthen a story to be just as intentional about the distance used in the narration. Distance can determine how close a reader feels to the character and events, not to mention how deeply they feel the emotions within the scene. In this panel, authors discuss how to utilize distance and how it can enhance your writing style. (Moderator: Sean Morrissey Carroll)

10:00AM - 11:30AM EDT

Sunday July 12th

Representation Matters: Bridging Creative Gaps

Representing marginalized communities in your writing without relying on harmful tropes or stereotypes is a crucial skill to develop. Join our panelists as they give tips on learning from lived experiences and ensuring positive and accurate representation. (Moderator: Hien Nguyen)