President of the International Wizard of Oz Club & Author
Ryan Bunch

Ryan Bunch is president of the International Wizard of Oz Club and author of Oz and the Musical: Performing the American Fairy Tale (Oxford University Press, 2023). He has written about Oz for numerous academic and popular press publications. In addition, Ryan talks about Oz at libraries and conventions, on radio and television, and for documentaries at home and abroad. He teaches in the Childhood Studies Department at Rutgers University-Camden and the Boyer School of Music and Dance at Temple University. His favorite Oz character is Scraps, the Patchwork Girl. You can learn more about Ryan and his work at www.ryanbunch.com and the Oz Club at www.ozclub.org.

Ultimate Oz Universe Co-Writer & Producer
Larry King

Larry King is a writer, producer, and musician with a career spanning commercial jingles, film, and original music. He is the founder of The Larry King Orchestra and the lead vocalist for Soleil Moon and Michael Thompson Band. As a managing partner at ShaggyMan Productions, he co-develops and co-writes the Ultimate OZ Universe with AWA Studios — Ultimate OZ Universe, Vol. 1: The Lost Lands was released in November 2025 and Volume 2 will hit stores summer 2026.

Author
KA SILVA

Author KA Silva (he/they) writes darker Oz stories based on L. Frank Baum's original books, with romance, adventure, and positive queer rep. If you're a fan of WICKED or urban fantasy, you'll love the Needle & Straw series: STRAW SONG and STRAW SOUL! He also writes steamy romantasy (STRAW MAN) and horror comedy (WENDIGOGO), often set in Wisconsin where he lives. Humor, horror, and romance feature in all their books, along with queer and marginalized characters.

Comic Book Artist & Author
Tom Hutchison

Tom Hutchison is the co-founder of Big Dog Ink comics as well as the writer and creator of  The Legend of Oz: The Wicked West. The Wicked West is a re-imagining of the classic L. Frank Baum story but told with an old west twist. Instead of ruby slippers, Gale wears ruby spurs and her best friend Toto is now her trusty steed. 

A life-long comic book fan, Tom first stumbled across comics at a flea market at the age of 10 and comic books quickly became a staple in his life. Tom has taken part in virtually every portion of the industry at one time or another, starting as a reader and collector and then managing a local comic book shop before moving on and owning his own store. Tom started assisting with other’s creator owned comics and now is writing and publishing his own stories as well as helping new creators with their projects in an editorial capacity.

Author
Ron Baxley, Jr.

A jovial life-long Oz fan with about 30 years as an Oz and fantasy author (and more!), Ron Baxley combines his 51 years of mostly living in the South with a few years living in Massachusetts for material. His traveling throughout the country, being a veteran journalist and pop culture columnist, and being a Corgi parent and lover inform his work as well. In fact, he continues his work as a correspondent and columnist for “Augusta Good News” in Augusta, Georgia. 

Also, Ron, who is an avid multi-genre reader, put in 15 years as an educator (many in English and reading) before needing to become a caregiver and returning to journalism. His experience as an educator helped him create the fantasy Corgi graphic novel, “Ziggy Zig-zags the Light and Dark Fantastic” and fantasy children’s book, “Goldey Goosey of Oz”.  In fact, he continues to educate and mentor people at events. 

Next, Ron hopes to have one or two surprise new Oz-zy projects available for the festival this year. He waves his hand and says, “These are the books you’re looking for.” Oops. Wrong fandom again. (tap-dancing) You got’ta give the people… what they want! Yea, now that’s the ticket… to Oz! 

For more information on Ron, go to http://www.ronbaxleyjr.com and subscribe to his substack for free (or as a paid subscriber) at https://substack.com/@ronbaxleyjr .  He can also be found on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/ronbaxleyjrofoz .