Bourbon City Steam
Guests 2026

  Nathan Lueth

He came into existence with a pencil in his hand, a feat which continues to confound obstetricians to this day. No one knows for sure when he started drawing or where his love of comics came from, but most experts agree that his professional career began after graduating from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design as a caricaturist in the Mall of America.
Now a 20 year veteran freelance illustrator, storyboard artist, and graphic novelist, Nathan has pleased clients and publishers of all sizes. He’s worked with Target, General Mills, Inverse Press, Wannabe Press, Writers of the Round Table Press and drawn countless thousands of caricatures at fairs across the midwest.
He is the co-creator of the steampunk graphic novel series, Impure Blood, the editor/publisher of the modern fantasy comic anthology, Concrete Arcanum, and to date has raised over $100,000 on Kickstarter. His latest comic series, The Canon of Vangel, is the heartwarming tale of a girl, her demon, and the end of the world.
Looking forward to seeing you in May (or possibly in November if you're going to be at TeslaCon)
Best regards,
-Nathan Lueth
Comics and Illustration
nathanluethillustration.com

 

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Leanna Renee Hieber

an actress, playwright, ghost tour guide and the award-winning, bestselling author of Gothic, Gaslamp Fantasy novels such as the Strangely Beautiful, Magic Most Foul, Eterna Files and The Spectral City series. A Haunted History of Invisible Women: True Stories of America’s Ghosts, co-authored with Andrea Janes, focuses on the intersection of women’s history and ghost stories and was a Bram Stoker Award Finalist for Superior Achievement in Non-Fiction. Leanna is the audiobook narrator for speculative fiction series via Scribd.com including the Time Immemorial and Spirit Suitor trilogies. A 4-time Prism award winner and Daphne du Maurier award finalist, Leanna’s books have been selected for national book club editions as well as translated into many languages. Her short stories have been featured in numerous notable anthologies and her non-fiction essays have been featured in Apex Magazine, The Deadlands and more. She has been featured in film and television on shows like Mysteries at the Museum and Beyond the Unknown, discussing Victorian Spiritualism. She lectures around the country on themes of Gothic fiction, 19th Century history and the Paranormal for prominent institutions such as New York University, Miami University, Bard College and Morbid Anatomy. http://leannareneehieber.com

Her new Book:

From the Bram Stoker nominated author team who penned A Haunted History of Invisible Women, the first book of its kind to investigate gothic tropes that define American lore. Here is the hidden, dark history of what frightens us – and why.

The Gothic. Brooding, atmospheric, chilling, and not always the outpouring of a feverish imagination. Reality can be even stranger as borne out in this lush and ghostly look at real people who lived–and died—amidst the trappings of the Gothic.

 Jane's Jazz Addiction

Swing jazz that's vivacious, engaging &
uniquely entertaining.

https://www.janesjazzaddiction.com/

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The Queen Bee

Jennifer Noran

Whether you know her as Jennifer Noran, Captain Medea Asherah (She Who Walks Above The Sea), Admiral, or Queen Bee, one thing you can know for certain...she loves Steampunk! Noran started her foray into Steampunk by attending The International Steampunk Symposium in 2015. Since that time, she created The Airship Caduceus out of Lexington, Kentucky in 2016, ran such events as The Victorian Valentine Affair in 2019 and the Steampunkin’ Halloween Hullabaloo in 2021. Noran took over running The International Steampunk Symposium in 2023 and has moved forth from that adventure as the Queen Bee of Queen City Steam! Noran fell in love with the aesthetic and camaraderie of Steampunk. Along with attending and running events, she’s been creating logos and designs for such projects as the Kentucky Steampunk Society, The Chicago Steampunk Exposition, The Atlanta Steampunk Expo, The Traveling Revelers, and her own Airship. Queen City Steam’s goal is to create events throughout Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio, collaborating with different groups and people to host joint events all over the tri‐state area. Not only will that make planning events easier, but it will give more opportunities for people to attend events all year round and in different locations. Through The International Steampunk Symposium, The Airship Caduceus and crew, Queen City Steam, and the wonderful genre that is Steampunk, Noran hopes that good deeds can be achieved, kindness and friendships can be kindled and creativity can be cultivated, all while having fun.

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Professor Horatio Hops

Professor Hops (Patrick Quackenbush)has spent the past 40+ years as a naturalist, biologist & environmental education specialist for DNR. I have been a brewer for over 20 years with master brewing certification from Cornell university. Along with wife Janette we have spent our lives in pursuit of folktales, legends, stories and everything creepy, spooky and macabre. My wife and I currently run a book store and brewery supply and classroom shop in Southeastern Ohio known as, “Backroads Boo & Brew”

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Paul Koontz

A distinguished martial arts instructor and Professor of Arms, hailing from the picturesque landscapes of Central Kentucky. Born with a passion for martial arts, Paul embarked on his journey in 1980, immersing himself in the rich traditions of Asian martial disciplines. In 1997, a pivotal moment occurred in Paul's life when an injury requiring the use of a cane prompted him to meld the use of a cane with his martial arts knowledge.

What sets Paul’s cane methodologies apart is his commitment to preserving historical martial traditions. As a historical reenactor and scholar, he delves into the Victorian and Edwardian eras, drawing inspiration from historical cane fighting treatises. At the core of these teachings is a holistic approach to self-defense tailored to provide practical skills for real-world situations.

With a career spanning over four decades, Paul’s exploration of historical martial treatises and techniques, coupled with his dedication to empowering individuals through self-defense, make him a captivating speaker. Join Paul as he imparts the wisdom of masters from yesteryear, where the fusion of history, tradition, and innovation promises an enlightening and engaging experience for all attendees.

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A.S.G.A.R.D.

ASGARD, A Second Generation Articulating Robotic Device, is one half of a creative, immersive character experience. She was invented in 1864 by mad scientist and inventor, Sir Bevel Involute, and began her life as a simple tea-making automaton.

After accidently pouring scalding hot tea in Sir Bevel’s lap, he decided his invention needed a heart to serve as a moral compass. After its installation, her life changed forever, and she became insatiably curious.

After Sir Bevel’s passing in 1893, ASGARD found her way into the helping hands of the Sprocket Brothers Circus and Freak Show, where she entertained crowds for years. Eventually, she fell into disrepair around 1913

Due to her years in disrepair, ASGARD is missing much of her memory, and must relearn the ways of the world. Thanks to Lady Wheelsworth’s dedication and kindness, ASGARD is slowly being restored and improved. The goal, while working on upgrades for ASGARD, is for Wheelsworth to eventually improve her craft in the automaton world, and to dabble in other areas of expertise she has never experienced.

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  Lady Wheelsworth

Lady Sterling Wheelsworth is the sassy, clever owner of Wheelsworth Mechanics, came upon a beautiful robotic arm one day while scouring a local scrap yard. She knew she had stumbled upon something special. When she asked the owner about it, he directed her to a broken-down automaton from the Victorian era. She had found her next big project.

According to the beaten old journal Wheelsworth found in the automaton’s crank box, the old thing had been invented in 1864. Lady Sterling took on the challenge of restoring the invention and found so much more than a tea-making machine – she found a friend in ASGARD.

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Steampunk Xena

This girl is on FIRE! The flames she performs with only shines half as brightly as this woman! Bourbon City Steam is proud to announce that Steampunk Xena will be performing at Victorian Villains&Monsters...and heroes this year!
Mark your calendar for March 14-16, 2025 and buy your tickets before they sell out!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMV3pevXU9U

 

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Tom Truelove

Coming back to rock Bourbon City Steam’s we have the amazing talent of DJ Zophiel This inspirational artists makes our Galas special with his groovin' beats. He takes a simple set up and turns it into something really special! We are so happy to see him return for a "Day at the Races" this year and we couldn’t be more honored and excited!

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Dimitri Walker

Born and raised in Atlanta, Dimitri is a father of 5 and a painter. Brush, paint, and canvas are his tools. He's been a portrait artist since 1983, primarily using graphite (pencil).
In 1994 he started to paint with oils and acrylics.
In 2005 at age 40, Re-enrolled at the same college he left in 1986 and in 2009 earned a Bachelor’s of Fine Art. Over the next few years he had paintings hung in restaurants, libraries, and a few small galleries but things didn't really take off until the spring of 2012. While teaching a drawing class at a local art gallery and after a few weeks a student/friend who took his class to learn to draw the T.A.R.D.I.S. better asked "Dimitri I know you watch and love all the same shows and movies I do. Supernatural, Firefly, Doctor Who, Star Wars, Star Trek, and all the comic book movies. I have been to your website. Why haven't you done any Fan Art?
Since then, he's attended more of conventions than he can keep track of.
After a few years he started to add pieces that were solely his own creation and found that people who come to conventions to buy art love all kinds of art.

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James Neathery

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Jeff Church

 

Meet Jeff: Master Craftsman and Steampunk Enthusiast Jeff’s journey into metalworking began in 1983, sparking a lifelong passion for teaching and sharing his extensive knowledge. Since 1993, he has been educating students at Appalachian State University (ASU) in various material processes, including electronics, woodworking, and metalworking. In 2012, Jeff embraced the Steampunk genre and became a figure in the convention scene. He is known for his remarkable creations, such as a functional WH40k Chainsword, an LED Powersword, and a katana lightsaber for Steampunk Darth Vader, among many other intricate designs. Three years ago, Jeff ventured into building steampunk vehicles and is currently working on his third project. He is also a proud member of Hatton Cross Steampunk.

 

 

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Kristen Neathery

Is getting super amped for her dice class at Bourbon City Steam. She'll have 2 sittings of the class and you’ll find an outline below to give an idea of what to expect and help everything move smoothly. Please reach out to me to book your seat as they are limited! Seats are $60 each.
Class Outline
This is a 2-part dice class using resin and various alcohol inks, mica powders, and pigment pastes to create your own 7 piece set of TTRPG dice. Day 1 consists of deciding on your dice design and pouring the resin. Day 2 is the process of sanding, polishing, and inking the dice.
*I can accommodate some people as needed with my a pottery wheel for sanding and Dremel for polishing. Let me know prior to the class if you’ll need these so that I can be sure to have them on hand.
Day 1
Supplies provided: Plastic sheet for pouring table, resin, molds, post-it notes, pen, pressure pot, compressor, vacuum chamber with pump, 8oz measured disposable cups, 3oz disposable cups, medicine cups, lighter, alcohol inks, mica powders, pigment pastes, ultra-fine glitter, popsicle sticks, pipettes, dental syringes, toothpicks, baby wipes, gloves
Procedure:
Each class can hold 15 people. The class will be split into 3 groups of 5 for pouring to ensure adequate attention per participant. Prior to splitting into groups, the supplies will be put out and participants can choose their materials and get advice on how to achieve any specific look that is wanting to be achieved.
After everyone has picked their materials, the group of 5 will sit at the plastic lined table and I will divide the mixed resin, help mix the materials with the resin, and instruct with different pouring techniques to achieve the desired look. A post-it with the participant’s name will be placed on top of the mold to help the next day.
After everyone has poured, the pressure pot will be pressurized to 60 psi and will be left at that pressure until part 2.
*Anyone wanting to try glitter dice needs to be in first group for flipping the mold. Glitter dice are not recommended as the glitter is subject to gravity and can fall to the bottom of the mold instead of being throughout the die.
Day 2
Supplies provided: Rubbing alcohol, spray water bottles, baby wipes, paints, paint brush, toothpicks, 3oz disposable cups, medicine cups, 1500 grit sandpaper, pink and white zona papers, ultrasonic cleaner with solution, polishing cloths, glass panes, water-based polishing compound
Procedure:
I’ll have packs with all the sanding/polishing papers prepared for each participant. Each mold will be returned to the participant for demolding. After the dice are removed, they’ll need to be inspected for flashing concerns and spurs which can make the die lopsided during sanding. While we’re doing this, everyone can pick their inking color for the numbers. Please bring dice with concerns for spurs or flashing to me for correction. When sanding, it is important to sand on a perfectly flat surface to ensure no scratches or pocks are put into the faces. Glass panes will be available for those that would like them. I recommend sanding all sides with the sandpaper to ensure all sides are even and uniform. Rewet your sandpaper as needed using spray bottles provided. After sanding the die, I recommend placing it in a cup of alcohol to keep resin particles from clumping in the numbers. After all the sides have been hit with the sandpaper and they are all even and flat, use the pink zona paper to begin polishing each face in the same manner as sanding. You should see them starting to shine here. After the pink zona paper, put the 38 polishing compound on the white zona paper for final polishing. Continue putting dice that are not actively being sanded in water/alcohol to avoid the polishing compound drying into the numbers. When all the dice are polished to your satisfaction, bring the dice to me (I’ll be sitting at an ultrasonic cleaner at this point) for cleaning prior to inking.
For inking, there are a few methods. I will have toothpicks and paintbrushes to help with inking, but I recommend the messy, finger-painting method. Make sure to push the paint into the numbers very thoroughly, allow the paint about 10 minutes to dry adequately (it’s going to look messy but don’t be scared), and then clean the excess paint from the dice with baby wipes (or polish cloths with alcohol for oil-based paints).

 

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Dr. Drakes Exhibition of the Bizarre   

 

Prepare to be intrigued, transfixed and amazed when Dr. Drake and his amazing crew take the stage at Bourbon City Steam’s “Weekend At The Races” 

They are one of the last classic traveling circus sideshows left in the world who combine vintage sideshow vaudeville with a touch of modern flair that will leave you on the edge of your seats!

Witness for yourself acts of unexplainable magic, creepy spectacles that horrify you yet you can’t look away, daring acts and charisma that is out of this world!

Mark your calendars! Buy your tickets! Book your hotel! You won’t want to miss this!

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Safiya Nawaar

Award winning teacher, performer and choreographer, Safiya Nawaar, is the owner and artistic director of Arabesque World Dance in Lexington, Ky. Safiya has been performing and teaching Raqs Sharqi (belly dance) for 22 years. This beautiful dancer brings the emotions of music to life through creative movement with a powerful yet delicate style, both on the stage and in the classroom. Her specialties include the traditional and folkloric dances from the Middle East, North Africa and the Mediterranean.

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The Tea Tzar 

A connoisseur of Tea and Tisanes, the gentleman known as the Tea Tzar seeks to bring only the best the food and beverage world has to offer to close friends and strangers alike. His unique take on tea blends has resulted in flavors that are experiential and fantastical, working alongside his good friends over at the Ohio Tea company to bring these creations to life. And many a weary con-goer have had their hunger satiated by fresh foods that this "Convention Mom" has served up during many event weekends. Whether you're looking to fuel up on some caffeine or chill out with some herbal infusions you can trust that the Tea Tzar will not only deliver on what you want, but exceed it.

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The Shooting Star Maid Cafe

Making their first visit to Bourbon City Steam, the lovely women of the Shooting Star Maid Cafe promise to create a fun and creative atmosphere. While they mostly visit Anime conventions, they are a great fit for the Steampunk community.

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Calamity Dawn

Master Elixir Mixir, is your "Spirit"ual Advisor. Calamity has over a decade of experience as a professional bartender/mixologist and has been a cocktail enthusiast for even longer. For almost her entire Steampunk life Calamity has been doing various presentations about how to enjoy better drinks for a better time, including non alcoholic options. She presents her panels with a mix of expert knowledge, witty banter, and odd bits of trivia and anecdotes. Calamity is a wonderful hostess and enjoys socializing and doing her part to ensure her guests enjoy themselves to their best ability.

 

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TheBloodSirens

The Sirens from Your Darkest Fears

Enter if you dare to the domain of the alluring Blood Sirens. Their cove may tempt you with desirable treasures and lush surroundings, but be wary of their magical form. The Blood Siren's enchantment may prevent you from truly seeing what is right before you. So heed this warning do not fall for their captivating charms or you may find yourself as one of their eternal Dark Dweller servants. Or worse yet, become part of their prized bone collection.