Our 2009 Logo Artist - Billy Tackett

Award winning artist Billy Tackett hasn’t always been referred to as “The Creepiest Artist In America”. With humble beginnings in rural KY, the darkness came a-callin’ early on. His fondness for Famous Monsters of Filmland over Little Golden Books hinted at a dark future to come. Eventually his mastery of the macabre arts drew him to the big city in search of more enthusiastic victims. With his boo-tiful wife Heather, he settled in the Greater Cincinnati area and began to put in motion his evil plan to zombify America. After publishing over 200 book cover and illustrations he created his signature piece, Zombie Sam, giving birth to his Dead White & Blue series. Those paintings then became the inspiration for the Dead White & Blue Comics graphic novel, scheduled for release early 2009 from Abyss Walker Comics. Billy’s ability to bring characters to life on canvas and paper caught the attention of best-selling author Shane Moore who dubbed him “Duco-Letum” (Painter of Death) and named him Official Artist of his Abyss Walker Series. Utilizing his talents in both graphic design and traditional art, Billy has unearthed a line of graphic Ts emblazoned emblazoned with the denizens of the vast and forbidding wasteland known as his Imagination. Avoid visiting www.BillyTackett.com if you suffer from heart problems, weak stomach or fear of the dark.

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The Legendary Larry Elmore
Has been creating fantasy and science fiction art for over 20 years. Larry worked as a staff artist for TSR, Inc. from 1981 to 1987. While at TSR, he helped set the standards of gaming art in the role-playing genre. Besides creating covers for Dungeons & Dragons, AD&D and other gaming books, Larry Elmore may be best known for his work with the world of Dragonlance. Since 1987, he has been working as a freelance illustrator, doing covers for comics, computer games, magazines, fantasy and science fiction books and many more projects too numerous to list here. His time at TSR, Inc. is best exemplified on the covers of the DRAGONLANCE book series. Since then, Larry has worked for other publishers such as BAEN books, Bantam, Warner Books, ACE/Berkley, Doubleday, and Del Rey. He is also the co-author of "Runes of Autumn" and creator of the "Sovereign Stone" series. In the gaming and comic industries, Larry has freelanced for TSR, Inc, FASA, Mayfair Games, Game Designer’s Workshop, White Wolf, Iron Crown Enterprises, Dragon Magazine, Amazing Magazine, Wizard Press, D. C. Comics, First Comics, Eclipse Comics and Frank Frazetta’s Fantasy Illustrated. Miscellaneous credits include: LJN Toys, Mattel, Lucas Films, Tonka, Monogram Models, Western Publishing, Sony Entertainment’s Ever Quest, and various computer game covers.

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Sean Taylor is a full-time writer of prose, graphic novels and comic books. 
He's the writer of Gene Simmons Dominatrix by Simmons Comics Group published by IDW Publishing and has also written for Gene Simmons House of Horrors, also published by IDW. He's also currently writing the upcoming fantasy graphic novel Shan: Be My Hero for VLE Comics, the upcoming miniseries Last Chance School for Girls and Jesse James in the Mayan Underworld for Arcana Comics, and the ongoing title The Veil for Rogue Wolf Entertainment.

He's the former managing editor of Elfin graphic novels, where he oversaw the publication of graphic novels based on classic literature, world literature and historical biographies, as well as original works. For Elfin, he has written the upcoming graphic novel adaptation of H.G. Wells' The Invisible Man and contributed to an upcoming Halloween-themed collection of stories, and he's currently writing an original sequel to The Invisible Man and The Time Machine.

Other projects of note that he's currently working on include Parodox Alley, a tie-in one-shot (featuring Fishnet Angel, Nick Landime, Phantom Jack and Cyberfrog) with the massive War of the Independents indy comic crossover, with his partners in that venture Erik Burnham and Mike Sangiacomo, Quinn: The Reckoning with artist/co-creator Martheus Wade, "Jennifer's Luggage" (a short comics tale) for Image's Negative Burn anthology, Jesus Manson, Agnostic at Large with artist Oliver Tria, an adaption of the cult-classic novel Less Than Human with author Gary Raisor and artist Douglas Draper Jr. and Gary's Graven Images novella/screenplay with artists Tony Guaraldi-Brown and Kariann Childs, Body Dumper with artist Taki Soma, Ace Robinson, Monster Killer for Hire: Turf War with co-creator/artist George Pitcher III, "Sweetly Felt the Dream" (a comics short) for Terminus Media, and a few others that aren't quite ready for public revelation as of yet

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Dion Floyd:

Hometown: Randallstown, MD
Age: 39
Influences: Dwayne McDuffie, Jay Anacleto, Lai Brothers, Alex Ross, James Tucker
Favorite Movies: Blade, Fifth Element, The Matrix, Legend of Zu
Favorite Shows: Six Feet Under, Justice League, Forever Knight
Favorite Music: House, Jazz, Neo Soul
Quote: "Stay Focused."

Dion works from Graphic Illusion Studios and is the writer / creator of Urban Sprawl and Immortal Kiss. 

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Bobby Nash - Bobby has written novels and short story collections for a variety of publishers.  His prose work includes his 2005 debut novel, Evil Ways [Publish America] and the 2006 novel Fantastix [Optic Studios/FYI Comics].  Bobby's pulp anthology work includes Lance Star: Sky Ranger [Wild Cat Books, Cornerstone Books (reprint)]; Startling Stories Magazine #3 [featuring Samaritan - Wild Cat Books]; and The Sentinels Widescreen Special Edition [short story - White Rocket Books].  Upcoming titles include Domino Lady [Moonstone Books - November 2008], Full Throttle Space Tales Vol. 2: Space Sirens [Flying Pen Press - December 2008], and The Sentinels: Alternate Visions [White Rocket Books - early 2009].  
Bobby Nash is the writer/artist of the comic strip Life In The Faster Lane.  Comic books written by Bobby include Fuzzy Bunnies From Hell [FYI Comics]; Bubba The Redneck Werewolf [Brass Ball Comics]; Demonslayer, Threshold, and Jungle Fantasy [Avatar Press]; and Yin Yang [Arcana Comics -Coming 2009].  
For more information on Bobby Nash please visit him on the web at www.bobbynash.com, www.myspace.com/bobbynash, and www.comicspace.com/bobbynash.  
Bobby lives in Bethlehem, Georgia.

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MARK HELWIG Mark is an illustrator, sculptor, classical musician, and composer.  When asked what he wants to do when he grows up, his answer is usually, "I have to what?"  Over the years, Mark's eclectic career has spanned a host of creative endeavors, from desingning business logos, advertising illustrations, t-shirts, architectural rendering, caricatures and creating artistic engravings on motorcycles, to performing as a tenor with the Atlanta Opera and teaching people in his Army Reserve unit how to shoot straight and more.  Mark holds a Bachelor's Degree from Kennesaw State University and is a member of the Association of Science Fiction and Fantasy Artists.  He lives in the slightly wacky town of Athens, GA with his wife, daughter and a small menagerie.

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RICHARD EWELL  - Richard is a self taught artist that lives in Tennessee and specializes in abstract art. He does what he calls abstract profiles which features a face typically on the left side of the page. He also does many creature drawings and other types as well.   Con Nooga will be Richard's first Convention, premiering his art. 

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LAURA MUSGROVE - Laura Musgrove is a budding artist from Birmingham, Alabama. Her work is celibrated by many around the country, including actor Adam Sandler (who has one of her works on display on his official Myspace page). She created a new technique of painting called "Glue Algamation". Ms. Musgrove studied art and Mass Communications at Auburn University. She has worked as a DJ for many years and has worked with Alan Hunter, former MTV VJ/movie producer. She has worked on many DVD musical productions but has now turned her career soley to art. Her art can currently be purchased on eBay under the seller ID "groverized"