Appearances, Exhibits, Lectures, and Such
Steampunk World's Fair, Piscataway NJ, 2015
"Semtner gave some wonderful historical background about what death and mourning rites were like. He was a great public speaker with a sense of humor and clearly prepared for this lecture."
~AmberUnmasked.com
Read more and listen to audio here.
Orange County Public Library, Orlando FL, 2011
"The Life and Legacy of Edgar Allan Poe"
Orange County Public Library, Orlando FL, 2011
Watch the video here.
Selected Talks, Lectures, and Performances
“Curating Poe: The Evolution of the Poe Museum’s Exhibits,” International Poe and Hawthorne Conference, Sorbonne, Paris, France, 2025
“Embodying Poe: Cinematic Portrayals of Edgar Allan Poe, 1915-2025,” International Poe and Hawthorne Conference, Sorbonne, Paris, France, 2025
“Pandemics and Poe,” Department of Environmental Science, University of Virginia, 2024
“Paranormal Poe: Edgar Allan Poe’s Haunting Afterlife,” Nightmare Weekend, Richmond, Virginia, 2024.
“Ghosts of the Poe Museum,” Nightmare Weekend, Richmond, Virginia, 2024.
“Thirteen True Stories Behind Poe’s Terror Tales,” Nightmare Weekend, Richmond, Virginia, 2023.
“Top 13 Poe Movies,” Nightmare Weekend, Richmond, Virginia, 2023.
“Poe and Spiritualism,” Magnolia Grange, Chesterfield, Virginia, 2023.
“Paranormal Poe,” RavenCon, Richmond, Virginia, 2023.
“Poe Goes Pop: Poe in Popular Culture,” GalaxyCon, Richmond, Virginia, 2023.
“Thirteen Unsolved Poe Mysteries,” GalaxyCon, Richmond, Virginia, 2023.
“Poe the Superhero,” GalaxyCon, Richmond, Virginia, 2023.
“Poe Talk,” Christopher Newport University, Newport News, Virginia, 2022.
“Paranormal Poe,” Jefferson Debating Society, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, 2021.
“Poe’s Literary Declaration of Independence, Albemarle Historical Society, Charlottesville, Virginia, 2021
“Poe’s Poetry,” Open University, Shepherd Center, Richmond, Virginia, 2020.
“Quoth the Raven: Poe and Derivative Works,” Library of Congress, Washington D.C., 2019.
“Poe and the Poe Museum,” Christopher Newport University, Newport News, Virginia, 2019.
“Paranormal Poe: Edgar Allan Poe and Spiritualism,” Firehouse Theater, 2019
“Collecting Poe,” Glasgow Public Library, Glasgow, Virginia, 2019
Readings of “The Tell-Tale Heart,” “Hop-Frog,” & “The Bells” accompanied by piano, Garth Newell Music Center, Warm Springs, Virginia, 2018
“Victorian Spiritualism,” Bon Air Historical Society, Bon Air, Virginia, 2018
“Pandemics and Poe,” Chesterfield Historical Society, Chester, Virginia, 2018
“Paranormal Poe: Edgar Allan Poe and Spiritualism,” International Poe & Hawthorne Conference, Kyoto, Japan, 2018
Performance as Poe, Engaging History Productions, Hanover Tavern, Hanover, Virginia, 2018
Performance as Frankenstein’s Monster, Engaging History Productions, Hanover Tavern, Hanover, Virginia, 2018
“Poe and Hanover County,” Hanover Tavern, Hanover, Virginia, 2017
“Still Beating: ‘The Tell-Tale Heart’ Turns 175,” RavenCon 13.5, Richmond, Virginia, 2018
“The Poe Shrine,” Chesapeake Historical Society, Chesapeake, Virginia, 2018
Readings of “The Raven,” “Annabel Lee,” & Other Poems accompanied by Latin Ballet of Virginia, Piedmont Community College, Charlottesville, Virginia; CenterStage, Richmond, Virginia; Dogwood Dell, Richmond, Virginia; Maymont, Richmond, Virginia; Randolph Lodge, Richmond, Virginia; Swiftcreek Mill Playhouse, Chesterfield, Virginia, 2017
“Poe and the Murder of Mary Rogers,” RavenCon, Williamsburg, Virginia, 2017
“Pandemics and Poe,” Steampunk World’s Fair, New Jersey, 2016.
“Poe for President,” RavenCon, Williamsburg, Virginia, 2016.
“Poe in Richmond,” Richmond Kiwanis Club, Virginia Historical Society, Richmond, Virginia, 2016.
Keynote Address, The Big Read, Boyle County Public Library, Danville, Kentucky, 2015.
“Edgar Allan Poe in Richmond,” Amherst County Historical Society, Amherst, Virginia, 2015.
“Death, Victorian Style,” Steampunk World’s Fair, New Jersey, 2015
“Ten Real Poe Mysteries,” RavenCon, Midlothian, Virginia, 2015
“Collecting Poe,” Paper for International Poe Conference,” New York, New York, 2015.
Panel Discussion on the Paranormal. Richmond ComicCon, Richmond, Virginia, 2014.
“Poe and Science Fiction,” Science Museum of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia, 2014.
“Poe Goes Pop,” Keynote Speaker for Virginia Library Association Paraprofessional Conference, Richmond, Virginia, 2014.
“Poe and Spiritualism,” RavenCon, Richmond, Virginia, 2014.
“Poe’s Women,” Lippitt House Museum, Providence, Rhode Island, 2013
“Poe’s Literary Genres,” Howard County Public Library, Columbia, Maryland, 2013
“A Young Girl’s Recollections of Poe,” Positively Poe Conference, University of Virginia, 2013
“Poe’s Afterlife: Poe, Spiritualism, and the Spirits of the Dead,” Brunswick, Maryland, 2012
“Poe in Virginia,” Mathews Memorial Library, Mathews County, Virginia, 2012
“The Afterlife of Edgar Allan Poe,” Lynchburg, Virginia, 2012
“Poe’s Shadow,” Orange County Public Library, Orlando, Florida, 2011
“Exquisite Deformities” Artist’s Talk, Artspace Gallery, Richmond, Virginia, 2011
“My Art” Hanover County High School Art Department, 2010
Panel Discussion on Poe in Visual Art, Piedmont Arts Association, Martinsville, Virginia, 2010
“My Art,” Chester Art Association, Chester, Virginia, 2010
“Poe in Richmond,” University of Richmond, Richmond, Virginia, 2010
“Poe’s Women,” Shockoe Hill Cemetery, Richmond, Virginia, 2010
“Edgar Allan Poe,” Collegiate School, Richmond, Virginia
“Poe’s Influence on French Visual Art,” Alliance France, Richmond, Virgina
“The Specter of Poe,” RavenCon Convention, Sandston, Virginia
“My Painting,” Hanover Area Arts League
“The Poe Shrine,” Sussex County Historical Society, Sussex County, Virginia
“Poe’s Philosophy of Composition,” Robious Middle School, Midlothian, Virginia 2005
“The Life and Afterlife of Poe,” Lifelong Learning Institute, Midlothian, Virginia
“The Poe Museum,” Teacher Enrichment Day, Richmond Public Schools, Virginia
“The Life of Poe,” Beth Shalome House, Henrico County, Virginia 2005
“Poe in Richmond,” Southside Richmond Rotary Club, Richmond, Virginia
“Edgar Allan Poe,” The Knights of Columbus, Richmond, Virginia
“Poe and Austen,” The Poe Museum, Richmond, Virginia
“Richard Estes,” Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
“Edgar Allan Poe,” Diversity Day, Cingular Corporate Office, Henrico, Virginia
“The Newly Discovered Poe Letter,” Poe Museum, Richmond, Virginia
“Poe in Richmond.” Midlothian Women’s Club. Midlothian, Virginia 2005
Teaching Experience
Osher Institute, University of Richmond, 2017-2019
Lifelong Learning Institute, Midlothian, Virginia, 2014-2019
Guest Critic, Art Foundation Program, Virginia Commonwealth University, 2003-4
Guest Critic, Studio Art Class, University of Richmond,
Booking Information
If you would like a speaker for your conference, convention, library, school, or historical society, contact me using the contact form right here.
Upcoming Talks
To find out where I'll be speaking or performing next, check the schedule below or sign up for email updates here.