2023 Festival Authors

Kim van Alkemade is the New York Times bestselling author of the historical novels Counting Lost Stars,Orphan #8 and Bachelor Girl.

Robert Boyers is editor of Salmagundi, professor of English at Skidmore College, and director of the New York State Summer Writers Institute.

Chris Wait graduated from Vassar College with a degree in English Literature in 2006. He grew up in Saratoga Springs, and has lived and worked in Buenos Aires, Tokyo, Mexico City, Istanbul, and New York, and has been working at New Directions, where he is Director of Subrights and Permissions, and Associate Editor, since 2014.

John Sayles is a much-celebrated film director who has made 18 movies, beginning in 1980 when his debut Return of the Secaucus Seven was released.

Marc C. Conner became the eighth president of Skidmore College on July 1, 2020.

An innovative leader…

Ana Maria is a Cuban American actress, writer, director and producer. She studied Film and Creative Writing at The New School and received her MFA in Fiction at Hunter College under the tutelage of Peter Carey and Colum McCann.

Lawrence Dudley’s novels New York Station and its sequel The Hungry Blade were published by Blackstone Publishing in hardcover, paperback, ebook, audiobook download, and boxed audiobook set. 

An expert in the field of website design, Beth Moeller founded ARTS SPARK as a division of her website development and digital marketing company, IMC Interactive Media Consulting, LLC.

Donna Liquori is a freelance journalist and editor. Since 2006, she has written the Albany Times Union Bibliofiles column, which explores the culture of reading.

Abby Tegnelia is the CEO of Empire Media Network, the publisher of Saratoga Living—the premier lifestyle magazine in Saratoga Springs.