Saratoga Springs, NY (October 6, 2022) – The Saratoga Book Festival (SBF) is pleased to announce the program lineup for its second annual community-wide celebration of books. SBF’s schedule includes 26 live, in-person sessions that will take place October 21-23 at various venues throughout downtown Saratoga Springs, NY, such as The Saratoga Springs Music Hall, Saratoga Springs City Center, Saratoga Springs Public Library, Caffè Lena, Saratoga Arts Dee Sarno Theater, Northshire Bookstore, and the Walt & Whitman Brewing Co.

“This year, We have programs for reluctant as well as avid readers of all ages with a roster that includes more than 50 talented authors of contemporary fiction and popular genres such as historical fiction, thrillers, fantasy, nonfiction, and children’s and Young Adult literature,” said President Ellen Beal. “We are truly excited to bring together writers and readers for a weekend of thought-provoking conversations, fascinating speakers, and engaging youth programs.”

Festival Highlights:

A timely session entitled What the Death of Local Newspapers Mean to Us All will feature a lively discussion with Ken Tingley, former editor of The Post-Star in Glens Falls and author of The Last American Newspaper and The Last American Editor, WAMC’s Joe Donahue. Also joining the panel will be Mark Mahoney, Editorial Page Editor (Daily Gazette) and Will Doolittle (Post-Star). The session will discuss the impact hometown papers have on their communities and what happens when they shut their doors.
Keynote with Gregory Maguire, the bestselling author of the series that inspired the blockbuster musical, Wicked, and forthcoming film based on Wicked, returns to the world beyond Oz and the WICKEDverse in his latest novels The Brides of Maracoor (2021) and The Oracle of Maracoor (2022).
Keynote with Meg Wolitzer, the New York Times bestselling author of The Interestings, The Wife, and The Female Persuasion and host of the radio show and podcast Selected Shorts joins Susan Kress in conversation about the former’s acclaimed fiction and current projects.
Dog Meets World features Alexandra Horowitz, New York Times bestselling author of Inside of a Dog and The Year of the Puppy in a chat that helps pet owners better understand the canine members of their families. Horowitz heads up the Dog Cognition Lab at Barnard and is one of the most highly regarded and popular experts on how dogs think.
Bestselling author Francine Prose joins SBF in a book chat about her dazzling new novel, The Vixen. She also joins a session with noted historians of the ancient world Barry Strauss, James Romm, and Emily Katz that examines the ancient histories of Greek, Romans and Egyptians.
Peter Balakian–The Pulitzer Prize winning poet and acclaimed nonfiction author joins WMAC’s Joe Donahue in an exploration of the themes of Balakian’s latest poetry collection No Sign.
The Greatest Evil is War. The Pulitzer Prize winning former New York Times war correspondent Chris Hedges talks with WAMC’s Joe Donahue about the hidden costs of war, what it does to individuals, families, communities, and nations.
Kid Note Presentation with Lauren Tarshis The New York Times bestselling author of the I SURVIVED series of historical fiction books delivers a rollicking first Kid Note on Sunday, October 23.
Kid Zone: Story Hour, pop-up read alouds, visits by Moose, Lucky, and other Storybook Characters, graphic novel and bookmark making workshops, and children’s sessions with Ira Marcks, Nancy Werlin, and Ellen Kushner, and more.

More to Explore:

Literary Death Match comes to Saratoga Springs! This international book series, hosted by Adrian Todd Zuniga, combines a little bit of Double Dare with the judging of American Idol (without the meanness!). Zuniga presides over the literary mayhem as four brave SBF authors compete before three local literary judges. Audience members get to cheer on their favorites.
Literary Marketplace showcases more than 75 authors, artisans, publishers, businesses, and nonprofits at the Saratoga City Center, from 9 am to 2 pm.
Interviews with acclaimed fiction authors, including Dahlma Llanos-Figueroa, Jung Yun, Jessica Winter, Elizabeth Brundage, and Jennifer Fawcett.
Wonderous Foods & Intriguing Stories with Gastro Obscura’s Dylan Thuras created by the ever-curious minds behind Atlas Obscura, Gastro Obscura is a New York Times, USA Today, and national indie bestselling guide that will transform your sense of what people around the world.
Not one by two great YA panels: Steve Sheinkin hosts a lively panel discussion with Meredith Ireland, Kalynn Bayron, and Emma Kress in a discussion about popular themes, their latest books, and reaching YA audiences. YA authors Jennifer Dugan, Isabel Sterling, and Allyson Dahlin dish about badass heroines, their latest books, and why we love to read about them with moderator Joseph Cermatori.
Thrillers with Gregory Galloway, Mandy McHugh, and Peter Steiner
Spilling Tea: A Women & Fiction Panel with Elizabeth Everett, Lyn Liao Butler, Mia P. Manansala, and Lynn Painter
Debut Author Panel with Emma Kress, Mandy McHugh, and Nicolas DiDomizio
Artists as Authors with photographer Bryan Sansivero and Duane Michals
Advocacy and Sports with former pro woman cyclist, pay equity activist, and ESPN editor Kathryn Bertine discusses what it’s really like to fight for change and the successful campaign that led to the Tour de France to include an event for female cyclists in the Tour de France.

“Space may be limited at some venues so we encourage attendees to register early for their favorite authors’ events via the SBF app,” notes Beal. “Information about authors, their books, session times, keynote addresses, venues, and more can be found on the SBF website now at saratogabookfestival.org.”

SBF is thankful for its 2022 sponsors, including the Saratoga Arts Community Grant, Adirondack Trust Company, Stewart’s Shops, Price Chopper/Market 32, Skidmore College, Caffe Lena, Saratoga Performing Arts Center, UPH/Proctors, the Saratoga Springs City Center, the Inn at Saratoga, and Yaddo.

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About the Saratoga Book Festival:

The Saratoga Book Festival is an event of the Friends of the Saratoga Springs Public Library, a 501 (c)(3) whose mission is to raise funds and provide support for library programs and services such as the 1000 Books Before Kindergarten, Saratoga Reads, and the Mobile Library. SBF’s goal is to encourage a lifelong love of reading. The 2021 festival will kick off in the Saratoga City Music Hall on October 21 and culminate on October 23.

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About the Friends of the Saratoga Springs Public Library:

Since 1976, the Friends of the Saratoga Springs Public Library has promoted and advanced the goals of the library. The Friends funds enhancements to the library’s facilities, programs, and collection through a strong history of volunteerism and fundraising. Community support is primarily generated through Friends membership and the Friends Book Shop, which was founded in 1994 to generate income while providing the community with affordable reading material and a convenient, meaningful way to upcycle used books.