FOR INFORMATION AND TICKETS, PLEASE VISIT https://friends.sspl.org/book-festival/
Session 1: 10am – 11am – Friends with Secrets: Historical Fiction Panel with Juliette Fay and Marjan Kamali, moderated by Kim van Alkemade
Award-winning authors Juliette Fay (The Harvey Girls) and Marjan Kamali (The Lion Women of Tehran) join author and Northshire Bookstore Bookseller Kim van Alkemade (Counting Lost Stars) in a discussion about their latest novels, the very different secrets that their characters carried, and the healing power of women’s friendships. Admission is free and includes a cup of Sense + SensibiliTea, a soothing blend featuring La Provençale herbs provided by Saratoga Tea & Honey.
Session 2: 1:00pm – 2:00pm – Family Sagas: A Fiction Panel with Serena Burdick and Jessica Shattuck, moderated by Jack Rightmyer
Authors Serena Burdick (A Promise to Arlette) and Jessica Shattuck (Last House) chat about their latest novels with Jack Rightmyer, an author (On Your Left), teacher, and Times Union freelance book reviewer. With the scope of a saga and the heart of a thriller, A Promise to Arlette is an evocative historical novel following a married couple whose idyllic 1950s suburban life is threatened by the promises they made during World War II. It’s a sweeping, unforgettable story about love and friendship, trust and betrayal, and how promises made, broken, and ultimately renewed, can determine our fate. Shattucks’s Last House is “a richly detailed, slow-burning family saga” (NYT) that digs deeply into questions of inheritance and what we owe each other—and captures to stunning effect the gravity of time, the double edge of progress, and the hubris of empire. This session is perfect for fans of Ann Patchett’s The Dutch House.
Session 3: 2:30pm – 4:30pm – Teatime at Pemberley: A Lit Night Celebration of Jane Austen in Words and Music, presented by Kristina Kulin
To celebrate the anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth, join Lit Night’s Kristina Kulin at the 2025 Saratoga Book Festival as she presents “Teatime at Pemberley: A Celebration of Jane Austen in Words and Music.” Enjoy an immersive exploration of Austen’s life and works. Sit back, listen to live Regency-era music, and enjoy Saratoga Tea & Honey’s Sense + SensibiliTea,” in Caffe Lena’s warm and welcoming setting while guest speakers read their favorite passages. (This is a 90-minute program that’s perfect for Jane Austen fans of all ages.) For more information about Lit Night’s monthly curated literary appreciation events, visit https://litnightsaratoga.com/
