Friday, Sept. 12 — 7 – 9 pm
Ticketed event – Milford Theater

On the Turtle’s Back
by Camilla Townsend and Nicky Kay Michael
Special Guest: Chief of the Delaware Tribe, Brad KillsCrow
Moderator: Jeremy Johnson

Enjoy our festival-opening event dedicated to the oral storytelling traditions of the Lenape, as authors and Delaware Tribe leaders come together in Pike County, the heart of the Tribe’s original lands, to recall the indigenous wisdom and folklore that was passed on from grandparent to grandchild. Learn about the unique circumstances such stories were told, how they were preserved through the ages, and their relevance in today’s world.

A special evening that will open with a Lenape benediction from Chief Brad KillsCrow for the festival and all in attendance. (continue)

Saturday, Sept. 13 — 4:30 – 5-30pm
Ticketed event – Milford Theater

Adriana Trigiani with Carol Fitzgerald 

The bestselling author of twenty delightful romance novels, described as a “comedy writer with a heart of gold” by The New York Times, will share how she creates books endearingly called “tiramisu for the soul.” A rare chance to learn about the high-quality person behind the light-touch transplant from Big Stone Gap, Virginia. (continue)

Saturday Sept. 13 — 2:30 – 3:30pm
Ticketed event – Milford Theater

Richard Behar with Richard Morais

Richard Behar is arguably the most intrepid and acclaimed investigative journalist of his generation, winning 20 major journalism awards (including the National Magazine Award and the Gerald Loeb Award) for publications such as Time, Fortune and Forbes. But financial conmen are his specialty, as revealed in his highly acclaimed 2024-published book on fraudster Bernie Madoff.  (continue)

Saturday, Sept. 13 — 11:45am – 12:45pm
Ticketed event – Milford Theater

Matt Winkler with Phil Roosevelt

Matt Winkler was a soft-spoken bond columnist at Forbes and The Bond Buyer, when a little-known entrepreneur named Mike Bloomberg hired him on Feb 5, 1990, to start a news organization. Winkler—the co-founder and editor-in-chief of Bloomberg News—not only built a world-class news organization for his boss but he forever changed financial journalism along the way. (continue)

Saturday, Sept. 13 — 10:15 – 11:15 am
Ticketed event – Milford Theater

Jeff Arch with John DiLeo

Arch famously wrote the Sleepless in Seattle screenplay, one of the most successful romcoms of the 20^th Century, but before he became a Hollywood heavy, Arch was a concert-lighting designer for touring rock-and-reggae acts, and an owner of a martial-arts school instructing rotating officers at the Pentagon. (continue)

Friday, Sept. 12 — 10:30 am – 3:45 pm
4 free events
Pike County Public Library 

Bob Eckstein, Carol McManus, Judy Kentrus, and Dana Bree

Join us for four unique and interesting sessions on our annual Writer’s Day.
Tips to help you get your book written and published. (continue)

Saturday, Sept. 13 — 10:30 – 11:30am
Free event
Pike County Public Library

Michelle Oram

Zen and Now by Michelle Oram and illustrated by Marianne Orlando is an introduction to meditation and what possums can teach us.
The reading will include a how-to setup your own Zen special peaceful place from an art page in the book which makes for a fun reading and craft activity!  (continue)

Saturday, Sept. 13 — 1 – 3 pm
Free event
Good Shepherd Episcopal Church

Patrick Field, Alex Shvartsman, Sally Wiener Grotta, Christine Cohen, and Michael Ventrella

What may be paradise for some may be others’ worst nightmare. The panel will open with definition of the styles of utopia/dystopia genre-writing and then explore how the concept may be ideal for some and a horror show for others. 

Audience: Science fiction and horror lovers and anyone curious about what our near future might look like. (continue)

Saturday, Sept. 13 — 2 – 3:30 pm
Free event
Pike County Public Library

Ryan Balton

The journalists of tomorrow are grounded in their middle and high school experiences. (continue)

Sunday, Sept. 14 — 11am – 1 pm
Free event
Grey Towers – Pool Terrace

A.J. Schenkman and Rasha Hamid

A. J. Schenkman is a passionate educator and accomplished writer. He has a deep expertise in historical writing and is the author of several books about local, regional, and national history.
Audience: 6-12 years old. 

Rasha Hamid is a lifelong New Yorker, educator, and children’s book author with over 25 years of teaching experience in East Harlem, Hamilton Heights, Khartoum, and Brooklyn. Based on a true story, Hello Beech Tree demonstrates the power of children. (continue)

Sunday, Sept. 14 — 11am – 12:30pm
Free event
Pike County Public Library

Jacqui Geary-Santacross and Richard Moschella

Join Psychic Mediums, Richard Moschella and Jacqui Geary-Santacross in discussion on the healing power of mediumship. Healing messages from beyond the veil give comfort and guidance to those who are grieving. (continue)

Sunday, Sept. 14 — 11am – 12:30pm
Free event
Good Shepherd Episcopal Church

Panelists: Richard C. Morais, Marta Hallett; moderator John DiLeo

Author Richard C. Morais, Foliofina publisher Marta Hallett, and moderator John DiLeo will share the unlikely story of how the lush coffee table book with 250 pictures of nighttime Milford came about, while answering questions about locations, effects, and purpose.

Audience: Pike County residents. (continue)

Sunday, Sept. 14 — 11am – 12:30pm
Free event
Pike County Public Library

Matt Myklusch

Myklusch is the author of nine children’s books, including the Jack Blank “Accidental Hero” series. The Blood of Kings is his first graphic novel.

Audience: Anyone dreaming of creating a graphic novel, from 8 to12-year-olds and their parents to mature writers. (continue)

Sunday, Sept. 14 — 12:30 – 2 pm
Free event
Pike County Public Library

Patrick R. Field, Keith Gilman and J.C. Plaza, moderator

In this session we visit writing crossover genres. The authors will explore the topic of blending worlds such as fantasy with romance and thriller with the supernatural. (continue)

Sunday, Sept. 14 — 12:30 – 2pm
Free event
Good Shepherd Episcopal Church

David Hicks with Matt Hinton

Author David Hicks discusses with playwright, and photographer Matthew Hinton the motivation and strategies behind the writing of his three autobiographical books, and how, in each case, truth-telling and vulnerability won out over “the demands of the market.” (continue)

Sunday, Sept. 14 — 12:30 – 2pm
Free event
Pike County Public Library

Joseph Lingad, Writer/Director/Producer 

Filmmaker Joseph Lingad will show the 35-minute film-festival favorite Don’t Look Away, before sharing with the audience the documentary’s raw first-draft script, and explaining how he got from A to X. 

Audience: Budding filmmakers and anyone curious to understand how documentaries are crafted behind the scenes. (continue)

Sunday, Sept. 14 — 2 – 3:30pm
Free event
Good Shepherd Episcopal Church

Chuck O’Neil with panelists Erica Fabri and Joseph Fuqua

Professional writers from business journalists to novelists routinely turn to poetry to lift their game. A panel on how you can use poetic imagery and technique to lift the writing you do routinely at work and in business.

Audience: Anyone interested in becoming a better everyday writer.  (continue)

CANCELED

Sunday, Sept. 14— 2 – 3:30pm
Free event
Pike County Public Library

Andy Mulvihill with Jennifer Ziegler

Broken bones. Gashes. Accidental nudity. Action Park was the most notorious amusement park of the ’80s. You’ve heard the stories, but only Andy Mulvihill lived it. A new memoir from the son of the park’s maverick founder is guaranteed to be the most outrageous story of the summer.