Authors Featured at Berkshire Free Library’s 12th Blueberry and Book Festival

If you have never had the chance to meet a published author and get a book signed, here is your chance. The Berkshire Blueberry and Book Festival will be held Saturday, July 18, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in and around the Berkshire Free Library, Community Hall, and Fire Station, all at the corner of Route 38 and Jewett Hill Road in Berkshire, six miles north of Newark Valley and 15 miles north of Owego via Route 38.

The authors for the 2026 festival consist of several prolific past favorites, as well as several newcomers. The first of the newcomers is Kelly Schweiger. She is the bestselling author of the Where the Pines Still Stand universe—a family-centered post-apocalyptic series that has touched thousands of readers with its focus on hope, resilience, and the enduring bonds of family.

Drawing inspiration from rural Upstate New York life, homesteading, and real preparedness wisdom, Kelly creates stories where ordinary people become extraordinary through sacrifice, community, and unwavering love for those they protect. Unlike many survival stories that focus on violence and collapse, Kelly’s novels explore how families rebuild, support one another across generations, and choose to remain human when it would be easier not to.

There is plenty of action, but the collapse is not the story, rebuilding is. From the foundational Where the Pines Still Stand series and the Children of the Pines expansion to practical guides like Prepared Not Perfect, Kelly writes for readers who value family, competence, community, and the belief that the future is worth building. Her books have earned multiple Amazon bestseller rankings and hundreds of five-star reviews from readers who describe them as “post-apocalyptic fiction with heart.”

Stop by her booth to meet the author, grab a signed copy, and discover why readers keep returning to the world of the Callahans.

The Millers are also new authors at the festival. After retiring from the Hartford Insurance Company, Kathie Miller is the owner and proprietor of the Jewelry Cove. But when not busy at the Jewelry Cove, Kathie loves to read, write, and travel. She has written Care Enough to Share, a poetry book that can be found on Amazon.com, along with other short stories.

The House of Deception, published in 2017, is a drama- mystery novel that exposes the many flaws and dysfunctional dynamics of interpersonal relationships.

Her most recent project, Marty the Manatee, published in 2025, is her first children’s book. Observing these gentle giants in their natural habitat on a visit to a Manatee sanctuary in Florida gave her the inspiration to write the book. The story takes young readers on a journey wherein a young boy named Tommy meets Marty, a fun-loving manatee, with whom he eventually becomes the best of friends.

Originally from Binghamton, New York, she now lives in Endicott, New York, with her husband, Derek.

Derek Miller is retired from the U. S. Air Force and is currently an independent contractor for Uexams as a test proctor, auditor, and reader. Originally from Encinitas, California, he now lives in Endicott, New York, with his wife Kathleen.

Inspired by the birth of his grandson, Cole, he had his first children’s book published: Oscar the North American River Otter. The book highlights the life of Oscar, using vibrant illustrations and fun facts pertaining to a day in the life of a river otter.

Derek has also written numerous short stories, which can be found as e-books on Amazon.com. He has also written the books Troubled Waters Ahead, Mountain Mania, High Level Anxiety, and Travel Through My Eyes. He is currently working on writing a travel documentary about his recent quest paddling the 444-mile Susquehanna River from Cooperstown, New York, to the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland.

The festival’s last new author is Stephen Fleckenstein. Stephen, a career biologist, has recently retired after 27 years as a biology instructor at Sullivan County Community College. Additionally, he has been a longtime stock market investor as well, which has led to the creation of the Five-Year Stellar Stock Index, the nature of which is presented in his recently published book entitled The Five-Year Stellar Stock Index and The Yield on Cost Gold Mine.

After 49 years of investing and sifting through the writings of the most prestigious investors, he has devised an index of approximately 80 high dividend growth companies that handily outperforms the S & P 500 Index. In his new role as an Investment Educator and Advocate, he has turned his analytical skills toward identifying companies with 100 % or greater dividend increases and total returns in five years, and 200 % or greater total returns in 10 years.

He has also written numerous newsprint essays, three laboratory manual editions with Kendall Hunt Publishing, and authored numerous water quality assay reports for the Sullivan County Soil and Water district. Mr. Fleckenstein currently resides in Spencer, New York, and may be contacted by leaving a message on the Stellarstocks.net website or by emailing Stellarstocks@htva.net. He is also available for in-person group presentations – free of charge.

Christian writer and poet Lisa Belknap is returning this year. Lisa seeks to encourage her readers with the message of everlasting love from a loving and gracious Creator.

In October 2024, Lisa published The Long Skip Home, a Christian middle-grade fantasy debut novel. One reviewer wrote: “Lisa Belknap leads readers into the world of Whule, where journee Lily Lightfoot learns compassion for the lost, the beauty of overlooking offenses, and the fruits of the Spirit needed to endure the long skip home. This story beautifully points us to words spoken by Jesus: “He who has ears, let him hear.”” –Amazon Review.

Lisa also loves to write poetry, and, in regard to her poetry collection Seasons of Love: Woodland Poems of God’s Love, another reviewer wrote: “What a truly touching book of poetry, beautifully illustrated by the author. Lisa Belknap gives the reader lovely pathways into her heart and soul. Those pathways begin and end with her Savior. This is a treasure I will keep beside my bed.” –Amazon Review.

Of her poetry collection Unto Us: A Christmas Poetry Book, another reviewer wrote: “The author’s love of God and family is evident in each beautiful and varied poem; great to read during Advent to prepare for Christmas and to give as an inspiring gift.” –Amazon Review.

Mary Petronio Collins is a registered nurse who works in home care. She lives in Newark Valley and, in 2024 was excited to have her first children’s book published.

I Miss You a Ton- A Young Girl’s Struggle with Her Parents’ Divorce. It is based on her and her now-grown children’s actual circumstances. Divorce is difficult for all involved, and she wants children to know that they are not alone in their sadness and confusion.

Mary is currently working on other books based on her family’s past. Her themes mainly focus on challenging situations, such as dealing with a loved one suffering from dementia and having to face terminal illness. She wants to ease the stress and fear that these issues can cause younger readers.

But not all her projects are so serious. Mary is also writing a lighthearted story encompassing sweet interactions between her father and herself as a child. Mary will be doing book readings, book signings, hosting raffles featuring local businesses, and, of course, will have copies of her book for sale. Stop by her booth for a small treat or just to chat. She looks forward to meeting you!

Pamela Morris, a Berkshire native, will appear at the Blueberry and Book Festival yet again with a little something for everyone. This year, she brings a new collection of horror short stories inspired by song titles and lyrics, called To Soothe a Savage Breast, featuring the works of John Denver, Kenny Chesney, Patsy Cline, Drowning Pool, Alice Cooper, Nirvana, and more. She also offers a series of Tioga County-inspired titles in the paranormal murder-mystery genre and a collection of twisted short-story fairy tales.

Despite loving all things creepy and spooky, Pamela does have a silly and more colorful side. She also writes and illustrates children’s books featuring the many adventures of Bill the Worm and his friends. Rumor has it that pet worms will be on hand, awaiting adoption. Along with various works of fiction, reprints of Pamela’s original artwork will be for sale, along with something fun called ”Cackles and Caws.” All her titles will be available at the event.

Darcy Branwyn lives in New York State with her husband and “too many cats.” She’s been writing since she could make words on paper, starting with poetry as a child, then short stories. By the time she’d finished high school, she was working on her first novel.

Once told she writes like a B-movie, Darcy took it as a compliment and ran; now she creates supernatural romances with cult-classic charm, Gothic humor, and unapologetic heart.

After 35 years in engineering, returning author Lenora Riegel spends her time writing and drawing her ‘Finger Lakes Tales’ for children, where she exemplifies coping skills, mindfulness, authenticity, bravery, and a growth mindset. She feels reading together helps children deal with stress and anxiety.

Pepper, in Pepper the Salt Potato, learns to accept himself for who he is. In Quaver Has a Feeling, Quaver explores his emotions through music in a collaboration with the Binghamton Philharmonic’s Wallenberg Legacy Project. Stuffie Sleepover at the Library was done in collaboration with her 5-year-old grandson. He picked the topic, and they worked together!

Her latest venture is a collaboration with Randi Mahomes and Teresa Jane called Play Together, which is a story about faith, friends, and fun. You can check out all her picture books as well as her two middle grade novels at the Blueberry and Books Festival or on siphrebooks.com.

And, lastly, no Blueberry and Book Festival would be complete without award-winning author Carol Henry. She is a travel writer, local photojournalist, and the NYS Historian for the Town and Village of Candor. Her light romantic suspense adventures “Connection Series” are described as “Indiana Jones meets Romancing the Stone,” and reflect her own travels to various international locations.”  

Her other novel repertoire includes American historical, holiday, and contemporary light romance novels. She has written several books on the history of the area, as well as an historical novel, Ribbons of Steel, with Candor history woven into it.  

At the festival, Carol will be featuring her Family Favorites Cookbook, with several generations of family favorites and her latest release Arctic Connection, as well as her other works. Visit her website at www.carolhenry.org.