Upstate Writes! Book Festival

By Skye Rickman.

COHOES, N.Y. – November 8, 2025 – The Upstate Writes! Book Festival at the Cohoes Public Library was a living, breathing love letter to imagination. The minute you stepped inside, you found yourself in a riot of color — books laid out on every table, covers bold and inviting. Authors were everywhere, chatting, laughing, signing copies, trading stories. It was a celebration of words, talent, and the stubborn magic of new ideas.

One table in particular drew a constant crowd: Jeff Burns, sci-fi and urban fantasy writer, beaming behind a lineup of books so varied you could spend hours just reading their blurbs. Jeff is the kind of author who doesn’t take himself too seriously; his stories contain humor and geeky in-jokes that make fans feel like friends. Every Wednesday, he hosts a YouTube live where the conversation is as unpredictable as his plots — always nerdy, often hilarious. His latest, “The Adventures of Elena and Ned,” is as offbeat as they come. There’s a crime-fighting gargoyle and a wild, irresistible woman who seems determined to melt even the stoniest of hearts. If you crave stories that refuse to color inside the lines, track down his work (search Riley Rose on Amazon), or check out his links 

https://www.supergeekedup.com/

https://www.rileyroseerotica.com/

Next was Delaney Parker’s table. She’s got this quiet strength about her — the kind that comes from fighting for every inch of ground beneath your feet. Multiple sclerosis might have slowed others, but Delaney writes with fierce determination. There’s an electric pulse in every word she puts on the page, and her stories don’t flinch from deep emotion. Whether she’s conjuring up envy or exploring grace, her characters feel real, bruised but bright. Her books, “Grace” and “Envy,” are both available on Amazon, and I can already tell they’re the sort you don’t forget after the last page.

Next is an amazing poet, Aminika Lee, soft-spoken but utterly present. You can tell, even before you crack the spine on her poetry collections, that her writing is honest — carved from lived experience, shaped by pain and hope. Her books, “Eternal Chaos” and “Pure Chaos,” overflow with raw emotion. She turns heartache into art, struggle into beauty, and every poem is both a confession and a release. Aminika is, without a doubt, one of the warmest souls you could hope to meet at an event like this.

Nearby, Lydia Storm was drawing admirers with her bestselling historical fantasies. Her most recent, “Cleopatra’s Secret: Keepers of the Light,” does what every great historical novel should: it transports you completely. One minute you’re standing in a busy festival hall, the next you’re wandering the sands of ancient Egypt, watching history reshape itself in the hands of a masterful narrator. Lydia’s stories are lush, unpredictable, cinematic. Dive into her world and you’ll lose whole afternoons without ever meaning to.

Amber Winslow was the next author who piqued my interest. Her fantasy work throws open the doors between worlds. Her book, “The Blood Crown Calls,” boldly reimagines Alice in Wonderland, turning the well-loved classic on its head. The stakes are real, the magic dangerous, and the characters as alive — and haunted — as any you’ll find. Amber’s take is fresh, vibrant, and sharper than the original. If you’re in the mood for a twisty, ambitious read, her books are waiting on Amazon.

Hector Caban was impossible not to notice — maybe because his story stands out even before you hear a word of his fiction. After surviving a serious accident, he turned to writing, pouring his pain and newfound sense of purpose into every story. His unique brand of fantasy romance is startling — otherworldly and deeply moving. In “Love in the Afterlife” and “The Hollow Between the Heartbeats,” Hector finds magic in the places broken open by loss. The world feels richer, stranger, and more beautiful after reading his work.

Tucked at a table surrounded by curious readers, you’d find W D Laremore, a triple threat: historian, fantasist, romance writer, and a seasoned teacher of wordcraft. His latest, “Tess the Unforgettable,” is a winning mix of romance, time travel, and twists that keep you turning pages long past midnight. He’s not afraid to push boundaries either — “Moonlight Becomes Her” dazzles with a succubus heroine who seduces and devours, walking the line between danger and desire. Whether you crave steamy escapism or a clever historical puzzle, Laremore’s catalog (all on Amazon) delivers.

And, yes — I was there, too. My name is Skye Rickman.  In my book “Soulmates,” a woman stands at the crossroads between a brooding vampire and a dark angel — her choices, delicious and dangerous, ask what it means to truly belong. “Blooming Love” is a pulse-pounding escape: an abused woman running from pain, risking everything on a wild road trip with a rock star. And “Phantom Kisses”? It’s all obsession and entanglement, with a Fae king and a ghostly suitor vying for a heart that refuses to play by the rules. My books are on Amazon — search Skye Rickman for a taste of love on the edge.

That was the magic of the 2025 Upstate Writes! Festival. Wall-to-wall imagination, a chorus of voices, stories waiting to be discovered.

Photos by Skye Rickman

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