One of my favorite things about Keuka Reads™ is discovering that every book begins with a person...someone who sat down with an idea, a memory, a question, or simply a story that refused to stay quiet.
On
Saturday, August 1, we're delighted to welcome four talented authors to our
Keuka Roots & Keuka Reads™ Gathering at The Windmill Farm & Craft Market. Each brings a unique voice, a different genre, and a passion for storytelling that reminds us why books continue to connect us across generations and miles.
Whether your shelves are filled with historical adventures, heartfelt romance, fascinating local history, or children's stories, you'll find an author eager to visit, sign books, and share the inspiration behind their work.
Winona Bennett Cross
Historical Fiction with Heart
Traveling all the way from Texas, Winona Bennett Cross has earned a devoted following for her beautifully written historical fiction. Her novels transport readers to another time while reminding us that the hopes, struggles, courage, and dreams of yesterday are not so different from our own.
Historical fiction allows us to experience the past through the lives of unforgettable characters, and Winona has a remarkable gift for bringing those worlds vividly to life. If you enjoy stepping into another era and becoming part of the story, you'll want to meet Winona and explore her books.
What makes this visit especially exciting is that Winona first fell in love with the Keuka Lake region through the stories of Keuka Roots™. This will be her very first visit to the area, and she's not simply coming as an author—she's coming as a storyteller in search of her next story. During her stay, she'll be exploring the rich history of our region, and rumor has it that her next novel may just be inspired by Penn Yan's founding family. We can't wait to share our beautiful corner of New York with her and see where her imagination leads.
Nancy Hamilton
Inspiring Young Readers
From Penn Yan, Nancy Hamilton writes for one of the most important audiences of all—children.
Each of Nancy's books is lovingly rooted in
Keuka Lake, celebrating the people, places, family traditions, and friendships that make our crooked lake so special. Whether you're raising a young Keuka explorer or visiting the Finger Lakes for the first time, her stories are the perfect way to introduce children to the beauty, wonder, and timeless charm of our region.
Children's books have a remarkable way of planting seeds that last a lifetime. They spark imagination, encourage curiosity, nurture kindness, and create a love of reading that often begins with a single story shared on someone's lap or read together before bedtime.
Nancy's books celebrate those magical moments while inviting young readers to discover Keuka Lake through adventures filled with family, friendship, and the simple joys of growing up beside the water. Families visiting The Windmill will have the opportunity to meet a local author whose stories are inspiring the next generation of readers—and perhaps creating memories that will bring them back to Keuka Lake for years to come.
Richard Leisenring Jr.
Preserving History One Story at a Time
Few people know the story of Glenn H. Curtiss as thoroughly as Richard Leisenring Jr. of Bath, New York.
A respected historian and former curator of the Glenn H. Curtiss Museum, Richard has spent decades researching one of America's greatest pioneers while also becoming an authority on Civil War history. His books reflect countless hours of careful research and a deep passion for preserving the stories that shaped our nation.
Long before Glenn Curtiss earned the title
"Father of Naval Aviation," he was a curious, determined young man racing bicycles around Keuka Lake, repairing and building them in Hammondsport, and eventually opening one of the nation's most successful early motorcycle businesses. His relentless pursuit of speed, innovation, and mechanical perfection laid the foundation for the engines—and ultimately the airplanes—that would forever change the world. Richard has devoted years to uncovering not only Curtiss's aviation achievements but also these fascinating early chapters that reveal the remarkable young man who grew up beside Keuka Lake.
History comes alive when it's shared by someone who truly loves it. Visitors will have the opportunity to speak directly with Richard about Glenn Curtiss's extraordinary life, from his bicycle and motorcycle years to his groundbreaking aviation accomplishments, as well as Civil War history and the remarkable people who helped shape our region and our country.
Pamela S. Thibodeaux
Romance with Faith, Hope, and Heart
Joining us from
Louisiana, Pamela S. Thibodeaux has been warming readers' hearts with inspirational romance for many years.
Her stories weave together love, faith, hope, and everyday life, creating characters readers quickly come to know and cherish. Pamela's novels remind us that sometimes the greatest journeys are the ones that happen within our hearts.
This is Pamela's second visit to our beautiful crooked lake, where vineyard-covered hills roll gently toward the sparkling waters of Keuka. Her first visit left such an impression that it inspired her novel, The Inheritance. Now she's returning to the place where that story began, ready to write its sequel.
While she's here, Pamela plans to wander the vineyards, visit with generations of Finger Lakes winemakers, and soak in the history, beauty, and quiet moments that so often become the heart of her stories. Around Keuka Lake, every vineyard has a story, every family has a legacy, and every winding road has the potential to inspire a new chapter. We can't wait to see where her muse leads next.
Whether you're already a romance reader or simply enjoy uplifting stories filled with warmth and encouragement, you'll enjoy meeting Pamela and discovering the inspiration behind her writing.
More Than Books
One of the wonderful things about independent authors is that they are wonderfully approachable. They enjoy talking with readers, answering questions, sharing the stories behind their books, and often signing copies with a personal message.
It's an experience you simply can't find by clicking "Add to Cart."
You can shake hands with the person who wrote the story.
You can ask what inspired a favorite character.
You can discover your next great read through a genuine conversation.
That's what
Keuka Reads™ is all about.
Join Us
We invite you to stop by our
Keuka Reads™ Gathering on
Saturday, August 1, at
The Windmill Farm & Craft Market.
Browse the books.
Meet the authors.
Ask questions.
Collect signatures.
And celebrate the stories that continue to bring people together.
Because every author has a story.
Every reader discovers another.
And every conversation begins with turning just one more page.
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Stay Rooted. Stay Keuka.™
