Online Workshops
Crafting Characters Who Drive Your Plot with C.M. Waggoner
Tuesday, September 23, 7:00 p.m.
C. M. Waggoner grew up in rural upstate New York, where she spent a lot of time reading fantasy novels in a swamp. She studied creative writing at SUNY Purchase and lived in China for eight years before moving to Albany, New York, where she now lives with her husband and daughter. She is the author of Unnatural Magic, The Ruthless Lady’s Guide to Wizardry, and The Village Library Demon-Hunting Society. Her next book, The Somewhat Wicked Witch of Brigandale, is due to be published in March 2026. When she’s not writing or reading, she enjoys cooking, trying to learn how to draw, and going on extremely long walks.
To learn more about C.M. Waggoner, visit cmwaggoner.com.
Children's Activities​
Children’s Open Mic Reading
10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Multi-purpose Room (Ground Floor Campus Center West)
Come hear featured young writers from Skribblers Magazine and the Capital District Writing Project as they share their writing. ​
Children’s Author Spotlight: Ta-Sean C. Murdock
12:00 p.m. – 12:45 p.m.
Multi-purpose Room (Ground Floor Campus Center West)
Book signing to immediately follow in the Great Hall
Ta-Sean C. Murdock, is an entrepreneur, youth advocate and children’s book author. His newest book is I Am Brave and Bright: Affirmations for Overcoming Bullies (2024), which seeks to offer a safe space for children ages 6-12 to explore feelings, embrace uniqueness, and find strength in challenging times. Murdock attended Giffen Elementary, Hackett Middle and Albany High School. He currently serves as Executive Director of the Center for Law and Justice, a civil rights organization founded by the late Dr. Alice Green.
Children’s Bookmaking Presentation
1:15 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.
Multi-purpose Room (Ground Floor Campus Center West)
Ambika Sambasivan & Suhani Parikh are the founders of Sambasivan & Parikh, a small press amplifying diasporic perspectives in children’s literature.
Ambika discovered her love for crafting books as an illustrator and launched Yali Books with her mother Kala Sambasivan in 2014. Ambika is passionate about shaping stories that reflect and validate the experiences of children of color, particularly those of South Asian descent, through relatable and inspiring stories.
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Suhani is a second-generation Indian-American mom of three and author based in Upstate New York. Her experience growing up with alopecia areata led her to write her debut book, Shreya’s Very Own Style. She launched Modern Marigold Books in 2019 to publish stories that promote social and emotional growth while amplifying early-generation diasporic voices.