Literary Festival plans are underway

There was another meeting on Wednesday, April 23, at Merritt Bookstore regarding the Millbrook Literary Festival to be held June 21.The yearly festival that is fast becoming a Dutchess County tradition also marks the 30th anniversary of the Merritt Bookstore.According to the event’s website, “The festival promises to present dozens of timely, thought-provoking and thoroughly entertaining authors to participate in panel discussions, readings and signings throughout the day at the Millbrook Free Library on Franklin Street.”The year 2014 marks the Dutchess County Arts Council’s 50th anniversary, and it is marking its golden anniversary with a new name, Arts Mid-Hudson. And more to the point, Millbrook’s own Literary Festival is being named one of the 50 locations in the Arts Mid-Hudson’s “50 Locations/50 Weeks” celebration, which encompasses artists’ networking events and other community-related gatherings. To see how to get involved in sponsoring the Literary Festival go to www.artsmidhudson.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Sponsorship-package.pdf — but do it soon, as time is running out.One of the writers who will attend this year’s festival is Millbrook’s own Chris Orcutt. Orcutt has written professionally for more than 20 years as a journalist, fiction writer, playwright, script writer, technical writer and speech writer. Orcutt will be on hand with his new novel, “One Hundred Miles From Manhattan.” It tells the tale of an upscale, rural community, Wellington, N.Y., where the hills and the seemingly quaint village conceal lives of love, lust, adultery, tragedy and small wars. Mr. Orcutt’s new book may be purchased at Merritt Bookstore.The Literary Festival’s website for the most up-to-date information is www.millbrookfestival.org.

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