Milford Readers and Writers Fest to feature Blue Bloods actor, book ban talks and more

The fifth annual Milford Readers and Writers Festival, which starts this Friday, includes a variety of discussion, such as writing about rock ‘n’ roll, book bans and identifying what is American cuisine.

Tickets are needed for the Main Stage at the Milford Theater and Performing Arts Center. Attendees can create their own program, choosing Len and Heather Summerhayes Cariou’s reading of "The Gin Game" on Friday evening, September 16, or one or several of the panels featured on Saturday, September 17.

Tony Award-winner Len Cariou, who is currently featured on the hit TV series “Blue Bloods,” will join his wife Heather Summerhayes Cariou, writer and actor, in a reading of the two-character Pulitzer Prizewinning play “The Gin Game”. The play is a tragic comedy about two people near the end of their lives who unexpectedly begin a friendship out of necessity.

On Saturday, you may hear a conversation titled “Books You May Never Get to Read,” with a panel of publishing industry professionals discussing recent author cancellations and book bans, and how they affect writers, publishers and readers.

The panel includes literary agent Regina Brooks, who represents many young adult authors; Jamie Raab, longtime president and publisher of Grand Central Books; and journalist and foreign affairs writer James Kirchick, whose latest book “Secret City: The Hidden History of Gay Washington” is a New York Times best-seller.

They will join publisher and panel moderator Brooke Warner, the publisher of She Writes Press, on the Main Stage at the Milford Theater and Performing Arts Center.

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Also on the Main Stage in Milford

Nelson DeMille, best-selling author of 21 novels, will talk about his remarkable writing career and the successful collaboration with his son Alex DeMille, on their recent novel “The Deserter.

“Writing About Rock & Roll” - Bob Guccione Jr., creator and publisher of Spin Magazine, and musician and journalist James Greer will be joined by Sheila Weller, author of the best seller “Girls like Us: Carole King, Joi Mitchell, Carly Simon – and the Journey of a Generation”.

“What is American Food?” - Historian Paul Freedman, author of “Ten Restaurants That Changed America” and “American Cuisine - And How It Got That Way,” will talk about what makes American food unique with author, journalist and dedicated foodie Richard Morais.

Main Stage programs offer opportunities for interaction with the authors.

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Free programs on tap at Milford Readers and Writers Festival

There are also numerous free programs at other sites, where no tickets are needed. These include the popular fantasy-themed science fiction panel “Choose Your Reality” at the Columns Museum, 608 Broad Street and the Salon Series of conversations with noted authors at the Good Shepherd Episcopal Church, 110 W. Catherine Street, book signings by the authors, and other events in Milford.

Starting at 10 a.m. Saturday, the Pike County Public Library is sponsoring a program on the Future of YA (Young Adults book genre) in the Age of Book Banning. Rachel Goldstein facilitates the panel featuring John Thompson, Melinda Michael and Kim Girratano.

Science fiction buffs may be interested in Choose Your Reality at the Columns Museum. The panel includes Karen Heuler, moderator, with Alex Shvartsman, C.D.E. Cooney, Nicholas Kaufmann and Randee Dawn. This session is set for 11 a.m, Saturday.

Beginning at 11 a.m. on Sunday, Two Gentlemen of Milford will feature a lively conversation between John DiLeo and Richard C. Morais. They will be sharing thoughts on writing, publishing, fiction and nonfiction, art and entertainment and the journey of books-to-film.

Haunted History and Ghost Hunting is set for 2 p.m. Sunday at The Waterwheel Café, Bakery & Bar. Jennifer Ziegler will be moderating a conversation between Bobby J. Gallo and Eleanor Wagner about haunted history and ghost hunting techniques from these practicing investigators.

On Sunday at Good Shepherd Episcopal Church there are three programs between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m.: They begin with Secret City: The Hidden History of Gay Washington, featuring James Kirchick and Sean Strub. Following this hear Ida B. Wells and the Campaign Against Lynching featuring Paula Giddings and Christa Caceres. The third program will be a discussion between Steven W. Thrasher and Edson Whitney on The Human Toll When Equality and Disease Collide. These programs begin at 11 a.m. and run through 5 p.m.

Meet the guest authors and have a chance to buy their books at bookstore at St. Patrick’s Church Hall over the weekend.

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Honing writer's skills in the Poconos

The Milford Readers and Writers Festival is a project of Pike Artworks, Inc., a 501-c-3 not-for-profit organized by a group of volunteers from the Upper Delaware River Valley region.

The event is designed to hone writer’s skills. It was founded by notables that include Damon Knight, Kate Williams, Virginia Kidd and Judith Merrill.

Tickets for the programs at the Milford Theater can be purchased at milfordreadersandwriters.com. The complete schedule of ticketed and free events is listed there.

For more information, visit milfordreadersandwriters.com,

This article originally appeared on Tri-County Independent: Readers and Writers fest in Poconos to host talk on 'Gay Washington'