Thomas More College, located in Crestview Hills, Ky., will host the 20^th Annual Caden Blincoe Outloud Festival on Sunday, February 17, 2013. The event will take place in the Science Lecture Hall, located in the Science Building on campus, from 2-4 p.m.  The annual event honors the late Boone County freelance writer and literacy advocate Caden Blincoe and emphasizes the importance of reading works outloud for audiences to hear. Blincoe’s passion for celebrating the literary arts has persisted as a Thomas More College tradition, held each year in February in honor of the birthday of its patron saint, Thomas More.

Cathy Smith Bowers, who is North Carolina’s former Poet Laureate, and Charlie Hughes, who is a Kentuckian author and founder of Wind Publications, will share their works at the event. Writers from the Southern Appalachian Writers Cooperative, including Thomas More’s new Writer-in-Residence, Pauletta Hansel, will be present to read pieces from the latest edition of Pine Mountain Sand and Gravel. Other cooperative members scheduled to participate include Richard Hague, Rhonda Pettit, Sherry Cook Stanforth, Michael Henson and Scott Goebel.

Dr. Sherry Cook Stanforth, who helps organize the event, commented, “The readings represent a rich variety of voices and topics and the mood recalls that of a homecoming, with authors and community members laughing and sharing conversation. In a world heavily defined by virtual encounters, this one is about as real as it gets—unforgettable writing, heritage music, genuine fellowship and delicious food.”

Before the festival begins, around 1:45 p.m., light refreshments will be served and Sunset Dawn, an Appalachian folk musical group, will perform several pieces.  The featured authors will be available for to sign books and to teach participants more about their publications and interests. The event is free and open to the public.

For questions about this year’s Outloud Festival, contact Dr. Sherry Cook Stanforth at [email protected] or visit thomasmore.edu.