The Newburyport Literary Festival has been an exciting annual event for 16 years. It has brought hundreds of authors to the community, and thousands have attended. Its mission is to encourage reading, and in doing so, introduce writers and their ideas to the public. Local authors have presented their work, as have writers with national reputations. A wide range of topics is presented - from poetry and fiction to nonfiction that covers almost every interest. Reading is more than a pastime. It's more than entertainment. It can also provide an opportunity for the reader to travel, to inhabit another's life experience. The intent of the Literary Festival board is to offer a variety of ideas and perspectives through the published word.