Amelia Island Book Festival 2019

The Amelia Island Book Festival celebrates the love of the written word.

BY KAREN MILLER • PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE AMELIA ISLAND BOOK FESTIVAL

Steve Berry is a champion for literacy and history. With over 18 bestselling historical fiction thrillers under his belt, and a new novel coming out in March, Berry is at the height of his career. But it wasn’t always like that for the aspiring writer. It took 12 years and 85 rejection before he sold his first book, The Amber Room, to Ballantine Books in 2002. The book was published in 2003, and that’s when Berry came to his first Amelia Island book festival, which was then called the “Amelia Book Island Festival.”

The festival had its ups and downs over the years, until past president Marie Rizzo Fenn called Berry four years ago and asked him to be their honorary chairperson. “My wife, Elizabeth, and I had a lot of experience with book festivals. She organizes Thrillerfest, as the executive director of International Thriller Writers,” says Berry. “My job was to recruit folks I knew to come to Amelia Island. We brought in renowned authors, and then worked with the board to put things into place that would insure a successful festival.”

This year, the Amelia Island Book Festival is bringing more than 100 noted and celebrity New York Times bestselling authors to Fernandina Beach, including John Grisham, Diana Gabaldon, Kristen Ashley, David Baldacci, Tess Gerritsen, and Ridley Pearson, along with Berry, all to support the festival’s award-winning Authors in Schools Literacy Program.

Fenn is excited about the success of the Festival, and its contribution to literacy. “This year we’ve purchased 12,000 books for students in Nassau County,” says Fenn. “And so much of our triumph is due to authors like Steve Berry, who donate their time and waive their speaking fees. These authors inspire students and adults to read, write, and share their passion with others.”

Another important part of the annual AIBF is the presentation of a $2,000 scholarship to a college-bound Nassau County student. The scholarship is dedicated to the late Christa Powell Walley, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Powell of Fernandina Beach. The AIBF also offers a short story contest for Nassau County middle and high school students in grades 6 - 12.

But their main focus is Authors in Schools, through which the organization purchases a book for every student in Nassau County to read before the author comes to their class. “What better way to promote literacy than to put a book into the hands of a child,” says Berry. “But to do that, we have to raise a lot of money. And, with the success of the Kick-Off Luncheon and the Author Face-Off Gala, plus our many sponsors, the festival is able to buy more books every year.”

KICK-OFF LUNCHEON WITH JOHN GRISHAM AND DAVID BALDACCI

The Amelia Island Book Festival begins on Thursday, February 14 with its wildly popular Kick-Off Luncheon at Walkers Landing, featuring a conversation with New York Times bestselling authors John Grisham and David Baldacci. The event is sold out, and has been for several months.

“We are so lucky to have these fine authors at the luncheon, along with Steve Berry as our master of ceremonies,” says Fenn. “Our presenting sponsor is the Law Offices of John M. Phillips, and proceeds from this event benefit our Authors in Schools Literacy Program.”

TWEENS & TEENS SCENE AT ST. PETER EPISCOPAL CHURCH

Also on February 14, tweens and teens will be wowed by six of their favorite authors at the Tweens & Teens Scene, held at St. Peter Episcopal Church at 5 p.m. Offered in partnership with the Boy & Girls Clubs of Nassau County, noted authors Michael Regina, John Hope, Gary Zeiger, Yvonne Ventresca, Janet McLaughlin, and Stacey Horan will meet with youths from 10 to 17 years old to talk about their writing journey.

This event is free, but tweens and teens need to register online in advance. Refreshments, pizza, and beverages will be served, and an array of raffle prizes, including gift certificates and books galore from the authors, will be available.

WRITERS WORKSHOPS AT FSCJ NASSAU IN YULEE

Have you always wanted to write but didn’t know where to start? Perhaps you’ve started, but are stuck. Maybe you have a manuscript written, but are bewildered by the publishing options available. Or you love to write, but don’t have a clue about marketing. If you answered yes to any of the above, two Writers Workshops are being offered on February 15 from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the FSCJ Nassau Campus in Yulee.

Participants can choose from two tracks, Publishing 101 or The Craft of Writing, or you can mix and match the sessions you wish to attend that best meet your needs. The workshops include a box lunch and presentation by Keynote Speaker Steve Berry.

“NOSH WITH THE ROCK CHICK” AT CAFÉ KARIBO

If romance is your fancy, you’ll want to “Nosh with the Rock Chick” at Cafe Karibo on February 15 at 11 a.m. The Rock Chick is Kristen Ashley, author of over 60 romance novels, who started the Rock Chick Nation as a way to give back to her readers. RCN has a variety of programs to promote a strong female community and has given over $125,000 to women’s charities.

“Nosh” begins at 11 a.m., featuring selfies with the Rock Chick herself, followed by lunch and a presentation by Ashley. All participants will receive a swag bag containing gifts and books donated by 1001 Dark Nights, a collection of magically romantic novellas. After lunch, Ashley will hold a question-and-answer segment and book signing.

AUTHORS IN SCHOOLS LITERACY PROGRAM

Also on February 15, 27 authors visit students all over Nassau County to talk about their books during the Festival’s Authors in Schools Literacy Program. Authors include Diana Gabaldon, John Grisham, Ridley Pearson, and many others. “The teachers and schools choose the books they want their students to read, and we give each child a book,” says Fenn. “Then when the author shows up at the schools, the students have prepared questions for the authors, and the interaction is really amazing.

“The kids love these books, and it’s so exciting to meet their favorite authors in such an approachable way. This program is really what our Festival is all about—it’s an incredible effort for literacy, and we love seeing the community coming together to support our students.”

FACE-OFF GALA AT THE RITZ-CARLTON, AMELIA ISLAND

Friday evening features the Festival’s biggest event, the Face-Off Gala, held at The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island, with New York Times bestselling authors Kristen Ashley, Diana Gabaldon, Tess Gerritsen, and Ridley Pearson. The Face-Off, which will be moderated by Steve Berry, includes an auction conducted by Florida Senator Aaron Bean with the chance to live forever in an upcoming Diana Gabaldon book, among other unique gifts and prizes. A gourmet dinner will be served, and the authors’ books will be available for purchase and signing at the end of the evening.

EXPO SUNDAY AT FERNANDINA BEACH MIDDLE SCHOOL

Expo Saturday will be held on February 16 at the Fernandina Beach Middle School featuring over 100 authors and their books for sale in the Festival’s Marketplace, with breakout sessions for personal time with the authors. “These breakout sessions are free, but they’re ticketed,” says Fenn. “There’s also a special session for local authors, and it gives them an opportunity to sell, sign, and showcase their books, and talk about their passion for writing. The day is filled with food, entertainment, and activities, and open to the public at no charge.”

It was 18 years ago that the late Don Parker and his wife, Andrea, along with Joe and Joani Selement, had the idea to combine the lure of books with Amelia Island’s spectacular location. As the idea caught on, they gathered supporters and founded a non-profit organization to launch the first festival in 2001.

“Leveraging partnerships and community support through fundraising events, the festival is able to deliver on its promise to promote and celebrate literacy through books,” says Fenn. “The success of the AIBF continues to connect students, authors, and books for lifelong learning.” For more information and tickets to festival events, visit www.ameliaislandbookfestival.org.