Amelia Island to host annual Book Festival Feb. 16-18

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David Baldacci, Steve Berry, Joseph Finder and R.L. Stine are among the best-selling authors who will be on hand for the annual Amelia Island Book Festival happening this weekend.

To be held Feb. 16-18 at locations throughout the Amelia Island area, the festival will feature three days of events that give readers an opportunity to meet and interact with more than 100 authors at luncheons, workshops, book signings and more.

The festivities will begin at noon Feb. 16 with a luncheon at the Amelia Island Plantation’s Amelia Club featuring New York Times best-selling author David Baldacci, who will discuss his writing career and latest book, “The Last Mile.”

Friday’s schedule will include a four-hour writers' workshop conducted by best-selling author Steve Berry and his wife, Elizabeth, to benefit the Authors in Schools Literacy Program. Scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. Feb. 17 at the FSCJ-Nassau Campus’s Bean Technical Center in Yulee, the workshop will provide both aspiring and accomplished writers with helpful tips for transforming fledgling ideas into books. Registration for the workshop is $150 per person.

“We are honored and grateful to Steve and Elizabeth Berry for offering this workshop to benefit our Authors in Schools literacy program for all the students in our Nassau County public school district,” AIBF Volunteer President Marie Fenn said.

Friday evening will feature the “Author Face-Off Dinner Gala” at the Omni Amelia Island Plantation, where a “dream team” of New York Times best-selling authors will be present for a cocktail reception, sit-down dinner, dancing and evening program. A special highlight of the gala will be the inaugural presentation of the Book Island Literary Award. Finalists for the award include Linda Reynolds for “Spies in Our Midst;” Nancy Blanton for “The Prince of Glencurragh;” James Smith for “Silent Source;” Amy Quincy for “Misadventures of a Happy Heart;” and Bruce Thomason for "Perception of Power.” The winner will be announced at the gala.

“We are thrilled with the outstanding caliber of books submitted,” Fenn said, “and look forward to this being a competition that all our exhibiting authors aspire to in the future.”

Tickets for the gala are $175 per person.

The Amelia Island Book Festival will conclude Saturday, Feb. 18 with a daylong “Authors Expo/Readers Extravaganza.” To be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Fernandina Middle School, the free event will feature breakout sessions and book signings with scores of authors along with children’s activities, prizes, food and more. Featured presentations include co-host of “The Chat” Henny Stewart and authors Mary Kay Andrews, Joseph Finder, Lara Adrian and R.L. Stine.

For event tickets or more information, visit www.ameliaislandbookfestival.org.