Publishers Weekly says "magical thinking" is what happens when we think we can make something happen, but we actually can’t. Magical thinking is second nature to all readers and writers. One day I asked fellow writer Don Parker if he thought we could create a book festival on Amelia Island. He agreed we could and we ought to. Of course we couldn’t, actually, not alone. So, to pull it off, we enlisted the local Rotary Club, the News Leader, the Writers and Poets Society, Books Plus, Friends of the Library and dozens of teachers willing to invite published authors into their classrooms to launch Authors-in-Schools. Teacher Virginia White vowed, “We’ll put published authors in every school in the county!” and we did.

Several directors and 9 years later, we’ve lured thousands of passionate readers and writers to our beautiful barrier island. We could not have done it without our dedicated volunteers who have driven authors, made introductions, baked brownies, served lunch and have done all that had to be done to pull it off. It takes an island and “magical thinking”.


Amelia Island Book Festival
The 2010 Story

You will find book festivals all over the world – even in the small village in Wales who set out to be known as the Book Town. A small group of book lovers met nearly ten years ago and began an ambitious project of making Amelia Island “the” book island. The festival which began as the Amelia Book Island Festival is now the Amelia Island Book Festival and has grown and evolved into a unique event that combines the ambiance of a small friendly community housed in a quaint historic district set on a beautiful island off the Northern coast of Florida.

Authors, readers and presenters mingle at workshops, talks and events over a two-day period. Friday features a full day writers’ workshop at FSCJ, featured authors visiting local schools and a Story and Song concert at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in the evening.

Saturday is the highlight with events including a ticketed breakfast and a luncheon showcasing bestselling authors. The all day FREE festival is held on the beautiful campus of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church. Local and featured authors will be available to sign their books. The Children’s Chapter will feature children’s book authors reading as well as activities.

The day will conclude with a good old-fashioned jam featuring authors and musicians participating in the 2010 Festival. For more information on the 2010 Amelia Island Book Festival, visit www.ameliaislandbookfestival.com.