The Amelia Island Book Festival (AIBF), held this year February 27 and February 28, is one of Amelia Island’s most unique and treasured community traditions. Over the past twenty-five years, hundreds of authors have attracted thousands of visitors to Amelia Island. This month for its silver anniversary, AIBF will celebrate its history and the enduring power of books to inspire, inform, and unite people across generations.
A FESTIVAL BORN OF PASSION AND PURPOSE
The festival began in 2001 to bring avid readers and writers together here on Amelia Island to enjoy the natural beauty and share their passion for literature. The keys to its ongoing success are incredible authors, volunteers and generous donors who keep the organization alive, relevant and growing.
Current leaders are a Fernandina Beach literary power couple, Kevin and Kelly Powers. They moved to Amelia Island with their twin daughters six years ago and soon became active festival volunteers. Kevin, the author of several acclaimed and bestselling books, was honored as a featured author at the 2024 Festival.
Last year, Kevin was named Honorary Chairman, a position held previously by literary luminaries including David Baldacci and John Grisham. Serving as Honorary Chairman again as this year, Kevin draws on his publishing world contacts to identify and invite top writers he believes the community would enjoy meeting and learning more about.
Meanwhile, Kelly Powers, a local realtor, became increasingly focused on the importance of reading and literacy through involvement with her daughters’ education. That interest led her to join the AIBF Board of Directors last year, and she now serves as President.
AIBF OPENS WITH AUTHORS IN SCHOOLS ON FEBRUARY 27
Authors in Schools has been a consistent hit with students, parents, authors and educators. Some out-of-town visitors have even copied it in their own communities, says Agnes Lyden, a clinical psychologist who heads up the program.
Here’s how it works. Throughout the year, AIBF raises funds to provide a new book to every Nassau County student from kindergarten to 12th grade. During the summer, book authors who want to be part of the program are invited to submit applications and a copy of their book.
In the fall, AIBF hosts a luncheon for all Nassau County School District media specialists, literacy coaches, and representatives from local private and homeschool groups. They learn about the authors who applied, and “check out” books they believe their students would most enjoy reading and discussing with the author in class. This year, 123 book submissions were received from 71 authors and illustrators, and 39 books were selected.
With the final selections made, AIBF will purchase $88,000 worth of books for over 8,500 participating students. On February 27, the authors will visit 21 schools and make 55 tailored presentations to discuss their books, engage directly with students and encourage a love of reading and writing.
“The authors come at their own expense to help us promote the importance of books and reading. It’s really exciting, and it’s a wonderful partnership with schools,” Lyden says.
HOLLYWOOD NIGHTS AND CELEBRITY AUTHORS ON FEBRUARY 27
Following the school visits, AIBF will celebrate at The Ritz Carlton, Amelia Island with a “Hollywood Nights” Gala, an elegant evening of fine dining, sparkling conversation, a lively author interview, and the festival’s legendary live auction.
The Hollywood Nights theme honors AIBF’s silver anniversary by recognizing authors whose books have made the leap to the silver screen. Special guests will include prominent, award-winning fiction writers whose works have been – or will soon be – adapted for film and television.
Hosting the evening will be Honorary Chairman Kevin Powers, whose best-selling novel, The Yellow Birds, was adapted into a feature film. He has published three more novels and a poetry collection, won the PEN/Hemingway Award, and numerous other accolades. His fourth novel is underway, and this spring he will teach as Visiting Professor at the University of Texas, his alma mater, at the Michener Center for Writers. As Gala host, Powers will introduce the following six celebrity authors:
CLAIRE COOK
Claire Cook is a former teacher who began her writing career at age 45, proving it’s never too late to pursue a passion. Cook’s twenty-five captivating books have been New York Times, USA Today and international bestsellers translated into 14 languages. Her breakout novel, Must Love Dogs, was adapted into a Hollywood film starring Diane Lane and John Cusack.
Cook’s work resonates because of its warmth, humor, and relatability, critics say. She will be interviewed in depth at the gala, and she’ll share thoughts on writing, publishing, and film making during Saturday’s workshops.
ASHLEY ELSTON
Ashley Elston’s path to literary success is as compelling as her novels. Before writing full-time, she captured moments of love, family dynamics, and emotion working as a wedding photographer. These experiences profoundly influence her keen sensitivity to character and relationships.
After publishing six books for young adults, Elston’s first adult book, First Lie Wins, was a Reese’s Book Club pick, a number one New York Times bestseller, and has been translated into thirty languages. Hulu is adapting it for a forthcoming television series.
KRISTY WOODSON HARVEY
Kristy Woodson Harvey is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Beach House Rules, The Peachtree Bluff Series, and other novels that explore family, friendship, and resilience set in lush coastal settings like ours. Several are in development for television and film.
Harvey is cohost of the popular web show and podcast, “Friends & Fiction.” She and another guest author, Mary Alice Monroe, founded the podcast several years ago. It now boasts more than 300,000 members.
PHILIPP MEYER
Philipp Meyer burst onto the literary scene with his first novel, American Rust (2010), a critical success that earned multiple awards and was adapted to a television series starring Jeff Daniels. His next novel, The Son – a Pulitzer Prize finalist – became a television series starring Pierce Brosnan.
Many of Meyer’s characters draw from his lived experiences after dropping out of high school, earning a GED, and ultimately a Cornell University degree. He was a bike mechanic, construction worker, ambulance driver, volunteer firefighter, and even a derivatives trader at a Swiss investment bank. With his third novel on the horizon, Meyer will share insight into his creative ambitions and the enduring power of fiction to reflect the human condition.
MARY ALICE MONROE
Mary Alice Monroe is a powerhouse in contemporary fiction. Her bestseller, The Beach House, became a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie starring Andie McDowell. Several of her other thirty novels are optioned for film.
A USA Today bestseller, Where the Rivers Merge, is set on barrier islands off South Carolina. It demonstrates her ability to merge compelling storytelling with the fragile beauty of the natural world. Monroe’s books are frequent book club favorites.
KATE QUINN
Kate Quinn, a long-time history buff, brings the past dramatically to life. Her bestsellers include two novels set in the Italian Renaissance and four in her Empress of Rome Saga. She moved into the 20th century with The Alice Network, The Huntress, The Briar Club, and The Rose Code, which is now being developed for television.
Quinn’s latest book, The Astral Library, comes out this month. It is a new venture for her – a novel of magical realism, she says, where books are not just objects, but doors to new worlds, new lives, and new futures.
AMELIA ISLAND BOOK FESTIVAL MAIN EVENT ON FEBRUARY 28
The heart of the festival kicks off on February 28, and everyone’s invited! This all-day extravaganza at Fernandina Beach Middle School is your chance to mingle with over one hundred authors and illustrators of books for all ages and interests. It’s a vibrant marketplace where authors showcase their books and share their experiences in the publishing world, as writers and readers of all ages come together for ideas and inspiration.
But that’s not all. Educational workshops and panel discussions with this year’s celebrity authors, and perennial favorite, David Baldacci, will take place in the nearby auditorium and classrooms. For a complete schedule, check the AIBF website. In addition, a scavenger hunt will engage the kids, and outside, food trucks and a lively Kids Zone promise fun for the whole family.
SHORT STORY CONTEST AND 2026 AIBF SCHOLARSHIPS
After twenty-five years, the Amelia Island Book Festival’s legacy shines not only in its events themselves but in the ripple effects across local classrooms, libraries, and living rooms. Its programs are grounded in the belief that literacy is a cornerstone of personal and community success. Two of these initiatives are led by Kim Sartor, secretary of the AIBF Board of Directors.
The annual Short Story Contest gives budding middle- and high-school writers a chance to shine. Sartor works with Nassau County school liaisons, teachers, administrators, and parents, who help build enthusiasm, clarify guidelines, and assist with selecting winners.
Winners and prizes are announced during the festival, and all winning stories will be published in an attractive, professionally bound anthology. Last year’s keepsake volume, Where the Dawn Begins, includes thirty exceptional stories by young writers who may one day become celebrated authors themselves.
In addition, scholarships of $2,000, $3,000, and $5,000 will be awarded to three students who demonstrate strong communications skills and academic promise. These scholarships are made possible through fundraising efforts and generous donors, for which AIBF is profoundly grateful.
A SHARPER FOCUS ON LITERACY
As the Amelia Island Book Festival begins its next chapter, leaders are focused on expanding its reach. According to Karen Schexnayder, vice president of operations, many adults as well may need help to become better readers and communicators so they can get and advance in satisfying jobs, help their children learn, and enjoy the benefits of better reading.
To this end, AIFB is developing partnerships with other organizations and welcoming new board members who bring fresh perspectives. One is Maggie Williams, managing director of the Story and Song Foundation, and a former middle school teacher.
“I remember taking my students to the Author Expo each year,” says Williams. “It was magical to see books come alive for them as they met authors and connected with stories in new ways. Those are the kinds of experiences that stay with kids, inspire a love of reading, and strengthen literacy across our community, which is why I’m proud to serve on the board of the Amelia Island Book Festival.”
For tickets to the Gala, details about Saturday’s events, and how you can be part of AIBF’s continuing story, visit www.ameliaislandbookfestival.org.