Amelia Island Book Festival Extravaganza!
Just as the Amelia Island Book Festival is a core annual event in Nassau County, so are our local authors core to the book festival itself. Some of them volunteer or assist in the festival’s organization, and several participate regularly in the Author Expo.
“People who come to the Expo will enjoy seeing the celebrity authors in the breakout sessions throughout the day. But they will also discover the vibrancy and variety of 113 exhibiting authors—local, regional and national,” said Larry Williams, president of the Amelia Island Book Festival Board of Directors. “Our local authors demonstrate the astounding level of creativity and professionalism that we have in our own community.”
At 11 am Feb. 15, Honorary Chair David Baldacci will moderate a Local Authors Presentation, where attendees will get to hear from each of the authors listed alphabetically below.
Will Andrews: author of the Graystone Mysteries. This series provides entertaining stories for young adults that are believable, yet with an air of fantasy. Latest book: Reilly's Walk - SAT Vocabulary Edition.
Nancy Blanton: award-winning author of three historical novels set in 17th century Ireland, England and the West Indies. Latest book: The Earl in Black Armor – a story of intrigue, loyalty, betrayal, and murder in the reign of King Charles I.
Debra Boelkes: author of non-fiction based on her 30-year career and leadership in male-dominated Fortune 500 technology companies. Latest book: The WOW Factor Workplace: How to Create a ‘Best Place to Work’ Culture.
Sue Chamblin Frederick: author of eight novels that feature strong characters and depict life in the South in the 1950s. Latest book: The Man She Called Darling, the third book in her Madison County series.
E. Louise Jaques: writer of a mystery and a love story primarily set in Fernandina Beach, and also a suspense novel. Latest book: The Truth be Told, about a woman whose new-found ability to make people tell the truth leads to political conspiracies.
Vella Mbenna: memoirist who grew up in rural Georgia with seemingly impossible dreams of seeing the world. She never gave up, and became a U.S. diplomat. Latest book: Muddy Roads Blue Skies, her own story of perseverance, family and faith.
Eileen Meyer: children’s book author and great fan of one of the nation’s most famous presidents, Abraham Lincoln. Latest book: The Superlative A. Lincoln: Poems about Our 16th President.
Annette Myers: retired educator, community activist and award-winning non-fiction author of books about American Beach on Amelia Island. Latest book: Peck High School: Golden Years Remembered.
Tommy Nocerino: author of action/thrillers based in American history. Latest book: Greycourt, a Civil War story of intrigue, action, romance and drama when a Confederate officer becomes a wanted man in the South.
RaffaelaMarie Rizzo: author of romance/historical books based on her Italian heritage. Latest book: Thank You for the Shoes, a realistic portrait of a young man’s quest to succeed as an immigrant in the Industrial Revolution-era United States.
Phillip Scanlan: non-fiction author whose first book focused on the cleanup of New Jersey’s beach pollution. Latest book: A Path of Reason for America, proposing a path to restore democracy in America and hope in the American Dream.
J.R. Sharp: award-winning author of the WWII Enemy thriller series, and retired U.S. Navy Commander. Latest book: Breaking from the Enemy, based on a true story of an Italian soldier forced to fight for the Nazis in 1940.
Kay Shostak: author of Southern Fiction, including her eight-book Chancey series set in the Georgia mountains. Latest book: Backwater, Florida, set in an imaginary town by that name.
The book festival also supports aspiring writers, so don't miss the Awards Ceremony starting at noon, during which David Baldacci and Larry Williams will recognize the student winners of the AIBF Short Story Writing Contest, and successful candidates for annual scholarships.