Amelia Island Book Festival Announces 2025 Schedule
Authors in Schools, Featured Authors, Gala and Book Festival
This year's 2025 Amelia Island Book Festival kicks off on Friday, Feb. 28, with the Authors in School Program. AIBF’s Authors in Schools (AIS) program has not only provided the opportunity for every student in Nassau County, Florida to receive a book, but also places the book’s author right in front of them in their own classroom or school auditorium. Students experience firsthand the inspiration and dedication that goes into a career as a writer, should they be interested in that path for themselves.
On Friday evening, Feb. 28, the iconic AIBF Featured Authors Gala will be held at The Ritz-Carlton Amelia Island. The Festival is headlined by Honorary Chairman, Kevin Powers. He is joined by nine renowned New York Times bestselling and award-winning authors, including Elliot Ackerman, Alafair Burke, S.A. Cosby, Loni Crittenden, Abbott Kahler, Angie Kim, Michael Koryta, George Pelecanos, and Shelley Read. These featured authors will offer something for every reader, from young adult sci-fi to some of the best (and bestselling) crime and mystery writers working today. The Gala will commence at 6 p.m. with an open-bar cocktail reception with featured authors, followed by a seated dinner with a Live Auction. Following dinner will be an Author Discussion between Kevin Powers and George Pelecanos with audience Q&A. Following will be an author Book Signing.
The Festival continues on Saturday, March 1, with The Authors’ Expo and Readers’ Extravaganza at Fernandina Beach Middle School from 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. This is a free event for the community and the most prominent way for guests to participate in the Festival. During the Festival, there will be opportunities to engage with authors up close and personally while over 100 authors showcase and sell their books. The Festival will have Author Break-Out Sessions and Panel Discussions with our 10 featured authors throughout the day.
The former Book Festival Honorary Chairman, David Baldacci, will participate in an author panel discussion with a book signing to follow. The Kids Zone this year will have fun games, activities, a bounce house, children’s author book signings, food trucks, and more. Local Olympian, Poe Pinson, and her dad Kenny Pinson, as will share about their children’s book, “Poey and Click.” Local author Lizzette Harris will share her children’s book, “Marcus Finds Fantastic Flavors,” with her son.
The Festival closes with The Amelia Island Book Festival Scholarship and Short Story Contest. AIBF is proud to be able to offer three scholarships this year. The Betsy Odom Scholarship for $5000, an AIBF Scholarship for $3000 and an AIBF Scholarship for $2000. The Short Story Contest rewards cash prizes to the top three winners and honorable mentions. The top stories submitted will be published, and the student authors will receive copies of their published book. The Short Story Contest is open to both Middle and High school Nassau County students.
The Amelia Island Book Festival's mission is to improve literacy skills in children and adults throughout Northeast Florida and to nurture an appreciation for reading by providing quality events featuring local and New York Times Best Selling Authors, essay contests, scholarships and much more.
To purchase tickets for the Gala, visit the festival website.
More information on the 2025 Amelia Island Book Festival here.
