2009 Florida Heritage Book Festival

Director Katherine Dvornick reported to Historic City News that next month, the 2009 Florida Heritage Book Festival will host over 30 authors representing nearly every genre of the publishing world, from environmental and historical nonfiction to mystery and romance.

This event will showcase our local St. Augustine and St. Johns County authors as well as nationally known featured authors including U.S. Senator Mel Martinez, author Tim Dorsey, Stetson Kennedy, one of last year’s Literary Legends, Nancy Yi Fan and dozens of other renowned authors.

The prestigious Literary Legends Awards which are sponsored by the Florida Heritage Book Festival are bestowed annually on a select number of accomplished literary personalities who live in Florida or promote Florida through their literary works.

This year, on Thursday, August 27, 2009, the Honorable Kurt Browning will present the awards to Michael Connelly, Harry Crews, and Dr. Michael Gannon at the Literary Legends Awards Banquet at the Sawgrass Marriott in Ponte Vedra Beach. Reservations are required.

The Friday events will feature writers’ workshops at the historic Casa Monica Hotel. Throughout the day, Florida authors will visit every school in the St. Johns County district, presenting literary programs to the students. Many of these authors will be featured presenters on Saturday.

Friday evening, the public is invited to a Meet the Authors Reception at the Markland House on the campus of Flagler College. All of the featured authors will be on hand for this celebration.

Saturday the festival will feature a day of panel discussions, authors’ presentations, book signings, and children’s events complete with crafts and story time. These events will take place from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on the Flagler College campus in the Ringhaver Student Center and the historic Flagler Room. These are free events, open to the public.

Saturday also features a luncheon at the historic Casa Monica Hotel with keynote speaker Senator Mel Martinez. Reservations are required.

To make your reservations for any of these unique literary events, go to www.fhbookfest.com and click on the Events book.