The inaugural Beaches Book Day will bring local authors and readers together to celebrate the writers who document, preserve and share the history of the Beaches community.
From the early days of Mayport to the legendary Einstein a Go-Go stage, the event will spotlight authors whose books explore the people, places and stories that have shaped the Beaches.
Beaches Book Day will be held from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday at the Beaches Museum, 381 Beach Blvd. in Jacksonville Beach.
Admission is free for museum members, with a suggested $5 donation for non-members. Space is limited and registration is required. Museum members are encouraged to use the discount code “MEMBER” at registration for free admission.
More than just a celebration of books, Beaches Book Day offers a chance to connect with the people behind the pages. Local authors will share their work and the research, memories and historical records that helped bring the Beaches' past to life.
Participating authors include Neil McGuiness, Vic DiGenti, Ron Whittington, Dorothy Fletcher, Burke and Davis, Dee Edenfield Marling and Jennifer Curry Compton of Occupancy 250, Tamara Floyd and Maggie Fitzroy.
McGuiness will kick off the event at 11 a.m. with a presentation on “The Beaches: A History and Tour,” which offers readers a guided tour of the Beaches.
DiGenti's “James R. Anthony” tells the story of the banker who helped shape Florida's history. Whittington's “Hidden History of Jacksonville” follows, shining a light on the city's forgotten stories, lost landmarks and colorful characters.
At 12:45 p.m., Fletcher presents a fictional tale of Fort Caroline based on the journals of Fort Caroline commander René Laudonnière and mapmaker and artist Jacques Le Moyne de Morgues.
Authors Burke and Davis provide a look at the history and traditions of Jacksonville's Gullah Geechee heritage.
Occupancy 250 will feature two members of its writing team to explore the music and magic that happened between the hallowed walls of Einstein a Go-Go during the blighted years in Jacksonville Beach. The project is named for the capacity of the all-ages club, which closed its doors in March 1997.
Floyd will present on her mother's works, now collected in “Mayport Memories.” Helen Cooper Floyd was a Mayport native, a teacher, a historian and a journalist. Her work is invaluable to telling Mayport's story today.
Fitzroy closes out the event with “Images of America,” photographs capturing the history of Jacksonville Beach and Ponte Vedra Beach.
The authors will share insights from their latest work through a series of short presentations that spotlight the events, landmarks and individuals that helped shape the Beaches area. Guests will hear behind-the-scenes stories from each author's research and discover new perspectives on local history.
Following each presentation, guests will have the opportunity to meet the authors, ask questions and purchase signed copies of their books.
Beaches Book Day is intended to become an annual celebration of local authors and the history they continue to uncover, record and preserve for future generations.
Whether you're a longtime resident, history enthusiast, educator or simply curious about the area's past, the event offers a unique opportunity to connect with the people preserving and sharing the Beaches' history.
As a community with a history as defined as its coastline, Beaches Book Day underscores the role local writers play in capturing the stories one book, photograph and memory at a time.
