Memorial Scholarship Added to Book Island Fund

A. Robert and Billy Powell of Fernandina Beach donated $500 to the Amelia Book Island Festival scholarship program in memory of her daughter, Christa Powell Walley. The gift matches the Festivals annually awarded $500 scholarship to encourage young writers.

AMELIA ISLAND, FL -- August 28, 2003 --- Robert and Billy Powell of Fernandina Beach donated $500 to the Amelia Book Island Festival scholarship program in memory of her daughter, Christa Powell Walley. The gift matches the Festivals annually awarded $500 scholarship to encourage young writers.

In 1987, Walley died in a car accident while driving alone two weeks before Christmas. She graduated from the University of South Alabama with a major in English and a minor in Creative Writing. Her husband and then one-year-old and two-year-old sons survived her.

Christa always loved writing, she wanted to write the all-American novel," Powell said. Her daughter published several articles in her high school literary magazine and Seventeen magazine.

Powells interest in the book China Run by David Ball led her to last years Amelia Book Island Festival luncheon where Ball was the headline author. At that event she learned about the scholarship given annually by the organization. She and her husband Robert had been looking for a way to honor Christas memory. We knew it was the perfect way," she said. It would be lasting and truly her."

In addition to writing, Christa always loved the beach and her boys continue to visit Amelia Island every year. We are honored to have the scholarship in memory of Christa Powell Walley." said Don Parker, Amelia Book Island Festival chairman. She was a great writer and lover of Amelia Island."

With the matching gift by the Powells, the festival will now give two scholarships worth $500 each to current college students studying in a writing-related field. The Amelia Book Island Festival will award the scholarships during the annual luncheon on Oct. 4.

For a scholarship application, send a self-addressed stamped envelope to: Young Writers Scholarship, Attention Miriam Shafer, Amelia Book Island Festival, 4949 Winward Place, Amelia Island, FL 32034. The application deadline is September 5. Call 904/491-8176 for more information.

The third annual Amelia Book Island Festival, dedicated to literacy, love and celebration of the written word and the community of writers and readers, is October 2-5. It features more than 35 authors of novels, mysteries, histories, westerns, suspense thrillers, poetry and books for young readers. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet the authors and participate in workshops with authors, agents, editors, publishers and publicists.

The festival features several events including Rock-N-Roll Readings, 25 author-led workshops and discussions, Lunch-with-Authors, Dine-with-Authors and Authors-in-Schools of Nassau County. The $15 festival ticket provides admission to all workshops and readings on Saturday, October 4. The Lunch-with-Authors event is also $15. Luncheon seating is limited.

Tickets are available now at BooksPlus, First Coast Community Bank, the Amelia Island-Fernandina Beach-Yulee Chamber of Commerce offices and by mail.

For more information, visit www.bookisland.org or call the Book Island Festival at 904/491-8176.

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