Hurricane History Writer to Visit Book Island in Time for Hurricane Season

AMELIA ISLAND, Fla. (September 19, 2003) – Although Florida will not be touched by Hurricane Isabel as it strikes the East Coast this week, residents are well aware that hurricanes frequent the state around this time of the year. One particularly deadly hurricane that devastated South Florida—the Hurricane of 1928—marked its 75th anniversary on Sept. 16, but the storm has remained relatively unknown.

     Finally, the story of the forgotten hurricane” has been written by Robert Mykle, one of Amelia Book Island Festivals featured authors. His new book, "Killer ‘Cane: the Deadly Hurricane of 1928," has received the 2003 Carolynn Washbon Book Award.

     The hurricane that caused an estimated 2,500 deaths is not well known because of the identities of the victims and survivors—they were mostly black and poor. Mykle gives them a voice through the writing of this nonfiction book, which was made possible by interviewing over 40 survivors of the hurricane.

     Mykle will visit this years Amelia Book Island Festival as a featured author and speak on a panel entitled The Power of Persistence, Luck, and Desire,” offering advice to aspiring authors on getting published. The talk will take place at 1:30 p.m. on Oct. 4 as one of 25 varied talks and workshops led by the participating authors at the festival. Mykle will also speak on a panel, "How We Got the True Story," at 3:30 p.m., describing the techniques that can bring out real and sometimes controversial stories of events. He will also be a featured author during the Dine with Authors event at the Florida House on Saturday evening.

     The third annual Amelia Book Island Festival, a non-profit effort, dedicated to literacy, love and celebration of the written word, and the community of writers and readers, is Oct. 2-5, 2003. 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. 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.

###