About Us

Our Story

Now in its 37th year, The Book Loft is the legacy of my husband, the late Bill Nelson. A former business executive from Ohio, lending a hand to a bookstore there, discovered a whole new lifestyle for himself. My name is Sue and this is the beginning of our adventure in Amelia Island.

Bill created an "old-fashioned" bookstore where people can browse and enjoy a beautiful collection of books. Our customers become nostalgic when they approach the store slowly, stand and stare at what they have missed. After Bill's death in 2011, I jumped in with both feet to sustain the operation despite the economic downturn and bleak outlook for indie bookstores. I haven't looked back! Our customers are loyal, the Amelia Island visitors are generous, and we have flourished as the island's oldest independent bookstore.

Leveraging partnerships with the community lends to our success. We frequently support and collaborate with the Fernandina Public Library and the Amelia Island Book Festival.

But the biggest asset to an independent bookstore is its people. I attribute our success to our team who has a deep knowledge of the inventory and a commitment to serving the reader thus inviting us to expand their world – one book at a time.

My favorite authors include:

Fiction - Alan Furst and Amor Towles

Classics - Pearl Buck and Ernest Hemingway

Children's - Lois Lenski and Mo Willems

Inside The Book Loft

In addition to award-winning fiction, nonfiction, classics, cooking, and inspirational titles, we have a broad selection of books on Amelia Island and its pirate history, as well as the history of Florida, and the Civil War plus many autographed first editions. In the loft upstairs, we'll introduce you to a selection of older hardback fiction at half-price and our resident ghost, Katherine.

We are a frequent host of indie and first-time authors and special events with best-selling authors as well as French classes, a children's story hour, book clubs, and a knitting group. We celebrate the beauty of Amelia Island by showcasing the artwork of renowned watercolor artist William Maurer.

The store appeals to everyone - tourists, locals, historians, and children to name a few. Many celebrity authors have visited the store to share their books including John Grisham, Karen White, Dean Koontz, Dorothea Benton Frank, Steve Berry, Cassandra King, Jacques Pepin, Jimmy Buffett, Charles Martin, and the late Pat Conroy.

Like the yesteryear of Macy's, our window displays are award-winning and our collection of antiques alone makes for an interesting stroll through the store.

We are grateful to our customers and the community of Fernandina Beach, and are proud to hold the title of "the oldest independent bookstore" - 30 years and counting".

Kayli

You may have seen Kayli attending local community events or posting on social media. Kayli is a Manager at The Book Loft. A Georgia Southern Alum, she earned her B.S. in Public Relations and hit the ground running with marketing, social media and event management. After several years at The Book Loft, Kayli still enjoys the classics such as Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice.

Savannah

Savannah joined the Bookloft team in September 2024 and has been the lead Buyer since April 2025. She spends her free time wrangling her five chihuahuas and reading anything she can get her hands on. You can often find Savannah in the back office deciding which books to order for the store and obsessing over inventory.

Don't be afraid to pop your head around the corner and ask her for a book recommendation!

Nyah

Nyah is a recent graduate from the University of Florida and is currently pursuing her master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. She has loved her time at The Book Loft and can be found behind the counter most weekends. When not spending her time lost in a book, Nyah loves traveling and getting lost in nature. If you’re looking to chat about all things romance, fantasy, or thriller, Nyah is your girl!

Jessica

Jessica is a voracious reader and loves to talk about books, which makes her job the easiest and best in the world.

She is the Director of In Store Promotions, and she loves to give recommendations. Her favorite books are Little Women and We Are All the Same in the Dark.

Dan

Dan is an avid reader and book collector and shares his expertise with our customers everyday. In fact, some of our unique first editions are "finds" from Dan. Many customers have known Dan for over a decade! He is in the store some evenings - stop by and say hello.

Dan's favorites include:

Angle of Repose and The Spectator Bird by Wallace Stegner

Lexi

If you're wondering who's talking so much about so many books behind the counter, you've met Lexi! Lexi works part-time with The Book Loft and spends the rest of her time writing, free diving and helping out on the Amelia Island Book Festival Board. Her favorite animal is a dragon and her favorite smell is books.

Gabrielle

Gabrielle started as a seasonal part-time bookseller in July 2024. When she is not here at the Book Loft, she is a teacher at Aix-Marseille University. Aix-Marseille University is the biggest public university in France (but she doesn’t brag about it). She returns to the island in summer and winter to hang out with us at the shop. Gabrielle’s favorite genres include thriller/suspense, romance, and non-fiction. When Gabrielle is state-side, she likes to spend time with her niece (Lucille), drink coffee, swim, and read (of course). Swing by and see her before she says “à la prochaine”!

Jimmy

Jim started part-time in May of 2021 and has enjoyed every minute in the company of books. Jimmy is a retired postmaster and National Guard Veteran. His favorite books to read are biography and history. When not at The Book Loft, Jim enjoys the many benefits of life on Amelia Island including cruising the beach and spending time with pug Bandit!

Interested in working at the book loft?

Send you resume to kquirk@thebookloftamelia.com