ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. (Aug. 12) Three icons of Florida literature will be honored August 27 at the Florida Literary Legends Awards Banquet to be held at the Sawgrass Golf and Spa Resort, a Marriott Resort in Ponte Vedra Beach. The awards banquet serves as a glittering introduction to the annual Florida Heritage Book Festival to be held September 11-12 in St. Augustine.

This year’s Literary Legends are Michael Connelly, Harry Crews and Dr. Michael Gannon.

A graduate of the University of Florida, Connelly has combined a successful newspaper background with a penchant for creating great fiction to create a distinguished literary career. His award-wining thrillers have been translated into 35 languages. Harry Crews is one of Florida’s most popular writers and his award-winning literary accomplishments earned him a place in the Florida Artists Hall of Fame. A University of Florida graduate, he later returned to his alma mater where his teaching inspired a new generation of writers. Dr. Michael Gannon is a St. Augustine native and professor emeritus of history at the University of Florida. The author or editor of nine books and a scholar of Spanish Colonial history, Gannon has received numerous awards – including special recognition from King Juan Carlos of Spain.

Tickets for the 6 p.m. banquet and impressive silent auction are $60 each and may be purchased from the official website of the Florida Heritage Book Festival, www.fhbookfest.com . All proceeds from the Florida Heritage Book Festival benefit the St. Johns County Friends of the Library organizations and the Newspaper in Education program sponsored by The St. Augustine Record.

The Sawgrass is also offering a special rate on rooms for banquet attendees. For details, call (800)457.4653.

For more information on events and vacation opportunities in St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra & The Beaches, call the Visitors and Convention Bureau at 1.800.653.2489 or visit www.Getaway4Florida.

# # #