| The Tumultuous History of Amelia As seen through the eyes of its first inhabitants 
Tales of the Timucua on Amelia Island is a book of historic fiction by local author Warren Hard that depicts the lives of the Timucua people as they transformed themselves from the nomadic life of their ancestors to a culture that combined hunting, gathering, fishing and farming on their newfound barrier island they called Napoyca. This island would eventually be known as Isle de Mai, Santa Maria, Egmont and finally Amelia. The Timucua lived in primitive harmony in their bountiful environment for over 4,000 years.
With the arrival of the Europeans and their empire-building ambitions, cataclysmic changes eventually drove the Timucua from their homes and their way of life. With the loss of their beliefs and traditions, they sought sanctuary in the Spanish missions, from Fort Caroline/San Mateo to the Castillo de San Marcos in St. Augustine and beyond. Listen closely... hear the echoes of the past, and accept the invitation in the form of the poem "Come Live With Me". The Island endures. To quote the author: "I believe the best way to become a part of a place is to learn its history. It won't make you a native, but it just might make you feel and think like one." Tales of the Timucua can be purchased at Books Plus, 107 Centre Street in downtown Fernandina Beach, or at the book signing on April 28 hosted by the Amelia Island Museum of History, 233 South Third Street, Fernandina Beach.
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