Rick Kilby grew up in Gainesville, Florida, looking for shark’s teeth, swimming in springs, and wading through swamps. A University of Florida graduate, he has earned his living as a graphic designer since 1986 and has been self-employed for over twenty years. Inspired by a trip to the Fountain of Youth in St. Augustine, in 2008 he created a blog and Facebook page about the history and culture of Old Florida.
His first book, “Finding the Fountain of Youth,” was published in 2013 and won a Florida Book Award in the Visual Arts category. His latest book, “Florida’s Healing Waters,” was published last fall by the University Press of Florida and recently received the silver medal for Florida nonfiction in 2020’s Florida Book Awards.
Rick’s mission is to motivate other Floridians to appreciate and preserve the natural and historic wonders of their state.