About Rick Kilby

Fresh out of college in 1986, I started working as a graphic designer at a publishing company in Gainesville. I worked my way up to Creative Director at Church Street Station during almost a decade of employment and was then hired as Creative Service Manager at Arnold Palmer Golf Management.

I started my own design business, Kilby Creative, at the end of 2000, with the goal of providing my clients with responsive attention and creative problem-solving. My first blog was published in 2008, after I was inspired by a trip to a “tourist trap” in St. Augustine. Finding the Fountain of Youth was a product of that experience, and my second book, Florida’s Healing Waters, builds on the first book.

The creative journey I’ve been on the last three decades has been interesting, unexpected, and full of synergistic occurrences that I could never have planned. My latest creative project is ceramic sculpture. You can find more examples of my work on here on Instagram.

Photo by Kilby Photo.

Upcoming Events

Rick Kilby discusses the allure of Florida's old springs and the history of health tourism in the state, including the Victorian era's fascination with water as a source of healing, at events like the Orlando Remembered meeting and the Gulfport Historical Society.

These talks often explore the rich history of Florida's springs and their role in the state's development, reflecting Kilby's dedication to preserving and sharing the unique stories of Florida​.

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Florida's Healing Waters at Off the Page literary celebration
Nov 19
Florida's Healing Waters at Off the Page literary celebration

Author Rick Kilby explores the Victorian belief that water was the source of healing and rehabilitation, tracing the history of “taking the waters” from its early origins in Europe. Nineteenth-century Americans traveled from afar to bathe in the outdoors and soak up the warm climate of Florida. With more than 1,000 freshwater springs, 1,300 miles of coastline, and 30,000 lakes, water has been an abundant resource in the Sunshine State throughout its history.

Listen to the Florida Spectacular podcast.

Take a weekly trip across Florida with authors Cathy Salustri and Rick Kilby and discover a side of Florida you never knew existed. From the scallops in Panhandle bays to the Hemingway cats in Key West, every week is a Florida adventure.