Public Speaking

One of the most unexpected benefits of being an author is being able to connect with people at public speaking events.

I must admit that public speaking does not come naturally to me (thank you Toastmasters) but I am buoyed by audience feedback after a presentation. I have been fortunate enough to speak across the state from Tallahassee to Miami and this I can say for sure – public speaking via Zoom (during the pandemic) is NOT the same.

My latest speaking endeavor is acting as co-host on fellow University Press of Florida author Cathy Salustri’s podcast, The Florida Spectacular.

"Florida's Healing Waters" for the Matheson History Museum, January 21, 2021

“The Myth that Never Dies,” PechaKucha Orlando, 2015

Florida Spring Restoration Summit Presentation, October 1, 2016

_PME0161.jpg
rick-kilby-public-speaker.jpg
58372513_10215897120195070_4364408520515256320_n.jpg
Rick Kilby Florida Speaker.jpg

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.

These talks 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​.

Visit the Events page here.

Featured
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.