From the mid-eighteenth through the early twentieth centuries, the waterways of coastal Georgia, from the St. Marys River in the south to the Savannah River in the north, were a vital part of the state's economy. Georgia's barrier islands are home to five existing lighthouses, each with its own unique style and history.

William Rawlings

Lighthouses of the Georgia Coast is the eleventh book by William Rawlings. He was born, raised, and lives in Sandersville, Georgia, home to his family for more than two centuries. His first five books were suspense novels set in rural Georgia. Turning to nonfiction, he wrote three subsequent works about Georgia and Southern history. He’s been the recipient of a number of writing awards.

Rawlings’s recent works include a suspense novel set in Savannah titled The Girl with Kaleidoscope Eyes, and a true-crime thriller, Six Inches Deeper. Lighthouses of the Georgia Coast, his fifth nonfiction book, was published by Mercer University Press earlier this year. The new book includes information about lighthouse design and construction, the role and legacy of the keepers, and the strategic importance of the structures during the Civil War. To learn more about William Rawlings and his books, see the author's website at williamrawlings.com.