Mystery & History In Georgia (volume I)

Mystery & History in Georgia was selected in 2022 as a Five-Star Award Recipient by Readers' Favorite book publishing awards. In making their selection, the Readers' Favorite judges stated: "Mystery & History in Georgia by R. Olin Jackson is the first volume in the author's catalog of all things Georgia, beginning the reader's journey with an introduction to the state's incredibly deep history, for better and for worse. Jackson offers a massive compilation, the result of exhaustive research on the history of the state and a number of unexplained events of which some will have certainly heard, and others that I dare say no one outside the immediate area would have heard. Jackson's inclusions range from the notorious, such as the home and history of the infamous early 20th Century bank robber, Charles 'Pretty Boy' Floyd, to the sad demise of the largely forgotten Tallulah Falls Railroad, and on to The Whistle Stop Cafe, the famed locale in the movie Fried Green Tomatoes that is still open. I love history and I love mysteries, and I am a person who selects the places to which I travel by what they signify and not by what most tourists want to see, which made Mystery & History in Georgia by R. Olin Jackson a really good fit for my reading rotation. I half expected a stodgy narrative with maybe a few good photographs but was absolutely blown away by the almost conversational nature of the backstory and narrative and, my word, the photographs are incredible! The work is comprehensive and there is definitely something for everybody."

Mystery & History in Georgia is a compendium of information on historic sites, incidents and mysterious unexplained events relating to the state of Georgia, from the earliest days of its founding, up to the 1950s. The captivating topics range from Native American history and mysteries; railroads history and mysteries; and pioneer Georgia history; to U.S. Civil War history and mysteries in Georgia; natural disasters in the state; illicit liquor ("moonshine") history in Georgia; murder mysteries; and a wide array of other unusual and unexplained phenomena in the state. The details of these events and mysteries have been carefully researched and painstakingly collected over the past 25 years.

The book topics are arranged on a county-by-county basis for ease of reference. This volume of work includes both a Full Name and Subject Index to facilitate use by researchers and is illustrated with over 250 captivating photographs, many of which are rare historic prints. Mystery and History in Georgia is not intended as an all-inclusive history of the state, but rather as a documentation of historic, mysterious and unexplained events which have occurred in the state during the aforementioned time-period. All research involved in the preparation of this book was conducted by skilled historians and dedicated researchers of history.

R. Olin Jackson cut his journalistic teeth as a speechwriter for a Georgia politician; as Director of Media Services and Sports Information for a major university; and as a senior account executive with a major public relations firm in Atlanta. In 1985, Olin founded Legacy Communications, Inc., where he became the award-winning executive editor and publisher of his flagship creations - North Georgia Journal and Georgia Backroads magazines - the premier travel and history publications of Georgia.In 2021, Olin embarked upon a new business venture, founding Whippoorwill Publications, LLC. His current book projects within that realm include "Mystery & History in Georgia, Volume I" (2022) & II; "Old Mills in the Georgia Hills"; "Georgia Backroads Traveler 2022;" "Georgia's Doc Holliday: A Study in Survival;" "After All That We've Been Through;" and "Whippoorwill Hill."Olin is a decorated veteran of the United States Army where he served on the security detail for the Army Commander of NATO from 1972-1975. He is a graduate of Georgia State University in Atlanta, Georgia, with a B.A. degree in journalism, and of North Georgia State University with a M.Ed. degree in political science history.Olin is married to the former Judy Grizzle of Dahlonega, Georgia, and has one son by a former marriage.