Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings was an American writer who dedicated her life to capturing the essence of rural Florida through her vivid storytelling. Her most celebrated work, The Yearling, tells the poignant tale of a boy who adopts an orphaned fawn. This novel not only earned her the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1939 but also found its way into cinematic history with a film adaptation bearing the same name. The Yearling, originally penned before the emergence of the young adult fiction genre, is today regarded as an essential read for adolescents.

Rawlings' contributions to literature extended beyond her novels. Her deep connection to the Floridian countryside was reflected in all her works, providing readers with an immersive experience into rural America. In 1986, long after her passing from a cerebral hemorrhage in 1953, Rawlings was posthumously honored by being inducted into the Florida Women's Hall of Fame. Her legacy continues to thrive, with her Cross Creek estate now preserved as the Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Historic State Park.