I'm from North Georgia and know what the terrain up there is like, long 20%+ grades everywhere. My recommendation to you is to scout the area and find 3 or 4 places to ride where it is relatively flat. If you go out and start trying to bust lots of steep climbs on every ride as you're first starting, you will hate it and possibly not continue. Sustainability is the key and the key to that is that the rides have to be enjoyable. If you can find some flat places close by where you can knock off some 8-10 mile rides, even in a loop, you can build a fitness base where it won't be as painful as attacking steep hills on your first day. On my first day, a flat 4 mile ride kicked my b***. Four months later I was finishing hilly 50 milers with energy to spare. Believe it or not, after a time even the hills are enjoyable.
Find some bike trails. Did you ask at your LBS (local bike shop)?