D.L. Havlin's Blog, page 11

A Hidden Gem in Southwest Florida – The Crowley Museum!

That’s where I’ll be this weekend. The #Crowley Museum is one of those places that few folks know about and that lots of people should. It’s a living photo of history within a two-and-a-half hour drive for those living in communities from Marco Island to Clearwater and into the center of south Florida.

 

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One of the structures at the Crowley Museum

The Crowley is a late 1800’s frontier town that’s been restored to preserve the area’s heritage. It even has some of the cattle breed the Spanish brought with them in the 1500s that was the foundation for Florida’s first important industry, “ranch herding.”

The event for this weekend is the Southwest Florida Heritage Festival. There will be all kinds of demonstrations like squeezing sugar cane and making syrup from the juice just like Florida Crackers did using draft animals and wood fires. Other exhibitions include spinning, whip making, bee keeping, noodle making, pioneer cooking and more! Here are a few pictures.

 

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Museum Exhibit – Whip that gave birth to the term “Cracker.”

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Transportation – 1880’s Florida style. One of a multitude of exhibits (as they were) at the Crowley Museum.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Sugar Cane Press

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A place to think and stink back in the day.

Irma was rough on this wonderful example of Florida history. It has just recently been reopened after the extensive work done to put it back as it was! I highly recommend you stop by and see this fascinating bit of Americana. I’ll be presenting two historical talks at the Crowley Learning Center. “The Loyal 14th Colony: Florida in the Revolutionary War” will presented Saturday (2/24) at 11:00 AM. I’ll talk about “Florida: The Forgotten Years – 1865 to 1920” on Sunday (2/25) also at 11:00 AM. Both presentations have power point programs with them and I’ll stick around to answer questions and chat afterwards. In fact, I’ll be there both days open to close. Instructions to get to the Learning Center are available on line and will be at the event.

The Crowley Museum is located very near Sarasota. Exit I-75 on to Fruitville Road East. Fruitville dead ends into Myakka Road. Turn right.  The road twists and turns for a few miles to 16405 Myakka. That’s about 13 miles from the #210 exit off I-75. It’s on the left side of the road traveling east. There is a website with more info. It’s http://www.crowleyfl.org .  GPS should get you there. Come see me this weekend!

 

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A full plate!

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It isn’t often that you have one of the descendants of a historical figure you’re discussing in one of your presentations. I had two!

Just when you think you have control … control has you! A few days before Christmas I believed, erroneously, I had the next four months hog-tied, caged, and on the truck. January through April are a very busy time for me. Florida’s winter residents make it the time for all types of organizations to hold events. That means it gives me lots of opportunities to meet a lot of you, do my impersonation of a car salesman and sell books, and it makes my historical presentations, book readings, and writing classes a lot more frequent.

Wham! My publisher was ready with one of my books earlier than I anticipated and there were galleys to peruse. Bam! A writer’s club, one which I’m on the board of directors, decided to start work on a great project, but one that gobbles time. Allikizam! PR Lady (my publicist) received a lot of new opportunities for me speak, crowding my schedule. Yes, I still have to finish a book in February! Finally … Double WHAM! The damage caused to my seawall isn’t resolved. Insurance companies believe you pay them so they have money for their executive payrolls. What a mess!

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My crumbled seawall

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Neither Home owners, Hurricane or Flood Insurance covers this damage! Insurance insures one thing … it insures the insurance companies stay rich!

All this has turned my smoothly oiled machine into rusted junk. At least as far as my time is concerned.

I’ve been speaking a lot at libraries, historical societies, book clubs and civic organizations and have been to a number of book festivals and signings. The most recent one (last Tuesday) was at the Englewood – Charlotte County Library as part of the city’s week-long historical celebration. My topic was about one of Florida’s most important figures from the 1800’s, Jake Summerlin. We had a “full house” of enthusiastic listeners. Two of them were descendants of old Jake himself. Both were embarrassingly complimentary of the talk. That’s quite an honor. Those two gentlemen’s pictures are highlighted at the beginning of this post. Below is a photo of the participants. Charlotte County’s library system and their Cultural Center are among the best we visit in the state. If you’re interested in having me speak to your group, go to my web page at http://www.dlhavlin.com and click on the presentation list on the right side.

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SRO at the Englewood – Charlotte Public Library. Thanks Lynda C. for such a well run program!

If you are in the Englewood area tomorrow (2/10), I’ll be at Pioneer Park 10 to 4, meeting, greeting and yakking. The park is located at 301 Dearborn, Englewood, Florida. Come on out, I’d love to meet you!

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One priceless gift……….

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Special meanings are sometimes received in unusual gifts.

One football helmet. Used. Scared. Priceless!

Yesterday, my wife found a package that had been delivered by UPS. We evidently weren’t home when it was delivered for the delivery man placed it in a place where it would be safe from the weather. It was in plain sight, nestled in a group of boxes of similar size and shape. Obviously, it went undetected for a few days. In the box were Christmas presents sent from my daughter and her family.

My daughter is a busy sales executive (V.P.), but she manages to take the time each Christmas to find a gift that transcends the obligatory … her gifts are personal. I’ve come to expect and look forward to their arrival. But this year … this year, I received a priceless gift in that plain brown corrugated box. However, it was not from her.

You see it pictured above. It is a football helmet, one worn by my Grandson Brad. With it was a note, a note I choose to selfishly keep as one of those objects that is of the “heart,” private. It is for me to savor and for me alone. That’s one of the things that makes it so special. As we age we appreciate life landmarks more; we know life’s important issues because we have lived it.

As a grandparent of four marvelous young adults, I have been blessed. Like all grandparents, I want to do what I can to make each one successful and, most importantly, happy. When I looked at my inventory of items I might share with Brad, my experience coaching football was something I believed would help him. He was an eager learner. He never lost the flex in his knees, kept his toes in so he could start quickly in any direction, kept his power line low, and never let a blocker get to his outside leg when he played outside linebacker. He was a very good player.

As satisfying as seeing him play successfully was, receiving the helmet is an indication that he learned things that transcend the physical skills he was taught. The greater values a sport teaches us are values that are retained and used as we go through our lives. Brad values our relationship on a deep level; it is one of those lessons. The value of team work, personal sacrifices required to attain a goal, embracing hard work, learning that we are a victim if we choose to remain one, and the concept of loyalty to ideas, to organizations, and to people are notches on a person’s character belt. Thanks for a priceless gift, Brad. I’ll sleep well tonight.

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A Christmas thought in 450 words to make the season Merrier!

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Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukkah, Happy Holidays, and Happy New Year!

 

With very few exceptions, Christmas has been a season when people in this country put aside our differences both petty … and not so petty.

We’ve welcomed each other in thought, in presence, – we’ve done so without reservations – no identity relationship has mattered, no visible difference, no qualification as to where we live, no reservation based on ideology.

It’s been a time when we all can look at our fellow humans with understanding, kindness, charity and dare I say it … love?

Isn’t it sad?

There is pressure to put an end to this season of good will.

It comes from all around us and inundates us like a tsunami destroying that feeling of happiness and peace that accompanies the magic I associate with a simple phrase … “Merry Christmas.”

What I see on TV, what I read, what I hear, and worse, how I see us treat each other during this season … what I see as a period of truce … convinces me that there are those who wish to steal from us, the most valuable thing we have.

Our collective humanity.

Listening to TV commentators and politicians this morning occasioned a thought.

I refuse to allow others to rob my sense of humanity. I will NOT reject people who differ from me in any way based on narrowness of vision and selfish views of life.

Humanity’s laws do not require that we think the same.

Because someone doesn’t agree with my political outlook, social values or other personal beliefs, doesn’t give me the right to value them any less as a human.

Certainly the reverse is true.

My personal set of values does not devalue me.

With this thought in mind, I’ve decided I won’t allow the rhetoric of division and derision to destroy my enjoyment of fellow human beings this Christmas. I hope I have the wisdom to maintain this state of mind far past this season of goodwill.

I will not assign a negative value to a person with whom I disagree most vehemently. I will proudly retain my thoughts, understanding that people will differ. Disagreement with another simply means I have to be tolerant of them. I’ll strive to remember those who see only one point of view … those who resort to labels and vitriol in response to opposing ideas … lack the intelligence to reason and refute. I’ll react to them with the pity and understanding those with such narrow intellect require.

I will put the atmosphere of recrimination aside, hope they will, and if not, ignore the “slings and arrows.”

Can I persuade some of you who read this to adopt this thought? Let’s make this a “Merry Christmas!”

 

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A Thanksgiving Greeting & Wish for you!

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May you have a Happy Thanksgiving and holiday season!

The Holidays are HERE. I hope that the following season is a happy one for each of you.

May your disappointments be few –

May your successes be many –

May your opportunities be plentiful –

May your readers be enthusiastic –

May your critics be gentle –

May you enjoy good health –

May your football, basketball, and baseball teams win –

May the “calorie sucker” do a good job on all the goodies you’ll eat today –

May we all understand the blessings we have and be thankful –

 

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Winter time … and the tourists are coming.

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Dan the Fan (my fan!) and I reunite at the Port Charlotte Cultural Center. Dan has every book I’ve written.

Fall has fell. Day-light savings has disappeared and my time, spare or otherwise, has vanished with it. Fall, winter, and early spring are my busiest time of year. Florida’s tourist cycle is tied to the calendar and cold weather “up north.” Events of all types proliferate and with them calls for me to speak and go to events.

Since October 20th, the unofficial kick off date of the winter season, I’ve been all over the state. Starting with a speech to the Space Coast Writer’s Guild (Cape Canaveral area) on their 35th Anniversary, my Ford Edge has been getting a work out. My next stops were at the Deltona Regional library for a book fair, KDWK to do a southwest Florida radio show, a commemorative event for the opening of the Susan Staub Library in North Port, a three day event at the Charlotte County Cultural Center, and a presentation regarding Florida in WWII to a group of veterans at the Charlotte Library. I was honored to do a writers workshop for the Writers League of the Villages north of Orlando during that time.

My schedule for the remainder of the month will be packed. I’ll be in Eau Gallie Book Fair this week end, as well at the Shoppes on Strawbridge for a book signing (Melbourne), and at the Whiskey Creek Country Club in Ft Myers. Matlacha Menagerie, (in the Cape Coral/Matlacha area) is one of my favorite haunts and I’ll do a meet and greet their the Friday after Thanksgiving. The Boca Raton Library will host my next historical presentation Sunday the 26th and I’ll finish up my November appearances with another historical talk at King’s Gate Country Club in Port Charlotte.

This schedule is hectic, but I love it! I get to meet so many folks who like my work and get great feedback. Below are a few photos from the places I’ve been recently.

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“… traveling …

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… here …

 

 

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… there …

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… everywhere!

 

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Some come, some go … the good ones persevere!

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Space Coast Writers Guild President, Cindy Foley, and DL discuss that organization’s very successful 35th Anniversary meeting and dinner.

“It’s an honor and a privilege to speak to you today …” and it was! I had the honor and privilege to speak to the Space Coast Writers Guild on the occasion of that organization’s 35th anniversary. That number says a lot in itself. Organizations of this type typically have a short life span. Politics and personality clashes are an inherent companion of these groups. Most live a few years and then disintegrate with a boom or slowly rot away. The fact this organization has faced these land mines and successfully maintains a membership in the hundreds and features active vibrant programs are testimony to its members and leaders … past and present. You don’t have to wonder why after you meet its members and officers.

Space Coast Writers is located in Melbourne, Florida, that’s within figurative spitting distance of Cape Canaveral. It’s members are a diverse group that provide a full array of social styles. The members are passionate about writing! The most prominent traits I perceived in the members were high intelligence and strong conviction, but those were tempered with open mindedness. I highly recommend that you visit their web page and join their organization if you live in the area and are stone-cold-serous about wanting to write.

One thing that impressed me was the dedication their president exhibited in pursuing a program that would enhance the members knowledge and contribute to the possibility of their being successful. It was the over-riding message I perceived from our conversations about the presentation I made yesterday. From awarding the Don Argo Literary Award (named for a past president), the connected poems offered by a member that combined meaning with some humor, and an essay read about Argo’s feelings on the organization delivered by an enchanting lady, to the fine meal served … all said one thing … this is a quality organization!

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Two Space Coast Writers with copies of their books. Meet teenager LaQuincia West (Spark of the Night: Crystaline Light) and not so teenagerish Jay Heavner (Death at Windover)

 

 

 

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DL speaking to the fifty-plus members in attendance on “A Writer’s Covenant: The influence and responsibility that accompany authorship.”

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The folks who attended the Space Coast Writers Guild annual dinner.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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This coming Weekend I’ll be at the Deltona Book Fair with my publisher Taylor & Seale and several of their authors. It will be held Saturday (October 28th) from 9:30 until 4:00. The location is at the Deltona Regional Library, 2150 Eustace Ave., Deltona, FL  32725. I’ll be there most of the day and at the fair sale area 1 to 4.

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An answer to a FAQ – What about editing?

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Q. and A. after the presentation. One frequently asked question is about editing.

All of the speaking events I do end in a question and answer session. One of the questions that frequently comes up is the whole subject of editing. At a recent historical presentation a lady asked, “How do you handle editing?”

I responded, “What type of editing?”

She remained quiet for a few seconds before saying, “Isn’t editing … editing?”

Many writers aspiring to be authors are unaware that editing is complex. Certainly, it’s not a subject that fits into a short blog. What I can do is give some definitions and advice that might help authors.

Definition – From “Glossary of Publishing Terms” – Editorial Analysis – The process of examining a manuscript to determine the level of edit required and making a record of all matters that will effect the processes (COSTS!) of editing and production.

That means everything. Many novice writers don’t perceive editing as much more than a grammar check. Blaaahhhh! Content. Style. Line composition. Illustration/Art/Pictures. Infringement. Accuracy. All of these items and more will be considered if they’re a factor in producing your book. Yes, grammar is in there too. As costs and competition increase, publishers progressively shed costs of this nature. The author or her/his support system (agent/private editor) are called on to perform the function to some degree.

Self-publishing your work doesn’t eliminate your responsibility to thoroughly edit. I see great editing as even more of a requisite for SP. You are your own gate-keeper. If you publish trash, good luck! You’ll probably have the same chance at success that an egg has of surviving under an elephant’s foot. That always brings up the question, “Can I edit my own work?” I always respond, “The question isn’t if you can, the question is if you should?” Personally, I believe an adaptation of a cliche is the answer. “An author who edits their own work, has a fool for an editor.” This is particularly true of the novice. Here’s why:

Do you really know the norms, styles, and standards required to produce a marketable book? Most think they do … and their knowledge falls far, far short.

Are you sure that your knowledge base of grammar, structure, and form conforms with commonly accepted publishing norms in a producing a book that readers will accept? For example, does your writing conform to the Chicago Style Manual? Do you know what the Chicago Style Manual is? This is important, particularly if you have hopes of eventually attracting an agent or traditional publisher.

Are you so familiar with your work … you are likely to edit what you thought you wrote … instead of what’s actually on paper or on your monitor screen? I do. When I edit I have to print my ms out, and pencil check, because if I don’t, my mind’s familiarity with my work makes me fill in missing words, gloss over usage errors, etc. Luckily, I have a great editor at my publisher Taylor & Seale.

The reason I started with the definition for Editorial Analysis is that I recommend that new writers go through the process at least once. Find a good editor, one you feel comfortable with, and ask for an analysis (all issues) of your writing. BE SURE YOUR EDITOR ISN’T A FRIEND OR AUNT MARTHA! You want a clear, unvarnished report. Once you know your strengths and weaknesses, you’re on your way to improving your writing.

The next question normally is, “Can you recommend a good editor?” That’s a tough one. First, there are literally thousands of editors and they vary all over the competency spectrum. That’s true of the prices they charge as well. What a good editor is, depends on a number of things. Most importantly, it depends on your independent needs.

If you want to follow my advice, two (of many) excellent sources for that editorial analysis would be Unicorn for Writers (www.unicornforwriters.com) and Jane Friedman Services (www.janefriedman.com). Jan Kardys and Jane Friedman, the principles, are real veterans in the publishing business. I’d start by checking out their website.

As far as folks that are farther along the writing path, I have a couple names of editors of which my associates speak highly. Nancy Buscher does a wide range of line editing/consulting functions. So does Beth Mansbridge – she specializes in polishing manuscripts in the copy editing area. You can reach Nancy at NancyBuscher@yahoo.com and Beth at beth@mansbridge.net. I suggest you talk to any perspective editor before you engage them. Chemistry is important in the relationship.

See you tomorrow!

I’d like to meet you! Come visit me at Barnes & Nobles in Daytona Beach. I’ll meeting, greeting and signing my two most recent Taylor & Seale releases, The Bait Man and The Cross on Cotton Release (a re-release). I’ll be at 1900 W. International Speedway Blvd., Daytona Beach, FL 32114 from 1 to 5. It’s very near the race track.  Come visit me.

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Book Events – You get out what you put in ……

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Chatting with some Taylor & Seale authors at the Florida Heritage Book Festival.

It is amazing how different folks can look at the same object and have an entirely different view point on what they’ve just seen. A good example of that is what you hang on your wall. Salvador Dali appeals to some folks, Van Gogh turns on others, and Monet pushes peoples buttons. I’m a “Dogs playing poker,” kind of guy.

My experience at the Florida Heritage Book Festival told me that paintings aren’t the only thing that we see very differently. Talking to some of the participants and attendees at this book event told me it inspired highly differing opinions. I’ve selected a few that vary a bit.

On parking:

“I rode around these one way streets until I was seasick. I really thought I’d run out of gas before I found a spot.”

“Wasn’t parking easy? I just followed the map and zap.”

On the facility:

“What a disappointment! Blah! Blah! Blah! I thought the room we got put in was like a slaughter house holding pen.”

“There was plenty of room for us and the visitors, it was clean, and the temperature was just right.”

On what was provided:

“We sure didn’t get much for our $XXX.”

“I’m glad I didn’t have to pay extra for electricity.”

On the same speaker:

“Damn, that guy is a long winded, self impressed turkey (substitute wording). He was doing Willie’s Much Ado About Nothing without being funny.”

“I really liked XXXXXXXX’s talk. He provided enough detail to understand his presentation.”

On St Augustine:

“This is an old creepy place.”

“Can’t you just feel the history here? I could spend days walking around and soaking this place up.”

On customer’s roaming the book tables:

“The young ones don’t have any money. The old ones look like they smell a fart and all have locks on their wallets and purses. Selling was mission impossible.”

“Wasn’t the crowd great? They were talkative and wanted to exchange ideas. And they bought books!”

Did we all really attend the same event? Let me enlighten you on some possible reasons why each person had different opinions for each issue.

Parking/one person looked at the map provided; the other didn’t keep his paperwork. Facility/one person brought a box of books (not even a table cloth); the other had a display, table covering, and handouts. What was provided/one person borrowed money for lunch from me; the other offered to buy mine. Speaker/one took notes; one didn’t. St. Augustine/one was playing “Candy Crush” on a cell phone; the other spent time talking to potential customers. Customers/One sat with arms folded and didn’t say much except to comment on the size of a rump or other body parts; the other fellow tipped his top hat and took a real interest in those who passed.

Could the possible difference be what you put in, you get out?

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Just a reminder — see you Saturday in St. Augustine

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I’ll be at the Florida Heritage Book Fest this Saturday. Come see me!

 

—– I’ll be attending the Florida Heritage Book Festival in St. Augustine this coming weekend with my Publisher, Taylor & Seale. It will be held on the Flagler College Campus in the Ringhaver Student Center, from 9 AM to 4 PM, Saturday, September 23rd. It’s free to the public. You can get more information on the event by calling 904-819-6339. Several of Taylor and Seale’s authors will be in attendance and its chief operating officer, Mary Custurerie, will be one of the featured speakers. If you’re in the area … come see us!

 

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DL with Mary Custureri, Managing Editor of Taylor & Seale Publishing.

 

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