D.L. Havlin's Blog, page 3

The Grave with Greener Grass

My newest mystery!        The Grave with Greener Grass ….     The 1st of a 3 book series by TouchPoint Press

It’s here. Well, almost. My newest novel, The Grave with Greener Grass, is on the Internet (Amazon) in e-book form and the print version will be formally released on August 2nd. Until then, it can be ordered from my publisher, TouchPoint Press. Website (https://touchpointpress.com/bookstore) No disrespect to my previous publishers, they are great too. But, I love my new publisher! The Grave with Greener Grass  is a historical mystery, set in today’s Florida. The fuel that feeds the plot is the story of the cattle barons in the late 1800s. Sly Harrell, the protagonist of my new “Finder” series…he’s a kind of rednecked light Sherlock Holmes…struggles to unlock a riddle that will disclose the hiding place of millions in gold coins. Besides unscrambling a deathbed note from a family’s matriarch, he must know a pioneer’s gardening trick to locate it.I plan to travel the state of Florida in the next few months to do a combined book-signing/historical presentation on the subject of the book. Look for my schedule here or in your local or other media. I’m working through TouchPoint to establish a schedule with bookstores.In conjunction with the books introduction, I’ll be doing a trip to North Carolina to participate in a couple major events. I’ll be at the Mt. Mitchell Arts & Craft Festival, Burnsville, NC, on August 6 & 7. Also in the Asheville area, I’ll be attending the Sourwood Art Festival in Black Mountain NC on August 13 & 14. I hope to visit bookstores on my travels to and from those festivals. For those of you in the Tampa area that would like get an ‘early copy” and get it signed, I’ll have a booth (624) at Shark Con at the Florida State Fair Ground on July the 16 & 17.

Meeting a lady reader at a Dunedin event

The crowd at Everglades Seafood Festival – waiting to buy books?!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DL chatting with Sara Gruen, author (Water for Elephants, Water’s Edge, etc) at a previous NC event.

Dl giving a copy of “Why reading makes me a better bear!” to a child at an event

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Grave with Greener Grass is the first of the 3-book TouchPoint “Finder” series. Finding the Nancy Lynn and The Curse of the Calusa Queen are the next two…many more are planned. I have so much more to tell you, but I’ll hold that info for future posts. After all the mind can’t absorb more than the ass can endure!

visit my doggy blog via the link in the left column of this post — Sandy says —

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It’s been a while!

Just doing my thing

 

It has been a while! Wanting to post hasn’t been my problem. Getting the time has. Actually, my lack of time has been a good thing as far as my writing is concerned. That’s what has taken the bulk of my days. The first of a three book series will be released August 2nd. I’ve been busy with gallies, edits, and writing additional books. There currently are six of my books winding their way toward publication. Two are in one of my publisher’s hands. Four are with my literary agent. The resumption of speaking events, something I enjoy doing, has made my schedule banjo string tight. With my writing “caught up” I’ll be trying to post on a more regular basis. Next week I’ll return to sharing interesting places I visit and what’s new in my literary life. See you next week!

 

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It’s off to eat seafood

The Everglades Seafood Festival is one of those “bucket list” events staged annually in Florida

 

This will be a busy week for me culminating in a trip to the Everglades Seafood Festival. The event will be held in downtown Everglades City on Friday evening, Saturday, and Sunday. I’ll be there meeting, greeting, signing books, and discussing my “history corner” display. This is my first trip to the event as a vendor. I’ve been dreaming of shrimp, scallops, and fish fillets the last three nights.

 

An appropriate one-word caption…YUM!

I’ll also be visiting one of my favorite places on Wednesday from 9 to 2. I’ll be doing a signing at Annette’s Bookstore in the Santini Plaza on Ft Myers Beach. That’s on Estero Blvd. Come visit me and chat a while.

 

Annette’s bookstore Ft Myers Beach

 

We had a great outing this weekend at the Nautical Expo 2022. It was held in the Lee County Civic Center, in the North Ft Myers Area. We got to chat with many, many people. Sold lots of books! I also was in Boca Raton to speak to the library group there and spoke at the Venice Golf and Country Club and a most enthusiastic audience. More to tell next week.

 

 

At Boca Raton Library – The LVT – Florida & Don Roebling’s contribution to WWII

 

This group loved “Florida, the Forgotten Years”

 

Hope to see you all soon!

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The season has started!

DL speaks to a ‘full house’ at the Venice Golf and Country Club…His subject “Florida the Forgotten Years”

Despite Covid and the fears that come with it, people are turning out to my presentations in large numbers! By this weekend, I’ll have made five appearances this month. (Four public and one private book club) I’m including a couple pictures of these programs. 

People viewing DL’s historical display and checking out his books at Seven Lakes Golf and Tennis Community. DL stay’s after his talks to answer questions.

 

Things will get more hectic the rest of this month and in February. I’ll be at the Englewood Winter Arts & Crafts Show this Saturday. It is located at Englewood Sports Complex, 1300 S. River Road, Englewood. I’ll be there from 9 to 2. I’ll be at Annette’s Booknook, in the Santini Shopping Center on Estero Blvd., Ft Myers Beach, Wednesday, January 19th from 9 to 2. On the 20th I’ll be in Ocala, presenting three classes. They’ll be, “Florida’s Historic Places and Museums,” “Edison in Florida,” and “The Legacy of Jake Summerlin: Cattle in Florida.” Visit Master the Possibilities web page           ( https//:mastertheposibilities.org ) for information on signing up for the classes. They are available for those who want to attend in person at the Top of the World, Ocala facility on 80th St. or you can take the classes in the comfort of your home by attending a virtual class. I’ll speaking to The Friends of the Boca Raton Library, Sunday, January 23rd, at 3. The talk will be “Blue Water, Red Blood: Florida’s part in the development of the Marine’s WWII landing craft.” I’m excited. The edit for the first book of my three-book Sly Harrell mystery series is back from FlashPoint Publishing. My agent tells me we’ll see the cover soon. I’ll share as soon as I can. Look for the release of “The Grave with Greeneer Grass” sometime this summer?!

 

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All I want for Christmas…maybe a little rest?

Christmas shopping Florida style. The Paradise Christmas Fair in Laishley Park in Punta Gorda draws hundreds of holiday attired patrons.

 

Tis the season! Both for Christmas and for commercial event activity. Combined, they have kept me busy. Below is a pictorial recap of some of the visits I’ve made this fall.

Port Charlotte

Anna Maria Island

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ocala

Venice (Florida that is!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The setting at Tarpon Lodge, Pine Island

 

Bokeelia

King’s Gate Community

 

Verranda Country Club, Ft Myers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mixon’s at Bradenton

 

Finally! Time to relax in front of the fireplace.

And enjoy the Tree!

 

May your turkey be fat and juicy, your cocktails scrumptious, your hangovers minimal, your relatives agreeable, your gifts returnable, and your choice in reading impeccable.  AND…May I wish all of you a Merry Christmas!

 

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A Christmas wish…

Christmas Cookies!

 

The holidays are here! I hope you share the joy of the season with me. I know, I know, it’s difficult. The cesspool to which politics has devolved certainly impedes keeping good cheer and love for our fellow humans at the top of our thought process. Putting the international pot aside, it’s boiling, our politicians would do well to do nothing until after the first of the year. Let the season heal some of the potentially mortal wounds we’ve inflicted on ourselves the last couple of years. Let’s greet and treat each other as welcome equals. Let’s hold the disparaging words inside. For those whose primary desire is to destroy, steal, and hurt…take a vacation. I’ll do my best to understand actions that are, by my standards, incomprehensible, for a Christmas period of truce. Won’t you join me?

The Nautical Mile Expo in Cape Coral Florida was a huge success!

 

People huddling at “History Corner.” People enthusiastically view the research for DL’s books.

 

A group learning about “Florida’s Forgotten Years” at the Veranda Country Club.

 

November and December have been a whirl of activity. I’ve averaged an event every three days. Pictured above are two of them. The good–bad part is I’ve been selling out of books and have had to scramble to order them from my publishers to get them in. Taylor & Seale has been great…thanks Mary! I’ll be out this weekend at two events. On Saturday, December 11th, I’ll be at the George Mullen Center in North Port, Florida from 10 to 3. The street address is, 1602 Kramer Way. On Sunday I’ll be at the Paradise Christmas Fair held at Laishley Park in Punta Gorda, Florida. I’ll be there from 10 until 3. Laishley Park is located at 100 Nesbit Street. That’s on the waterfront, what a grand, scenic spot for the fair. I hope to see you there or in the near future. Check my webpage for my appearance schedule.

 

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I’ve got that Willie Nelson feeling…On the road again

DL discussing his books & history with fans at an event.

November will be a hectic travel month for me. I have twelve places to visit, some spread around the state of Florida. For details of my public appearance schedule go to my webpage (The link is on the left column of this post) I’ll be in Punta Gorda, Ocala, Fort Myers, Port Charlotte, Bradenton, Cape Coral, and Matlacha. I’m happy to say I will have copies of Christmas Cookies Mysteries  available at those places I’ll be selling books. This anthology features 14 authors, is based on the Oak Ridge Boys album Christmas Cookies, and one of my story is included. With potential Christmas presents sitting in the holds of cargo ships, books are a great alternative. Mine are available! Pictured below are Christmas Cookies Mysteries and A Christmas Story Collection, ideal presents. Remember you can order signed copies from my webpage.

The perfect stocking stuffer for the reader on your gift list!

The cover for Christmas Cookies Mysteries.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you’re looking for a present for a mystery buff, Out of Italy, my latest novel in the Harper Sturgis series, is now available. Set in sunny Tuscany, Harper searches for a treasure in tombs dating back past the ‘black death.’ Finding it is the easier task. Getting it Out of Italy is the hard part. Devious characters from members of the mafia to corrupt clergy vie for the treasure. History plays an important part. Mussolini’s mistress’ story is revealed in this chase for unimaginable wealth.

New book cover …… Out of Italy

 

For those of you that have inquired about the three book mystery series featuring Dan Harrell, I’m sorry I have nothing to pass along. My agent tells me covid is still tossing wrenches in the publishing system. As soon as I have news I’ll pass it along. Come see me if you’re in one of the areas where I’ll be appearing! I’ll be at King’s Gate tomorrow.

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Tis the Creepy Season

Red evil eyes, Are they a Halloween monster watching you?

Halloween brings with it a collection of creatures that curdle our blood and haunt our minds. Modern computer generated graphics proliferate the collection of creepies that cause alarm and make sleeping a test. Getting to sleep is hard…followed by nightmares…not good. Young children are particularly impacted. Of course, we can avoid the problem. Don’t watch it. But we do. What is it that makes humans want to have the manure scared out of them? An author friend of mine claims it is the human preoccupation with death. It is one subject which we have no definitive information. What really happens? Do our souls lift to heaven? Do some become ghosts? Why do many see evil in the process we all will experience? It is a point of conjecture and speculation. Authors have had their say. That ‘say’ shapes many of our concepts we see depicted on Halloween.

The imagine folks associate with Frankenstein.

Frankenstein is one of those images created by an author that spawns many of the offshoots we see today. All are some variant of the dead coming back to life. The living dead, zombies, etc. all stem from the deceased returning to life with evil intent. Dracula and The Wolfman are the undead that can shift their shapes. The bat and the wolf are now associated with Halloween and a nebulous evil that surrounds the holiday. After all, Halloween is connected closely with “The Day of the Dead.” An interesting side bar; many folks think the creature shown above is “Frankenstein.” Oh contraire! What’s pictured is Dr. Frankenstein’s monster, the brought back to life creature he created. No matter…that monster tromps in our minds, its awkward motions clutches our imaginations.

 

New book cover …… Out of Italy

My newest novel will be available in paper form November 1st. Out of Italy is the second in the Iron Lady, Harper Sturgis mystery series. (Turtle Point is the first) Set in Tuscany, Harper traces a treasure of immense wealth in Etruscan tombs. She finds locating it isn’t her greatest problem. Others want the treasure as bad as her. Mafia, a corrupt clergyman, others want to steal it away. Will Harper find a way to get the gold Out of Italy.  Check my webpage   www.dlhavlin.com   for more info and for my appearance schedule.

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October is whistling by…Strange things are happening

Happy Halloween! DL & J wish his readers have some fun…we all deserve some.

Look at the calendar! Old 2021 is aging faster than a spinster living next to an acid plant. I have mixed feelings about the year. Things have went well for my writing career. My hopes for our society, not so much! In total, I’ll toast to 2021’s departure and some badly needed change to accompany 2022. Let’s try to be positive. When speaking at an event, a lady asked me if I had books that would fit the Halloween season. No need to think twice! I answered, “Sure do. Try reading A Place No One Should Go. It is set on a camping trip deep in the Everglades and is based on a part of the Calusa Indians’ spiritual heritage. It’s a hard core thriller. If you want something lighter, try The Hangin’ Oak, The ghosts in this mystery (on the cozy side) make their first haunting appearance at the protagonists’ home at a Halloween party. Both ghosts and my hero couple face shock and humorous adjustments after the spirits are moved from the oak in 1868 to the twenty-first century.” The easiest way for you to get them is from the Internet – Amazon.

The Hangin’ Oak, a cozy mystery mixed with some humor

     

A Place No One Should Go, is hardcore suspense/mystery. Read with the lights on at night.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More good news, I was asked to write a short story for possible inclusion in an anthology of short stories to accompany a Christmas Album recorded by the Oak Ridge Boys. The album is called Christmas Cookies. The book is titled Christmas Cookies Mysteries, features 14 different authors, including a story from one of the Oak Ridge Boys. (You have to read it to find out who!) The ebook has been released and the paper version will be out in two weeks. Look for or order it from your local bookstore (B&N, etc.) or purchase it from Amazon. You can find out more at by clicking on the link to my website on the margin of this blog. The cover is below….

 

The cover for Christmas Cookies Mysteries.

Until next time, when I can tell you about “Out of Italy,” get ready for Boooooo! day.

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September…A new Queen & A new Schedule.

New Queen of the house. Brandi relaxing on the couch. She’s still a pup…at 70 pounds

September! This year is racing by. September brings with it the resumption of my getting out and about. But first, a word about the new queen of our house. Brandi. She’s a sometimes sedate, sometimes rambunctious Golden Retriever who is still a pup at heart (one year/three months). She reigns over our home and its occupants. She has passed the puppy belief that everything in the world is a chew toy. As she’s gotten larger she hasn’t figured out she’s too large to be a lap dog. She didn’t get to be queen by her regal presence. Brandi is so sweet and loveable she just curls up on the thrown.

Lap dog!

This month marks the resumption of my appearance schedule. I love doing presentations, signings and meet & greets. Come out to see me if you’re in the area. Here’s my September schedule.9/4   1 to 3 (+ or -) Island Book Store, 206 W. Miami St., Venice, FL (we’ll be there for its soft opening!) 9/6    12 noon   The Windsor of Venice, pres.–“Here Come the Generals” sorry at capacity 9/9    9 to 11 Cultural Center of Charlotte County. Lunch and learn! pres.–“Florida the Forgotten Years”  2280 Aaron Street, Port Charlotte, FL  call 941-625-4175 for reservations 9/14   Master the Possibilities, Top of the World, Ocala, FL  call  352-861-9751 for reservations (I’ll be presenting three classes) …9 to 10 Jacob Summerlin & Florida’s Cattle Heritage …11 to 12 Flaming Florida I, the land of perpetual war – 1490 to 1783 …1:30 to 2:30 Tips for writers, novice or pro9/21   1 pm    The Windsor of Venice, pres.–“Jacqueline Cochran” sorry at capacity   9/25   10 to 4, Mixon’s Arts & Crafts Show, meet & greet, open to public, 2525 27th St East, Bradenton, FL

Back at Master the Possibilities. Call or visit the net. Virtual classes are available!

 

Come visit!  ~~~~~~