The Last Hurrah!

DL speaking at Sandmaan Book Company’s new store! Note the built-in AV screen for presentations.

I’m close to completing my appearances for the year 2019. One of my last presentations was at The Sandman Book Company in Punta Gorda (www.sandmanbooks.com). The presentation was on “Florida’s Historical Places & Museums.” We had a good crowd and working with Heidi is always a pleasure.

I also did a book discussion for the “Morning cup and cover,” a book club that requested privacy. My discussion was on “Escaping Skeletons.”

This coming week I’ll be in Ft. Myers Beach for two events. I’ll be speaking about Thomas Edison’s life in Florida, Tuesday at 1:30 PM in the Ft Myers Beach Public Library, at 2755 Estero Blvd.

DL presenting at the Ft Myers Beach Public Library in the past.

That afternoon I’ll be doing a meet & greet at the BookNook at 7205 Estero Blvd. It’s in the Santini Marina Shopping Plaza. Let’s chat! Visit Annette and me from 9:30 until 12:30.   (http://www.facebook.com/annettesbooknook)

At Annette’s Books in Ft Myers Beach.

 

Santa’s on the way and I’ll be home for some days.

Learning about the loyal 14th colony – Florida during the Revolutionary War

This week has been busy and fun. I always enjoy my visits to Matlacha Menagerie. It’s my declared “home store.” Many years ago, when I began my writing journey, the good people at this fascinating, unique store were the first to carry everything I had in print…all the time. Linda and Larry, the store owners, are highly successful. A lot has to do with their discerning taste in the “treasures” they select for their shelves. I intro my new books there…they were the ones who took me to the dance.

I spent a great day at Master the Possibilities in Ocala, Florida…housed in the Top of the World facility. I made three presentations to large groups that were all great audiences. My offerings were: “Flaming Florida – The time period from Second Seminole through the Civil War,” “Florida’s Museums and Historic Places,” and “The Loyal 14th Colony: Florida in the Revolutionary War.” I always love going there and talking about history, books, and writing.

At the Sandman Book Company, one of the finest indie book stores in Florida.

At the Matlacha Menagerie, in the warm Florida outdoors. Happy to be with my “fan base”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This weekend I’m at the Tarpon Lodge, in Pineland, Florida. The event is the annual charity Christmas celebration benefiting the Beacon of Hope. This organization provides assistance to those in significant need in the Lee County community. The Welles family have graciously hosted this event for the last ten years. The Tarpon Lodge is in one of the most beautiful and historically significant locations one can imagine!

The Tarpon Lodge – a piece of paradise.

 

“Who’s who” guests perusing DL’s display at the Beacon of Hope charity event.

If you’re in the Pine Island area, come visit me at this fantastic venue! I’ll be there tonight from 5 until 9. It’s located on Pine Island, on Waterfront Drive. You can help support this worthy cause.

My schedule slows a bit as Christmas approaches. I have three more appearances that are open to the public before Santa heads south.

I’ll be at the Sandman Book Company in Punta Gorda, Florida at 5:30 on Tuesday, December 10 to present a program on “Florida’s Museums and Historic Places.” Sandman is located on Duncan Rd (US 17) just east of town. Hope to see you there.

If you can’t make it there, I’ll be presenting a program about “Edison’s Florida Life” at the Fort Myers Beach Public Library, Tuesday December 17, at 10 AM. It is located on Estero Blvd, in Fort Myers Beach. Come see this great facility!

That afternoon I’ll be traveling down Estero Blvd (In Fort Myers Beach) a few miles to Annette’s BookNook, I’ll be there from 12:30 until? Come see me. This is one of those places that gives me a great opportunity to chat. You’ll love Annette the store’s owner. She really knows and loves books! Come see us.

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Getting to know you!

The audience at the Lemon Bay Historical Society – a completely full house!

The last twenty days have been fast, furious, and fun! Starting with the Cocoa Village Book Fest and continuing through the Eau Gallie Book Festival in Melbourne the pace has been swishing by. I’ve gotten to meet so many of you! The Cocoa Village event was held in a beautiful little park in the middle of the downtown area. I was asked to speak – my talk was titled, “Preventing Premature Birth – Of a book that is!” Got  a whole lot of positive comments and that’s always great to hear. A picture of the venue is below.

Book Fest in the park at Cocoa Village

My next stop was at The LifeLong Learning Center in Punta Gorda, FL. I did two historical presentations there and enjoyed the “meet the author” lunch with the all the participants from the two classes. I was at the Cultural Center of Charlotte County’s  Christmas Art’s show for meet and greets. It’s always a big event with the opportunity to meet lots of folks…ones I already know and newbies. Next was Venice Florida’s annual Christmas Art Festival and had the chance to chat with many avid readers from that area. 

 

DL with “Charlotte” at the Cultural Center of Charlotte County – she has every one of his books.

 

Presenting history at Florida Southwestern College for Life Long Learning.

As shown in the picture at the beginning of this article, I visited the Lemon Bay Historical Society to talk about, “Florida’s Contribution to WWII and WWII’s Contribution to Florida.” The attendance was outstanding. The entire historic church was filled to capacity with additional folding chairs used to seat the hundred plus people in the audience. I also got to meet and learn about something entirely new to me! I have a fan club! Some very nice, intelligent ladies dressed in red tee shirts introduced themselves. It was great.  

My next trip was to Ocala, Top of the World, and Master the Possibilities! I attended a program that gives prospective attendees the opportunity to meet and chat with instructors for future classes (I’m scheduled to do twelve in the next six months). I love doing presentations there. The classes are filled with individuals eager to hear about the subjects you’re there to discuss. Pictures of this event are below. Ninety-seven of the instructors were there and well over 1500 prospective students!

 

Part of the big crowd at Master the Possibilities in Ocala.

 

Talking to folks at Master the Possibilities about history, books, and writing.

This last week end I attended Mixon’s Gift Shop’s annual Christmas Show in Bradenton, Florida for a meet and greet. I got a chance to speak to a fan who just finished reading Escaping Skeletons. Why is it that people telling you they love one of your books never gets old? 

 

I ran out of business cards at Mixon’s – not good form.

 

My last stop was at the Eau Gallie Book Festival in Melbourne, Florida. It wasn’t quite the midnight ride of old Paul, but we did have to hustle across the state for the Sunday show. Met lots of great folks and sold lots of books. Plus we had a great time! 

At Eau Gallie

Next? I’ll be in Punta Gorda at the Sandman Book Company (Duncan Road/at 7 PM) this Tuesday and Matlacha Menagerie this coming Saturday from 10 to 3 on Pine Island Road in Matlacha Florida. Hope to see you there…

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Around the state I go…come see me!

Talking about writing. Come visit me!

 

Hi All! It’s not long until the Holidays! My PR lady has me making many trips to get a chance to meet a lot of you fine folks and sell some books. The rest of this month will take me around the state for Christmas shows, book events and presentations.

This Saturday I’ll be at the Venice Civic Center from 10 until 3. This Christmas show is open to all. There will be a dozen or more authors and many artists and craft people. It’s an open environment and it allows me to chat in an unhurried manner. It’s located at 326 South Nokomis, Venice, Florida.

I’ll be at the Lemon Bay Historical Society to make a presentation Tuesday (Nov. 19) at 6 PM to do an historical presentation on Edison in Florida. The Lemon Bay Historical Society is located in Englewood. The meeting is open to the public. Its street address is 510 South Indiana Avenue.

The next day, Wednesday (Nov 20), I’ll be at Master the Possibilities located in the Ocala/Top of the World/Villages area. My purpose for being there is to meet and greet potential attendees for the nine presentations I’ll be giving there over the next six months. Master the Possibilities is an extraordinarily fine continuing education organization. The general public will attend (several hundred if as usual) and I’ll be there to discuss my historical and book presentations. Don’t miss this…there will be well over a hundred other presenters there! Here is the street address – 8415 Southwest 80th Street, Ocala, Florida.  

Saturday, November 23rd, I’ll be at Mixon’s Christmas Gift Show in Bradenton, Florida. The event is from 9 to 3 and is an open event. It’s a meet and greet. The location is in the Mixon Gift Shop, at 2525 27th Street East, Bradenton. 

On Sunday (Nov 24), I’ll be traveling to Melbourne for the Eau Gallie Book Fest. Forty or more authors will be there to chat with readers and sign books. This is one of the fixture book events of the year on the Florida East Coast. It is held in conjunction with one of the best Art Shows in the state. Visit me at Eau Gallie Civic Center, 1551 Highland Avenue, Melbourne, Florida.

My next destination will be Punta Gorda, Florida. I’ll be stopping at one of my favorite bookstores, Sandman Book Company, to give a presentation that evening at 6:30 PM. I’ll be discussing Florida’s Museums and Historical places. I’ll stick around to talk writing and discuss my books afterward. The Sandman is a true, old fashion, honest-to-goodness bookstore with a book savvy owner who rides herd on her books. Sandman’s address is 5240 Duncan Road, Punta Gorda. This event is open to the public but fills up…I’d RSVP by going to the Sandman Book Company web-page.  

The final stop I’ll be making in November will be at my “home store” – It’s a place that has carried my books from day one. I’ll be at Matlacha Menagerie on November 30th for a meet and greet. I’ll arrive at 10:30 and be there until 3:30. It’s a great place filled with unique art items. Come see me at 4604 Pine Island Road NW, Matlacha, Florida.

Hope to to see Y’all!

Excuse me, I have to brag a little. Sandman Book Co. owner Heidi told me she put a RSVP for 30 seats at this presentation and 20 were filled in the 1st hour.

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Tis the Season…

 

 

Outdoor Book Fairs and Shows are more pleasant in fall and winter in Florida – Usually! I’m outdoors for the Cocoa Villages Book Fest.

The fall and winter season is my most active part of the year. The snowbirds return to Florida and local organizations gear up to entertain our sun-seeking guests. With this upturn in activity, my schedule gets busy. Very busy! Between now and December 25th, I’m scheduled to do 19 presentations, book events, etc. That’s in 60 days. (Wow, Christmas is close!) I’d love to meet and chat with you! Check my calendar of events on my web page (www.dlhavlin.com) for a complete schedule of where I’ll be this season.

In the next few weeks there are four places I ‘ll be at that are open to the public. Come visit me. On October 29, I’ll be signing my latest novel, Escaping Skeletons, at the Ft. Myers Beach Book Nook, at 7205 Estero Blvd. Ft Myers Beach – From 10 to 2. Annette, the owner, is a real book person and knows her stuff and stock! It’s one of my favorite spots to visit.

November 2nd, I’ll be speaking and signing books at the Cocoa Village Book Fest. It is located at Brevard Avenue, Cocoa Village. FL. It’s an outdoor event, with stores and restaurants all around, a real fun time! I’ll be speaking at 11 am and will be meeting, greeting and signing from 9 to 3.

DL doing an historical presenting – this one was on the cattle business in the 1800s

 

DL with “Dan the fan!” at a previous Port Charlotte Cultural Center event. He has every book and short story DL has written. 

I’ll be preforming two historical presentation/seminars at the Lifelong Learning Center in Punta Gorda, Florida on November 6. (The Loyal 14th Colony-Florida in the Revolutionary War/Florida: The Forgotten Years) They’ll be held on the campus of Florida Southwestern College, 23600 Airport Rd., Punta Gorda, Florida. The excellent programs LLC offers are available to any that wish to sign up. Visit http://www.lifelonglearning-charlotte.org to view their catalog. They’re offering a unique opportunity. If you’d like to talk Florida history and writing I’m available for lunch and chat that day as part of the program. Again, sign up with them!

I’ll be at the Cultural Center of Charlotte County for three days attending their annual Christmas Arts event. I’ll be doing a meet and greet from 9 to 3 Friday and Saturday – 10 to 2 on Sunday. The CCCC is in Port Charlotte Florida at 2800 Aaron Street. This holiday event is always fun – come and do some Christmas shopping.

For those disappointed by not being able to get a copy of Escaping Skeletons, the next printing is done and I’ll have copies to sign. (Book stores & the Internet will have books, too!) Having demand exceed supply is a GOOD thing!

 

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Words Come to Life!

Entrance to the Cultural Center of Charlotte County, Port Charlotte, Florida

Some of the things that makes life good are the people we meet and the events we can participate in. I’d like to introduce you to one of each.

On January 18th, 2020, the Cultural Center of Charlotte County in Port Charlotte, Florida will inaugurate a series of literary programs titled, Words Come to Life. It’s a way for the public and writers to be able to meet established, published authors, hear them discuss their books and writing, and participate in panel discussions with them. Three authors will be featured. The plan is to hold these programs two, or possibly three times a year. Our objective is to have at least one nationally known author featured. I’m pleased to be involved in the planning and launching of the event.

Words Come to Life will be a three hour program. It will begin with a one hour meet-and-greet where attendees can talk to the guest authors, one-to-one, and purchase signed books. It will begin at 10:00 AM, The first author’s presentation will start at 11:00, the second at 11:30, and the last at noon. The panel discussion will take place from 12:30 until 1:00. Presentations and the panel discussion will be held in the 500 seat auditorium; there will be plenty of room for all! There will be more info on the event in this blog at a later date. 

The auditorium

The reason we get such great opportunities are people like (K.)Stephen Carter, the Executive Director of the Cultural Center of Charlotte County. He runs a great operation and if you’re looking for a place to hold an event it’s a wonderful place to do it. What makes “Steve” so special is the very real concern and desire he has to provide service to the community. This is his great idea. We need more “Steves.”

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Meeting wonderful people!

DL with V.P. Jill at the meeting American Association of University Women

 

It was my extreme pleasure to be able to address the American Association of University Women’s September meeting. What a intelligent and powerful group of ladies! I was treated to a great lunch, and most importantly, great conversations. Below are pictures of some of the attendees.

 

Chatting before lunch.

Getting ready to present, “The Patriot War.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DL with President Tina

The gals chatting. Literacy & books are important to these ladies.

 

 

Just doing my thing

“would you believe”

I hope to visit this group again!

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I’d love to see you and chat. Here’s my schedule for the next few weeks:

September 28th – Book signing, meet & greet. Mixon’s Summer’s End Arts & Craft Show at Mixon’s Gift Shop, Bradenton, Florida, 9 to 3….. open to public

October 10th – Historical Presentation—Florida, The Forgotten Years. Stoneybrook Women’s Club, Fort Myers, Florida, 6:30 to 8:30….. closed event

November 2nd – Book Fest at the Villages, Book signing, meet & greet, and I will be one of the speakers. (time not scheduled) Cocoa Beach Villages, Florida, 10 to 4….. event open to public.

 Hope to see you soon!

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