tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69060727906262486282024-02-06T20:46:17.261-06:00Naima Haviland's BlogI blog about what I wrote yesterday. Or what I'll write today. And share anything I find interesting and inspiring along the way!Naima Havilandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00134347744071207849noreply@blogger.comBlogger106125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6906072790626248628.post-21743865817735488482022-03-30T11:30:00.006-05:002022-03-30T11:30:49.526-05:00Designing a Book Cover<p> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Hey there! I decided to design the cover for a steampunk romance novel I'm about to publish under my imprint, PH Press. First, I mocked up several cover ideas and posted them on social media, inviting friends to vote on a favorite. This is the first-place winner:</span></p><p><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNnlvg1JtPryuL0F_sHBdLVWrsL0cgboHBMq3P0RCXk_rT9BBORF_-rlNxPfWh_YiBwkd360zMJkR9FAinSl--wjatGOCldvQRnMVI2e0jeod8ATfgMzrDaJkEohjWJWW5u7oDKllfWjq-6fiel8j3JG4p6m41gqt8dLP0x-_31aVYCoqJmiGfIN14Pg/s672/TEXTidea4asm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="672" data-original-width="444" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNnlvg1JtPryuL0F_sHBdLVWrsL0cgboHBMq3P0RCXk_rT9BBORF_-rlNxPfWh_YiBwkd360zMJkR9FAinSl--wjatGOCldvQRnMVI2e0jeod8ATfgMzrDaJkEohjWJWW5u7oDKllfWjq-6fiel8j3JG4p6m41gqt8dLP0x-_31aVYCoqJmiGfIN14Pg/s320/TEXTidea4asm.jpg" width="211" /></a></p><p></p><div data-draftjs-conductor-fragment="{"blocks":[{"key":"es035","text":"A story of passion and peril in alternative Victorian England.","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[{"offset":0,"length":62,"style":"BOLD"}],"entityRanges":[],"data":{"dynamicStyles":{"line-height":"1.15"}}},{"key":"30m3d","text":"","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[],"entityRanges":[],"data":{"dynamicStyles":{"line-height":"1.15"}}},{"key":"85q82","text":"It's the late 19th century. Bold inventions usher in a new age, while genetic and cosmetic sciences reinforce an age-old class syst","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"40bub","text":" ","type":"atomic","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[],"entityRanges":[{"offset":0,"length":1,"key":0}],"data":{}},{"key":"8qbo2","text":"em. For the rich, immunity to disability and disease justifies their hold on power. Born disfigured, Mordecai Michaelson has employed his musical talent to rise above a life of poverty. Philomena Paulson appears no less perfect and no more talented than her upper class world requires. But she has secrets only Mordecai understands. Acceptance, trust, and a passion for music compose bonds of forbidden love between them. When chance discovery of Philomena's darkest secret threatens scandal and revolution, she's determined to save Mordecai from the gallows. But Mordecai is just as determined to keep her from social suicide, even if it costs him his life. ","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}}],"entityMap":{"0":{"type":"wix-draft-plugin-image","mutability":"IMMUTABLE","data":{"config":{"alignment":"left","size":"small","showTitle":true,"showDescription":true,"textWrap":"wrap"},"error":{}}}},"VERSION":"8.70.18"}" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK iWv3d public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_line-height-1_15 rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="7nnhk-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="7nnhk-0-0"><div data-draftjs-conductor-fragment="{"blocks":[{"key":"7gjc","text":"The favorite is eye-catching and the girl looks mysterious and compelling. But once I reviewed the book description I had written, I realized my friends' second choice was a better fit:","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[{"offset":154,"length":6,"style":"ITALIC"}],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}}],"entityMap":{},"VERSION":"8.70.18"}"><span data-offset-key="d7pgl-0-0">The favorite is eye-catching and the girl looks mysterious and compelling. But once I reviewed the book description I had written, I realized my friends' </span><span data-offset-key="d7pgl-0-1" style="font-style: italic;">second</span><span data-offset-key="d7pgl-0-2"> choice was a better fit.</span></div></div><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="7nnhk-0-0"><span data-offset-key="7nnhk-0-0" style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="7nnhk-0-0"><span data-offset-key="7nnhk-0-0" style="font-weight: bold;"><i>A story of passion and peril in alternative Victorian England.</i></span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK iWv3d public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_line-height-1_15 rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="959h6-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="959h6-0-0"><span data-offset-key="959h6-0-0"><i><br data-text="true" /></i></span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK iWv3d public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="bamsj-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="bamsj-0-0"><i><span data-offset-key="bamsj-0-0">It's the late 19th century. Bold inventions usher in a new age, while genetic and cosmetic sciences reinforce an age-old class syst</span>em. For the rich, immunity to disability and disease justifies their hold on power. Born disfigured, Mordecai Michaelson has employed his musical talent to rise above a life of poverty. Philomena Paulson appears no less perfect and no more talented than her upper class world requires. But she has secrets only Mordecai understands. Acceptance, trust, and a passion for music compose bonds of forbidden love between them. When chance discovery of Philomena's darkest secret threatens scandal and revolution, she's determined to save Mordecai from the gallows. But Mordecai is just as determined to keep her from social suicide, even if it costs him his life. </i></div></div></div><p style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSK-upHZqZNJusIvWkb0H8AwPgFA81-8dPHxPap9GU6MAidybZIueiurniciiWS04PHD4ey8S4jKXk0RkhsBdN40VRCan0iwjs6wwkg6aeIDkgNd_i_5WA5DSjfY1zMdDPt7SI96vUN6juJJH61vlknlXnKYJlU3x5ltHiX2UKiX7ygf2U2CoTwRM1cQ/s659/TEXTidea5sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="659" data-original-width="439" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSK-upHZqZNJusIvWkb0H8AwPgFA81-8dPHxPap9GU6MAidybZIueiurniciiWS04PHD4ey8S4jKXk0RkhsBdN40VRCan0iwjs6wwkg6aeIDkgNd_i_5WA5DSjfY1zMdDPt7SI96vUN6juJJH61vlknlXnKYJlU3x5ltHiX2UKiX7ygf2U2CoTwRM1cQ/s320/TEXTidea5sm.jpg" width="213" /></a></p><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">After reading the description, do you agree with my choice? </span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Because the alternative setting is pivotal to the novel's plot, I think picturing the setting on the cover will orient readers to the type of story they'd step into.</span><div data-draftjs-conductor-fragment="{"blocks":[{"key":"6otj5","text":"Do agree with my choice? Because the alternative setting is pivotal to the novel's plot, I think picturing the setting on the cover will orient readers to the type of story they'd step into.","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"b9nk4","text":"","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"1fvfr","text":"Now that I've chosen a design idea, I'll purchase the stock images at the proper size to begin cover design. I will probably post regarding that process, so stay tuned! ","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}}],"entityMap":{},"VERSION":"8.70.18"}" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK iWv3d public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="8cmio-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="8cmio-0-0"><span data-offset-key="8cmio-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div></div><div class="_25Ehb _3qYRK iWv3d public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr fixed-tab-size rich_content_P" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="4fbf6-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="4fbf6-0-0"><span data-offset-key="4fbf6-0-0">Now that I've chosen a design idea, I'll purchase the stock images at the proper size to begin cover design. I will probably post regarding that process, so stay tuned! </span></div></div></div>Naima Havilandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00134347744071207849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6906072790626248628.post-34941573909889262522021-06-04T14:11:00.000-05:002021-06-04T14:11:23.021-05:00A Chilling Summer Short Story<p> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Darkness moves beneath the surface of a tranquil lakefront community in this vacation horror story. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwgUmwo09Ai0XE_d53rDfI_aFMFdMs4G1NnRZFBqBC3Bb5MBIwnV_e_D8LV4Azg91GKOJFHH43-VVyopHnvgAAUsXSPIQt9xmagVvUzyxJtXF3KHUhPHA5WWM5_0djJDYV_SnpMlfyf35w/s2048/TheSurface-maybefinalSM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1280" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwgUmwo09Ai0XE_d53rDfI_aFMFdMs4G1NnRZFBqBC3Bb5MBIwnV_e_D8LV4Azg91GKOJFHH43-VVyopHnvgAAUsXSPIQt9xmagVvUzyxJtXF3KHUhPHA5WWM5_0djJDYV_SnpMlfyf35w/s320/TheSurface-maybefinalSM.jpg" /></a></div><p></p><div data-draftjs-conductor-fragment="{"blocks":[{"key":"a5g8l","text":"The Surface is a short story set in the American South, now available for all e-readers from online retailers such as Amazon and Smashwords. My freewheelin' party days on the Tennessee River inspired the story's lighter moments, but its dark heart emerged in a nightmare. Here's the synopsis:","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[{"offset":0,"length":11,"style":"ITALIC"},{"offset":118,"length":6,"style":"UNDERLINE"},{"offset":129,"length":10,"style":"UNDERLINE"}],"entityRanges":[{"offset":118,"length":6,"key":0},{"offset":129,"length":10,"key":1}],"data":{}},{"key":"7lr1t","text":"","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"1u39j","text":"Jenny spends every summer at her family's lakehouse in a vacation community that closed its ranks to outsiders generations ago. Here, old school ties and unwritten social codes present a united front as cool and tranquil as the lake, itself. But darkness moves beneath the surface and when Jenny is sexually assulted on the way home from a midnight party, rescue comes from an unlikely source far more dangerous than her attackers. TRIGGER WARNING!","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[{"offset":0,"length":448,"style":"ITALIC"},{"offset":432,"length":16,"style":"BOLD"}],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}}],"entityMap":{"0":{"type":"LINK","mutability":"MUTABLE","data":{"url":"https://www.amazon.com/dp/B096L3V18Z","target":"_blank","rel":"noopener"}},"1":{"type":"LINK","mutability":"MUTABLE","data":{"url":"https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1087790","target":"_blank","rel":"noopener"}}},"VERSION":"8.37.0"}" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="jwLWP _2hXa7 _247b9 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="abqhk-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="abqhk-0-0"><span data-offset-key="abqhk-0-0" style="font-style: italic;">The Surface</span><span data-offset-key="abqhk-0-1"> is a short story set in the Southeast United States, now available for all e-readers from online retailers such as </span><a class="_2qJYG _3Ul6g" href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B096L3V18Z" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><span data-offset-key="abqhk-1-0">Amazon</span></a><span data-offset-key="abqhk-2-0"> and </span><a class="_2qJYG _3Ul6g" href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1087790" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><span data-offset-key="abqhk-3-0">Smashwords</span></a><span data-offset-key="abqhk-4-0">. My freewheelin' party days on the Tennessee River inspired the story's lighter moments, but its dark heart emerged in a nightmare. Here's the synopsis:</span></div></div><div class="jwLWP _2hXa7 _247b9 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="dqjbm-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="dqjbm-0-0"><span data-offset-key="dqjbm-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div></div><div class="jwLWP _2hXa7 _247b9 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="62tja-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="62tja-0-0"><span data-offset-key="62tja-0-0" style="font-style: italic;">Jenny spends every summer at her family's lakehouse in a vacation community that closed its ranks to outsiders generations ago. Here, old school ties and unwritten social codes present a united front as cool and tranquil as the lake, itself. But darkness moves beneath the surface and when Jenny is sexually assulted on the way home from a midnight party, rescue comes from an unlikely source far more dangerous than her attackers. </span><span data-offset-key="62tja-0-1" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">TRIGGER WARNING!</span></div></div></div><p><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p>Naima Havilandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00134347744071207849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6906072790626248628.post-39758262673425483092021-04-28T15:01:00.000-05:002021-04-28T15:01:19.773-05:00I'm Choosing a Cover Design<p> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Hi! I just created several book cover designs for The Surface, a vacation horror story that will be available soon in e-book form. Here's the synopsis:</span></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;">Jenny spends every summer at her family's lakehouse in a vacation community that closed its ranks to outsiders generations ago. Here, old school ties and unwritten social codes present a united front as cool and tranquil as the lake, itself. But darkness moves beneath the surface and when Jenny is sexually assulted on the way home from a midnight party, rescue comes from an unlikely source far more dangerous than her attackers.</p></blockquote><div data-draftjs-conductor-fragment="{"blocks":[{"key":"cddkt","text":"Hi! I just created several book cover designs for The Surface, a vacation horror story that will be published soon. Here's the synopsis:","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"56vpq","text":"","type":"unstyled","depth":1,"inlineStyleRanges":[],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"74d4t","text":"Jenny spends every summer at her family's lakehouse in a vacation community that closed its ranks to outsiders generations ago. Here, old school ties and unwritten social codes present a united front as cool and tranquil as the lake, itself. But darkness moves beneath the surface and when Jenny is sexually assulted on the way home from a midnight party, rescue comes from an unlikely source far more dangerous than her attackers","type":"unstyled","depth":1,"inlineStyleRanges":[],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"94fnn","text":"","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}},{"key":"cijum","text":"Which one do you like best? ","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}}],"entityMap":{}}"><div class="jwLWP _2hXa7 ljrnk blog-post-text-font blog-post-text-color public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" data-block="true" data-editor="editor" data-offset-key="2q30f-0-0" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="2q30f-0-0"><div data-draftjs-conductor-fragment="{"blocks":[{"key":"dr1p","text":"Which one do you like best? ","type":"unstyled","depth":0,"inlineStyleRanges":[],"entityRanges":[],"data":{}}],"entityMap":{}}">I designed with the type style and color contrast that would make the title easy to read at thumbnail size. I chose my images to instill a sense of forboding. I work in Photoshop. Which design do you like best? </div></div><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="2q30f-0-0"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLv__UPLeWx5o0KrNR1Jpq33JcuFKUdzp13WwRqyoM4qACe6CBAAwpgLUWYtpPCHLuomDv5rIO8w_U0nb9iAiqrEF0seJQdjL7yhA7z17w5aW9zCh1xKt_ERsvb9BPywrMlslcgExqexXJ/s373/TheSurface-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="373" data-original-width="258" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLv__UPLeWx5o0KrNR1Jpq33JcuFKUdzp13WwRqyoM4qACe6CBAAwpgLUWYtpPCHLuomDv5rIO8w_U0nb9iAiqrEF0seJQdjL7yhA7z17w5aW9zCh1xKt_ERsvb9BPywrMlslcgExqexXJ/w221-h320/TheSurface-1.jpg" width="221" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwqHbPL36KgMUiWPhUjg-_M7pVtOP0G9Dqhwb3IfSelB7nDztXYrbXEpZGCuQyTm8GIw2OU_KGJfk06_nXnv4momG6XlRsIyHpzo7R7DokEqixkWFNU2G9O0Z-gvxkx5_8s_YoqPABC_jc/s373/TheSurface-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="373" data-original-width="258" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwqHbPL36KgMUiWPhUjg-_M7pVtOP0G9Dqhwb3IfSelB7nDztXYrbXEpZGCuQyTm8GIw2OU_KGJfk06_nXnv4momG6XlRsIyHpzo7R7DokEqixkWFNU2G9O0Z-gvxkx5_8s_YoqPABC_jc/s320/TheSurface-2.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-VCN-W731f5VfM6-yE2jHH0uzBrwpd5aqpN68K7JEt4MhxeuvzhNW4_icPfM9ENyWj952DeOwJp6FGmT5b98JvFJb03R1RLIxXu68Xc9gq2At9jg3WwZqZ7lwdK36m8EJdADs5Xz-Cuv_/s373/TheSurface-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="373" data-original-width="258" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-VCN-W731f5VfM6-yE2jHH0uzBrwpd5aqpN68K7JEt4MhxeuvzhNW4_icPfM9ENyWj952DeOwJp6FGmT5b98JvFJb03R1RLIxXu68Xc9gq2At9jg3WwZqZ7lwdK36m8EJdADs5Xz-Cuv_/s320/TheSurface-3.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTexpiLh-KUdfcv_OBqJ7stAyPEHa1CzWN4wli5qnW9jSx7kMbE-sji2whL8-vjs9bRw3ILvV5T1KhQSeBrSKvhYtmVOhN1jRtNMOMDf-G1nnjqU1wjWs-n-aAmfEoPSpIMqAlDF2FSLIh/s373/TheSurface-7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="373" data-original-width="258" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTexpiLh-KUdfcv_OBqJ7stAyPEHa1CzWN4wli5qnW9jSx7kMbE-sji2whL8-vjs9bRw3ILvV5T1KhQSeBrSKvhYtmVOhN1jRtNMOMDf-G1nnjqU1wjWs-n-aAmfEoPSpIMqAlDF2FSLIh/s320/TheSurface-7.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="2q30f-0-0"><br /></div></div></div>Naima Havilandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00134347744071207849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6906072790626248628.post-40659516428341185992017-10-27T21:48:00.001-05:002017-10-27T21:48:37.290-05:00Free Halloween Short Story for Kindle, Apple, Nook, Kobo, and All eReaders<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_R9QRL-5S0EJII9vuCTEP-wLTBf0daBqj-hXor7ekb6avzXlefImRP9TCn3t8hJHfYbPGxTCCT5-M_0BpKvhxEO8e_Qg2b28hn0EEkcIH5s6zZjueePFevoU0el6P0YAkWYPt4oZI4QbH/s1600/cover_yellow4Kindle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_R9QRL-5S0EJII9vuCTEP-wLTBf0daBqj-hXor7ekb6avzXlefImRP9TCn3t8hJHfYbPGxTCCT5-M_0BpKvhxEO8e_Qg2b28hn0EEkcIH5s6zZjueePFevoU0el6P0YAkWYPt4oZI4QbH/s320/cover_yellow4Kindle.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div data-mce-style="text-align: left;" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
As my Halloween gift to you, download a free eBook from <a data-mce-href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/72342" href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/72342" target="_blank">Smashwords</a> through November 1 (Mexico's Day of the Dead) -- my horror short story, <em>He Dreams in Yellow</em>.</div>
<div data-mce-style="text-align: left;" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
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Tortured by heightened senses and haunted by depression, Malcolm lives in seclusion on his English estate under the care of professionals paid to watch his every move. On his mind, under his skin, and just out of the corner of his eye, is the woman linked to the catastrophic event that sealed his fate. An original short story also featured in <a data-mce-href="https://www.amazon.com/Night-at-Demontorium-Complete-Anthology/dp/1502369400/" href="https://www.amazon.com/Night-at-Demontorium-Complete-Anthology/dp/1502369400/" target="_blank">Night at the Demontorium</a>.</div>
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In retrospect it looks like Malcom's character is a modern day homage to Edgar Allen Poe's doomed Roderick in Fall of the House of Usher. However, <em>He Dreams in Yellow</em> was inspired by a nightmare from which I woke screaming.</div>
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So, you know ...enjoy!</div>
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Download <em>He Dreams in Yellow</em>, a free short story for Kindle, Apple, Kobo, Nook or PDF from <a data-mce-href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/72342" href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/72342" target="_blank">Smashwords</a>.</div>
Naima Havilandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00134347744071207849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6906072790626248628.post-6630342504384592632016-06-30T21:51:00.000-05:002016-06-30T21:51:04.570-05:00Holiday Romance Kindle Freebie <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSTZ0r_JG1-pCtA8V9BjcAoL7Dz_4iedYeZWs0UB3maXdGVvZrL5eQJhlIFxOkLO0yPMIk_EEByEKtyv4ZiZI4mkm_EEZhX2ePf_VvaX379XvfzdKAqbk3lpX9d43E0R_buGtsraYCzIMm/s1600/2_final.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSTZ0r_JG1-pCtA8V9BjcAoL7Dz_4iedYeZWs0UB3maXdGVvZrL5eQJhlIFxOkLO0yPMIk_EEByEKtyv4ZiZI4mkm_EEZhX2ePf_VvaX379XvfzdKAqbk3lpX9d43E0R_buGtsraYCzIMm/s320/2_final.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
Free for Kindle and all e-readers with coupon code FJ29W at <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/646331">Smashwords</a> through July 5.<br data-mce-bogus="1" /><div data-mce-style="text-align: left;" style="text-align: left;">
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I didn't know I had it in me. I wrote a light romance! It's a holiday-themed short story set on the 4th of July.</div>
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<em>Department store magnate Clyde Anderson is a cool drink on a hot day and just being near her boss thrills Jonquil like 4<sup>th</sup>
of July fireworks. Fantasies about her secret crush never featured them
trapped together in a runaway elevator on America’s birthday, but
Jonquil’s emotions always have had unpredictable effects on her
surroundings. Her ingenuity and his courage are the perfect match
against mechanical mayhem. Will the holiday’s unexpected adventure prove
these partners-in-peril are perfectly matched for each other?</em></div>
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Happy 4th of July -- and that goes for all my friends outside the US, too!Naima Havilandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00134347744071207849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6906072790626248628.post-27080214069182597292015-09-03T18:46:00.001-05:002015-09-03T18:46:47.185-05:00Bloodroom Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">Horror writer Carl Alves gave my vampire novel a cool review, calling </span><em style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">Bloodroom's</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"> characters"compelling" and saying it "presents some interesting elements in vampire lore." Thanks Carl! Check out the </span><a data-mce-href="http://www.carlalves.com/blog-post/bloodroom-by-naima-haviland/" href="http://www.carlalves.com/blog-post/bloodroom-by-naima-haviland/" style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;" target="_blank">review</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"> and then explore Carl's books. I'm currently enjoying his novel </span><em style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">Blood Street</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"> on audiobook.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh83FnnRpY_AiBT5a_qowMFAVM35PZovBYKskbMPdmiZQawhMAqa3MLZQG84SC_wm6MV8iVCXQMgDwc5oDX0wPCXeJieuVtP74KDAZJzivNjatOSzJ_fooubbJty9EzDKCGLXCDNrXnQAWU/s1600/bloodroom3D4blog.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh83FnnRpY_AiBT5a_qowMFAVM35PZovBYKskbMPdmiZQawhMAqa3MLZQG84SC_wm6MV8iVCXQMgDwc5oDX0wPCXeJieuVtP74KDAZJzivNjatOSzJ_fooubbJty9EzDKCGLXCDNrXnQAWU/s320/bloodroom3D4blog.png" width="219" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span>Naima Havilandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00134347744071207849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6906072790626248628.post-69834379898701483722015-08-20T19:17:00.000-05:002015-08-20T19:17:12.952-05:00Win an Amazon Gift Card!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie1YQdBrWHlou2aURJqABAayPLMtiC9V_VeflGNTJ27BqPgK1rCgm97Ebxg5LAM1mrXinrjtc2DVAhrXLbtUkoWdKk_g_OXo2s3dyNmRguefmAfl4HQl8UYlstmwujuRbn0H7jOpORnohU/s1600/Newidea1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie1YQdBrWHlou2aURJqABAayPLMtiC9V_VeflGNTJ27BqPgK1rCgm97Ebxg5LAM1mrXinrjtc2DVAhrXLbtUkoWdKk_g_OXo2s3dyNmRguefmAfl4HQl8UYlstmwujuRbn0H7jOpORnohU/s320/Newidea1.jpg" width="203" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Idea 1</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">I need your help choosing a book cover for my upcoming novel Coffin Land, a vampire thriller with a steamy romantic subplot, set in Charleston, South Carolina in 1788. Vote for your favorite cover idea to be entered into a random drawing for a $15 Amazon gift card. Tell me in a comment: Which cover would make you pick up the book?</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"></span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit9nF1ZwHCSILk5GjuebJeT5IOZHYSOtL0AC-Z714emQ7ht-U_hdeR3LQbH6XREQ8WYaTpOAROR1HYuMPiZD8fe2P-W031OFZqi9WFRVksteX7vd091rQnOWCw2wcRyEUbzpMcqILHFss2/s1600/Newidea2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit9nF1ZwHCSILk5GjuebJeT5IOZHYSOtL0AC-Z714emQ7ht-U_hdeR3LQbH6XREQ8WYaTpOAROR1HYuMPiZD8fe2P-W031OFZqi9WFRVksteX7vd091rQnOWCw2wcRyEUbzpMcqILHFss2/s320/Newidea2.jpg" width="203" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Idea 2</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, Bitstream Charter, Times, serif;"></span></span><br /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, Bitstream Charter, Times, serif;"></span></span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3S-MjWug-t9T4qkpgXSkCA-AV51sYtU-U5Os0I_Rd0yNdpP1bUDhlY6ImbuACovOndicX7Ew6SAa4YIPg_NHsaQbsLVvKqwSFqnyVoJ3ZpLwDTGXl5yt7ofl6A1SMLelAj4g-bC_06jw7/s1600/Newidea3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3S-MjWug-t9T4qkpgXSkCA-AV51sYtU-U5Os0I_Rd0yNdpP1bUDhlY6ImbuACovOndicX7Ew6SAa4YIPg_NHsaQbsLVvKqwSFqnyVoJ3ZpLwDTGXl5yt7ofl6A1SMLelAj4g-bC_06jw7/s320/Newidea3.jpg" width="204" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Idea 3</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWAa_7ZDEHMK33gM013W_-Fya8HlfH1ytKC_1zE6gGKNCnvuM6C1O3jmGxqrIafuSLw4HKfbKyL1dwO7jn3Mwvq3FFVePcgmc2d68I7QDzZ7EqU4aq3u4hHTKyuAiFoVBXzpAW4Ox6qBCw/s1600/Newidea4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWAa_7ZDEHMK33gM013W_-Fya8HlfH1ytKC_1zE6gGKNCnvuM6C1O3jmGxqrIafuSLw4HKfbKyL1dwO7jn3Mwvq3FFVePcgmc2d68I7QDzZ7EqU4aq3u4hHTKyuAiFoVBXzpAW4Ox6qBCw/s320/Newidea4.jpg" width="204" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Idea 4</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilNmPPjK9D6rf9NHOG8MSqDdVoz712C3xnSkNoqbCz7e3kyYm2wYwUS34swkuFbqEsFP9Du8pcwcQs-Wh9KqpwG7gXGT0r60YBtnjUofZoFGqJCQJQA0DN6q_MW5Zjrbqn_o_1MZfIyjV5/s1600/ucoffinland4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilNmPPjK9D6rf9NHOG8MSqDdVoz712C3xnSkNoqbCz7e3kyYm2wYwUS34swkuFbqEsFP9Du8pcwcQs-Wh9KqpwG7gXGT0r60YBtnjUofZoFGqJCQJQA0DN6q_MW5Zjrbqn_o_1MZfIyjV5/s320/ucoffinland4.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Idea 5</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, Bitstream Charter, Times, serif;">Enter to win a $15 Amazon gift card by commenting below on your favorite cover. Be as wordy as you want! Why do you think that one's the winner? And which are runner-ups? Feel free to critique, but keep in mind these are rough mock-ups. Drawing date: Monday, August 24, 6 PM central.</span></span></div>
Naima Havilandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00134347744071207849noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6906072790626248628.post-45042965426322145542015-05-21T08:39:00.000-05:002015-05-21T08:39:45.937-05:00Night at the Demontorium - Book Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixPpkbj1F4ne6GMs7_gx7clQoTc4wrRM6BzrhrQ2ZSl_89t73YHvNc9C2LYdkRiJ7pv9hFqHHZv5Bh0_8NoTqaz0y-bVCLNWHEH3RBT6fsdCvyhmO5larWzbB5XKGXZa9OtcEEXoRfIINO/s1600/DTCAcover-199x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixPpkbj1F4ne6GMs7_gx7clQoTc4wrRM6BzrhrQ2ZSl_89t73YHvNc9C2LYdkRiJ7pv9hFqHHZv5Bh0_8NoTqaz0y-bVCLNWHEH3RBT6fsdCvyhmO5larWzbB5XKGXZa9OtcEEXoRfIINO/s1600/DTCAcover-199x300.jpg" /></a></div>
Calling it "a psychological ride of amazing proportions", Project iRadio gave <em>Night at the Demontorium: The Complete Anthology </em>a great <a data-mce-href="http://www.projectiradio.com/review-night-at-the-demontorium-the-complete-anthology/" href="http://www.projectiradio.com/review-night-at-the-demontorium-the-complete-anthology/" target="_blank">review</a>. Here's an excerpt:<br />
<blockquote>
Pulling in the reader with a cyclical journey of amazing precision, <strong>Naima Haviland’s <em>Night At The Demontorium: The Complete Anthology</em></strong> weaves together eight very distinct, yet very connected tales of incredible depth and beauty.</blockquote>
Wow, thanks! That is not a bad send up for my short-story demons, all of 'em working their evil little tricks on the imaginations of readers. You can buy the book at <a data-mce-href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00U7WIZZI" href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00U7WIZZI" target="_blank">Amazon</a>, <a data-mce-href="http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/524338" href="http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/524338" target="_blank">Smashwords</a>, and other online vendors. As Project iRadio said,<br />
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For those who are fans of <strong>Rod Serling, EC and Creepshow Comics,</strong> this anthology is one you will love.</blockquote>
Naima Havilandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00134347744071207849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6906072790626248628.post-31020869969288267482015-05-09T22:37:00.000-05:002015-05-09T22:37:54.993-05:00Why Does the South Inspire Vampire Writers?I'm at the World Horror Conference 2015. Tonight I was on a discussion panel, the topic Weird South: I Will Never Go Hungry Again: Why are So Many Contemporary Vampire Novels Set in the South?<br />
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Good Question!<br />
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My fellow panelists were:<br />
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<li><a href="http://charlaineharris.com/" target="_blank">Charlaine Harris</a>, a native Southerner and author of the Sookie Stackhouse vampire series on which the TV hit True Blood was based. Her latest novel is Dayshift, the second in her new Midnight Texas series.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dacre-Stoker/e/B002GZTY7M" target="_blank">Dacre Stoker</a>, co-author of Dracula, the Un-dead (a sequel to Dracula , written by his great-grand uncle, Bram Stoker) and co-author of an England/Romania travel guide. A Southerner by marriage, his wife is from Charleston, South Carolina.</li>
<li>Carl Alves, author of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Blood-Street-Carl-Alves-ebook/dp/B00CSCST5Q/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1413937164&sr=8-1&keywords=blood+street+carl+alves" target="_blank">Blood Street</a>, a vampire mobster blood feud novel set in Philadelphia.</li>
<li>Jess Peacock, author of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/M.-Jess-Peacock/e/B00TIY5950" target="_blank">Such a Dark Thing</a>, a theology of the vampire narrative in popular culture.</li>
<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Greenberg" target="_blank">Andrew Greenberg</a>, one of White Wolf's original game developers on Vampire: The Masquerade -- and a Southerner.</li>
<li>And me! Author of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Bloodroom-ebook/dp/B007E3N062/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1331143084&sr=1-1" target="_blank">Bloodroom</a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Bad-Death-Naima-Haviland/dp/1475154801/" target="_blank">The Bad Death</a>, vampire novels set in South Carolina -- and a <em>damned</em> yankee (a yankee who <em>stayed</em>, since I was 11 years old).</li>
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Ok, what is it about the South that inspires vampire writers? Charlaine Harris pointed out that the South is often economically depressed; really chronically depressed, and that people in peril develop rich, supernatural beliefs to explain the unpredictability of the human experience. (Charlaine doesn't really speak this way; this is me paraphrasing her. She's much more plain spoken, charming, and funny. When describing Southern traditions, such as "the nice lie", her turn of phrase made us and the audience laugh out loud.) Dacre Stoker compared Romania to the Southeast US, in that their cultures were infused and enriched by immigrants over the centuries -- Romania by Romans, Turks, Romany gypsies, and Europeans; and the South by Scots, Irish, Native Americans, Africans, French, and West Indians -- and suggested that the influx of so many different cultures brought a crazy quilt of legends. Andrew Greenberg stressed that the influx of cultures did not make the South a melting pot; rather these cultures, by not blending, created tension that results in legends built (as all good novels are) on conflict and tragedy (and sometimes, though rarely, triumph). Jess Peacock built on this idea, emphasizing the vampire as the <em>Other</em>; an invading entity that is foreign, mysterious, dangerous, and tempting; saying that Southerners' clannish nature identifies anyone whose great-grandparents weren't born in the South as a suspicious Other. (I can attest that this is true -- after living here for 25 years, they'd still say to me, "You're not from around here, are you?") Carl Alves suggested that the Southern personality itself -- reckless, passionate, and romantic -- embodies the traditional vampire mystique. He invited us to imagine Bram Stoker's Dracula coming of age and being turned into a vampire in urban London instead of isolated, exotic Romania (Transylvania). It would have been a completely different novel! I suggested that the vampire's obsession with his (or her) prey -- that hypnotic, relentless, possessive hunger -- mirrored the South's climate and nature, its <em>vibe</em>. There is something about the South that gets inside you, clings and holds you, just as the Kudzu vine grows until it completely covers the building in its clutches, pulling it to the ground in the span of a few years. I have found that the South, though maddening in many ways, has wound itself around my heart. I will probably never move away. Like a vampire, the South is beguiling, entrancing, and seductive. There are logical reasons to run from a vampire, but logic can't hold out against his allure.<br />
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Why do <em>you</em> think the South is so inspiring to vampire writers?Naima Havilandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00134347744071207849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6906072790626248628.post-56982578550417057702015-05-07T22:41:00.000-05:002015-05-07T23:06:41.793-05:00Resources for Self Publishing Your BookI started self-publishing in 2011. At first I knew nothing about how to do anything! Now, it's pretty easy. I enjoy self-publishing for the creative control it gives me and the direct payoff in higher royalties vs. those I'd get from being published by someone else. Here are the resources that either helped get me on my way or help me turn my ideas into real print books, ebooks, and an audiobook.<br />
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Formatting</h3>
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In 2011 Steven Lewis had online tutorials on formatting for Kindle. I believe he focuses more on social marketing today. I found his books about the self-publishing industry helpful, too. <a href="http://taleist.com/#home">http://taleist.com/#home</a></div>
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I use the free formatting software, Calibre, to format my ebooks in formats for all readers and devices (ePub for iPad and Nook, mobi for Kindle, etc). Its UI has options for building a Table of Contents, testing your format out in a device simulator, and so on. I test drive all my ebooks with Calibre before actually publishing. The Calibre ebooks are also the files I give to reviewers. <a href="http://calibre-ebook.com/">http://calibre-ebook.com/</a></div>
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Social Media and Marketing</h3>
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I built my author platform across social networks mostly through Shelley Hitz's webinars. For instance, I learned how to set up a Facebook Fanpage and Twitter presence, and use tools to streamline my social marketing efforts. She packs extras into all her service packages and recently expanded her service offering. <a href="http://www.trainingauthors.com/">http://www.trainingauthors.com/</a></div>
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Guy Kawasaki is a social media guru. The best advice I got from him was on what and when to tweet. <a href="http://guykawasaki.com/">http://guykawasaki.com/</a></div>
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On my blog, for publicity purposes I have events that include random drawings for prizes. Rafflecopter is the web service that powers that: <a href="https://www.rafflecopter.com/">https://www.rafflecopter.com/</a></div>
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My New Releases Newsletter is facilitated with MailChimp: <a href="http://mailchimp.com/">http://mailchimp.com/</a></div>
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Book Production</h3>
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I cannot stress the importance of hiring an editor, getting professional cover design, and having a great back jacket book description. If you're going to spend money, spend it on this and don't flinch at the cost. I mean, don't you want your book to be the most professional product possible? Think how much brain sweat you put into writing your book. Don't you deserve to see your idea beautifully polished? Some reviewers of my books say that my book cover or my book description made them buy the book (and that's some motivator, considering that they'd never heard of me). </div>
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Derek Murphy designed for my vampire novels, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Bloodroom-Naima-Haviland/dp/147508577X/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1430695424&sr=1-3" target="_blank">Bloodroom</a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Bad-Death-Naima-Haviland/dp/1475154801/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1430695424&sr=1-2" target="_blank">The Bad Death</a>. He's stopped taking new clients (for now, anyway) but is branching into DIY design advice. <a href="http://www.bookcovers.creativindie.com/">http://www.bookcovers.creativindie.com/</a></div>
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Daniele Serra designed covers for my short stories and my anthology <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Night-at-Demontorium-Complete-Anthology/dp/1502369400/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1430695424&sr=1-1" target="_blank">Night at the Demontorium</a>. His work has won several awards. <a href="http://www.multigrade.it/">http://www.multigrade.it/</a></div>
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Editing! OMG don't you dare publish your book without one! Pick up a book published by a big NYC publisher, read the acknowledgements, and you'll probably read the author thanking up to three editors. At least do yourself the favor of hiring <em>one</em>. </div>
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Glen Krisch edited my novel, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Bad-Death-Naima-Haviland/dp/1475154801/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1430695424&sr=1-2" target="_blank">The Bad Death</a>, and my anthology, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Night-at-Demontorium-Complete-Anthology/dp/1502369400/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1430695424&sr=1-1" target="_blank">Night at the Demontorium</a>. He cured me of some bad habits. He's also a writer. <a href="https://glenkrisch.wordpress.com/">https://glenkrisch.wordpress.com/</a></div>
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Linda Wasserman edited my novel, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Bloodroom-Naima-Haviland/dp/147508577X/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1430695424&sr=1-3" target="_blank">Bloodroom</a>. She's a grammar and sentence master. She's also a publisher. <a href="http://www.pelicanpresspensacola.com/id4.html">http://www.pelicanpresspensacola.com/id4.html</a></div>
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ACX is the audiobook wing of Amazon's publishing services. In a way it's like match.com for writers and narrators. You can call for auditions or you can browse for a narrator that offers the type of voice you're looking for and then listen to their audio samples. I'm not gonna lie; it was expensive, but I'm so happy with my <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Bloodroom-Series-Book-1/dp/B00MX6ZKFO/" target="_blank">audiobook</a>! <a href="http://www.acx.com/">http://www.acx.com/</a></div>
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Marketing and Publishing Industry Wonks</h3>
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I follow the blogs of writers who keep their ear to the ground in terms of how the big publishers are doing business, how self-published authors can get noticed in the ocean that is Amazon, and issues related to these topics.</div>
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In addition to crusading against sharks and reporting on latest industry developments, David Gaughran writes weird, thoughtful short stories and wrote a South American adventure novel. <a href="https://davidgaughran.wordpress.com/">https://davidgaughran.wordpress.com/</a></div>
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In addition to advising on writing and making money from writing, JA Konrath writes thrillers and is hugely successful. <a href="http://jakonrath.blogspot.com/">http://jakonrath.blogspot.com/</a></div>
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Naima Havilandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00134347744071207849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6906072790626248628.post-3243259619964393232015-03-09T16:13:00.000-05:002015-03-09T16:13:21.162-05:00NIGHT at the DEMONTORIUM: The Complete Anthology<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiromiccD0v9dLMzh9fhhyphenhyphenWt28urRjOnpKRWluENycsqo-7eZl42hpkOgbhuEVYWQzXfgWGJ_bSR-vQFPIuBmkZZhFocOOvbVsulPu1N84VR4ayYCQX4b5YlbnBuQDdfXUbJ-sCucIOwAqh/s1600/DTCAcover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiromiccD0v9dLMzh9fhhyphenhyphenWt28urRjOnpKRWluENycsqo-7eZl42hpkOgbhuEVYWQzXfgWGJ_bSR-vQFPIuBmkZZhFocOOvbVsulPu1N84VR4ayYCQX4b5YlbnBuQDdfXUbJ-sCucIOwAqh/s1600/DTCAcover.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
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Read a sample at <a data-mce-href="http://www.amazon.com/Night-at-Demontorium-Complete-Anthology-ebook/dp/B00U7WIZZI/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8" href="http://www.amazon.com/Night-at-Demontorium-Complete-Anthology-ebook/dp/B00U7WIZZI/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8" target="_blank" title="Night at the Demontorium: The Complete Anthology">Amazon</a>.</h3>
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Psychological meets supernatural in a room without dimensions known as the Demontorium. This hardcore horror bundle includes Aunt Téa's Addiction, The Entrepreneur, and other Kindle bestselling singles from the Demontorium Series. Nine cautionary tales meant to tighten your grip on the thin layer that separates you from inhabitants of the Demontorium.</div>
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I'm pleased and proud, but don't take my word that it's awesome ...</div>
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"In her latest book, Naima Haviland takes the reader on a wild, psychotic ride to where the dead and the living are interchangeable and sometimes hard to distinguish. Haviland pulls no punches as her collection of short stories steamroll you from start to finish. So be sure to buckle up—it’s going to be a bone-shaking ride."</div>
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~Chuck Walsh, author of <em>A Month of Tomorrows</em> and <em>Shadows on Iron Mountain</em></div>
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Available in print and e-book.</div>
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Naima Havilandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00134347744071207849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6906072790626248628.post-65646308087798365592015-02-13T15:06:00.000-06:002015-02-14T13:43:36.890-06:00Win Books on Valentines Day!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilBXc6j_YRdlOE-Qkj1jecUMs5j7kGlg3xRY8kHghFYVTBegGs2GqtbkiOCdmRXqmGy0MBDzZnsdrAy5xN0c70J5yY9Zrv9nJG1QHn8dallnOZJ9-ABlrOZBjoEBBkfWqG5v7aQfSqcTNr/s1600/swisher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilBXc6j_YRdlOE-Qkj1jecUMs5j7kGlg3xRY8kHghFYVTBegGs2GqtbkiOCdmRXqmGy0MBDzZnsdrAy5xN0c70J5yY9Zrv9nJG1QHn8dallnOZJ9-ABlrOZBjoEBBkfWqG5v7aQfSqcTNr/s1600/swisher.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My vampire novel, <em>Bloodroom</em>, is an extremely dark and twisted romance. For Valentines Day, I give you an excerpt where two vampires, Julian and Swisher, argue about what love <em>is</em>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Join their conversation on Valentines Day, 4PM CMT at the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/734155596699991/?ref_dashboard_filter=upcoming" target="_blank">For the Love of the Written Word Facebook event</a>.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdobHFNp11X9yQQ-xcmJj799wGVih3nRNFwXsSkeZhYckyH0ovAW-SxuuApqzNipWqn8DWQHqQAJkDBPctwbRaM5pOc-bQwLFzTkfhTkf9Ma-PErbNjBeQ6Bng8wnrRODzyWiI2EdUWJed/s1600/Julian.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdobHFNp11X9yQQ-xcmJj799wGVih3nRNFwXsSkeZhYckyH0ovAW-SxuuApqzNipWqn8DWQHqQAJkDBPctwbRaM5pOc-bQwLFzTkfhTkf9Ma-PErbNjBeQ6Bng8wnrRODzyWiI2EdUWJed/s1600/Julian.jpg" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What's your definition of love? Tell us for a chance to win one of these great prizes: </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1) <em>Bloodroom</em> -- in audiobook</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2) <em>Bloodroom</em> and <em>The Bad Death</em> -- a two-fer e-book bundle </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3) <em>Night at the Demontorium: The Complete Anthology</em> -- e-book ARC (or if hardcore horror isn't your thing, an e-book of one of my novels)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">See me at 4PM CMT Valentines Day. I can't wait to hear what love means to <em>you!</em></span><br />
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Naima Havilandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00134347744071207849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6906072790626248628.post-43280521940924865502014-08-23T19:16:00.000-05:002014-08-23T19:16:39.935-05:00Bloodroom is now an Audiobook!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghCJh0n_815z9Lgd13Ex-p0XLhsfpIEzWVSJolsDv8CwsQVwaLTLVxRiVxiyGo-LZBvOuTWc20BHkatPBZWP-Z9QdCWhs1sv-yON7n0UKZNr-rkB-NogwcztnWHZSoeCVyEpTgISDmucvg/s1600/bloodroomsquare2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghCJh0n_815z9Lgd13Ex-p0XLhsfpIEzWVSJolsDv8CwsQVwaLTLVxRiVxiyGo-LZBvOuTWc20BHkatPBZWP-Z9QdCWhs1sv-yON7n0UKZNr-rkB-NogwcztnWHZSoeCVyEpTgISDmucvg/s1600/bloodroomsquare2.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
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Who could resists those eyes! Wait'll you hear him speak! Yes, Julian Mouret now has a voice, courtesy of award-winning narrator, Paul Heitsch. Bloodroom is now a downloadable audiobook. You can listen to a sample at <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Bloodroom-Series-Book-1/dp/B00MX6ZKFO/" target="_blank">Amazon</a>, <a href="http://www.audible.com/pd/Romance/Bloodroom-Audiobook/B00MV75PFA/" target="_blank">Audible</a>, and <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/audiobook/bloodroom-bloodroom-series/id911553774" target="_blank">iTunes</a>. <br />
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For a synopsis and character bios, visit my website's <a href="http://naimahaviland.com/bloodroom/" target="_blank">Bloodroom</a> page.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgymYWh4aEPS_CnebDhxprDu42q-k2nh6x2Jv5ZzdAzpEtnJgOxL_TuUkOnLvPY19cNcoCJjSm0U6dZmzOZ9yXLo5tNwpMod7mHXgaXrUK1H_i6G4wkakd_jW4B4biVZxTnMlYQGJkyRjTB/s1600/Bloodroom+character+strip.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgymYWh4aEPS_CnebDhxprDu42q-k2nh6x2Jv5ZzdAzpEtnJgOxL_TuUkOnLvPY19cNcoCJjSm0U6dZmzOZ9yXLo5tNwpMod7mHXgaXrUK1H_i6G4wkakd_jW4B4biVZxTnMlYQGJkyRjTB/s1600/Bloodroom+character+strip.jpg" height="71" width="400" /></a></div>
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Audiobook reviewers, contact me at <a href="http://naimahaviland.com/">http://naimahaviland.com/</a> for your review copy.<br />
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Naima Havilandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00134347744071207849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6906072790626248628.post-49022646211619946512014-03-13T14:51:00.000-05:002014-03-13T14:51:58.897-05:00Lighting Pallas: A Photoshop Trick<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a data-mce-href="http://naimahaviland.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/pallas.jpg" href="http://naimahaviland.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/pallas.jpg"></a>I recently altered some photos for a cast-of-characters animation on my site thebaddeath.com (the landing page for <em>The Bad Death</em>, the first in a historical trilogy and the second in the <em>Bloodroom</em> series of vampire novels). This blog post explains some tricks I used in Photoshop to make an image more atmospheric. First of all, meet Pallas, as pictured in the image I got from <a href="http://123rf.com/">123rf.com</a>. Pallas is the best friend of the trilogy's heroine, Anika. Pallas is either a victim, a predator, or both. To know for sure, read <em><a href="http://smarturl.it/acc1dm" target="_blank">The Bad Death</a></em> ;-)<br />
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Once in Adobe Photoshop, I used the Apply Image feature to replace the black backdrop to an image of an outdoor setting. To learn more about this step, read my post called <a href="http://naimahaviland.blogspot.com/2013/09/a-photoshop-trick-for-book-marketing.html" target="_blank">A Photoshop Trick for Book Marketing</a>. After Applying the image to Pallas, I decided to change the lighting on Pallas' image. You see the image above shows the woman in warm lighting. I wanted Pallas to look moonlit because in <i>The Bad Death,</i> Pallas is almost always sighted at night.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJIV9j8oFKO4MU1s83Uta8XYKuuzzyWv76xvOdwOk4RSvVn_ApeGbdQcEkUhpkbiFAZfblzZSGadPozFFe8AswZNF4eM4lr-YyfU6IhGw9Ey3wjHbe1Usr2lzix5uMrLYjt3TW3e_Pl5KV/s1600/usingVariationsPallet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJIV9j8oFKO4MU1s83Uta8XYKuuzzyWv76xvOdwOk4RSvVn_ApeGbdQcEkUhpkbiFAZfblzZSGadPozFFe8AswZNF4eM4lr-YyfU6IhGw9Ey3wjHbe1Usr2lzix5uMrLYjt3TW3e_Pl5KV/s320/usingVariationsPallet.jpg" height="200" width="320" /></a></div>
To cast a blueish moonlight glow over Pallas, I selected Image from Photoshop's top menu, scrolled the dropdown menu to select Adjust, then chose Variations at the bottom of Adjust's dropdown menu. The Variations pallet visually shows color adjustments. I chose "More Blue" and "More Cyan" to give Pallas a blue cast that would imply moonlight.<br />
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I wanted to make the moonlit sky more dramatic, so I copied the layer, cut out Pallas till I had only the sky on the copied layer, then used the blending feature of that layer to alter the sky. The blending feature causes the layer in question to react against the layer beneath it to produce a visual effect. If memory serves, I chose the Hard Light blending option. You can see in the third image how Pallas' background has more contrast between highlight and shadow, resulting from my choice of blending option.<br />
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So, there you have it, boys and girls!<br />
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Naima Havilandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00134347744071207849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6906072790626248628.post-5553687320829744892014-01-06T20:54:00.000-06:002014-01-06T20:54:17.640-06:00South Carolina Gold Rice Cultivation, A Woman's Experience<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit6OvLyBxGF0L0dwIu6PUffpgXqHlLvQG4BFso0_aRQfm1AKGKhBwWFTtVus72hSFpnJm6-Sp1q8QCoIRH6IQXAp5g4LZVSPZRgmz9n5kGsUyafvH77hyspeqaR4CstA3v3KBi5ir3cQwx/s1600/EAPringle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit6OvLyBxGF0L0dwIu6PUffpgXqHlLvQG4BFso0_aRQfm1AKGKhBwWFTtVus72hSFpnJm6-Sp1q8QCoIRH6IQXAp5g4LZVSPZRgmz9n5kGsUyafvH77hyspeqaR4CstA3v3KBi5ir3cQwx/s200/EAPringle.jpg" height="200" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From <a href="http://findagrave.com/">findagrave.com</a></td></tr>
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Elizabeth Allston Pringle was a Southern belle at the time of the American Civil War and the daughter of the Governor of South Carolina. When the Civil War ended, leaving her family impoverished, she and her mother opened a school. Motivated by sentiment, Elizabeth bought the plantation she grew up in, <a href="http://south-carolina-plantations.com/georgetown/white-house.html" target="_blank">White House</a>, and the plantation, <a href="http://south-carolina-plantations.com/georgetown/chicora-wood.html" target="_blank">Chicora Wood</a>, where she lived as a married woman until her husband's untimely death. Both plantations still exist in Georgetown County, South Carolina, an area known as the Lowcountry. It was in hopes of paying the plantation mortgages that in the early years of the 20th century, she decided to re-cultivate old rice fields that had long since succumbed to the encroaching wild. She was a farmer, a foreman, and an entrepreneur at a time in history when women did not hold such positions.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgutVFheML7zkMDlwsnqHeeiqqrxy-ddY2k3mQIF7n7fUpL4Qnmvfh6QGcxGAaSaLH6KnLQGcgJHZng5ATh7dRPpOcBDINPlNsbe6DtUThrqQU5RELzICSla7tWlfcNW7sDzfSavqD1qcEf/s1600/AWomanRicePlanter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgutVFheML7zkMDlwsnqHeeiqqrxy-ddY2k3mQIF7n7fUpL4Qnmvfh6QGcxGAaSaLH6KnLQGcgJHZng5ATh7dRPpOcBDINPlNsbe6DtUThrqQU5RELzICSla7tWlfcNW7sDzfSavqD1qcEf/s200/AWomanRicePlanter.jpg" height="200" width="133" /></a></div>
We might have forgotten Elizabeth Allston Pringle if her journal hadn't been serialized in the <i>New York Sun</i>. This was another way Elizabeth made money to pay the mortgages on her beloved properties. The <i>Sun</i> journal was later published in a book called <i>A Woman Rice Planter</i>. The 1992 edition, published by the University of South Carolina press, is illustrated by famed artist Alice R. Huger Smith (whose paintings are in Charleston's <a href="http://www.gibbesmuseum.org/" target="_blank">Gibbes Museum of Art</a>) and has an introduction written by South Carolina historian and writer Charles Joyner.<br />
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Reading <i>A Woman Rice Planter</i>, you may find the humor in some stories involving black characters to be condescending. I believe the Jim Crow era in which it was written had an unfortunate but partial influence on the author's outlook. However, if you read it thoroughly, I believe you'll also see Elizabeth's respect for blacks rising through this surface attitude. I get a sense that she felt they were all in this together, enjoying the bounty of the Lowcountry and enduring the caprice of its climate with faith and cheerfulness. I read <i>A Woman Rice Planter</i> as research while writing <i><a href="http://naimahaviland.com/thebaddeath/" target="_blank">The Bad Death</a></i>, an antebellum vampire novel set on a Lowcountry rice plantation. Two things stay with me from repeated readings.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO3OjmKo3fd87xdoAmi1xNJ1IziBUVMxxhNht-QLvWBxK0eW38CTpPAxbTwSGx0itVv6ut39pT9WTGWNWMKYFLaZVYIzgY8o06_gvrUkkkEu8IELncdXyir2C0Ikp2odPrL3mC_tSd5uRB/s1600/ChicoraWoodRiceBarnSM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO3OjmKo3fd87xdoAmi1xNJ1IziBUVMxxhNht-QLvWBxK0eW38CTpPAxbTwSGx0itVv6ut39pT9WTGWNWMKYFLaZVYIzgY8o06_gvrUkkkEu8IELncdXyir2C0Ikp2odPrL3mC_tSd5uRB/s200/ChicoraWoodRiceBarnSM.jpg" height="149" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rice Barn at Chicora Wood</td></tr>
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One is its detailed description of old rice-growing practices. Second is Elizabeth's love for the beautiful world around her. She was an excellent writer. Her descriptions shine through, transcending ink and paper and time. Here's an entry from June 1, 1903:<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">"The evening is beautiful; the sun, just sinking in a hazy, mellow light, is a fiery dark red, the air is fresh from the sea, only three miles to the east, the rice-field banks are gay with flowers, white and blue violets, blackberry blossoms, wistaria, and the lovely blue jessamine, which is as sweet as an orange blossom. Near the bridge two negro women are fishing with great strings of fish beside them. The streams are full of Virginia perch, bream, and trout; you have only to drop your line in with a wriggling worm at the end, and keep silent, and you have fine sport. Then the men set their canes securely in the bank just before dark and leave then, and almost invariably find a fish ready for breakfast in the morning. There is a saying that one cannot starve in this country and it is true."</span><br />
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Elizabeth's accounts of her workers' labor, their hunting and fishing, socializing, and storytelling helped me give life to <i><a href="http://naimahaviland.com/thebaddeath/" target="_blank">The Bad Death's</a></i> Gullah heroine, Anika, and her friends and neighbors. <i>The Bad Death's</i> antagonist, Julian Mouret, relies on his working partnership with his mother, Elisabeth. She shares her son's respect for the Lowcountry's wild strength. I'd be lying if I said Elizabeth Allston Pringle didn't partly inspire me when writing Elisabeth Mouret. Elizabeth Pringle was strong, independent, spiritual, and wise. So is Elisabeth Mouret. Anika finds in Miss Elisabeth a formidable foe and improbable ally. Miss Elisabeth is one of my favorite characters in <i>The Bad Death</i>. And Elizabeth Allston Pringle is one of my favorite characters in US history.<br />
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<br />Naima Havilandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00134347744071207849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6906072790626248628.post-44323434649628016942013-12-12T18:15:00.000-06:002013-12-12T18:15:39.116-06:00The Bad Death on all eReaders<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8V7WE_QFQLym6rr8B0tLlCFNAeKxG0OB091PG7zZcYHiYlU2ffT8Hkw_erawMoz7AY6lfVNntHW8vNCN1f7j2ytbIJt71PrmQErqvGDjY4Qtmry5-h_jXEtMmDoW1xDC7hzhb-OLQmuTz/s1600/TheBadDeath-vSM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8V7WE_QFQLym6rr8B0tLlCFNAeKxG0OB091PG7zZcYHiYlU2ffT8Hkw_erawMoz7AY6lfVNntHW8vNCN1f7j2ytbIJt71PrmQErqvGDjY4Qtmry5-h_jXEtMmDoW1xDC7hzhb-OLQmuTz/s320/TheBadDeath-vSM.jpg" width="206" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Previously an <a href="http://smarturl.it/acc1dm" target="_blank">Amazon</a> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px;">exclusive</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">, <i>The Bad Death</i> is now also available at <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id721832641" target="_blank">iTunes</a>, <a href="http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/The-Bad-Death/book-aaVkelW7G0-9qaBPvyIb-w/page1.html" target="_blank">Kobo</a>, and <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-bad-death-naima-haviland/1117539034?ean=2940149005611&itm=1&usri=2940149005611" target="_blank">Barnes&Noble.com</a>. Captivating, s<a href="" name="_GoBack"></a>ensuous, and terrifying, <i>The
Bad Death</i></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">, at once a sequel and a prequel to <i>Bloodroom,</i> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">unfolds against a background of eighteenth century human bondage
and southern gentility. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Passion rules the
heart but terror rules the night in this breathtaking tale of love,
desire, betrayal, Gullah sorcery, and supernatural horror in the antebellum
South.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span><div>
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Naima Havilandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00134347744071207849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6906072790626248628.post-5630772318180405132013-11-25T07:46:00.000-06:002013-11-26T11:34:09.903-06:00Bloodroom eBook 99 Cent Sale<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAJ-OwH0K91Uv8oUhslPvQB3YqNkICqhP8U64a9jukJUIZ_uGkwc42mSe9383zb8z1fZXp0tnYTB4LESCIxRLXaq6r_ZUuZJuH3pCX-5Vaz6BakJ5Q2Qr1MlYJx_Zy2POB1GVw1gI9Xkix/s1600/4kindle_FINAL_Bloodroom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAJ-OwH0K91Uv8oUhslPvQB3YqNkICqhP8U64a9jukJUIZ_uGkwc42mSe9383zb8z1fZXp0tnYTB4LESCIxRLXaq6r_ZUuZJuH3pCX-5Vaz6BakJ5Q2Qr1MlYJx_Zy2POB1GVw1gI9Xkix/s320/4kindle_FINAL_Bloodroom.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
You can have this sexy and dangerous bad boy for 0.99 cents Monday, November 25 through Saturday, November 30 in any digital format. Just visit <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Bloodroom-ebook/dp/B007E3N062/" target="_blank">Amazon</a> or the online bookstore of your choice.<br />
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Online stores vary in the speed with which they adopt new prices. If you see Bloodroom still at its normal $2.99, buy straight from my distributor, <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/108364" target="_blank">Smashwords</a>.<br />
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Bloodroom is the first book in the Bloodroom Series of modern and historical paranormal novels. The Bad Death is the second book in the series.<br />
<br />Naima Havilandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00134347744071207849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6906072790626248628.post-60085315845636007262013-11-16T08:51:00.000-06:002013-11-16T08:51:34.776-06:00Thomas Jefferson, Single Parent<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Thomas Jefferson, writer of the Declaration of Independence and 3rd President may have also been our nation's 1st hot dad (DILF?). When his young wife died; the grief-stricken man had infant Lucy, four-year old Polly, and 10-year old Patsy to raise. Due to a deathbed promise never to remarry, he remained a single parent. Lucy died in childhood. Jefferson, Polly, and Patsy clung tenaciously to each other and, though more often separated than not, remained in constant contact through letters. Jefferson set standards for his girls in education and deportment that were unusual for his day and appear impossible and unhealthy in ours. I give you a few parenting rules from Thomas Jefferson, with tongue in cheek:<br />
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<b>No Casual Friday: </b> Jefferson instructed Patsy in one letter, "Be you from the moment you rise till you go to bed as cleanly and properly dressed as at the hours of dinner or tea. A lady who has been seen as a sloven or slut in the morning, will never efface that impression ..." Ouch!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sources Cited Below Post</td></tr>
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<b>No Downtime: </b>Here's a typical study schedule:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<ul>
<li>From 8. to 10 o'clock practice music. </li>
<li>From 10. to 1 dance one day and draw another</li>
<li>From 1. to 2. draw on the day you dance, and write a letter the next day.</li>
<li>From 3. to 4. read French.</li>
<li>From 4. to 5. exercise yourself in music.</li>
<li>From 5. till bedtime read English, write & c. </li>
</ul>
</blockquote>
<b>Of Course, I'll Always Love You, <i>If</i> ... </b>Jefferson's instructions were at times given as a road map to his heart. In a letter to Patsy, he wrote, "I have placed my happiness on seeing you good and accomplished, and no distress which this world can now bring on me can equal that of your disappointing my hopes ...Keep my letters and read them at times that you may always have present in your mind those things which will endear you to me."<br />
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<b>It Ain't Just a River in Egypt: </b>What illegitimate children? What mistress? When Patsy and Polly lived at Monticello as young adults, it can't have gone unnoticed that his unmarried slave woman, Sally Hemings, only got pregnant when their father was home from Washington. The illicit relationship was never acknowledged. When it became a national scandal, the Queens of Denial visited Jefferson in Washington to provide a united family front.<br />
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As women, each developed her own way of resisting their father's demands. Patsy blamed kids and a troublesome husband for her lack of free time, and pointed to Lucy as being way more behind than she in keeping the pace. Polly seems to have adopted the slacker role to her advantage, basically throwing up her hands and saying, 'I know, I'm so lazy!' But there can be no doubt that the three of them were crazy about each other.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSTKh0UU16fIiZsAR8CPuNLJt8kXnKgxzIi_yjbI_i2QJSlaNoOOWM4HKYcr956y4b9CGBBwFX3Xdp4b1QbCHgtPghAsKxV_zZOWtt3_jTeDxgRtNfoiLRcxweKJ-0TfGG5CKZw8AQSxFY/s1600/JulianCharlotte.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSTKh0UU16fIiZsAR8CPuNLJt8kXnKgxzIi_yjbI_i2QJSlaNoOOWM4HKYcr956y4b9CGBBwFX3Xdp4b1QbCHgtPghAsKxV_zZOWtt3_jTeDxgRtNfoiLRcxweKJ-0TfGG5CKZw8AQSxFY/s1600/JulianCharlotte.jpg" /></a><br />
I thought it would be fun to create a similar relationship between <i>The Bad Death's</i> Julian Mouret and his much younger sister, Charlotte. She was three years old when their father died and left the fifteen year old Julian as man of the house (and therefore, its legal head). Raising a child to be the Ideal requires you to embody that Ideal, yourself. By the time we meet them in <i>The Bad Death</i>, Julian has achieved this. But what happens when the Ideal "parent" falls from grace? We'll see in the next novel, <i>House of the Apparently Dead</i>.<br />
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Sources: <i>The Women Jefferson Loved</i> by Virginia Scharff; <i>The Family Letters of Thomas Jefferson</i> edited by Edwin Betts and James Bear, Jr.; <i>Thomas Jefferson, An Intimate History</i> by Fawn Brodie.<br />
<br />Naima Havilandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00134347744071207849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6906072790626248628.post-32676998170350817902013-11-04T09:02:00.000-06:002013-11-04T09:02:26.060-06:00FREE Kindle download: The Bad Death<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsXkWpu2kxFrvMJjIMV-hro7llrF6gTOX8p5dlLKne5_yT-jZ8_SpRnxfPPokH1LCEqwY04oI6WSTQV5PN8CtMnlAVvmDrekSr78tnpKDYUXzFTmLsFan0UX_ZdhvKSnOOMHDjG7TYhWsY/s1600/TheBadDeath-SM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsXkWpu2kxFrvMJjIMV-hro7llrF6gTOX8p5dlLKne5_yT-jZ8_SpRnxfPPokH1LCEqwY04oI6WSTQV5PN8CtMnlAVvmDrekSr78tnpKDYUXzFTmLsFan0UX_ZdhvKSnOOMHDjG7TYhWsY/s320/TheBadDeath-SM.jpg" width="206" /></a></div>
Monday through Friday, November 4-8, The Bad Death will be a <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Bad-Death-ebook/dp/B00EVYEP4S/" target="_blank">FREE eBook on Amazon</a>. You're welcome ;-)Naima Havilandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00134347744071207849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6906072790626248628.post-31774022634295649092013-10-27T19:40:00.000-05:002013-10-27T19:40:42.405-05:00Racial Accuracy in Literature and Genre Fiction<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6FmNScoEqEfkmzxu0pig3GH4uaCuMXKr8kYg0gpqvfMjJHb2XkzZ8Fqqy70-zECGRJ2dWaxfbr4THfAwEazwhOtfToQaykOiXz46io-ZvM7zdF8FBOX1BXWSCcNnjcUhoaFzG-Jm0-jjc/s1600/TheBadDeath-vSM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6FmNScoEqEfkmzxu0pig3GH4uaCuMXKr8kYg0gpqvfMjJHb2XkzZ8Fqqy70-zECGRJ2dWaxfbr4THfAwEazwhOtfToQaykOiXz46io-ZvM7zdF8FBOX1BXWSCcNnjcUhoaFzG-Jm0-jjc/s200/TheBadDeath-vSM.jpg" width="128" /></a></div>
<i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Bad-Death-ebook/dp/B00EVYEP4S/" target="_blank">The Bad Death</a></i> is my historic paranormal novel with interracial romance. The protagonist
is Anika, a slave woman. She's attracted to her master's brother, Julian. She becomes attracted to Marcus, an enslaved
man who is a slave driver. A modern woman's spirit takes refuge in Anika's body
and influences her mind. In adventure stories the hero prevails through gumption and daring. But how does <i>The Bad
Death</i> align with historic reality? As Americans attend and react to <a href="http://www.salon.com/2013/10/20/12_years_a_slave_is_aptly_unglamorous_partner/" target="_blank">12 Years a Slave</a>, a a new film based on the true story of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solomon_Northup" target="_blank">Solomon Northup</a>, a free black man who was kidnapped and sold into slavery, it seems a good time to examine the treatment of slavery in genre fiction and literature, particularly as it relates to autobiographies written by slaves.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj3roTC0ESvZWNczhQp8g3kkNZfwndhvzLKfHUP5ZqOFC6vbcaBPTikXBoWHwbrYq6iHFfjJ1-t7QgOYFjKGI8oynxFREsSfvg7ShDPW56hJhG7DkV6kP8LUF5U8MFn5PDE6Yh9Wshyphenhyphend0N/s1600/Kindred+by+Octavia+Butler.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj3roTC0ESvZWNczhQp8g3kkNZfwndhvzLKfHUP5ZqOFC6vbcaBPTikXBoWHwbrYq6iHFfjJ1-t7QgOYFjKGI8oynxFREsSfvg7ShDPW56hJhG7DkV6kP8LUF5U8MFn5PDE6Yh9Wshyphenhyphend0N/s200/Kindred+by+Octavia+Butler.jpg" width="134" /></a></div>
Consider the critically acclaimed novel, <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Kindred-Bluestreak-Octavia-Butler/dp/0807083690/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1373917206&sr=1-1&keywords=kindred+octavia+butler" target="_blank">Kindred</a></i> by Octavia Butler. The heroine, Dana, is a modern African-American. She is repeatedly pulled through time
to the antebellum south in order to protect the white boy destined to father
the Caucasian side of her family. There (and then) Dana's treated as a
slave. <i>Kindred</i> is a good book. I'm glad I read it. I can't say I enjoyed it. Why not? It's grueling. She's
victimized relentlessly. She and her fellow slaves endure terrible conditions. The
antebellum interracial liaisons are exploitative and cruel. <i>Kindred</i> isn't an adventure story.
It is a historically accurate novel in the literary tradition.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP3OkaQCN0CAC6NBH3VT3opYD1QlqRj_q-4iroZZRqI0tyqsIH5_KIOOhP355mAVMQUiChai4gUksiPaIabXheHGUmf0K1-Bl5K6Q8XTtLeu8NPyKSQgBuExAob_TIPSug8upyeOMLRIbU/s1600/Classic+Slave+Narratives.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP3OkaQCN0CAC6NBH3VT3opYD1QlqRj_q-4iroZZRqI0tyqsIH5_KIOOhP355mAVMQUiChai4gUksiPaIabXheHGUmf0K1-Bl5K6Q8XTtLeu8NPyKSQgBuExAob_TIPSug8upyeOMLRIbU/s200/Classic+Slave+Narratives.jpg" width="118" /></a></div>
Because the slave woman was chattel, she had no power
to resist her master's advances. Even relationships based on affection and
mutual attraction exploited her. Also, the environment of slavery varied from
benign to brutal. Two autobiographies from that period recount the harshest conditions
explicitly: <i>The History of Mary Prince</i>
and <i>Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl</i>.
Mary Prince and Linda Brent
worked on West Indies' plantations in conditions that injured and sickened them.
When this affected their productivity, they were beaten and whipped till they
couldn't stand and then made to somehow continue working. They were hounded
sexually by their masters. They were unable to live healthy married lives
to the free black men who courted them. Both women learned to read and write.
Both escaped and became outspoken abolitionists. Both autobiographies are in <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_28?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=the+classic+slave+narratives+by+henry+louis+gates&sprefix=The+Classic+Slave+Narratives%2Cstripbooks%2C192" target="_blank">The Classic Slave Narratives</a></i>, edited by Henry Louis Gates, Jr. Slaves on South Carolina Lowcountry rice plantations worked under better conditions,
as described in Charles Joyner's history <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_28?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=the+classic+slave+narratives+by+henry+louis+gates&sprefix=The+Classic+Slave+Narratives%2Cstripbooks%2C192#/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=Down+by+the+Riverside%3A+a+South+Carolina+Slave+Community&rh=n%3A283155%2Ck%3ADown+by+the+Riverside%3A+a+South+Carolina+Slave+Community" target="_blank">Down by the Riverside: a South Carolina Slave Community</a></i>. Anika's story is set in
a South Carolina slave community like that documented by Joyner.<br />
<br />
I wanted to write a paranormal historical with sexy romance and a crossbow-wielding adventuress. I could have written <i>The
Bad Death</i> more realistically, but then it would be a book in a different genre. Due to the novel's setting,
even the most benevolent white characters have racist viewpoints. I hope
readers understand that these views belong to the characters <span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">– </span>not to me. And I hope readers are moved to explore libraries and bookstores. There's great literature out there and inspiring nonfiction accounts of history's real heroes and heroines.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/NIqodUJ-UfM" width="560"></iframe>Naima Havilandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00134347744071207849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6906072790626248628.post-15966165575846761922013-10-20T12:57:00.000-05:002013-10-20T12:57:53.336-05:00Monsters in Gullah Folklore<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAzUX3OipsdbZrsJN_CuoMc2kuyT70un2M4rFjfWC27PhvLYtuo7UOdQkKK_UCvVZAyq6T6LI7xNtJ-lOoBxuwNBZgl_qx5xbY2b8_cZoOwnx5SfyxcrfTcidisjRDCB3azgQjSWBm-BPP/s1600/the_boo_hag_by_ashere-d5mddnm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAzUX3OipsdbZrsJN_CuoMc2kuyT70un2M4rFjfWC27PhvLYtuo7UOdQkKK_UCvVZAyq6T6LI7xNtJ-lOoBxuwNBZgl_qx5xbY2b8_cZoOwnx5SfyxcrfTcidisjRDCB3azgQjSWBm-BPP/s1600/the_boo_hag_by_ashere-d5mddnm.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Boo Hag by Ashere http://ashere.deviantart.com/art/The-Boo-Hag-339906658</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I guest posted at M.R. Gott's Cutis Anserina's blog as part of his month long Halloween Bash of guest posts. You can read about the great monsters of the South's Gullah folklore <a href="http://wherethedeadfeartotread.blogspot.com/2013/10/halloween-bash-with-naima-haviland.html?m=1" target="_blank">here</a>. See you back at my blog soon!Naima Havilandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00134347744071207849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6906072790626248628.post-29778210250111717852013-10-05T13:10:00.000-05:002013-10-05T13:10:02.370-05:00Working with Beta Readers to Write a Better Novel<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin1thGlkk59wuDLQcSBXfki0I_BX1U0Vii40yX2KTArc-EXRe2X6dg6VEhxfSvrYReXJkMcugCLpaW1SInyE_MIRdLemiXS2KU36zihJOtZeXBxwpgo9YNFZH-9uTCJy8-HqYgt9I6cBiC/s1600/bootscritique.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin1thGlkk59wuDLQcSBXfki0I_BX1U0Vii40yX2KTArc-EXRe2X6dg6VEhxfSvrYReXJkMcugCLpaW1SInyE_MIRdLemiXS2KU36zihJOtZeXBxwpgo9YNFZH-9uTCJy8-HqYgt9I6cBiC/s200/bootscritique.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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By the time a writer has polished the manuscript, he's lived
inside the story so long he's lost objectivity. It's time for someone with
fresh eyes. An editor will examine your work from a production perspective, but
it saves a lot of time if you've first identified and fixed your story's
weaknesses. That's where beta readers can help.</div>
<br />
To paraphrase Wikipedia's definition, a beta reader is a
person who reads a novel manuscript with a critical eye. A beta reader may
highlight plot holes or problems with continuity, characterization or
believability; and assist the author with fact-checking.<br />
<br />
Many writers request fellow writers to be beta readers. I
chose readers who weren't writers because I wanted the customer's reaction. I
focused on readers interested in elements present in my novel, such as
paranormal romance, the Gullah culture, or ballet. A few curious friends
volunteered. I
emailed nine potential beta readers. Here's an excerpt:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
I'm contacting you because your interests and experiences
give you the unique view I'm looking for in a beta reader for <i>The Bad Death</i>. Essentially, <i>The Bad Death</i> is a vampire slayer novel
with a Gullah heroine and is slated for publication in summer/fall 2013. The
details below give the cover art and synopsis; an explanation of a beta
reader's contribution; my novel's characteristics such as length and similarity
to its genre sisters; and particulars of the beta-reading period. I also
attached the first few chapters. If you say "yes", I'll contact you
again May 1. </blockquote>
I made a similar appeal on a Goodreads discussion thread,
with the moderator's blessing.<br />
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I wound up with eight readers (three from Goodreads) who had a month to read and review. Five gave feedback. The most valuable input was
constructive criticism. For instance, some said my heroine was too passive, too
much of a victim. Her identity was revealed way too late, and a couple of
readers just gave up on her. Ouch <span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">–</span> but thanks! I thought of a way to reveal
her identity much earlier. I gave her a mission from the start and made her
active instead of reactive. This required changing other characters'
interactions with her. It really strengthened the first 3rd of the book. Other
input affected how many Gullah words I used in dialogue, chapter length, and
the additions of a Gullah dictionary and a list of characters. My revisions per
beta feedback resulted in my editor getting a much better manuscript. And readers got a much better book! Though it isn't for everyone, <i><a href="http://smarturl.it/thebaddeath" target="_blank">The Bad Death</a></i> is getting good <a href="http://books-forlife.blogspot.com/2013/09/carole-reviews-bad-death-naima-haviland.html" target="_blank">reviews</a>.<br />
<br />
In addition to my heartfelt gratitude, I gave each beta reader an autographed copy of the published version, in the format of her choice.<br />
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Naima Havilandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00134347744071207849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6906072790626248628.post-18531564767390805452013-09-24T13:02:00.000-05:002013-09-24T13:02:23.622-05:00 A Reader's Review Blog Reviews The Bad Death<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeIAMe-CMWvSOgj98m1pyL6jWpGq-Dg0dkgc0MVV5JgN9yHWHEI3XRq93PTImxrLB_1yAHmyvSUYkqgTMbxnKqua7Gm2BM3hfeB_zwX3KcVibhb30qRpVDMyoIJRikXfWjeREbtKRrYDrG/s1600/A+Reader's+Review+Banner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeIAMe-CMWvSOgj98m1pyL6jWpGq-Dg0dkgc0MVV5JgN9yHWHEI3XRq93PTImxrLB_1yAHmyvSUYkqgTMbxnKqua7Gm2BM3hfeB_zwX3KcVibhb30qRpVDMyoIJRikXfWjeREbtKRrYDrG/s400/A+Reader's+Review+Banner.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Tina Williams at A Reader's Review Blog called <i>The Bad Death</i> "A masterpiece of dark romance, horror, and suspense". Read Tina's <a href="http://areadersreviewblog.com/2013/09/18/the-bad-death-by-naima-haviland/" target="_blank">review</a> and enter to win <i>The Bad Death</i> and its prequel,<i> Bloodroom</i>, in the e-book format of your choice!<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3OqEtblWxqgrhyphenhyphenYtQqMLytJnhzQzcpiHmCGwEsVz8O0M8RB59vDjSqYAdv_MBYyQMfmsc3hlzke3OBwTJxZR_iOZhj7yZFJctb5Dtlysr5op4OlXy953ofxL1rFBb1PuFlW12fx1vtAoJ/s1600/TheBadDeath-vSM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3OqEtblWxqgrhyphenhyphenYtQqMLytJnhzQzcpiHmCGwEsVz8O0M8RB59vDjSqYAdv_MBYyQMfmsc3hlzke3OBwTJxZR_iOZhj7yZFJctb5Dtlysr5op4OlXy953ofxL1rFBb1PuFlW12fx1vtAoJ/s200/TheBadDeath-vSM.jpg" width="128" /></a>The book giveaway ends Friday, September 27 at midnight (British Summer Time, which equates to 6:00 PM in US Central Time). Check BST with your time zone <a href="http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/city.html?n=297" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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Naima Havilandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00134347744071207849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6906072790626248628.post-30002097056617360792013-09-15T21:56:00.000-05:002013-09-15T22:13:41.092-05:00A Photoshop Trick for Book MarketingI have cast-of-character strips on my book web pages, <a href="http://bloodroomthenovel.com/" target="_blank">bloodroomthenovel.com</a> and <a href="http://thebaddeath.com/" target="_blank">thebaddeath.com</a>. They give potential readers a chance to read bios of major characters. Also, the individual images give me visual aids to use in marketing my books. For instance, I'll post an individual character on Instagram with a provocative tagline and the web addy. Adobe offers a <a href="http://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop/buying-guide.html" target="_blank">monthly subscription</a> for Photoshop for less than $20/month, but you could probably find a good price on eBay or somewhere if you want to own it outright.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVdUZqXd11OpHpCsRPKtgrG78pSNL6E0lBkrbJmiXSXud0kWHyqEUwNdDTJJEEtb1hFdf2fErlz8P1oQr0yXoBIkLtStiYYLqm-i60LrAz8ihbJNN3p4ma1Nfe-OajRy7GqYhrs-qytMno/s1600/anika1stnovel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVdUZqXd11OpHpCsRPKtgrG78pSNL6E0lBkrbJmiXSXud0kWHyqEUwNdDTJJEEtb1hFdf2fErlz8P1oQr0yXoBIkLtStiYYLqm-i60LrAz8ihbJNN3p4ma1Nfe-OajRy7GqYhrs-qytMno/s200/anika1stnovel.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxbJMsBd-vkjvvFfuAdGDh5dssdKASvSuWRFM_JclI7pAXuKO52dPPL4GY4DHUQcHo80lykjfFoE6j97CVIjmxJBY4FkjlyuOcQ2yzngzgJdLNmILzpxqLgyFONUnnDe-Bm6F35BLAvca1/s1600/baddeath4blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxbJMsBd-vkjvvFfuAdGDh5dssdKASvSuWRFM_JclI7pAXuKO52dPPL4GY4DHUQcHo80lykjfFoE6j97CVIjmxJBY4FkjlyuOcQ2yzngzgJdLNmILzpxqLgyFONUnnDe-Bm6F35BLAvca1/s1600/baddeath4blog.jpg" /></a>At left, you'll see the image I purchased at<a href="http://www.istockphoto.com/" target="_blank"> istockphoto.com</a> has a dark background. Derek Murphy of <a href="http://bookcovers.creativindie.com/" target="_blank">Creativeindie Covers</a> used this graphic to produce the cover for <i>The Bad Death</i>. At the time, I didn't have a large file of Derek's work. I used a jpeg of the cover in progress, pictured right. To change the model's brown eyes to my heroine's gold, I used Photoshop's marquee tool to select the gold eyes from Derek's small file and copied them into my large file, resizing them to fit my stock image.<br />
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Then I had to give <i>my</i> Anika the background Derek had. I have a graphic design background, but this trick is easy if you know where Photoshop's interface keeps the right tools.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC0Qic0g4nC2sgExMX6XYYakz_QfjVWVqIq1V1zqlIKuO5tPXZqedsMVSwsmmgE8z4icjq2SS9a4n7nDXmnmFbUqecPAoQUsvmASUngmKJ-kJghPbYgelWCynEOGMVmJtD-p4WzHq5-FJi/s1600/AnikanoBkgrnd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC0Qic0g4nC2sgExMX6XYYakz_QfjVWVqIq1V1zqlIKuO5tPXZqedsMVSwsmmgE8z4icjq2SS9a4n7nDXmnmFbUqecPAoQUsvmASUngmKJ-kJghPbYgelWCynEOGMVmJtD-p4WzHq5-FJi/s400/AnikanoBkgrnd.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Since I also bought the blue watery background from istockphoto, I had that large Photoshop image to work with. I opened that image in Photoshop and copied it into my working file. Copying into my working file automatically put the background on its own layer. On Anika's layer, I used Photoshop's pen tool to draw a path around her. See that thin light outline? That's the path. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX-cseyOjJ9xnm8mYhaIUe_y9bw-dY-0ZXsK6CvwA69gdyIMWzyrHc_P8MPws8B3J8avmLd9XtML3NWoOHGgCOH949-rvi-plp7DgxzRJJjC2X9vJH4Gm4rj7Yi2LLA48hl2zKkLwJuKJQ/s1600/Paths+Palette.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX-cseyOjJ9xnm8mYhaIUe_y9bw-dY-0ZXsK6CvwA69gdyIMWzyrHc_P8MPws8B3J8avmLd9XtML3NWoOHGgCOH949-rvi-plp7DgxzRJJjC2X9vJH4Gm4rj7Yi2LLA48hl2zKkLwJuKJQ/s200/Paths+Palette.jpg" width="127" /></a></div>
When you click on the arrow in the Paths palette, a dropdown menu gives you the option to "Make Selection" of the path.<br />
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With the path selected, I clicked on <i>Image</i> in Photoshop's top menu. From the Image dropdown menu, I chose "Apply Image". At that point a palette popped up allowing me to select the layer containing the background.<br />
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TaDOW!<br />
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Naima Havilandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00134347744071207849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6906072790626248628.post-28600643858805621212013-09-05T11:29:00.003-05:002013-09-05T11:29:32.121-05:00Winner Announced in Goodreads GiveawayMartin Turner won an autographed print copy of The Bad Death. When I host a Goodreads Giveaway, I note with interest the geographical distance between entrants and my sandy little place on the Redneck Riviera. Today, I'm almost ridiculously psyched to send my novel to the quaintly named area of Bexhill on Sea in England.
<p>If you're not Martin Turner, don't despair. You can buy an autographed e-book of The Bad Death (and my other books, too) from <a href="http://www.authorgraph.com/authors/naimahaviland">Authorgraph</a>, for no more $ than you'd pay Amazon for the non-autographed copy. You're welcome ;-)</p>
Naima Havilandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00134347744071207849noreply@blogger.com0