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Award winning works ________________
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MEET THE AUTHORD. L. Havlin
"Do
you need to know about an author to enjoy his writing?" D.L.
Havlin smiled as he restated the question and answered. "I don’t believe
so. But I do think knowledge of a writer’s background allows his readers to understand
a specific work’s perspective and evaluate its validity. Certainly,
this is paramount in nonfiction and it allows the reader to connect the dots in
novels." Schooling in Ft Myers, Florida and at Anderson HS in Ohio prepared him for his BA at the University of Cincinnati and his masters work at Rollins College. A widely varied career followed including being a systems analyst and procedure writer, production manager, a high school football coach, materials manager, licensed boat captain, product line manager, manufacturing plant manager, world-wide divisional customer service director, a fishing guide, general manager of a chemicals distributor, call center service rep, substitute teacher, and president and general manager of a small manufacturing company. Writing and public speaking were entwined in of these as he prepared trade articles, technical manuals, advertising copy, training seminars, narrative reports, and train car loads of correspondence. An avid lover of the outdoors and sports enthusiast, his passion for fishing, hunting, and camping are frequently included in his writing. A deep love for all nature and especially wild Florida often furnish settings for his work, but his travels make places such as Kiev, Singapore, London, New York, Modena, or Saxonhausen backgrounds for his stories as well. His education, travel, and occupations have provided what he calls, "My greatest treasure—the bank I draw from when writing—is the myriad of relationships I’ve been fortunate enough to accumulate." D.L. participated in football and baseball in his school years and coached the same sports for more than twenty seasons at the youth and high school levels. "The guys I played with, the kids I coached, and fellow coaches from staffs I served on, provide some of my warmest, most humorous, and intense memories." He points to his left chest, "Athletics are heart and I believe that is the most important factor in writing." His passion for writing has increased with his years, though high school lit teachers and college English professors tried to interest him in redirecting his education because of talent he displayed as a young adult. His interests were elsewhere. "I was convinced I would rush for more yards than Jim Brown or destroy Ruth’s homer record—ah the blissful ignorance of youth." However, his unique combination of vivid imagination and ability to weave intricate plot lines, seasoned by his life-time exposure to fascinating story possibilities, now provides the heart-felt, enjoyable reading his novels provide. When asked what had the biggest impact on his writing he replies, "That’s tough! Reading of course. Authors like Norman Mclean, Harper Lee, Samuel Clemens, and new comers Nicholas Sparks, Pat Cornwell, and Clive Cussler certainly did. There are so many factors…but. I think traveling to fifty plus countries has had the strongest influence. Not because of what I’ve seen, it’s the people I’ve met—and the realization life’s three largest mistakes are to believe others all share your values, others can be made to "love" you, and that all humans are the same under their differences in clothes and skin. He answers, "Why do you write?" by saying, "Easy. If you're a novelist, it's to entertain—that’s first, but to provoke thought is a close second. Readers are thinkers. I firmly believe both are done through the heart, for the mind is seldom opened until it is emotionally conditioned to do so." Courtesy: Southwest Florida Magazine ~ Flash Bio ~ Promoting Outstanding Authors – 2008 Author of the Year Author’s Name: D.L. Havlin (Dennis Lee)Born: April 18, 1941 Educational Background: Elementary school - Ft. Myers, FL / High school – Cincinnati, OH, College – University of Cincinnati, BBA ’64 / College – Rollins College, Masters work Points of Interest Professional Background – systems analyst and procedure writer, production manager, materials manager, installed first computer based inventory system for a major manufacturer in the 60’s, product line manager, manufacturing plant manager, general manager of a chemicals distributor, call center service rep, president and general manager of a small manufacturing company, world-wide divisional customer service director, Life Experiences – high school football coach, licensed boat captain, extensive world travels, fishing guide, avid hunter and camper, amateur historian studying early Florida and World War II, former regional director for the Florida Writers Association, Published work Novels -- September on Echo Creek*, The Hidden Door**, Short story collection – Story Timer, Stories and articles in magazines – POW Writers Monthly, Southwest Florida Adventure, The Florida Palm, GSE, and others Current Works of Interest – The Hidden Door*** – The Three Lives of Larry Seigel – A Place No One Should Go - Francis’ Flowers – Blue Water, Red Blood - The Bully Route Home Awards and Honors *for September on Echo Creek – won 2006 Promoting Outstanding Writers, runner-up for best literary genre novel / book of the month August 2006 Knoxville News Network / **The Hangin Oak – Royal Palm Award 2004 for best manuscript - literary fiction / 2007 Promoting Outstanding Writers 2007 best mystery genre novel / Promoting Outstanding Writers 2008 novel of the year ***The Hidden Door – Royal Palm Award 2004 runner-up for best manuscript - historical fiction 2004 +Caught on the Pot – won humorous short story contest Sept. 2006 POW Author of the Year - 2008
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"Open
Minds, Open Books"
