Heather Huffman Archives - Sylvain Reynard

Charity Spotlight: Heather Huffman’s Fight Against Human Trafficking

July 12, 2013

Dear Everyone,

I’ve never had a guest post on my blog. Today, I’m pleased to introduce my first guest post, penned by author Heather Huffman.

Thank you, Heather, for joining us today. – SR
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Before I wrote Throwaway, I thought slavery ended in the United States when the 13th Amendment was ratified. What I stumbled across while doing research opened my eyes to a world I didn’t know existed – to the human trafficking trade in the United States and abroad.

I had no clue what to do about my newfound knowledge, though. I tried getting involved with various anti-slavery groups, but none of them returned my emails. When the obvious failed, I began toying with the idea of using the books as a way to raise awareness, since some of them included human trafficking as plot points.

Then my sisters signed us all up for a human trafficking symposium in January 2011. On our way there, I told them that I wasn’t sure how or what it would look like, but I wanted to use my books as a voice for the voiceless. At the conference, as the main speaker was introducing the topics for the day, he said, “Maybe someone here is supposed to be a voice for the voiceless…” The entire row turned and looked at me.

Not long after that, I released four novels as free ebooks. Two of them had human trafficking as plot elements, two didn’t. They weren’t in-depth examinations of trafficking or anything, more like conversation starters. My books are first and foremost romance novels. Still, all four included an author’s note about trafficking along with ways for readers to get involved.

The books went kind of crazy. Tens of thousands were downloaded, and I began hearing from readers all over the world, including some who were former slaves. It was readers who put me in touch with groups like Project Liberty and The Covering House, two organizations on the front lines of the fight against slavery.

About six months after the books were released, I was contacted by a small publisher out of Seattle called Booktrope. After a couple months of discussion, they republished the first four novels and the fifth was in the publication process. I worried the decision to republish would be selling out, but I felt my reach would be greater with a publisher behind the books. Now that the books were being sold, I decided to donate a portion of my royalties to groups fighting trafficking.

Thankfully, Booktrope believes in offering free ebooks often, which means the books are still out there raising awareness. When Throwaway was re-released under their banner as a free ebook, it received 150,000 downloads in the first six weeks of its release. We recently made the ebook format of Throwaway free again (on iTunes In the United States) and plan to leave it that way for the foreseeable future.

When I set out on this venture, I have to admit I envisioned writing a big, impressive check to Project Liberty – something that would make a real difference in their daily operations – but I seem to be better at raising awareness than funds. Still, I’m not sure the amount matters as much as the act of doing something, anything to help. If I waited to donate until I could give an amount that I felt made a difference, that day might never come.

So I give what I can and offer encouragement to those doing the work the rest of us can’t. In addition to donating to a couple of groups I trust, I sponsor children through World Vision because fighting abject poverty in third world countries is another way to attack the evil of human trafficking. I also give talks in schools, churches and women’s groups about trafficking and how we can keep our children from being victimized. It’s an eclectic approach to joining the fight, but then my personality has always been a bit eclectic so I guess that’s fitting.

Before I wrote Throwaway, I had no clue about things like human trafficking. Now that I know, I feel like an itty-bitty ant trying to move a mountain. Luckily, I don’t have to move the mountain alone. I just have to keep chipping away at it along with everyone else who feels called to move that same mountain. Eventually, we’ll get there. – Heather Huffman

Heather & Goatsy

Heather Huffman calls the beautiful Missouri Ozarks home. When not writing, this homesteading mother is either cheering one of her three sons on at a sporting event or tending the family’s myriad of animals, which includes alpacas, goats, chickens and ducks. Huffman’s optimistic and somewhat quirky view of life often finds its way into her novels.

Heather is the author of Throwaway, Ties that Bind, Jailbird, Suddenly a Spy, Ring of Fire, Tumbleweed, Devil in Disguise, Roses in Ecuador, and her latest book, Fool’s Game. You can find out more about her family’s adventures as they strive to live off the land, as well as her writing and charitable work on www.heatherhuffman.net

Jessie Jones is living the life–except for the fact that she earns it by working the streets. She’s been under pimp Spence’s thumb for fourteen years, and she isn’t looking to change it. That is, until undercover cop Gabe walks into her life and offers her something she’s never had before: a love, a future, a home. But even if Jessie could walk away from Spence, there are darker forces of evil who want her to stay put, or worse, dead.

In this romantic suspense, author Heather Huffman delivers an adventure from the vibrant streets of St. Louis to the caves of the Ozarks as Jessie discovers whether she can love another, whether she can love herself, and whether any of it is enough.
Don’t miss Heather Huffman’s other books: Suddenly a Spy, Jailbird, Ring of Fire, Ties That Bind, Tumbleweed, and the newly-released Devil in Disguise!

At the request of the U.S. Government, Caitlyn O’Rourke faked her death years ago, only to be reborn as the Cat—a deadly black-ops agent tasked with working for the shadowy organization Chameleon and doing the jobs that can’t be done in the light of day. Now, on the verge of taking down a notorious drug lord and rescuing a captured Chameleon agent, Cat is targeted for assassination…from within. But who’s making the call, and why?

As she attempts to uncover answers and stay alive, Cat finds herself working alongside Cody Kingsley, the mysterious senator who broke her heart and betrayed her long ago. Along with an inner circle of fellow agents, Cat and Cody must untangle the web of lies that surrounds them before it’s too late.

From the sultry streets of New Orleans to a secluded plantation in Ecuador to Washington, DC, Cat must elude an agent hell-bent on her destruction while figuring out how high up the ladder the conspiracy reaches. At the same time, she must work through her tumultuous and conflicting emotions where both Cody and fellow agent Galloway—who may or may not have her best interests at heart—are concerned.

A thrill ride of emotions, suspense, and action, Fool’s Game intertwines matters of the heart and survival …and the only thing certain is that Cat will never be the same.

Where to find Heather:

Website

Twitter

Facebook

Pinterest

Why Charity?

May 27, 2013

Dear Everyone,

I’ve posted on the subject of charity before but because it was so long ago, I thought I’d revisit the subject.

I’ve been fortunate to be interviewed by readers and bloggers from around the world. My most recent interview was with Pioneer Books in Hungary in advance of the release of the Hungarian translation of “Gabriel’s Inferno.” (They’re running a contest where you can win a trip to Florence here.)

Often I’m asked about my charity work. I enjoy answering those questions because it gives me an opportunity to highlight some of the causes that I care about. Rarely am I asked why I support charities and development organizations. I think this is because the importance of charitable work is obvious and this importance transcends countries, cultures, and religions.

But putting together my work as an author and some of my private charitable commitments wasn’t obvious to me at the beginning of my fiction writing. I had charitable involvement in my private life and I was a novelist. But I wasn’t doing both at the same time. It was only after I’d heard of writers donating original short works or copies of their novels for fundraisers, such as for Alex’s Lemonade Stand, that it occurred to me this was something I could and should do.

Once “Gabriel’s Inferno” was published, I developed a social media presence. This enabled me to be more intentional about focusing people’s attention on charity, but once again, the opportunity wasn’t obvious initially. It was only after I read “Twitter for Good” and met Heather Huffman that I realized I could do more.

“Twitter for Good” highlights the ways in which this social medium can be used to effect positive change in the world. I’m sure we’re all familiar with cases in which Twitter is used for less than noble purposes. Claire Diaz-Ortiz argues that there is a tremendous opportunity for us as Twitter users to change that and she highlights several different ways that we can do so. For me, Miss Diaz-Ortiz’s work was a wake-up call.

Then I came across a review of Heather Huffman’s book “Throwaway.” I was intrigued and decided to visit Heather’s website. I discovered that she is an anti-slavery/anti-human trafficking activist who uses her skills as a writer to raise awareness about these issues. She also donates a portion of her royalties to support organizations who combat slavery and human trafficking.

(NB: Some of you are already aware that Heather and I are planning to co-author a romantic comedy in order to raise money for charity. We’ve already begun and I can tell you, I’m already enamoured of the characters we’ve created. While we don’t have a release date yet and we’ve both been busy with other projects, I’m committed to finishing this work. So please stay tuned for more information.)

Once I became aware of the fact that I could do more as an author to highlight charities, I started to make some changes. On Twitter and sometimes on Facebook, I’ve begun posting a charity highlight of the day. You can see the charities and organizations I follow here. You’ll notice that many of the charities deal with poverty and homelessness, while others address human trafficking, health, grief and bereavement, and fair trade.

I’m not the only one in the writing/reading/blogging community who is doing this. Many of the book blogs I interact with have hosted giveaways to raise money for charities or for disaster relief. It’s always inspiring to see readers, writers, and bloggers come together for a good cause and I’m very proud of the work that has been done together by these groups.

I’m also inspired by the volunteer work readers do in their own communities. Argyle Empire has put together a series of posts on the charities I support. They recently highlighted one reader’s involvement with her local Covenant House.

So if someone asks you – why support a charity? I think there are a number of different answers.

First, it’s important to serve something other than yourself. The purpose of life isn’t to accumulate stuff or to hoard goods while others are in need.

Second, supporting charities can inspire others to do the same. This multiplies the good work.

Third, supporting charities is a way of giving back to yourself. You never know when you or someone you love will need the charitable outreach you’ve been supporting. We are all connected.

Fourth, supporting charities is a way of receiving inspiration and encouragement as you see people from around the world come together to give to those in need. When you read the newspaper and see a particularly horrifying story, it helps to have a little good news to counterbalance it.

Social media can be used for good or not. I choose to use it for good and I ask you to join with me in doing so as well.

All the best and thank you for your support,

www.sylvainreynard.com

Interview with Sylvain Reynard – Part III

June 5, 2012

Dear Everyone,

Thank you for your continued support of me and my writing. I’m pleased to say that Heather Huffman and I are in talks about co-authoring a romantic comedy whose royalties would be donated to charity. More details will be forthcoming. If you haven’t read Heather’s novel, “Throwaway,” please do. Not only is it a compelling and redemptive read, Heather donates a portion of her royalties to combat human trafficking. I’m honoured to be able to work with her on a project that will continue to support those efforts.

What follows is the third instalment of my interview with Serendipitous, a long time reader. Her words are in bold:

There are many references to art, literature and music throughout “Gabriel’s Inferno.” Did these works inspire the scenes you wrote? Or did the writing come first, to be complemented by art?

In some cases, the artistic elements were part of my original idea. The works of Botticelli and Holiday’s painting of Dante and Beatrice were part of my outline. As the story progressed, pieces of music and literature were added in order to illustrate a point or to signal something to the reader.

You created your characters with a very sure eye. Their mistakes, their failures, and their victories are perfectly in line with what we come to know about them. How much character development was done before you began writing? Was it challenging to adjust when they took an abrupt turn from what you’d planned?

When I began the story, I outlined the arc of the narrative from beginning to end. But the way in which the characters interacted and the things they said emerged through successive drafts. The character of Professor Singer, for example, wasn’t in my original outline. But when I envisioned Professor Emerson’s public lecture, I saw her sitting in the audience and I knew they would have a history.

I can’t imagine the story without her. She’s vile, but she plays a certain role in the progression of Julia and Gabriel’s relationship. Gabriel is rather vague when Julia questions him on what happened with Professor Singer. Did you prefer leaving it to the reader’s imagination?

Yes. The reader can decide for his or herself what happened between Gabriel and Singer. For Gabriel, those encounters were self-destructive and desperate and that wasn’t a place I wanted to go within the context of the narrative.

Paul treats Julia with kindness from the start, and he makes it clear he’d like to be more than a friend. But Julia’s heart knows only one direction, and it leads to Gabriel: someone who acts remote, cold, and even cruel to her on occasion. Do nice guys finish last, even if they’re Virgil?

I don’t think nice guys ever finish last, including Virgil. If someone is good, he is rewarded by being good. No amount of failed relationships or unrequited love can ever diminish that. Certainly, the historical Virgil didn’t finish last. He spends eternity in the Vestibule with Homer and Ovid. (Parenthetically it should be noted that readers shouldn’t give up on Paul so quickly. There is much more in store for him in the sequel)

It’s good to hear that, because Paul deserves happiness and someone who truly appreciates everything he has to offer. Thanks for the little glimpse into the next book!

I’ll be posting more from our interview soon.

All the best and thanks for reading,

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