Thanksgiving Message: Don't Take Life for Granted

On the eve of Thanksgiving 2015 I am uploading to my computer photographs I took yesterday at Charleston's beautiful and historic Magnolia Cemetery, about which I have written two books.

I am always touched by the gravesite of little Annie Kerr Aiken who was not quite 3 years old when the throat disease diphtheria took your young life in 1856. Passersby often place small toys and stuffed animals at this site, or as I saw yesterday, coins. Thirteen cents someone placed here- bad luck?

Kizoa Slideshow: Magnolia Cemetery in All Its Splendor

Kizoa is a fun, easy to use, slideshow and collage program for creating colorful presentations put to music and an array of special effects and animation.

I created this Kizoa slideshow about Magnolia Cemetery in Charleston. I have written two books about this grand 19th Victorian necropolis. You can read about them on another blog I have called BirdsEyeViews.

Magnolia Birds - Kizoa Online Movie Maker

Another great thing about Kizoa is that it is free! Free up to a point. There is a nice assortment of music option with the program. But if you want to add other music, you may have to pay for that before your slideshow can be shared. 

Goodread Review of "In the Arms of Angels"

I was excited and pleased to recently come across online this very favorable review of the "In the Arms of Angels" book about Magnolia Cemetery that I published last year. The review is on Goodreads, a website that helps readers "meet your next book."

Thank you Courtney! I'm glad you like my book and appreciate the great time and effort I put into it!

My "Best of Magnolia Cemetery" Video

I just cannot seem to get enough of Charleston's Magnolia Cemetery! 

Books, videos, photographs, blogs posts, articles, taking friends and visitors there, even a special CofC class that ties in with "MagCem." In preparing to take my "Beyond the Grave: What Old Cemeteries Tell and Teach the Living" students on a tour there recently, I used the opportunity to record video of my favorite Magnolia Cemetery landmarks and memorials. 

So without further ado  (drum roll please!)...I present to you "Patrick Harwood's Best of Magnolia Cemetery" video:   

The music was found on my go-to free music website, Incompetech.com.

Fine People and Fine Day for Middleton Place Talk and Cemetery Tour

Yesterday helped get 2015 off to a great start! I had the honor of speaking about my Magnolia Cemetery books to a large group of guides at Middleton Place, one of the Charleston area's greatest and best attractions.

Beverly Donald speaks at the Smith Pyramid

After my talk at the Middleton Place pavilion (organized by Marty Turney), most of us drove to Magnolia Cemetery where superintendent Beverly Donald led a walking tour of Middleton, Alston and Middleton Place-connected burial sites. Lots of history and beautiful examples of funerary art. And we were treated to a beautiful, sunny and comfortable winter day. 

It was a truly great day and I'm very appreciative of the opportunity to speak to such a prominent group and to, with Beverly Donald, show these Middleton guides what's so special and interesting about Magnolia Cemetery! 

Click here for more information about Magnolia Cemetery and Middleton Place. 

Contact me, Patrick Harwood (843.224.3112 or birdseyeviewspublications@gmial.com), to hear more about my visual presentations to groups about Magnolia Cemetery, one of America's most beautiful and historic cemeteries. 

Middleton Place tour guides were taken on a tour of Magnolia Cemetery

Portico Feature Article!

Many thanks to the fine staff at Portico, the College of Charleston's employee newsletter, for a really nice article about my Magnolia Cemetery research and books. Check out pages 5-6 of the online version of the Fall 2014 publication!

From the Fall 2014 CofC Portico employee newsletter

Pat and Patrick Side-by-Side!

I was pleased to see my book is keeping such good company on the shelves of Tomlinson's Warehouse in Summerville! This posting is also a chance to thank store manager Rod Ellison for his support of local authors and artisans. The same appreciation goes to the owners and managers of the other shops that carry my and other local authors' books.

"In the Arms" Now In the Arms of the Governor!

What a thrill it was when I saw this photo shared by Magnolia Cemetery Superintendent Beverly Donald! Beverly was in Columbia on June 11 to receive an award as part of the 2014 South Carolina Historic Preservation Awards held in the state Capitol.

"In the Arms" Interest Sparks Second Printing

At Magnolia Cemetery on April 12 with
Superintendent Beverly Donald.
It was a beautiful day and a great turnout
for the first book signing!

Sales have been brisk of my new book, "In the Arms of Angels: Magnolia Cemetery- Charleston's Treasure of History, Mystery and Artistry." In April, the first two book signings, at Magnolia Cemetery and the College of Charleston, were very successful.

First Light: Sunrise at Magnolia Cemetery

The Ravenel Bridge that connects Charleston and Mount Pleasant over the Cooper River

Being up and on the road extra early this fall to be at Charleston's Magnolia Cemetery by 8 a.m. for my parttime job there, I admired many glorious sunrises before the time changed recently.

New Book Receives College of Charleston Support

Patrick Harwood

I am pleased to share the news that the new book I am currently writing about Magnolia Cemetery is receiving financial support from the College of Charleston's School of Humanities and Social Sciences. Special thanks goes to the school's dean, Dr. Jerold L. Hale, for approving my application for special funding to assist faculty involved in research initiatives.

As I work to soon complete the manuscript of "In the Arms of Angels: The History, Mystery and Artistry of Magnolia Cemetery," these funds, nearly $700, will help in the steps toward publication. I am optimistic the new book will be out early next year.

"In the Arms of Angels" follows my 2011 release of "The Birds of Magnolia Cemetery: Charleston's Secret Bird Sanctuary" available at the cemetery office and more than a dozen Charleston area bookstores and historic site gift shops, as well as through Amazon.