R. Haven
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rhaven.bsky.social
R. Haven
@rhaven.bsky.social
560 followers 400 following 580 posts
I write about trauma. Parent. Sensitivity reader. Rep'd by Kaitlyn Katsoupis of Belcastro Agency. Anti-racist, anti-fascist, anti-AI. BLM, Every Child Matters. He/him. Website at www.theirritablequeer.com
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rhaven.bsky.social
The oldest queer bookstore in the world is having a book fair in Toronto Ontario! Come check it out on Nov 30, 12pm-6pm, at 32 Lisgar St!
November 11, 2025 at 5:48 PM
rhaven.bsky.social
I'll be vending here at the end of the month! Toronto-based readers - if you're interested in supporting indie authors/presses and emotion-driven horror, come see me!
A flyer for Glad Day Lit's Queer Zine and Local Author Book Fair. It says to save the date Sunday, Nov 30, 12pm-6pm at 32 Lisgar St in Toronto, Ontario. Unique gift ideas, free entry!
November 11, 2025 at 2:19 PM
rhaven.bsky.social
The plague monk cometh… with books in hand.

www.indigo.ca/en-ca/the-ot...

www.indigo.ca/en-ca/choice...

Happy Halloween! 🎃👻
A person in a white plague mask and bloodied monk’s robe stands holding two books, ‘The Other Face of Sympathy’ by R. Haven and ‘Choices: An Anthology of Reproductive Horror’ edited by Dianna Gunn. He stands in front of a gravestone reading ‘pet cemetery’ with skeletal birds and a ram’s skull. A person in a white plague mask and bloodied monk’s robe stands holding two books, ‘The Other Face of Sympathy’ by R. Haven and ‘Choices: An Anthology of Reproductive Horror’ edited by Dianna Gunn.
October 31, 2025 at 4:13 PM
rhaven.bsky.social
This is still the best-looking sushi I've ever made
Teriyaki sushi rolls in red sushi boats, with soy sauce in the end compartments.
October 11, 2025 at 4:41 PM
rhaven.bsky.social
Thrilled to say that I won SECOND PLACE, adult 25+ category, at the Inkwell Literary Festival's short story contest!

Technically speaking, does this make me an award-winning author? 😮
Certificate from Inkwell Literary Festival's short story contest. It says '2nd Place Red Haven Berry for Legend Half-Recalled', category ages 25+, presented October 4 2025.
October 5, 2025 at 4:34 PM
rhaven.bsky.social
IT'S OUT TODAY!

The anthology I contributed to, 'CHOICES', focuses on the horrors surrounding reproductive rights and freedoms.

books2read.com/u/3JYo9Q?
Red paint background with the cover for Choices: An Anthology of Reproductive Horror on the left. The cover lists the editor, Dianna Gunn, the author of the foreward, Alex Woodroe, and the names of the authors: R Haven, Ondine Mayor, Enoli Lee, Ash Vale, Justine White, Kelli Etheridge, Ava Victoria Black, Allay Rei, Soyam Siddha, Sam Rosewilde, A.H. Davison, Meg Calendaria, KT Wagner, Anne Wilkins, Bogi Takacs, Amanda Cecelia Lang, Elise Scott, Mia Dalia, Raluca Balasa. The right side says: “As the horrors close in around us, we turn to story to process our fears, our desires, and our futures. In Choices: An Anthology of Reproductive Horror, nineteen writers whose reproductive rights are under threat explore the stories of those who, like them, have had their choices stolen from them: The horror of being forced to carry a child you don’t want. The catharsis of taking revenge on a man who stole your right to choose. The terror of being threatened by the world for having a baby you do want because you’re “the wrong gender”. These stories serve as a reminder of the power of choice and the importance of fighting for every human’s right to choose their own future.”
September 30, 2025 at 1:06 PM
rhaven.bsky.social
IT’S TIME.

books2read.com/u/mvxDE2

#horror #book #canadian
September 9, 2025 at 2:21 PM
rhaven.bsky.social
Only days away…

On September 9th, my #horror #book - THE OTHER FACE OF SYMPATHY - makes its official debut.

#monsters are everywhere, readers. And they wrote their stories down.

Keep an open mind, turn the page, and pray that understanding saves you.

Order the book here: books2read.com/u/mvxDE2
September 7, 2025 at 12:09 AM
rhaven.bsky.social
A bowl of sushi rice and a stein of Coca Cola.
September 6, 2025 at 4:52 PM
rhaven.bsky.social
Fun facts about THE OTHER FACE OF SYMPATHY!

24. The banshee is a looming presence throughout most of the book, but stops screaming when the MC, Edward, becomes spoken for by another monster...
Art of a banshee by Hutch Holloway (https://linktr.ee/trapnaster). The banshee is a ghostly woman in long, flowing rags, hair streaming behind her as she clutches at her face. Her mouth is agape in a scream. Her eyelids droop over her eyes.
September 1, 2025 at 2:46 PM
rhaven.bsky.social
August 29, 2025 at 9:32 PM
rhaven.bsky.social
Copies of my #debut #horror THE OTHER FACE OF SYMPATHY are being delivered early - officially, the release date is Sept 9!

Order yours now from books2read.com/u/mvxDE2 - #kitten not included.
R. Haven's book, THE OTHER FACE OF SYMPATHY, on a fancy black backdrop. A skeletal hand and wire-wrapped skull sit around chains that surround the book. R. Haven's book, THE OTHER FACE OF SYMPATHY, surrounded by chains. R. Haven's book, THE OTHER FACE OF SYMPATHY, surrounded by chains. A calico kitten is investigating the scene.
August 29, 2025 at 4:54 PM
rhaven.bsky.social
Fun facts about THE OTHER FACE OF SYMPATHY!

21. Some people are receiving their copies now!
Author R. Haven holding a physical copy of his book, The Other Face of Sympathy.
August 29, 2025 at 3:46 PM
rhaven.bsky.social
Fun facts about THE OTHER FACE OF SYMPATHY!

13. Here's the first line of the book:
A skull atop books, with overlay text reading: 'I'd never looked at St. Vincent de Paul's from a place of privilege before.' - The Other Face of Sympathy
August 21, 2025 at 2:49 PM
rhaven.bsky.social
Fun facts about THE OTHER FACE OF SYMPATHY!

12. I once made a joke aesthetic board for the novel - isn't it beautiful?
A clipart aesthetic board, mostly in black and white. From left to right: the grim reaper reaching out, a red splotch of blood, a little girl looking scared of her shadow, vampire teeth, the front of a bookstore, drama masks, an egg-shaped monster holding a book, a tree with a face, and a spiderweb. Again, this cannot be stressed enough: it is all clipart.
August 20, 2025 at 1:41 PM
rhaven.bsky.social
Fun facts about THE OTHER FACE OF SYMPATHY!

3. The proprietress of Otherside Book Exchange - one of the key locations in the story - is named Conscience because she truly believes herself to be the kind, sympathetic voice of reason.

But she's still a monster. Don't forget.
Art by sutexii of a woman in a hoodie pulling her face off to unmask the horrifying living veins underneath.
August 11, 2025 at 12:45 PM
rhaven.bsky.social
Hey #AUGhost readers - if you like all things spooky, I have a book coming out September 9! That's JUST NEXT MONTH.

Edward Barrett seeks the diary of a monster hunting him at the mysterious Otherside Book Exchange.

You can learn more or preorder at this link: books2read.com/u/mvxDE2
Text from the book 'The Other Face of Sympathy'. Searching for the term ‘Skinmother’ didn’t get me anything of use, and I rolled my eyes when most of the pages that came up were pornographic. ‘Kuchisake-onna’ gleaned some links, though: information about a Japanese ghost dating back to the seventeenth century, her slit mouth hidden under a mask. Yuma’s diary was from the eighties. She couldn’t have been the Kuchi- sake-onna from mythology. I wanted to think that invalidated the theory as a whole, but that didn’t explain anything about the books returning to the shelf or being indestructible. So, it was Conscience, or gathering more evidence.
August 10, 2025 at 11:13 PM
rhaven.bsky.social
ONE MONTH UNTIL MY #HORROR BOOK COMES OUT!

Every day until it comes out, I’m going to post a fun fact about it on Bluesky!

1. I started writing this book at a Starbucks on a whim - no plot planning, no characters in mind, nothing in my head but ✨vibes✨
The book cover for R. Haven’s ‘The Other Face of Sympathy’, where a young man surrounded by books is sitting on the floor. Shadowy hands reach towards him.
August 10, 2025 at 1:04 AM
rhaven.bsky.social
A miniature of my #DnD character, the half-Triton Cadeyrn Lune and his cat, Son of Felicia!
A painted miniature of a Dungeons and Dragons character with silvery skin and a couple of crossbows. There is a grey cat by his feet ready to pounce. The mini is in front of some ‘potion’ bottles and some Fruits Basket manga.
August 10, 2025 at 12:53 AM
rhaven.bsky.social
Earlier this year I had a story, ‘A Dead Woman’s Journal’, accepted into Choices: An Anthology of Reproductive Horror. Today I’m pleased to be able to share more about this anthology with you, starting with this incredible cover!

books2read.com/u/3JYo9Q
A red and black book cover, the shape reminiscent of an X-ray of a pelvis with the ovaries and uterus visible. The book's title is 'Choices: An Anthology of Reproductive Horror', edited by Dianna Gunn.
August 1, 2025 at 5:53 PM
rhaven.bsky.social
July 13, 2025 at 8:11 PM
rhaven.bsky.social
Kittens make everything look comfortable
A calico kitten lying in a bundle of blanket. Her position is weird.
July 12, 2025 at 6:27 PM
rhaven.bsky.social
The #paperback version of my #horror #book is available for #preorder now - THE OTHER FACE OF SYMPATHY, in which supernatural creatures kept diaries... and Edward Barrett needs to find the one written by the monster pursuing him.

books2read.com/u/mvxDE2

#books #horrorbooks #canadian
June 10, 2025 at 11:14 PM
rhaven.bsky.social
#kitten
May 27, 2025 at 7:36 PM
rhaven.bsky.social
Not where #kitten is supposed to go
May 23, 2025 at 2:17 AM