Author: John W. Howell

I have been working in business for over forty years and now have the time to work in special areas of interest. My passion has always been to create compelling stories of fiction. I have authored six novels and am working on my Seventh. The first novel is still in manuscript form and being utilized as a door stop in the laundry room. The second is a contemporary fiction novel of 89,000 words and is complete and I am currently seeking a publisher. I also write poetry but have not had the guts to share any with anyone. The one time I read a piece to a person their only comment was, “it doesn’t rhyme.” I will continue to write and hopefully my blog, Fiction Favorites at www.johnwhowell.com will provide some entertainment and an interesting thought or two. I live in the Austin area with my wife Molly and an assortment of loving pets.

The Last Drive Tour with Marcia Meara

January 31, 2023January 30, 2023 ~ John W. Howell

What a delight to be with Marcia Meara to talk about The Last Drive. You can visit her blog HERE.

I really got to know Marcia when she was a member of Story Empire. I joined after she was a member, and she made me feel welcome and was always ready to help a novice navigate the unknown. Marcia is a prolific writer with 11 Titles published. You can see them all on her Amazon author’s page.

Here is a little more about Marcia.

Marcia Meara lives in central Florida, just north of Orlando, with her husband of over thirty-five years and four big cats.

When not writing or blogging, she spends her time gardening and enjoying the surprising amount of wildlife that manages to make a home in her suburban yard. She enjoys nature. Really, really enjoys it. All of it! Well, almost all of it, anyway. From birds to furry critters to her very favorites, snakes. The exception would be spiders, which she truly loathes, convinced that anything with eight hairy legs is surely up to no good. She does not, however, kill spiders anymore since she knows they have their place in the world. Besides, her husband now handles her Arachnid Catch and Release Program, and she’s good with that.

Spiders aside, the one thing Marcia would like to tell each of her readers is that it’s never too late to make your dreams come true. If, at the age of 69, she could write and publish a book (and thus fulfill 64 years of longing to do that very thing), you can make your own dreams a reality, too. Go for it! What have you got to lose?

The Emissary Series by Marcia- Click for Amazon.

Thank you, Marcia, for helping spread the word on The Last Drive.

I have closed the comments so that Marcia will be delighted with fresh words posted at her place.

The Last Drive Tour with Annette Rochelle Aben.

January 30, 2023January 29, 2023 ~ John W. Howell ~ 2 Comments

I am happy to be with fellow Michigander Annette Rochelle Aben to discuss The Last Drive. You can visit Annette’s post HERE.

Annette can be described as a Communicator, WordSmith, Artist, Guide, Mentor, and Muse. She is all of these things. As a communicator, she is a trained radio broadcaster and has a blog talk radio show. Her wordsmith moniker is proven by the fact she has a daily blog and has written 20 titles which are available on Amazon. Her artistic talent can be seen in her Zazzle store. Here is the link http://www.zazzle.com/annetteaben. As a mentor and guide, Annette has developed the concept of Attitude with Gratitude. She shows folks how to approach life in a way that produces happiness. You can visit several examples of her teachings HERE.

As a muse, Annette invites everyone to her blog with these works. “In addition to writing, I am completely in love with Angels, cooking, making jewelry, photography, cats, listening to music, and laughing! Perhaps we have something in common, if so, leave me a comment, and let’s connect.”

Thank you so much for helping me tell The Last Drive story, Annette.

I have closed the comments, so you don’t have to think of something clever to say here but you can do that at Annette’s place.

Views of the Neighborhood – Lakeway Heritage Tour

January 29, 2023January 28, 2023 ~ John W. Howell ~ 67 Comments

Today we are going on the heritage tour of Lakeway. There are 22 stops, and we will be chauffeured in a brand-new bus. Of course, we will have to take our bus to get there. We are catered by Odd Duck of Austin, and our entertainment is The Who.

Starters

Gulf seafood ceviche, carrot leche de tigre, strawberry, radish, potato chips

Grilled kale salad, fennel, citrus, sunchoke dukkah, shiitake ranch

Charred broccoli, chèvre, mole spice, apple gastrique, sesame

Cast iron cheddar cornbread, green garlic butter

Mushroom tamal, kohlrabi cheese, field greens, cilantro

Smoked oyster chowder, turnip, pork belly, brassica greens, pork rinds

Main

Capellini pasta, sunchoke cacio e pepe, TX cheddar, carrot salsa macha

Blackened redfish, sourdough sauce, wilted romaine, pecan, lemon

Grilled quail, XO fried rice, braised greens, beet BBQ, fried chicken skin

Dry-aged wagyu burger, blue beer cheese, tostada, pork birria jam, cabbage slaw

Aged pork loin, tzatziki, caramelized fennel, beets, pepitas

Chile beer glazed short rib, radish kimchi, Japanese sweet potato, peanut

Dessert

Lime mousse, strawberry sorbet, puffed rice, butter mochi

Sunchoke blondie, caramelized white chocolate, sherry vinegar caramel, cocoa nib ice cream

Salted peanut butter budino, chocolate cake, marshmallow creme, dark chocolate-covered peanut butter cookie

Picture of an old time school bus

All aboard.

Here is the map of the tour and a list of the stops.

After the tour, we each get a hardcover book about Lakeway.

That bus makes ours look a little shabby. Not as lovely inside, I’ll bet.

There are the registration tents. Yes, we had to have reservations.

We can also meet the mayor, who is here somewhere, and Gwen Wunneberger, who as a girl, lived in the cabin in the background.

Gotta have a sweet and cup of coffee but don’t spoil your brunch.

Always terrific to be welcomed.

The old Liebelt cabin was moved to this spot.

Kay Andrews, dressed in a period costume, gives us a tour of the cabin.

A horse-drawn hay cutter sits in the cabin yard.

Behind the cabin sits a replica of August Liebelt’s headstone in honor of him.

It is time to get on the other bus for the tour. If you really want to see what the tour is like. you can visit a previous post on the subject HERE

I hope you enjoyed the tour. Now, let’s sit back and enjoy the food and entertainment. I hope you have a terrific week.

Saturday – A Little Personal – Lucy and Twiggy Messing Around

January 28, 2023January 27, 2023 ~ John W. Howell ~ 122 Comments

“Lucy. What are you doing?”

“Who says I’m Lucy?”

“What do you mean, ‘who says I’m Lucy?’ I say you’re Lucy.”

“Look closer, pesky puma. There is a water buffalo stalking you.”

“We just played this yesterday. Let’s do something else.”

“Play puma? Play? Do you think this is a game?”

“You’re funny, Lucy. We always play this game.”

“So I’m funny, huh? What kind of funny? Funny, haha, or what?”

“What’s come over you, Lucy? I just said I thought you were funny.”

“Yeah, I know, and I want to know what is so funny?”

“Oh, I get it. You’re doing a Joe Pesci Goodfella riff.”

“Okay, so you figured it out. Had you going though, didn’t I?”

“Let’s just say I thought you had finally gone off the deep end.”

“Why do you always sniff the stair when you are nervous?”

“I’m not nervous, and I think you just made that up.”

“I’m just telling you what I have observed.”

“Don’t go near that door. I heard mom putting together the bath stuff.”

“When did you hear that?”

“Just before we came out. Man, I do not like baths.”

“See, you’re doing it again. Sniffing the stair.”

“Okay, you stay by that door until you’re discovered. I’m heading the other way.”

“I think I hear mom coming.”

“I’m outta here.”

Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF – Fri-Yay/Good News

January 27, 2023January 26, 2023 ~ John W. Howell ~ 104 Comments

The plane that made the hydrogen-powered flight. credit: ZeroAvia

Today’s good news story comes from the Good News Network. Here it is in its entirety.

Aviation Startup ZeroAvia Flies Largest-Ever Hydrogen Electric Aircraft

By

Andy Corbley Jan 24, 2023

An aviation start-up just set a new world-first for the largest hydrogen-powered aircraft flight in history—a 19-seat aircraft called the Dornier 228.

Designed by ZeroAvia, the start-up is developing hydrogen-powered engines for regional flights and has taken off over the last 12 months.

This most recent flight was a 10-minute affair from the Cotswolds Airport in Gloucestershire, England, but was only the most recent manifestation of their success.

ZeroAvia counts American and United airlines as their investors, and by 2025, the firm has 1,500 pre-orders of their hydrogen-electric powertrains to fulfill. In addition, the prototype powertrains have received approval from the UK and US civil aviation authorities.

“This is a major moment, not just for ZeroAvia, but for the aviation industry as a whole, as it shows that true zero-emission commercial flight is only a few years away,” ZeroAvia founder and CEO Val Miftakhov said in a statement Thursday.

The flight comes after news in August that the company signed a memorandum of understanding with American Airlines for 100 of the powertrains being developed for 90-seat aircraft.

“Having support from [one of the] world’s largest airline is a strong indication of the progress we’re making on the development of hydrogen-electric, zero-emission flight,” added ZeroAvia Founder and CEO Val Miftakhov. “We are focused on delivering sustainable travel and are delighted that American, a visionary leader in the industry, sees ZeroAvia as a part of the future of aviation.”

Hydrogen as a fuel source is currently one of two more sustainable alternatives to powering aviation. Accounting for 2.8% of all global emissions, passenger aircraft need high-octane, energy-dense fuel sources because of the weight limitations that batteries can’t account for.

The ZA2000-RJ powertrain from ZeroAvia is predicted to have a 500-mile range on a full tank, which United Airlines said would restore the economic viability of smaller regional flights.

“A lot of small cities have lost service because of the cost, and we think that these technologies will allow United to bring back more frequent service and service to airports that don’t have any service today,” Michael Leskinen, president of United Airlines Ventures, told CBS.

For reference, 500-mile jumps could service distances such as Pittsburgh to Chicago, Amarillo to Austin, or Fort Myers to Savannah. In Europe, the benefits compound because of the size of the continent. ZeroAvia could easily service Milan to Naples, Munich to Hamburg, or Newcastle to Exeter.

The good news here is zero emissions are possible for air travel. Today’s JohnKu talks about innovation. I hope you have a wonderful weekend.

Like we always have,

Is not an excuse anymore . . .

Innovation rules.

The Last Drive Tour with Joan Hall

January 26, 2023January 25, 2023 ~ John W. Howell ~ 1 Comment

I am excited to be with Joan Hall to talk about The Last Drive. You can visit her post HERE.

Joan and I are both members of Story Empire. Since the time I joined, I have always been impressed by Joan’s professional approach to writing. Also, she is quick to help fellow writers with questions about their stories or any concerns in general. Joan is always giving the group links to some of the latest improvements in applications designed to help make the job of writing easier.

Joan is the author of ten books, and you can see them on her Amazon page

Here is a little more about Joan.

Joan Hall has always enjoyed reading or listening to stories about inexplicable events, so it’s not surprising she writes mystery and romantic suspense. A lover of classic rock music, songs often serve as the inspiration for her books.

When she’s not writing, Joan likes to observe the night skies, explore old cemeteries, and learn about legends and folklore. She and her husband live in Texas with their two cats. Learn more about Joan at her website, http://JoanHall.net.

Thank you, Joan, for helping spread The Last Drive word.

I have closed the comments so that Joan will have your original thoughts.

The last Drive Tour with Keith Channing

January 25, 2023January 25, 2023 ~ John W. Howell

I am delighted to be visiting Keith Channing’s blog today. He is helping spread the word about The Last Drive. You can visit the post HERE.

Each Monday, Keith publishes a photo and asks for submissions. I have been submitting a story using his photo as a prompt since August 6th, 2015. Prior to my joining in Keith had published 39 photos. He just finished number 392. So I have participated with Keith in 353 stories over the last seven years. Keith has also published 13 books. You can see them all on his Amazon page.

More about Keith in his own words.

“My work background was in insurance and IT. When I retired in 2005 at the tender age of 56, my wife Clare and I sold up and moved to a small hamlet in the middle of France, where we stayed for thirteen years. In 2019, we relocated to South Yorkshire with our two dogs.

During my working life, I spent five years living in Dubai and two years in Tanzania, which had an enormous effect on shaping my world view and my way of looking at life.

As a writer of fiction, I make up and write lies (and some poetry – mostly limericks) for the sheer pleasure of doing it. These lies generally end up on my blog at keithkreates.com, as do a few of the photographs I take from time to time.”

Thank you, Keith, for helping to spread the word on The Last Drive.

I have closed the comments so that every word in Keith’s comment section is original.

The Last Drive Tour with Noelle Granger.

January 24, 2023January 23, 2023 ~ John W. Howell

Today Noelle Granger is helping to spread the word about The Last Drive. You can visit her post HERE.

Noelle has published four books. The very popular The Last Pilgrim and three in the Rea Brewster Mystery series. She has also published short stories and essays, and blogs on WordPress at Sayling Away.

You can see all Noelle’s books on her Amazon page.

Here is more information about Noelle in her own words.

“I started writing as a way of letting my children know where I came from and what shaped me. I grew up in a small coastal Massachusetts town, where the Pilgrims just happened to have landed some 340 years earlier. My family and I lived in a 100-year-old house that was three stories high, square and unyielding even to hurricane-force winds, and its many windows reflected the sky and ocean. At night, you fell asleep to the sound of waves or the lonely fog horn on Gurnet lighthouse. My seasons were spent on or in the water, so sailing and swimming are themes in some of what I write, with New England overtones. For the last thirty years, I have lived in North Carolina, a place I’ve come to love, and that New England accent has acquired a Southern lilt.

I had a long and active career in academia, and if you want to know more about that, you can Google me. For now, I am just a writer trying to find her voice.

Thank you, Noelle, for helping to spread the word on The Last Drive.

I have closed comments so you can save your words to be shared with Noelle.

The Last Drive with Darlene Foster

January 22, 2023January 22, 2023 ~ John W. Howell ~ 4 Comments

I’m delighted to be at Darlene’s place today. She is letting me visit to talk about The Last Drive. You can visit Darlene and me right HERE.

Darlene has written ten books books. Nine of them feature her character Amanda in various travel destinations. The books are very popular and as a result Darlene has been invited to speak at libraries and other venues. You can read more about the books and Amanda’ travels on Darlene’s Amazon page.

A little more about Darlene in her own words

A bit about me. I am a writer of children’s stories, a retired employment counsellor, and ESL tutor, a wife, mother and grandmother. I love travelling, reading, shoes, cooking, sewing, music, chocolate, walking on the beach and making new friends. My grandson once called me “super-mega-woman-supreme”. I was brought up on a ranch near Medicine Hat, Alberta, where I dreamt of travelling the world and meeting interesting people. I currently divide my time between Orihuela Costa in Spain and the west coast of British Columbia, Canada. My husband, Paul, and I enjoy spending time with our adorable rescue dogs, Dot and Lia.

Thank you, Darlene for helping spread the word on The Last Drive.

I hace closed the comments so that you only have to make genius comments in one place – Darlene’s.

Views of the Neighborhood – GOOD “TIME” SCAVENGER HUNT – Part II

January 22, 2023January 21, 2023 ~ John W. Howell ~ 74 Comments

Well, we are back to finish the scavenger hunt. If you missed part I, you can go HERE and check it out. We will be doing the even numbers today. We are catered by Nixta of Austin. Our entertainment is Chicago.

Picture of an old time school bus

So jump on, and let’s go.

So, right away, we have a problem. This should be number two, but it looks like someone took it. So, after we complete the puzzle, we will have to figure out which letter goes with the number 2.