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.

Views of the Neighborhood – Book and Bees Festival

May 1, 2022May 1, 2022 ~ John W. Howell ~ 98 Comments

We are going three miles down the road to Bee Cave Texas. We are visiting Bee Cave’s first-ever book festival, Books & Bees. As a hub of literacy for children and adults, the Bee Cave Public Library hosts programs year-round that serve hundreds of families in the area and beyond. The City of Bee Cave is dedicated to educating the public and helping conserve this most important insect. The one-of-a-kind Books & Bees Festival will help Bee Cave accomplish two missions – share fantastic literature with kids and adults alike, featuring high-profile, bestselling authors – and teach residents and their kiddos more about bees. We are catered by Josephine House of Austin. Our entertainment is Roy Orbison.

English Muffin Breakfast Sandwich – Chicken sausage, harissa aioli, Grafton cheddar & scrambled egg

Steak & Eggs – 44 Farms bavette steak, roasted marble potatoes, red chimichurri, sunny side up egg

Lemon Ricotta Pancakes – Strawberries, blueberries, maple syrup, house cultured butter

Egg Salad Tartine – Dill, radish, sunflower shoots, capers on seeded wheat toast

Avocado Toast – House-made hot sauce, lime zest & sunny egg

Josephine House Burger – House-made bun, Grafton cheddar, greens, grilled red onion, harissa aïoli, frites

HuevosRancheros – House-made corn tostada,sunny side up eggs,black beans, ranchero sauce, queso cotija, cilantro

Shrimp & Grits – Barton Spring Mills grits, lemon, thyme, red pepper flake

Big Chopped Salad – Roasted chicken, pepitas, blackberries, goat feta & citronette

So let’s get going.

Here is the front of the library all decorated for the festival.

Yup, we are in the right place for the Books and Bees Festival.

This proves it.

A shot of the tents set up on the green.

The welcome tent.

Where you can get a bee finger puppet. (They wouldn’t let me have one.)

A lot of folks around that tent.

No wonder. It’s where headbands can be made.

Here is author Laekan Zea Kemp talking about her book.

There are author panels too. Here Eric Pohl takes a question

And for the bees nice flower seeds to be planted

Here is the Barnes & Noble crew getting ready to sell some books.

I hope you enjoyed the trip to Bee Cave. Now is the time for a cold one, food, and music. I hope you have a great week.

Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt – Zip Zero Zilch

April 30, 2022April 30, 2022 ~ John W. Howell ~ 57 Comments

Getting past the coffee prep gave me zero problems. Sipping the fresh brew caused me to believe that there would be zilch to worry about on this beautiful Saturday morning. Then, as my feet hit the footstool on the back porch, the zip of a figure passed the corner of my eye. Thinking it, another eye floater caused a return to the peaceful reverie and aromatic cup.

“Excuse me.” The words crashed into my consciousness like a hammer through the front window. Looking at the figure before me sent a register to the brain that this was no floater but a person in overalls.

“Yes?” Was all that could be mustered as a response.

“We have a delivery for Fiction Favorites.”

Shaking my head to try and understand how this person got over the moat, past the towers, and through the concertina wire, words did not immediately form for delivery. Then, finally, the words lined up in some semblance of order and marched out of my mouth. “I am Fiction Favorites.” is how they presented themselves.

The guy in overalls nodded and then spoke into a phone, indicating that they had reached the right place. It was only then that the realization of a hovering helicopter came into focus. At least that answered the question of how the security was breached. A mental note was made to the effect of installing antiaircraft systems to prevent such an occurrence again.

After a few more words, a large box descended from the helicopter and gently landed on the turf. The guy handed me a clipboard pointing to a signature line. Being a victim of being told what to do forever, my signature was proffered as directed. The guy grabbed a line and was yanked into the belly door, and the entire machine disappeared.

I pulled the string that said “pull to open,” and about 100 multicolored balloons went skyward. Such a sight brought a smile while reaching for the note on the bottom of the box. It was, of course, from Linda Hill, and here’s what it said. Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “zip, zero, zilch.” Use one, use ’em all, bonus points if you use all three. Have fun!

If you would like to have fun, go to Linda’s blog and read how easy t is. Here is the link.

https://lindaghill.com/2022/04/29/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-april-30-2022/

“Did you find out who the guy in overalls was?”

“No. It didn’t matter. I got the prompt.”

“Sometimes, you have zero sense.”

“What do you mean?”

“Don’t you think your readers would like to know?”

“I think their interest would be zilch.”

“Why do you say that?”

“The whole idea is the prompt. It means zip on who delivers it.”

“Not from what I read when a Warner brothers character shows up.”

“Well, that’s different.”

“How so?”

“Those characters are loved. This was a guy making a delivery.”

“From a helicopter.”

“There is that, I guess.”

“Did you get any markings on the helicopter?”

“No. There wasn’t time.”

“What’s this about antiaircraft systems?”

“Fictional license.”

“Like the rest?”

“Yup.”

“Is VooDooRanger real?”

“You bet.”

“Your turn to buy.”

“I didn’t mention something.”

“What?”

“There were 24 bottles of VooDoo Ranger in the box.”

“You’re kidding.”

“Nope, and a box of Hanover sourdough hard pretzels.”

“You get paid for these endorsements.”

“No, I just know what I like.”

“Okay, then let’s go.”

“French onion or France?”

“Pardon me?”

“Dip. What kind to go with the pretzels?”

“Where do you get dips.”

“Same place as the VooDoo Ranger.”

“French onion.”

“Good choice.”

“Can we go now?”

“After you.”

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

April 29, 2022April 28, 2022 ~ John W. Howell ~ 96 Comments

Our Good News today comes from the Good News Network. Here is the story

Tourists Come to See Tulips in Holland Once Again, Grabbing Incredible Photos of Spring – LOOK

By Good News Network – Apr 24, 2022

Tulip fields in Lisse, Netherlands by Matt Cooper – SWNS

Photographs in the last few weeks show the stunning kaleidoscope of colors bursting into bloom in Holland’s tulip fields.

Beginning in late March, millions of blooms have been delighting visitors in the Netherland with their patchwork of color.

British photographer Matt Cooper was one of those visitors. The 48-year-old from London traveled over the Easter weekend and shared his images and drone footage.

The images show Holland’s famous flower field landscapes, which have become a rich blanket of tulips with row upon of row of vivid block colors.

“I went there especially to shoot the tulips,” he said. “This is the best time to shoot them, as they flower in April and May every year.”

Cooper’s 4-day trip took him all over the country capturing the iconic fields by drone—especially the famous Keukenhof Tulip Gardens, one of the world’s largest flower gardens.

Noordoostpolder, Netherlands, by Matt Cooper – SWNS

The Garden holds an annual festival—but 2022 is the first time the festival has been open to the public since the pandemic. It runs through 15 May.

Cooper said the Dutch people take their tulips very seriously, and across the small country, “there are hundreds of millions of tulips’.

“The weather was beautiful too.”

SEE the scenes of the resurgent Keukenhof Tulip Gardens…

The good news is that beauty is around us even in the toughest times. Today’s JohnKu talks about not missing the beauty around you. I hope you have a super weekend.

It is all around,

All you have to do is look . . .

Nature has a show.

Thursday – A Little Personal – Twiggy and Lucy Get Motivated

April 28, 2022April 27, 2022 ~ John W. Howell ~ 108 Comments

Looks like Lucy and Twiggy are taking a little time to themselves. You know what they say, “Let sleeping dogs lie.”

“Who was that talking?”

“Huh. I didn’t hear anyone.”

“Whoever it was certainly does not respect the sanctity of the nap.”

“Well, little one. We are up now.”

“Yeah, and I was going to do a power nap today.”

“What is a power nap?”

“It’s where you take no more than twenty minutes and fall out completely.”

“We do that all the time.”

“Yeah, but this is different. You wake up refreshed and ready to resume the day.”

“I always wake up refreshed and ready to resume the day as it is.”

“But the idea here is you are awake for longer periods of time.’

“What fool thought this up?”

“You have me there. I think it was a millennial motivation type.”

“Yeah, so I think I’ll try one right now. Hey. What’s that noise?”

“Look at that, Lucy. FedEx, UPS, USPS, and Prime all simultaneously.”

“Good thing we are well-rested. Give ’em the St Louis special.”

“This crowd deserves a bark to New jersey.”

“You go, girl.”

#TenThingsYouMayNotKnow – About #JohnW.Howell

April 27, 2022April 27, 2022 ~ John W. Howell ~ 4 Comments

I am at Marcia Meara’s today. She invited me over to talk about ten things you may not know about me. Most of you know Marcia from her outstanding books. I know Marcia as a friend and exceptional author. So come visit, and while there, check out her beautiful books. Thank you for having me today, Marcia.

The Write Stuff

Good Morning, Everyone! Today I’d like you to help me welcome a great friend and supporter of writers everywhere, #StoryEmpire member John W. Howell. I think you’ll really enjoy John’s post today, so let’s get things rolling!

Thank you, Marcia, for having me on your #TenThingsYouMayNotKnowAboutMe feature. When we initially talked about doing this, I explained to Marcia that the first item on the list would be the fact that I have evolved into a close imitation of Howard Hughes. You may recall in his later years; he became a recluse. Marcia being the kind and generous person she is, thought that would be an excellent beginning to the list. So, with that encouragement, here are the #TenThingsYouMayNotKnowAboutMe. You will note the Howard Hughes one is not there because you already know that one.

Ten Things You May Not Know About Me
by John W. Howell

1) Detroit, Michigan, is…

View original post 803 more words

A Call for Beta Readers for the Sequel of Eternal Road – The final stop

April 27, 2022June 16, 2022 ~ John W. Howell ~ 46 Comments

Photo by Library of Congress on Unsplash

John wants you as a beta reader

The sequel to Eternal Road – The final stop, is now ready for the excellent input from beta readers. It has a working title of The Last Drive.

Here is a brief blurb

Sam and James are reunited and tasked with finding two souls who seem lost on the Eternal Road. Unfortunately, the higher-ups believe there has been some interference by Lucifer, so Sam and James must return and find out what happened to Ryan and Eddie.

Ryan was killed in Afghanistan, trying to avoid a schoolyard with his crippled plane. Eddie Rickenbacker, Ryan’s hero, is to guide Ryan to his Eternal Home, and now both are missing.

So come along with Sam and James as they try to find the missing souls while staying one step ahead of the prince of Darkness, who is interested in Ryan’s soul.

The Last Drive is an inspirational thriller and is approximately 80,000 words. (300 pages) Since Lucifer is the antagonist in this novel, there are historical scenes that may be intense.

If you would like to beta read The Last Drive, it is available in four formats, ePub, MOBI, PDF, and MS Word Docx. I will be emailing your request to you and would like your comments returned by July 1st. My questions are easy.

Did you enjoy the story?
Was the ending satisfactory?
Were there missing or confusing parts?
Did the story flow at a comfortable pace for you?
Were the characters believable?
What, if anything, would you want to be included or excluded in the story?

This is not a professionally edited version (that comes after your fine input). There is no expectation that a beta reader needs to be responsible for highlighting grammar errors in the manuscript. The final formatting is done when the book is ready to publish so you will have an unformatted version.

If you would like to beta read, Please send me an email to johnhowell(dot)wave(at)gmail.com. Let me know your format preference. I will be sending the file out when I get your response.

Thank you, All.

Tuesday – Anything Possible – Kreative Kue # 357 by Keith Channing

April 26, 2022April 25, 2022 ~ John W. Howell ~ 58 Comments

In Keith’s words.

“Using this photo (below) as inspiration, write a short story, flash fiction, scene, poem; anything, really; even just a caption for the photograph. Either put it (or a link to it) in a comment or email it to me at keithchanning@gmail.com before 6pm on Sunday (if you aren’t sure what the time is where I live, this link will tell you). If you post it on your own blog or site, a link to this page would be appreciated, but please do also mention it in a comment here.

Go on. You know you want to. Let your creativity and imagination soar. I shall display the entries next time.”

The photo.

I’ll Wait by John W. Howell © 2022

Look at all those idiot cows running for the hay. “Here Bossie,” they call and you would think these bovines never had a meal before. That old hefer with the bell is the worst. She goes clanging down the hill and the entire herd takes off like some one shot a starter’s pistol. Not me brother. There is no amount of that dry geen stuff that’s going to turn me into a galloping fool.

I have a certain degree of dignity to maintain. After all, I’m the youngest, and If I may be so bold, the smartest of the spring calves. That’s another thing. Those calves. You would think their mothers would teach them a thing of two. Oh no it’s like they are destined to be wild animals. Just the other day two of them jumped the fence and were found on the road. On the road mind you. The place with all those smelly metal cow flatteners flying by at break neck speeds. They were lucky the farmer got them back onto the farm.

Did anyone punish them. Oh hell no. Their mama’s cried buckets when they were reunited. If that had been me I would have been grounded for a month. Just shows how the neighborhood is going to the dogs so to speak. Ah, that reminds me. If that border collie snaps at me one more time, I’m going to give him a hoof he won’t soon forget. Damn thing thinks he owns the place. Always bossing everyone around.

Hmmm. I think I hear the old farmer yelling. Oh yes there he is down the hill cupping his hands and trying to be heard. It looks like he is yelling at me. Okay I’ll take a couple of steps to see what the commotion is about. That’s better now I hear him calling me home. Sure I’ll come home when you offer a little more than dried salad. What’s that? Did I hear him say grain? There it is again and this time I distinctly hear the word grain.

Okay then I have to cut this short. You see I do talk big when it comes to alfalfa but grain is a whole other story. If you will excuse me I need to get going. I guess I better signal that I’m on my way. See you all later.

“MOOOOOOOOO.”

Top Ten Things Not to Do if Your Inhibitions Have Been Set Free.

April 25, 2022April 24, 2022 ~ John W. Howell ~ 63 Comments

This post ran in June of 2015. However, I think it may still have some worthy seeds of advice.

* * *

The inspiration for this list is a lifetime of observation of people’s behavior who finally let down their defenses. The lowering of defenses may have resulted from being over-served or just a decision of not wanting to hold back any longer. Although becoming open and honest without pretense can be the right thing, the consequences of Id liberation make such a move potentially the source of regret. I hope you enjoy the list.

Top Ten Things Not to Do if Your Inhibitions Have Been Set Free.

10 If you feel uninhibited, do not free your body from clothes to match your mind. If you do, at best, you will be all alone in the woods. At worst, you will become aware of your condition as the mall cops wrestle you to the floor and try to hide your parts. (Besides, i’s cold on that floor.)

9 If you feel uninhibited, do not ignore the speed laws. If you do, at best, you’ll get home in one piece. At worst, you will find it hard to explain to the justice system that you no longer think the laws of the land apply to you since you feel free. (You will also risk having a mandatory psych evaluation before your trial.)

8 If you feel uninhibited, do not walk out of a store with unpaid merchandise. If you do, at best, you can explain you forgot to check out, and no harm done. At worst, you will be escorted to the rear of the store by a guy with SECURITY on his shirt. (Walking past the fifth grade class of your kid’s school on their annual retail field trip.)

7 If you feel uninhibited, do not overestimate the value of the truth. If you do, at best, your truthful comments will be limited to the weather. At worst, your truth-telling on some subjects will lead you to be asked to leave the country for good by some somber-looking people. (Their shirts have the word ICE on them. They are not selling drinks.)

6 If you feel uninhibited, do not blow your horn to encourage the pack of Hells Angles to get out of your way. If you do, at best, they might move over to let you pass. At worst, you will find yourself on the back of a Harley Softail hanging on to Moose for dear life with the next stop in Sturgis. (Oh, and your car is in several of the member’s saddlebags. (They promise they will put it back together after the rally.)

5 If you feel uninhibited, do not tell the checkout person about all the things you couldn’t find today. (Even if asked) If you do, at best, you will realize no one cares about what you couldn’t find. At worst, the checkout person will call the manager with the words “whining customer on register four.” (Those behind you will be calling for some tar and feathers.)

4 If you feel uninhibited, do not take the survey you are offered during your call to customer service of the electric company to report that your power has been off for four hours. If you do, at best, you will not see your power for three days. At worst, your survey will be handed to the uncooperative employee you talked with and includes your home address, phone number, and hours when your electricity usage is lowest. (You will wonder what that black car is doing across the street every night. Hint, leave town)

3 If you feel uninhibited, do not answer the question, “Where would you like to go for dinner?” If you do, at best, you will resent the fact you had to decide the rest of the night. At worst, you will rant about why you always have to arrange everything. You will ask, “Why just this once can’t you make the $#@*&% decision.” (The result will be carry-out and total silence at dinner and for the rest of the month.)

2 If you feel uninhibited and someone from management asks what you think should be done to improve the workplace, do not tell everyone what you think. If you do, at best, your coworkers will endeavor to move away from you. At worst, you will, in two minutes of meaningful suggestions, render yourself a pariah. (And a perfect candidate for that assignment in Iraq.)

1 If you feel uninhibited, do not visit any store with merchandise priced any higher than a dollar. If you do, At best, you will snap out of it in time. At worst, you will finally be stopped by the credit card security group, which honestly believes your card has been stolen. (Your limit was reached in only two stops, and one was a diamond store.)

Views of the neighborhood – Earth Day in Lakeway

April 24, 2022April 22, 2022 ~ John W. Howell ~ 89 Comments

Today we are celebrating Earth Day in Lakeway. (It was Friday but we are taking a trip back in the wayback machine) Here is the announcement from the city.

Celebrate Earth Day, The Lake Way on Friday, April 22, 2022 by volunteering to help pick up trash along some of our local roadways and in our area parks. The City of Lakeway will supply trash pickers, safety vests, trash bags and a map for volunteers the day of the event. Volunteers will then team up and head to their designated areas on the map to pick up trash, and then head back to City Hall to receive a special certificate, lunchtime snacks and pick-up some other Earth Day goodies and information. It’s an engaging way to help keep Lakeway beautiful and meet some of your neighbors in the process. We are catered by Brooklyn Breakfast Shop in Austin. Our entertainment is Willie Nelson

Classic Bacon, Egg & Cheese On A House Made Bagel – Substitute bacon for sausage, avocado, or brisket
Braised Brisket, Smoked Pepper Jelly, Pickled Red Onions & An Egg On A Biscuit
Fennel Sausage, Fresno Pimento, Cheese, House Pickles, Sunny Egg On Our House Made Whey Biscuit
Hatch Chile Sausage And Pimento Everything Bagel Kolache
Croissant With Two Eggs & Cheese
Sweet Potato Hash, Shishito Pepper Sauce, Pickled Red Onions gluten free, vegan
Buttermilk Fried Chicken, House Pickles, Sweet Heat Sauce& An Egg On A Biscuit
Double Smash Breakfast Burger, Bacon, Sunny Egg, Cheese, Charred Onion Aioli On Brioche
Green Chile/Smoked Cheddar Mac & Cheese
“The Jessica” Buttermilk Fried Chicken, Green Chile/Smoked Cheddar Queso, Avocado. Pickled Serranos on Brioche
We have everything you wish to drink as well.

So let’s go. Get on the bus.

Here is Lakeway City Hall. All the volunteers willmeet here.

Lots of givaways.

Another shot of the giveaways.

Here are the tools being supplied. Vests, Gloves, Trashbags and picker uppers (My term)

There is fruit, cold water and snacks when the work is done.

The mayor will be joining a crew.

Volunteers starting to arrive.

Getting outfitted.

Here’s the map where trash will be picked up. We’ll be heading to the City Park.

And here we are to observe a team hard at work. Congratulations everyone for participating. Now let’s have some food and listen to Willie sing “Always onMy Mind.” I hope you all have a super week.

Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt – Too/To/Two

April 23, 2022April 22, 2022 ~ John W. Howell ~ 67 Comments

Too many times, the Saturday mornings have started the same. Get out of bed, make coffee, be stunned by something on the porch or falling from the sky. Today will be different. To this end, there will be two cups of coffee instead of one. It is hoped that this break from the routine will act as a catalyst for change.

The only change desired is that the day is typical without a cartoon character causing an exponential increase in heart rate. Just the idea alone makes for a calmer morning. Taking the last sip of the magic soothing syrup is interrupted by a notification that something has entered the optical path of the Ring doorbell.

Hands shaking causes the image on my phone to look like a 3-D movie without the glasses. Taking two hands to steady the vibration, it is clear something has been left on the front porch. A deep sigh escapes knowing the worst has probably been visited upon me. I cross the moat, raise the timber, throw back the series of bolts, disengage the electronic shock barrier, punch in the secret code, and open the front door.

It’s a box, my Lord, on a flatbed Ford. Taking it easy is the first thought that crosses my mind. I approach the Ford hoping nothing will pop out of the box. As happens to most of my hopes, the box’s lid pops off and out jumps a perfect replica of Yosemite Sam. “Howdy, Partner,” he yells and then starts shooting two six-guns into the air. I caution Sam that shooting six guns in the air in Austin is usually as welcome as a government mandate. He stops and wonders if there are any varmints in the area. I point him to city hall. He hands me an envelope and runs off down the street. Of course, the envelope contains the prompt from Linda Hill.

I read the prompt, wondering why I can’t get this off the internet. Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “too/to/two.” Use one, use ’em all, bonus points if you use all three. Extra bonus points if you start your post with one. Enjoy!

You can join in too. Just go to Linda’s blog and read how easy it is to have fun. Here’s the link https://lindaghill.com/2022/04/22/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-april-23-2022/

“Too much.”

“What’s too much.”

“These intros to the prompt.”

“Why’s that?”

“Two reasons.”

“Okay.”

“One. You take all the time.”

“And?”

“Two. You put people to sleep.”

“I don’t think that’s true.”

“Oh yeah. Look out there.’