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.

Wednesday Story Day – AKA – Hump Day

June 9, 2021June 8, 2021 ~ John W. Howell ~ 47 Comments

Photo of Twiggy and Lucy talking — “Yes, it’s Wednesday for the fifth time.”
“Just has a Friday feel is all.”
“Come smell the flowers.”

It is Wednesday Story Day again, and last week we were all stunned to know that the Escalade used to pick up an order from Chick-Fil-A and which was owned by the now late widow Tounsand is sitting in Cortez’s driveway. We have also assumed that it is the same Escalade used to take ADA Thomas, Lieutenant Mayfield, and Lazar Popović away from the warehouse. Agent Moore has ordered up an assault team, and he, Larry, and Andrew are all headed to Cortez’s place. Let’s join them as they ride there.

“Do you think ADA Thomas, Lieutenant Mayfield, and Lazar Popović are at Cortez’s”

“Not sure, Larry, but I would bet on it.”

“What about Carolyn, Popović’s daughter?”

“Seems logical that she should be there too.”

“I’m also wondering now how we can tie in Alexis Rafferty’s murder to Cortez.”

“I thought the wife and boyfriend did it.”

“Yeah, but I believe Cortez had a hand as well.”

“Uh, Larry?”

“Yes, Andrew.”

“Do you think we can finally put the Sandusky case to bed as well?”

“Oh man, Andrew. We have been on a pilgrimage, haven’t we? It all started with Sandusky, and here we are headed for Cortez’s house, which may be the end to this mess.”

“One can only hope.”

“You guys have your own axes to grind. I want Cortez for kidnapping and federal drug crimes. I don’t want you to bring up anything else. If you do, he will try to bargain his way out whit information about your stuff.”

“We get that, Mike. We think Popović will give us all the information we need assuming Carolyn is okay.”

“I hope so. I don’t mean to be a jerk, but this big tuna is one we’ve wanted to land for several years.”

“We respect that, Mike. How far out are we?”

“Looks like a couple of minutes till we rendezvous with the assault team.”

“I guess you have a plan of attack.”

“Yeah. We are going to surround the building. This is going to be tricky since there are maybe four hostages inside. We won’t be able to rush the building since we have no idea where they are inside. We don’t want anyone to get killed.”

“So, what are you going to do?”

“Allow Cortez to give up. He does not impress me as a guy who is ready to die right now.”

“He might try to bargain the lives of the hostages.”

“Yeah, usually that doesn’t work. But, if we take the calm approach, I think we have a chance to talk him out.”

“You’ve done this before?”

“Countless times. Okay, there’s the team. Let’s go over the plan with them.”

“Right behind you, Mike.”

I’m also over at Story Empire today talking more about the Hierarchy of needs. Here’s the link.

Tuesday – Anything Possible – Kreative Kue #315 by Keith Channing

June 8, 2021June 7, 2021 ~ John W. Howell ~ 59 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.combefore 6pm next 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 Monday.”

The photo.

“I know you hate to go over budget. That’s why I offered to help.”

“How can you help?”

“Easy. You write down an item and tell me the cost. Then, I plug it into the calculator for you. In the end, we will have a total. and you’ll know if you are over or under.”

“What if I’m over?”

“You simply go down the list and eliminate items until you are on budget again.”

“Seems logical. What if I’m under budget?”

“That is really simple. You add some stuff you always wanted but felt you couldn’t afford.”

“I like this system. It adds a little bit of discipline to the shopping trip.”

“That’s right and gives you control.”

“I can’t believe a bird came up with this.”

“I’m telling you if more people listened to the advice of birds, this would be a better place to live. Before we start listing, what is your budget?”

“I would say $50.00.”

“Okay, give me the first item.”

“Birdseed $4.50.”

“Got it. The second.”

“Twelve pack of VooDoo Ranger ale, $16.50.”

“Okay. Next.”

“Standing rib roast $22.50.”

“Whew. Next.”

“Bottle of red wine $10.00.”

“Cheap. Next.”

“Used to be two bucks. They called it Two Buck Chuck. Now it should be called Ten Buck Chuck. That’s my list.”

“Okay, let me hit total. Uh oh.”

“Uh oh?”

“Yeah, the total is $53.50.”

“That’s not good.”

“Might have to eliminate something. How about the wine?”

“Lifes blood.”

Vo Doo Ranger?”

“Brain food.”

“Smaller Standing rib roast?”

“Too many mouths.”

“Don’t tell me.”

“What’s the total without the birdseed?”

“Aw, come on. Who thought of this system in the first place?”

“So you shouldn’t be surprised. The total?”

“$49.00.”

“Under budget.”

“Yup. It’s a cruel world.”

“I do thank you for your idea.”

“Yeah, sure. Anytime. As they say, ‘no good deed goes unpunished.'”

“Who says?”

“Who indeed? I’m sure it was a bird.”

Top Ten Things Not to Do at Graduation time

June 7, 2021June 6, 2021 ~ John W. Howell ~ 91 Comments

This post originally ran on June 8th, 2015. Although COVID has replaced physical ceremonies with virtual, it still seems relevant.

The inspiration for this list is the fact that it is graduation season. When you think of all the graduations that are being held in the US alone, you realize the potential exists that these ten things occur with similar results. I hope you enjoy the list and can manage to avoid them.

Top Ten Things Not to Do at Graduation Time

10 If you are a graduate, do not put something dumb on your mortar. If you do, at best, even if your family sees you, they will not want to admit you belong to them. At worst, the picture taken of your message will go viral and will show up every time someone searches your name on Google, including prospective employers.

9 If you are a graduate parent, do not blow any type of horn when your child receives their diploma. If you do, at best, you will cause your kid to want to find another home. At worst, that big over trained guy in front of you is fighting a hangover and will help you stow your horn where you will not want it stored.

8 If you are a speaker at graduation, do not tell the graduates that the world is looking to them for salvation. If you do, at best, your cliché will remind everyone just how out of it you are. At worst, your words will be quoted in some satirical publications that will point out just how many times graduating classes heard the same words throughout the millennium.

7 If your graduate has decided to skip the ceremony, do not fight the decision. If you do, at best, your child will make attending the ceremony sound like parental abuse. At worst, the child will attend with something dumb written on the mortar to the tune of “my parents made me do this,” and you can expect the message broadcasted worldwide.

6 If your family is experiencing graduation, do not think this indicates your job as a parent is complete. If you do, at best, you will be surprised by requests for help as life commences. At worst, you will need counseling to overcome the feeling of failure as your child asks to move into your spare room.

5 If you are the graduation ceremony organizer, do not think everything will run smoothly because of your careful planning. If you do at best, you will be unprepared when something goes wrong. At worst, you will not know what to do with a thousand champaign corks bouncing off the facility and school officials even though you banned the presence of alcohol at the ceremony.

4 If you are holding a graduation party, do not leave your house even though you trust your loving child to be trustworthy and in control. If you do, at best, a few more guests who were not expected will attend with little consequence. At worst, the state police will look for you to help fund the fire department, EMS, and SWAT team expenses that were incurred to break up the party and put out the fire destroying yours and two neighbor houses

3 If you have a graduate, do not overdo the gift. If you do, at best, your child will expect a similar prize for other accomplishments. At worst, someday, it will need to be replaced, and the words about the child being on their own when you gave the gift are forgotten.

2 If you are attending a graduation ceremony, do not treat the event as if it is a football game. If you do, at best, you will get strange looks when you enter the stand with the school colors and jersey and that giant foam # 1 hand. At worst, you will get many interested police and firefighters responding to the school complaint regarding the bratwurst you are grilling at your tailgate gathering.

1 If you have a graduate, do not keep telling them how amazed you are that they made it through school. If you do, at best, they will think you did not have faith in their abilities. At worst, you will give the child a complex that will be manifest in the longing for a career in fast food service as a grill person.

Views of the Neighborhood – Storm Assessment

June 6, 2021June 5, 2021 ~ John W. Howell ~ 84 Comments

We should take a moment before we begin, to remember all those who took part in the invasion of France on D-Day June 6th, 1944. They are the greatest generation and are now fading to eternity. If you know a vet who served in WW II give them a hug.

Today’s tour is going to be brief. So brief in fact that we won’t need the bus. Also, we are going to be catered from Chick-Fil-A. Now before you laugh, this took an act of congress since Chick-Fil-A doesn’t serve on Sunday. Those of you who follow the Wednesday Story will understand that Chick-Fil-A owes me. Because of some technical problems, we will have to entertain ourselves. I can’t seem to get videos to play on the classic editor today. Thanks, WP.

Chick-Fil-A menu

Chick-fil-A® Chicken Biscuit

Chick-fil-A Chick-n-Minis™

Egg White Grill

Hash Brown Scramble Burrito

Hash Brown Scramble Bowl

Bacon, Egg & Cheese Biscuit Bacon

Sausage, Egg & Cheese Biscuit Sausage

Bacon, Egg & Cheese Muffin Bacon

Sausage, Egg & Cheese Muffin

Buttered Biscuit

English Muffin

Hash Browns

Greek Yogurt Parfait

Fruit Cup Fruit Cup

So let’s start walking.

The first stop is a fig tree that I have had my eye on. It was frozen in the February freeze and looks like it is DOA.

Checking on the Artichoke Agave. Once the plant is finishing flowering, the mother plant will die.

The next photos are of the damage from the storm that moved through here on Wednesday. This tree is a total loss.

A downed limb from the wind.

A major tree with major damage.

Another view of the same tree.

My neighbors Bradford pear

A shot looking down the driveway

A closer look.

The final view looking down the driveway. The tree was rotting at the base. so they took it down

Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt – Yarn

June 5, 2021June 4, 2021 ~ John W. Howell ~ 52 Comments

I had just finished digging out my olive tree and sat down to have a cold drink of tea. All of a sudden, the United States Postal Service person leaned on the front doorbell. The bell is right above a sign that says PLEASE DO NOT RING DOORBELL.

I finally got Twiggy off the ceiling and opened the door. In the middle of the porch, there was a soaking wet package laying in the opposite direction of the THIS SIDE UP arrow. I opened the package and found this message. Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “yarn.” Use it any way you’d like. Enjoy! Along with the message were three skeins of yarn. The labels said two red and one white. In reality, there were two red and one candy-striped from the soaking.

If you would like to join in the fun visit Lina Hill’s blog and read how easy it is. Here is the link.

https://lindaghill.com/2021/06/04/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-june-5-2021/

“That’s funny-looking yarn.”

“Yeah, the white was in a box that got soaked from the rain.”

“Postal Service delivery, right?”

“How’d you know?”

“I think they put every package in a big tank.”

“Why would they do that?”

“Prevents explosions.”

“Very funny.”

“So why the yarn.”

“It’s a present from Linda Hill.”

“What’s she up to?”

“the prompt is yarn, so I think she sent some.”

“And if you used the word to mean a tall tale?”

“Maybe she would have sent a giraffe. I don’t know?”

“You are pretty sharp today. So what is y9ur story going to be?”

“I thought I would talk about knitting.”

“Knitting? You know anything about knitting?”

“No.”

“Perfect. You are well-qualified to talk about it then.”

“You being facetious?”

“Of course.”

“Well, I would just explain that it is tough to do and takes time.”

“You could compare knitting to drinking a twelve pack.”

“I was wondering how you were going to work beer into this conversation. I almost gave up on you.”

“Now that the subject has come up, what do you say?”

“Yeah. Let’s go knit.”

“Don’t make me during alone.”

“Just kidding. Your turn to buy.”

“Leave the yarn at home, okay.”

Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF

June 4, 2021June 3, 2021 ~ John W. Howell ~ 81 Comments

Photo of Lucy and Twiggy — “It sure is wet, Lucy.”
“We need the rain.”
“But not on Friday.”

Friday is here again. It seems like a very short week. But, wait, that’s because it was. Memorial Day took 20% of the week. Well, that explains it.

Our part of Texas is getting a lot of rain. It looks like it will continue through the weekend. This is totally fine with me since we need it. I did not enjoy the teeth-rattling thunder last night, though. We had a spectacular lightning show to go with the thunder.

The Texas legislature concluded its session for this year. The next time they will meet will be in 2023. After that, they meet starting the first Tuesday in January for 140 days. The governor can call special sessions, but by and large, that’s it for the next 18 months. We like this kind of legislative agenda.

This week’s JohnKu talks about the best kind of government. I hope you have a super weekend.

Government is best,

When those governed don’t feel it . . .

Only in heaven.

Thursday – A Little Personal – Olive Concerns

June 3, 2021June 2, 2021 ~ John W. Howell ~ 103 Comments

“I can see you have some concerns, Little One.”

“I have been thinking of that olive tree that got frozen this winter.”

“What about it?”

“Sometimes these things come back.”

“But the boss already got a new magnolia to go in that spot.”

“Look. Just as I figured. Little green shoots.”

“You sure you aren’t seeing things?”

“No. Over there I’m seeing things but not on the tree.”

“I’ll be darned. You are right. The tree is alive.”

“What do we do about it?”

“I guess we should let the boss know that the olive still lives.”

“Good idea. Of course, what do you think he will do?”

“The man won’t even kill an ant, so I think he will want to do something.”

“I wouldn’t want to be in his shoes.”

“Here he comes. Let me handle this.”

“You are way better at breaking news, Lucy.”

“Hey, Dad. This olive tree is still alive. What are you going to do about it?”

“Cheese, Twiggy.”

“Thank you, Twiggy. I know that and we are trying to figure out a place for it.”

“What happened to me handling it?”

“You know me. Impulsive to a fault.”

“I guess he already has the situation under advisement.”

“Yeah, and he knew about the olive too.”

Wednesday Story Day – AKA – Hump Day

June 2, 2021June 1, 2021 ~ John W. Howell ~ 65 Comments

It is Wednesday Story Day again, and last week we learned that the Escalade was purchased by a widow and since Cortez’s men have it and it was not reported stolen; only two states of nature can exist. 1. The widow is in cahoots with Cortez’s men. 2. The widow is no longer with us. Mike (The FBI agent) has called the Reno PD to check on the widow. In the meantime, our boys have sophisticated software to try and locate the Escalade. They are sitting in Mike Moore’s car, so we should go there and see what’s going on. It will be cramped, but we can all fit in. (This is fiction, after all)

“Anything on the Escalade yet?”

“Yes, but hold on. Here’s a call from the Reno PD. This is Agent Moore. Uh Huh. Yup. Okay then, Thank you.”

“What’s going on.”

“Ms. Tounsand was found in her bedroom. Looks like foul play. They’ll know more after the autopsy.”

“That’s a kick to the heart.”

“Yeah, I know. The poor old lady didn’t deserve that kind of ending. On a brighter note, I think we have a location for the Escalade.”

“That is great. How did you do that?”

“The Escalade is equipped with On-Star, and it is a matter of locking into the GPS feature. It took a little time, and we were lucky to have the VIN number. Otherwise, it would have been impossible.”

“So, where is it?”

“Let me see. It looks like it’s sitting in Squaw Valley.”

“Could it be near Cortez’s place? “

“We could only wish it was in his garage.”

“We could never be that lucky.”

“Oh, I don’t know. Let me pull up Cortez’s address and see how different it is from the address indicated on the screen.”

“I’m keeping my fingers crossed.”

“Bingo. I can’t believe it. The damn thing is parked at his house.”

“We gotta get there.”

“We need back up. Hold on, let me call in a team. Also, we will need a warrant. I’ve got someone who can get that. One second, Larry. Hello Morris. Yeah, I’m going to need a team to help serve a warrant. Make it ten. I also need the warrant to be a search and arrest for suspicion of kidnapping. Yes, the perp has crossed state lines from Nevada to California and has three individuals, including ADA Thomas. Yeah, I know it’s amazing. Here’s the address. 7621 Country Club estates Squaw Valley California. The Owner’s name is Cortez. No, we don’t need local support. This is a federal matter. Okay then. Call me back when the team is ready to hit the road. I’m going to the location to make sure no one leaves. Tell the team we need them as soon as possible. Okay, thanks, Moore out.”

“Wow. I guess we are in it.”

“Yes. Let’s hope we are not too late.”

“Why on Earth would Cortez allow those thugs to come to his house?”

“That is very strange, and I have no answer.”

“He’s got to know that Escalade is stolen and that we can track it.’

“Maybe he doesn’t think anyone knows about it being stolen. You know it was plain luck we got that receipt and were able to see the video at the Chick-Fil-A.”

“I suppose you are right. There’s no reason to believe we had luck on our side. Those guys did burn the receipt.”

“May not be luck.”

“Huh?”

“Oh, never mind. I was just thinking about my wife, Gloria.”

“I’m confused.”

“Forget it. Let’s get rolling.”

Tuesday – Anything Possible – Kreative Kue #314 by Keith Channing

June 1, 2021May 31, 2021 ~ John W. Howell ~ 56 Comments

In Keith’s words.

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

The photo.

“Would you look at that.”

“What the mess?”

“No, the dog.”

“What about him.”

“He’s sound asleep there.”

“Yeah, so what?”

“I hired him to empty all those boxes.”

“Well obviously he is not doing the job you hired him to do.”

“That’s obvious.”

“How much are you paying him?”

“$14.00 an hour.”

“Doesn’t seem like you are getting your money’s worth.”

“No kidding. What should I do?”

“Why don’t you hire him to sleep? I think you can get him at a cheaper rate.”

“I guess it’s my fault in the end.”

“Why’s that?”

“I should never have hired a dog to do a man’s work.”

“You open to being a little more broad minded?”

“What do you mean?”

“You said ‘man’s work.'”

“Yeah,so what?”

“Could a woman do the same work?”

“Sure.”

“You still paying $14.00 an hour?”

“I would like to, yes.”

“You just found the dog’s replacement. When can I start?”

“How about now?”

“Can’t.”

“Why not?”

“Need a nap.”

“Off the clock?”

“What are you paying the dog?”

“haven’t decided yet.”

“When you do I’ll nap at the same price. See ya.”

Tree Fairies and Their Short Stories by D.L Finn #Newbook

June 1, 2021May 25, 2021 ~ John W. Howell ~ 81 Comments

Thank you, John, for having me here today to share the news about my final children’s book, “Tree Fairies and Their Short Stories.”

In Tree Fairies, I spend some time talking about the fairies caring for their redwood forest. Although I use an unusual reason that someone wants to chop the whole thing down, I stand behind, keeping our giant trees safe. They have seen so much and survived even more.

Redwood and Sequoia Forest Facts:

There are about 12,000 acres of redwood forest left.
Giant Sequoias live in the Western Nevada Sierra between 4000-8000 feet and only grown in central California. This is what I have in my front yard, thanks to a wonderful Mother’s Day present.
Redwoods live by the Pacific Ocean in northern California, Oregon, and Washington.
There is a difference between a Giant Sequoia and a Redwood Tree. The Sequoia is the largest tree in the world by its large reddish-brown trunk. The Redwood is the world’s tallest tree and can reach 300 feet, while its brown trunk is slimmer than the Sequoia.

Fun Finn Facts

I’ve seen bears, foxes, raccoons, mountain lions, coyotes, skunks, squirrels, lizards, deer, snakes, birds, and a possum roam around our yard. I consider them, and fairies, my extended family.
I love to watch the birds, especially the little wrens. I wish I could soar with them and the fairies.

Blurb

When reality and magic meet in the forest

It’s 1969, and twelve-year-old Daniel Burns is camping in the redwood forest with his family. Danny wants to listen to his music and read, but his family has other plans. S’mores around the campfire and stories end their first day. The family is sleeping soundly in their secluded tent when Danny wakes up and finds his sister, Colette, is missing. Assuming she went to use the outhouse, he goes after her. When he finds his sister, they discover there is a thin veil between reality and fantasy.

Two bonus short stories offer a glimpse into the magical world that finds Danny and Colette. These hidden beings not only share our world but have a role in protecting their forest.

Excerpt

GOLDIE

2005

The full moon filtered down through the giant trees, bathing the forest in a glow that made it easy for the fairies to see. A woodpecker had done its job clearing out the insects it found in the old redwood. As the tree grew, so did an opening that became an animal den. A fisher—a member of the weasel family—nestled there with her four babies. Her long, fluffy tail, half the length of her sleek body, was protectively curled around her brood.

Goldie and her little brother, Oren, quietly watched them sleep. It had become Goldie’s habit to check the animal dens to make sure they were safe. The fishers, who were no bigger than the cats humans kept as pets, held a special place in her heart. They were adorable, with their big, bearlike ears, pointed faces, and huge eyes. Their dark brown fur was so soft it was hard not to pet them. They didn’t trust tree fairies, and she didn’t blame them. The fairies would zap animals, birds, or insects that developed too much curiosity or mistook them for food.

Oren spoke in a voice Goldie strained to hear. “I’m watching for owls.”

Not wanting to wake the fishers, Goldie responded in a softer tone. “Thanks. They are pests.”

Oren nodded solemnly and looked behind him. They’d seen a brown-and-gray horned owl hunting earlier in the evening. Its yellow eyes had widened in hunger as it dove at them. A quick jolt was all the discouragement it needed to stop bothering them. Would those birds ever learn fairies weren’t on their menu?

Oren had settled in a holding pattern, looking over Goldie’s head into the den. They made eye contact, and she jerked her head in a motion to leave. Their silver wings glowed at night, making the fairies easy targets if they weren’t careful. They rested briefly on a lower branch of the redwood.

Oren smiled as he swung his bare feet, making the branch sway. “Thanks for bringing me along this time, Sis.”

Purchase Link

Amazon

Author Bio

L. Finn is an independent California local who encourages everyone to embrace their inner child. She was born and raised in the foggy Bay Area, but in 1990 she relocated with her husband, kids, dogs, and cats to Nevada City, in the Sierra foothills. She immersed herself in reading all types of books but especially loved romance, horror, and fantasy. She always treasured creating her own reality on paper. Finally, surrounded by towering pines, oaks, and cedars, her creativity was nurtured until it bloomed. Her creations include adult fiction, poetry, a unique autobiography, and children’s books. She continues on her adventure with an open invitation to all readers to join her.

D.L. Finn Links: