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.

Top Ten Things Not to Do on the First Transcontinental Mail Service Route in 1858

September 14, 2020September 13, 2020 ~ John W. Howell ~ 53 Comments

Wikipedia image – Concord Coach with Welles Fargo paint

This week marks the 162nd anniversary of the first transcontinental mail service between St Louis and San Francisco in 1858. It was a stagecoach service, and who wouldn’t want to get on and take a ride. You all know the rules. You need to take the list so that the time continuum will remain intact. I would take your own water too. Life on the road will not be easy.

Top Ten Things Not to Do on the First Transcontinental Mail Route in 1858.

10 If you go, do not ask for a first-class ticket. If you do, at best, the driver will not understand you. At worst, instead of an inside seat, you’ll get to ride up on top. (You can’t blame the driver, Manvel. He thought the best spot on the coach was next to him. I hope you can handle that musket. It has a real kick. Yeah, the grin on the driver gives me the creeps too.)

9 If you go, do not complain to Tiny, the WWF champ, about the food along the way. If you do, at best, Tiny will be too busy to hear you. At worst, Tiny, who thinks the food is great, will take yours. (Well done, Manville. Now Tiny, who has questionable taste, thinks you are going to give him your food for the whole three weeks of the trip. Maybe you can trade a rattlesnake for your old food portion. Watch out when you grab that snake though.)

8 If you go, do not ask if you are there yet. If you do, everyone will think you are joking. At worst, the driver is not pleased and has stopped the coach. (Since you opened your mouth at mile 50, Maolmin, the driver is contemplating leaving you at the side of the road. After all, there are 2750 more miles to go, and he doesn’t want to hear the question 55 more times. Oh-oh, here he comes.)

7 If you go, do not complain about the restroom facilities. If you do, at best, everyone will ignore you. At worst, you’ll be sitting next to William Fargo a director of the Overland Mail Company. ( Not a good person to hear your complaint. You see, Maralyn, his company just invested one million dollars in coach stops every 10 to 15 miles, and the fact that you don’t like them is not sitting well. I think he just told you to use a bush if you are dissatisfied. That puts a different spin on it.)

6 If you go, do not forget your winter clothes. If you do, at best the weather will remain warm. At worst, you’ll be subjected to exteme temperatures. ( The coach has no heat or window glass, Marcell. Maybe you can ask the person next to you if they have an extra coat. No, you can not ask if you can share their coat. That might be an easy way to be put off in the snow.)

5 If you go, do not think you can take all the room you want. If you do, at best, the coach will be empty. At worst, all nine seets will be filled.(The coach is narrow and cramped, Marcellus. You can only have the space by your seat. I think you better stop inadvertently kicking that guy with the .44 revolver on his hip. Say didn’t Wyatt Earp carry a .44?)

4 If you go, do not think you can stay overnight in one of the way stations. If you do, at best they will have room. At worst, you’ll stay overnight and be stuck there. (Because the coaches run 24/7, Marcian, it could be several days until one comes through with an open seat. Because of this, most passengers try to sleep on the coach which is almost impossible. Try going without sleep for three weeks.)

3 If you go, do not tell the masked man with the gun that you are not going to give him your valuables. If you do, at best, he will laugh at your attempt at humor. At worst, he will invite you to do a dance. (There highwaymen do not fool around, Marden. Just give him the money. You do not want to dance to the tune of a pistol.)

2 If you go, do not forget your bandanna. If you do, at best you can buy one in the way station. At worst, you will be confronted with continual clouds of dust. (Remember, Marek, there are no windows on the coach. The dust is a constant companion, and if you are lucky, you won’t come down with consumption as a result of the trip. What is consumption? Don’t ask.)

1 If you go, do not discuss the coming transcontinental railroad with Mr. Fargo. If you do, at best, he’ll laugh. At worst, he’ll be tired of the conversation and ask the guy with the Springfield musket to put you off the coach. (Fargo is worried about the railroad, Maribelle. Of course, his business is safe until 1869 when the government turned its mail service over to the now completed transcontinental route.)

Today I am with Darlene Foster at Her Blog

September 14, 2020September 14, 2020 ~ John W. Howell ~ 16 Comments

I am with Darlene Foster today talking about Eternal Road – The final stop. Come on over she has a very restful and fascinating blog. Also, I have another new excerpt for you to read. Here is the link.

https://darlenefoster.wordpress.com/2020/09/14/new-book-launch-eternal-road-the-final-stop/

A little about Darlene in her words.

“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 dog, Dot.”

Her books

In addition to the Amanda series, Darlene’s short stories are present in a number of anthologies.

Guest Post with C.S. Boyack – Murder They Wrote

September 13, 2020September 13, 2020 ~ John W. Howell ~ 59 Comments

I’m pleased to have Craig Boyack with me today. He is here to discuss a new anthology project in which he participated. Most of you know Craig and his entertaining books and now he has joined seven other authors to bring a variety of stories to their readers. So Craig, tell us about it.

Thanks for having me back again, John. I’m here to talk about a project I got involved in during the early Spring. I was asked to submit a story to a murder anthology. I was approached, because they wanted to include a science fiction author.

I write across a broad spectrum of speculative fields, but I’m no stranger to science fiction, so I accepted. The problem was, I was right in the middle of drafting two novels that I wanted published this year. There was a bit of a time crunch.

Jason Fogg to the rescue:

I happened to have a pre-existing character who could fit the bill. Science fiction is so broad that I didn’t have to place it in outer space or get involved with time travel. If you squint and turn your head, Jason might qualify as a superhero.

Jason has been with me for a long time. He made an appearance in an old trunk novel that will never see the light of day, but he had a different name back then.

He is the result of a science fiction accident. The nutshell version is while he was working to string the high-tension power lines in the Pacific Northwest, a piece of space debris crashed back to Earth. It clipped the wire Jason was working on, and just like when lightning strikes, something traveled along the cable and blasted him into oblivion.

The Pacific Northwest is stormy, cloudy, foggy. The accident evaporated him. He drifted for years until he was able to reform. Now he has the ability to “fog out” at will, but there are limitations. When he does, it’s just him. No clothes, no hair products, not even aftershave. This poses a problem for when he reconstitutes.

I did a quick count, and Jason has appeared in more stories than any other character I’ve written. (At the time of this writing.) Over time, he became a private detective. His abilities allow him to slip into places and through cracks and do quite a bit of snooping around. Sometimes he relies too much on this, and ignores some of the basics of detective work.

Jason even works well in the short form. I’ve published his tales a couple of times as short stories in my own collections. Science fiction (check), mystery (check), murder (Why not?).

Jason Fogg is on the case. Can this private detective run interference for a client accused of murder?

The anthology is called Murder They Wrote. It involves seven different authors dealing with murder in the short form. I’m proud to be included among them, and would appreciate if your fans would check it out.

Cover Blurb: Murder comes in 7 different genres. By 7 different authors. Are you a fan of courtroom drama? In the anthology’s first story, Abraham Lincoln defends a friend’s son against a charge of murder. For lovers of speculative fiction, Jason Fogg dissolves into mist to sneak through open windows and snoop for clues. How about a cozy? Jazzi, Jerod, and Ansel discover a dead body while renovating a kitchen, dining room, and half bath. Have a craving for a Regency? Lord Peregrine and his wife, Elizabeth, use their sharp minds and quick wit to solve a murder at a garden party. Need a bit of literary fiction? A young, lonely widow must deal with the theft of a valuable butterfly collection. And what about a little psychological horror? Twin sisters discover that their attic is haunted by not one, but two ghosts. Last, but never least, the anthology concludes with a historical mystery. A young, newly married knight is accused of murdering his obnoxious host at a holiday gathering in his castle.

Pick up your copy of Murder They Wrote.

You can contact Craig at the following locations:

Views of the Neighborhood – Greenbelt

September 13, 2020September 12, 2020 ~ John W. Howell ~ 74 Comments

Today we are going to check out the Greenbelt and see the effects of the recent rainfall. Since we can walk, we’ll leave the bus at home. Here is a margarita in an insulated to-go container. All set? Let’s go.

Views of the Neighborhood

To start, we can see the flowers are in bloom.

Beautiful vinca.

A good sign. The creek is running.

I thought these puffballs looed nice.

Some yellow flowers.

A small view of the falls.

A view of the spillway.

The producer took over and climbed down the rocks to get a better shot.

The rest of the photos are taken by The Producer since the access points are a little too dangerous for a senior citizen.

Great shot of the falls from below.

The Producer’s camera is so much better than mine. That falling water is captured in a standstill view,

Another shot of the falls from the lower level.

On the way back, a lonely heron was doing a little fishing. He wouldn’t come out, so The Producer caught him with a water reflection making him visible.

We found this plant with strange clusters of purple berries.

Another plant with pumpkin-colored trumpets.

Well, that is the tour today. I hope you enjoyed it. Save your container for the next time. Have a great week

Today I am with Dan Antion at No Facilities

September 12, 2020September 11, 2020 ~ John W. Howell ~ 29 Comments

Dan Antion and I are hanging out at Dan’s favorite bar. He invited me to stop by and have a drink and talk about Eternal Road – The final stop. You have to come with me since Cheryl and David will be there too. It will be fun they said.

Here is the link. https://nofacilities.com/2020/09/12/welcome-john-howell-socs/

A little about Dan and his blog in his words.

“The title of this blog, “No Facilities” was inspired almost 40 years ago when I drove into West Virginia for the first time. I was on my way to check out an apartment that had been rented on my behalf near WVU, where I would finish my undergraduate degree in Chemistry. After I entered the state, I hopped on a 10-mile segment of the then unfinished I-79. A sign near an unfinished Rest Area said “Welcome to West Virginia” with “No Facilities” on a small sign that was screwed onto the bottom.

The sentiment of that phrase has morphed from the whiney complaint of an 18-year-old student who didn’t fully appreciate how lucky he was to even be attending college, to a badge of honor. In fact, “no facilities” has dominated my life and livelihood. As a systems developer, I made my living creating what wasn’t included by the architects and builders. The systems that could be but weren’t, are the things I spent 42 years designing and building. Retired now, I enjoy making things; furniture, cabinetry, new spaces in and around our house are all fertile ground for my hobbies.”

A visit to Dan’s blog is an uplifting experience.

Some of Dan’s favorite things

Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt – Collar

September 12, 2020September 11, 2020 ~ John W. Howell ~ 51 Comments

It is Stream of Consciousness Saturday, and here is Linda Hill with this week’s prompt. So Linda, what do we have today?

“Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “collar.” Use it as a verb, a noun, or metaphorically. Bonus points for using it in all three ways! Enjoy!”

Thank you. If you would like to join this group, visit Linda’s blog and read how. Here is the link.

The Friday Reminder and Prompt for #SoCS Sept. 12/2020

“What is that?”

“This, my friend, is an old fashioned collar.”

“I’ve never seen anything like that before.”

“I found it in my granddad’s chest in the attic.”

“How does it work.”

“Well, you have a shirt that doesn’t have a collar. This attaches to it.”

“Why would anyone want that kind of thing?”

“In the olden days, you could wear the shirt without the collar. The collar stays clean. Then when it came time to dress up, you add a clean collar. Get it?”

“I suppose. Sounds like a lot of work to me. What else was in that trunk?”

“You knew my grandfather was a detective, right?”

“Yeah, I heard you mention that a few times. Given the prompt today, can you guess what else is in the truck?”

“What’s the prompt?”

“Collar.”

“Don’t tell me grandpa has records of all his collars?”

“Bingo. You got it. His arrests are all documented, and he kept them all.”

“Sounds a little compulsive to me.”

“Well, he was kind of that way. He was proud of being able to make a collar after a long investigation.”

“Speaking of long.”

“Yeah, I think we’ve covered the subject.”

“You wearing your collar to the bar?”

“No, I think I’ll leave it here.”

“Good, the Eau de mothball is not a good scent for you.”

“Thanks.”

Today I’m with Jessica Bakers on Her Blog

September 11, 2020September 11, 2020 ~ John W. Howell ~ 15 Comments

Today I’m with Jessica Bakkers on the other side of the world. I’m there talking about Eternal Road – The final stop. There is a new excerpt there too. Come visit.

Here is the link https://jessicabakkers.com/2020/09/11/book-launch-eternal-road-the-final-stop-by-john-w-howell/

Here is a little about Jessica in her words. “I am a creative writer with over twenty years of writing experience. I write to express myself, I write to tell the tales bound up inside of me, and I write to live… or rather, I live to write.

I have ghost-written novels in the genres of fantasy / romance and paranormal / romance, however my genre of choice when it comes to writing for myself is dark fantasy where I can allow myself to fully explore the anti-hero characters that pepper my stories.

I dabble at poetry and have written professionally for clients internationally.

My major love affair is with the written word; specifically creative writing. I allow myself to indulge and rendezvous with this secret lover whenever time allows… and then we make beautiful poetry together!”

She has launched her first book, Guns of Perdition.

Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF

September 11, 2020September 11, 2020 ~ John W. Howell ~ 58 Comments

September 11th is the time to remember the horrible events of this day in 2001. It is a day to think about those in New York, Washington, and Pennsylvania who lost their lives to terrorists. We should go on with our lives remembering those who lost theirs.

Twiggy and Lucy — “I don’t get why we have no opposable thumbs. We could do this door ourselves.”
“Mom’s coming, Little One Don’t let the 57 degrees get to you.”

It is Friday again. So we made it another week. There’s a lot of good news around here.

We’ve had almost four inches of rain and a cold front. Our overnight temps are in the 50s, which is a real blessing. The rain came down over enough time, so there was not a lot of flooding. Normally if that amount of rain fell in a couple of hours, Austin would be underwater. So good news, no one got swept away. The temps will be cool for the next two days, then back to the 90s.

New cases of COVID 19 and positive test results are both down in our area. Of course, the health authorities are concerned about the effects of Labor Day gatherings, and those results will start showing up in two weeks.

Sales of Eternal Road are holding steady. I’m glad I didn’t go for a preorder since the sales have been ongoing, so there hasn’t been an off the cliff drop. Thanks to everyone who has bought a copy. The tour continues, and I hope those who are following are enjoying the excerpts. Not to worry. You will not have the whole book in excerpts. There is still plenty of surprises.

The first review for Eternal Road is in. It is a five star, and you can see it here.

https://www.amazon.com/Eternal-Road-John-W-Howell-ebook/dp/B08GL135KQ/

Thank you, Denise.

Today’s JohnKu talks about good news. I hope you all have a super weekend.

You get some good news,

Now you worry there’ll be bad . . .

Stay in the moment.

Today I am with Keith Channing at Keith Krates

September 10, 2020September 9, 2020 ~ John W. Howell ~ 23 Comments

I am overseas with Keith Channing in the UK. You remember Keith from the Tuesday prompts. He is the one that comes up with the photos that defy typical interpretation.

I’m with him talking about Eternal Road – The final stop. I have a new excerpt that I think you will like.

Here is the link. https://keithchanning.wordpress.com/2020/09/10/guest-post-by-john-w-howell-new-book-launch/

A little bit about Keith since he is more than a guy doing prompts. He writes poetry, excellent novels, and is a photographer.

In Keith’s words. “As a writer of fiction, I make up and write lies for the sheer pleasure of doing it. These lies generally end up on my blog, as do a few of the photographs I take from time to time. With my wife Clare and our two dogs, I have recently relocated to South Yorkshire after living for thirteen years in a rural location in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of France. Oh yes, INTJ-T.”

Just a few of Keith’s books. Check out his site for the whole line up.