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.

Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt “eco”

~ John W. Howell ~ 29 Comments

 

Stream of Consciousness

Yes, you read the headline correctly. This weeks prompt is “eco.” Linda Hill advises that we go find a word the begins with eco or has eco in it. If you would like to grow your own set of hives and want to join this group visit Linda’s blog and read how. Here is the link. https://lindaghill.com/2018/01/05/the-friday-reminder-for-socs-jusjojan-daily-prompt-jan-6th-2018/

Eco by John W. Howell © 2018

“so what did she say?”

“That we need to come up with words that start with eco or have eco in them.”

“Not too tough. I can think of ten right off the top of my head.”

“Yeah right. I can’t think of one. Wait. Economy.”

“Wow, you are a regular linguist.”

“Can you do better?”

“Humm how about economic, ecotourism, ecospecies, ecosystems, ecospheres, economised, economise, economized?”

“Okay pretty good. Where did you get those?”

“Looked em up on Google.”

“NO FAIR. You are cheating.”

“Okay, so you want to fail the prompt?”

“Well. no.”

“Go ahead. look up words that have eco in them.”

“I don’t feel right about that.”

“Go ahead you whimp.”

“Okay. Yikes. Antieconomic, arecoline, arecoline, arecolines, autecological, autecologies, autecology.”

“Have any idea what those words mean?”

“Not a clue.”

“Doesn’t matter. Our job is done.”

“What are you talking about? We haven’t done anything.”

“We completed the prompt and did economically.”

“But not with what I would consider proper decorum.”

“The speed is what you can reconcile.”

“I won’t accept that for a millisecond.”

“Hold your precoded principles and lose the prompt.”

“Okay, you win. I will recode to win.”

“Recodification is next to godliness.”

“Right.”

The 2018 Author Interview Series Featuring John Howell

~ John W. Howell ~ 16 Comments

I have the pleasure of being the kick-off author interviewed by Don Massenzio for his new series of Author Interviews, He plans to do one a week so if you would like to participate, visit his blog. Even if you don’t want to participate a visit to Don’s blog is always a treat. I have finished reading the first book in his Frank Rozzani detective series, Frankly Speaking, and am well into the second, Let Me Be Frank. These are great reads and you should check them out.

Unknown's avatarDon Massenzio

Welcome to 2018 and my new author interview series. Author interviews will be posted every Friday throughout the year.

I am honored to kick off this series with John Howell. I have read all of John’s books, except for his latest, and have enjoyed them all thoroughly. His latest book, Circumstances of Childhood,  has been getting rave reviews and I can’t wait to read it.

For those of you that have read my interviews in the past, you’ll find a new set of questions in this series. You can catch up with all of my past author interviews (nearly 200) on my Author Directory page.

Now, please enjoy this conversation with author John Howell.

John Howell - Interview HeaderDo you try more to be original or to deliver to readers what they want?

I’m in the camp of trying to write a good story above all else. If it becomes so original that no…

View original post 1,062 more words

Friday John Ku – AKA – TGIF

~ John W. Howell ~ 43 Comments

Funny Friday

 

Another Friday with the distinction of the first Friday for 2018. This one came pretty quick given the fact that last Monday was a holiday. I don’t know about you, but this Friday does not feel any different from last Friday. I guess it would be pretty unreasonable to expect to wake up in the new year and have it feel different from last year.

I can say that our weather has taken a turn for the worse so far this year. We have been under the Jack Frost thumb. We don’t expect it to last forever so we’ll hold tight and ride it through. Today’s John Ku talks about hold the course in adversity. I hope you have a great weekend.

Challenges by John W. Howell © 2018

Life tends to challenge,

And no one knows why this is . . .

Remember don’t quit.

 

Thursday – A Little Personal – Cold Snap

~ John W. Howell ~ 79 Comments

“You called Boss?”

“Yes, Lucy. It’s time for your morning walk.”

“Hold on, Boss. Have you been out there today?

“Yes. It is a little chilly.”

“Pops. Sixty degrees are a little chilly. It is thirty degrees right now.”

“Come on. How do you know that, Bailey?”

“You’re kidding, right? I’m a dog. It’s in my DNA to know what is going on outside all the time.”

“Do you agree, Lucy?”

“Well, as I take a sniff of the downstairs exit I can sense some cold air.”

“You guys are like the biggest chickens. It will do you good to get some fresh air. You laid around all day yesterday.”

“Well, there were reasons Boss.”

“Like what kind of reasons?”

“It was a Tuesday. On Tuesday Bailey and I like to lay around.”

“I know. I got a photo of you two.”

“Let me look, Boss. Oh, I see there is some sunshine.”

“See there you are. Come look Bailey. You’ll like it.”

“Um. In a minute, Pops. I need to do some creative thinking.”

“I can imagine, Bailey. How about you Lucy?”

Lucy and Bailey

“You know, Boss. Right now I’m good. Let me rest in this ray of death for a minute.”

“So maybe we’ll go for a walk later?”

“We’ll get back to you on that, Boss.”

“How about if I get out your blankets?”

Lucy and Bailey

“Now you’re talking, Boss.”

“Way to go, Pops.”

“You ladies look cute.”

“Why thank you. (As if we didn’t know. Right, Bailey?)”

“Right.”

Wednesday Story Day – AKA – Hump Day

~ John W. Howell ~ 38 Comments

Hump Day

 

It is Wednesday Story Day again, and last week we left Harriet and Alice who were contemplating what to tell Frank Plano the PI who was at the front door. It seems there was a little of Alice’s blood left at the Severides on the night they were murdered. Harriet and Alice are contemplating what to tell the detective. In the meantime, Lucas and his sister are having a conversation that we should witness. The problem with this storytelling is we cannot be in two places at the same time. Last time we were with them, Lucas told his sister Trish about the insurance. Let’s get to the hospital and pick up the conversation.

“So you are telling me we are both worth five million dollars.”
“That’s right, Trish. Our parents left insurance money to us.”
“And also there is another policy on their lives as well.”
“So I have been led to believe.”
“I have a question for you.”
“Okay sis, shoot.”
“If you have five million dollars, what are you doing painting the Murphy house.?”
“How did you know about that?“
“That private detective told me you were working in Anton as a painter and working for someone named Harriet Murphy. I thought it made sense until you told me about the money.”
“I have to be able to trust you. Can I?”
“Can you what? Trust me? You and I are all we have left as family. I hope you can trust me.”
“Okay. Makes sense. You can’t tell anyone what I’m about to tell you. Promise.”
“I promise although I think that is a ridiculous request. I’m your sister for God’s sake.”
“Thank you. So the reason I took up painting Harriet’s house is I thought she and her friend Alice had something to do with our parent’s murder. I also suspected they took the policy and any money that was in the house.”
“Where ever did you come up with that assumption and how much money did out parents have.”
“You of all people should know out parents were pretty heavy into drug distribution.”
“Yeah, I knew they were involved. I just accepted it since it was easy to tap into the inventory so to speak.”
“I figured. Well, when you think of the drug trade you have to think cash. After all, you don’t use banks to tip-off the feds about your activity.”
“Yeah so?“
“So I think there could have been as much as a million in cash.”
“A million? Are you crazy? How could they hide that much money?”
“A million in one-hundred-dollar bills weighs a little over twenty-two pounds and when stacked is only twenty-five inches wide by six inches long and under five inches high. It could fit under the bed. I’m only guessing at a million. It could be more.”
“Whoa, this is way over our heads.”
“You know the funny part is Harriet hired a private detective to look into the whole thing.”
“She did? What the hell for?”
“Well she really hired a lawyer to help me, and he hired the PI.”
“This is getting more confused the more you tell me.”
“The point is you, and I have to be careful. the person or persons who killed our parents won’t stop if they think we know who they are.”
“Do you know?’
“Absolutely not. I don’t think it is Harriet and Alice though.”
“Why don’t you think it’s them.?”
“They are too incompetent. Whoever did it knew not to leave any clues.”
“A professional?”
“I’m even thinking of a law enforcement officer.”
“The sheriff?”
“Wouldn’t put it past him.”
“You say you have a lawyer? We need to talk to him.”

Tuesday – Anything Possible – Kreative Kue #155 by Keith Channing

~ John W. Howell ~ 35 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 keith@channing.info before 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 – pingbacks don’t often work.

Go on. You know you want to. Let your creativity and imagination soar. I shall display the entries, with links to your own blog or web site, next Monday.”

The Photo.

Kreative Kue #155

The House by John W, Howell ©  2018

“Where did you put the key?”

“Under the mat as usual.”

“Under the mat. Are you sure?”

“Yes, of course, I’m sure. We always put the key under the mat.”

“I know I know. Well, the key is missing.”

“No kidding Sherlock. Look closer, and you’ll see the house is missing.”

“Okay, now I think we have a problem.”

“What gave you a hint?”

“There is nothing in our slip but a seagull.”

“Which tells you what, Inspector Clouseau?”

“Someone has run off with our houseboat.”

“Bingo. I think you’ve got it.”

“What do we do now?”

“I think we need to call the police.”

“What are they going to do. Our house could be in Singapore by now.”

“Come on. How many houses do you think are floating down this canal. It shouldn’t be too tough to find it.”

“I suppose you are right. After all, there aren’t a lot of houses with a red and blue paint scheme.”

“Now, you can thank me for the color choice.”

“I suppose. And you can thank me for leaving the bathtub drain unplugged.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I think I see the tip of our roof.”

“Where?”

“Just below the surface of our slip. see it?”

“You idiot. How many times have I told you to make sure to close the drain?”

“Well, at least no one stole our house.”

“Thank you for small miracles.”

“Oh, and I found the key in my other pocket.”

“Twice Blessed.”

 

Top Ten New Year Resolutions Not to Make

~ John W. Howell ~ 63 Comments

 

New Years Day

We have all made resolutions which in hindsight we probably should have left alone. I hope you have tome to go back and make some revisions if one of these is on your list.

10 When making New Year resolutions, do not include a stipulation to lose weight. If you do, at best you’ll miss your target. At worst, you’ll feel bad about your progress and consume enough ice cream to turn your goal into a three-year affair. (Funny how easy those pounds come back huh, Carswell?)

9 When making New Year resolutions, do not vow to stand up to Tiny. If you do, at best, your resolution will last three minutes. At worst, you’ll meet Tiny just as he is leaving his anger management class with an assignment to hug the first person he meets. (I’m thinking you shoving Tiny away wasn’t the best move of the new year, Carver. Good thing you have new running shoes for Christmas.)

8 When making New Year resolutions, do not swear off your favorite drink. If you do, at best you be thinking of nothing else. At worst, after what seems like a year you will have way too much to the concern of friends and family. (You made it four hours, Case. Maybe next year.)

7 When making New Year resolutions, do not include an item that requires someone else to help. If you do, at best that someone will disappear. At worst, you will count on support only to find your helper has violated the resolution several weeks ago without letting you know. (Just think of all the times your helper told you to be strong, Caster. Is that boiling blood I hear?)

6 When making New Year resolutions, do not include additional exercise goals. If you do, at best you’ll last a week.  At worst, you’ll rationalize that getting up in the morning is challenging enough.(How about that sit-up when you first wake up?  It counts right, Chadwick?)

5 When making New Year resolutions, do not eliminate sweets. If you do, at best your withdrawal symptoms will require an intravenous infusion of chocolate. At worst, your cravings will take you to the extreme where all you can think about is sweets. (I can’t believe you actually took candy from that baby, Chanan. And at gunpoint? Aw come on.)

4 When making New Year resolutions, do not vow to eat healthy. If you do, at best your food groups will be reduced to soybeans and flax seed. At worst, just when you thought you were in control you wake up in the hospital learning you were found in the walk in cooler of the local McDonalds. (Just what were you thinking, Chane?)

3 When making New Year resolutions, do not count getting organized as one of your goals. If you do, at best you not be able to find anything. At worst, you will discover in late February that you threw out all your receipts for business expenses. (All those nasty papers were ruining your Karma right, Chevalier?)

2 When making New Year resolutions, do not hope to learn a new language. If you do, at best you’ll get hello and goodby down pat. At worst, you’ll think you have it whipped after the first lesson only to find some folks shocked at what you said. (It appears that “sit on my thumb,” and “I appreciate your help,” are very close in pronunciation, Chidi.)

1 When making New Year resolutions, don’t even think about promising yourself that you will write more in 2018. If you do, at best you’ll manage the same. At worst, you will be so discouraged by your progress you will think writer’s block was invented to torture you personally. (Rather daunting to count those words (or should I say word) today huh, Chisolm?)

Jan’s TOP TEN Books 2017

~ John W. Howell ~ 4 Comments

Jan Sikes has named Circumstances of Childhood in her Top Ten list for 2017. Jan is a talented writer and musician and is currently featuring Stories from the Road written by her late husband Rick. Visit her blog and you will find a host of excellent books she has written. Thank you, Jan. A wonderful New Year present.

Views of the Neighborhood – New Years Eve

~ John W. Howell ~ 66 Comments

This week our Coffee Waves shop had its grand re-opening after Hurricane Harvey. Although I wouldn’t usually feature such an event on Views, I thought it significant as one more piece of evidence of a return to normal here in Port Aransas.

I published this trailer picture earlier this fall when Coffee Waves was open for business but not in their building.

Coffee Waves

Here is the finished building.

Inside the people are lining up.

This is another shot of the interior. I have a close up of the message later.

For the opening, a band is set up.

Festive balloons.

This is the business end.

Here are some of the 120 rotating Gelato flavors.

This is the Gelato menu explaining the difference when compared to ice cream.

A sign telling the world about Port A Strong.

Another sign for out of towners who are in a hurry.

A beautiful place to have a cup and relax.

I will share my post on Instagram and Facebook (as ordered)

This is a close-up of the words on the wall. Pretty much a favorable view of those things that happen to us all. I know in your town, the opening of a coffee shop would not garner a lot of attention. Here, it is news since it is one more step to returning to the life we all love so well. Thanks for joining me.