Rebecca Howie at Read A Lot has been nice enough to interview me on her blog today. Rebecca is very supportive of Indie authors. You will love to visit.
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.
Calling for Volunteers to Spread the Word on the Re-Launch of My GRL
My GRL Needs You
It is that time. I need your help to spread the word on the relaunch of My GRL. I will be posting the announcement on Tuesday, February 28th so anytime after that a post from you will be great. I will mail the material out on February 27th
The only thing you will have to do is copy a file and paste it into your native post page. I will send complete instructions with the material.
If you would like to help, please send an e-mail to:
johnhowell (dot) wave (at) gmail.com (trying to foil the spammers)
Thank you all in advance for your help
The New Cover.
Views of the Neighborhood – Garage Sale
Yesterday was the Port Aransas city-wide Garage sale sponsored by Help Keep Port Aransas Beautiful an organization dedicated to maintaining Port Aransas as an attractive community. The idea is to repurpose items and help keep unwanted items out of the landfill. The event included private homes as well as a central sale at the Community Center.
The first photo is of the early morning opening of a private home sale. This guy’s shirt is from the local kite store. No, the guy doesn’t work there.
Another home sale. Love those water skis leaning against the tree.
Here is a view of the sale inside the Community Center
I asked this lady if I could take her picture and she jumped up with the cutest smile. If you want to set up at the Community Center, you pay $15.00 per table, and the tables are provided.
Here is a sight you see at every garage sale. Mom and child are manning the tables. I wanted that purple bag, but it wasn’t for sale.
Here is also a sight you see at every garage sale. The person behind the table is paying absolutely no attention to the patrons. I could excuse here, though she was engrossed in reading My GRL. You can see in the background that there is a snack bar set up. (They sell donuts and coffee)
Here is a table of a lot of jewelry and stuff. (Don’t miss the ferns under the table.) That lady approaching me with the look is asking, “Hey, aren’t you that famous blogger and novelist John W. Howell?” I told her she must be mistaken.
Of all the pictures I almost threw out this one was at the head of the list until I spotted that pneumatic apparatus on the guy’s chair. He has the only collapsible rocking chair on the planet. After I had taken this picture, the man wanted to know what of what I was taking a picture. “Not you.” was my reply. “Oh, okay,” was his.
Help Keep Port Aransas Beautiful sells Afghans and t-shirts to raise money. The Afghan has scenes of all the famous Port Aransas places. Most of which have been on this blog
My final shot was taken on the steps of the Community Center. I caught a guy with his treasured fishing pole. It is hard to see, but water is pouring out of the dolphin’s mouths.
I know it wasn’t Earth shaking but hope you enjoyed the tour. Peaceful Sunday to you.
Review: My GRL by John W. Howell
A wonderful Review of My GRL by Laurie Bell. Pop over and visit her blog. She has prompts, reviews, and a number of other things. Thank you Laurie.
My GRL by John W. Howell
About the book
John J. Cannon successful San Francisco lawyer takes a leave of absence from the firm and buys a boat he names My GRL. He is unaware that his newly-purchased boat had already been targeted by a terrorist group. John’s first inkling of a problem is when he wakes up in the hospital where he learns he was found unconscious next to the dead body of the attractive young woman who sold him the boat in the first place. John now stands between the terrorists and the success of their mission.
My Review
John Cannon takes a break from his job and moves to a little coastal town where the biggest decision he needs to make is whether to buy a boat or not.
Sounds Idyllic.
Little does he know it will be a decision that will change his life. The boat…
View original post 166 more words
Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt “Ham.”
It is Stream of Consciousness Saturday and time for another prompt from Linda Hill. This week’s prompt is “ham.” Yeah, you read that right. “ham.” The good news is Linda says we can use the word any way we want. Now let me think of the ways to use ham. Right now I’m thinking ham and swiss on rye. (I need to have some lunch) If you would like to participate in the fun, go to Linda’s blog and read all about how to do it. Here is the link. Oh and by the way, if you go there you will be able to see some other interpretations of the “ham” prompt. https://lindaghill.com/2017/02/17/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-feb-1817/
Ham by John W. Howell © 2017
“Ham, ram, sheep, bull, beef or bear.”
“Huh?”
“You asked what was good on the menu.”
“I know but bear?”
“Hey fella this is the North Country. We love everything.”
“How do I order.? Ask for bear?”
“No silly. You look at the menu and decide what you want. Duh.”
“You are pretty cheeky for a server.”
“Watch it, Buster. See this fist?”
“Now no need for that. I just think servers should be more polite to customers.”
“Okay. I see that. Let me try again. Excuse me, sir?”
“Yes?”
“Would you be so kind as to look at the knuckles on my right hand and then tell me how they feel after meeting your nose.”
“I want the manager.”
“Don’t we all. He went hunting last week and didn’t come back.”
“Is the owner here?”
‘”Sure. Hold on.”
“Yessir, how can I help you?”
“You own the place?”
“Yup. The whole town too.”
“Oh. Well, this server just threatened me with a punch in the nose.”
“You don’t look like you been hit.”
“No, it was a threat, though.”
“Let me tell you, son. You are real lucky. Belle doesn’t usually threaten. Now, what can I get you?”
“What’s good?”
“Ham, ram, sheep, bull, beef, or …wait. We are out of bear.”
“What happened?”
“The manager went out to get some and never came back. I think he might have run afoul of a bear in the end.”
“Oh sorry.”
“Don’t be. We sell a lot of the other meats.
Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF
Looks like we made it. Well, another eight hours will tell the tale. What’re eight hours anyway? We did forty-eight before today, so this will be a snap. (Unless you are hanging by a frayed rope over the Grand Canyon)
Interesting week. I had to get another proof for My GRL. It seemed when I went to print stage there was a setting which I had not double checked. It was in the style set up under “normal.” For some reason, the default .o5 indent reestablished itself even though aI had set it a zero. Well, this is all too boring so let me say that when the proof arrived, I was stunned. I had to go back and redo the setup. I didn’t want to take a chance again, so I created a new document. Long story short I’m waiting for the new proof. If it is still messed up I will go ahead and launch the kindle version and follow with the paper edition since the turn around time is too long to make the March 1 date.
I’m telling you all this so that you will not even think of launching a paper edition without getting a proof copy first. This would have been a major embarrassment, and at this stage of life, I can’t afford much more.
Today’s JohnKu talks about checking your work. I hope you have a great weekend.
Double Check by John W. Howell © 2017
Measure twice cut once,
Advice born out of error . . .
Why then the short rope?
Chasing Bedlam by Charles Yallowitz – New Release.
Return to the Shattered States
for a tale of love between a woman & her jeep!
Lloyd and Cassidy’s last adventure was to honor a life. This time they are out to end one.
It was a normal, violent mission to Texas that should have had nothing more than beer-induced hiccups. That is until an old enemy makes off with Cassidy’s jeep and most of their gear. Needless to say, she’s pissed off and challenging Lloyd for the psychopath of the month award. With the mouthy serial killer by her side, she is going on the warpath from Dallas to Miami even if it means declaring war on the drug cartels.
So strap in for another wild ride through the Shattered States and learn why you never mess with Cassidy’s jeep.
Available on Amazon for 99 cents!
Want a taste?
“So your boss thought she could send assassins to kill the Riflemen,” the black-haired leader says, earning a cheer from his men. A firm smack to the prisoner’s head silences her gurgling attempt to deny the charge. “Nothing you say can prevent the inevitable. Don’t go thinking that pet serial killer will save you either. The idiot brought a paintball gun to Texas and thought he’d win a gunfight? I’m surprised he lasted as long as he did. All we need to do is find the body and we can collect the bounty on him too. Guess you’re lucky that he’s wanted dead and you’re wanted alive by that warden up north.”
“I’d be careful, boss,” a sword-wielding gang member warns. She leans away from the angry glare, but rolls up her sleeve to reveal a sloppily stitched wound. “While this one isn’t as tough as her reputation says, she can still hit hard. Lost two men before we restrained her and three more are nursing broken balls. Maybe we should use some of our tranquilizer stash and keep her sedated.”
“No reason for th-” Top Hog begins as he runs his hand across the prisoner’s forehead. He rubs his fingers at the sensation of something sticky between his fingers and looks closer to figure out what he has touched. “This scar is fake. Made from glue or something. Are you sure this is Cassidy?”
“She was with Lloyd Tenay at the bar,” a one-eyed man replies in a shaky voice. He shifts from one foot to the other when everyone else takes a step away from him. “You told us to look for him and a blonde woman. She had the denim jacket, the forehead scar, cursed a lot, carried two pistols, and even has the correct tramp stamp. Everyone was calling her Cassidy after she drove up in the blue jeep too. We made sure that everything checked out, boss. Even bribed the bartender and two waitresses.”
Sweat beading on his face, Top Hog draws his large gun and presses it to the prisoner’s temple. He leans around her, his eyes repeatedly darting toward her hands to make sure they are still bound. Lifting her white shirt, he sees the unique tattoo that the widespread stories mention Cassidy getting a little less than a year ago. The design is two pistols back to back with vines of bone curling around and binding them together. A strange discoloration catches the gang leader’s attention and he rubs his thumb along the woman’s side, pushing his weapon harder against her head to prevent wiggling. He swears that he feels a seam, so he gets a dirty fingernail beneath what turns out to be a flesh-colored sticker. Top Hog yanks it off and shows it to his men, the prisoner biting her lower lip to avoid screaming. He can already see that the tattoo is smeared from where he has touched it with his meaty fingers.
Enraged and embarrassed, the gang leader is about to kill the fake Cassidy when he hears distant rock music. Within seconds, he realizes that the source is getting closer and is soon joined by maniacal laughter coming over a crackling megaphone. With a snap of his fingers, Top Hog orders one of his men to take the prisoner to his office while the others run for the exit. Nobody gets very far before a blue jeep, which has been outfitted with a wide battering ram, smashes through the front of the warehouse. The vehicle leaves a gaping hole in the wall, which is made worse by hooked chains on the rear bumper that catch and tear more of the obstacle down. The jeep continues at full speed through crates, shelving units, and the slower gang members whose deaths are celebrated by honks of the horn. Tires screech as the driver hits the brakes and gets the car to spin, the move appearing to have no purpose beyond making those inside dizzy. With an embarrassing thud, the vehicle hits the back wall and hisses to a stop.
The gang have already drawn their weapons and are cautiously approaching the jeep when the sunroof opens. Bullets fly at the blonde figure that leaps out, the projectiles creating so many holes that the top half of their target falls off. The legs of the cardboard cutout are casually tossed to the floor before the shriek of a megaphone makes everyone cringe and cover their ears. With the tattered remains laying face up, the frustrated criminals realize that they have destroyed another Cassidy decoy. They are about to inch closer when the jeep briefly roars to life and a man inside begins making engine noises. The sounds change to the exaggerated screams and detailed begging of those whose parts are still stuck to the scuffed battering ram.
“So that was your plan, Cassidy?” Top Hog asks with a chuckle. He turns to see their prisoner is trying to roll away and fires his gun into the air to stop her. “Two decoys, so that you could get the drop on us. Guess you thought more of us would get run over. You still have thirteen of my crew standing and you’re cornered in that jeep. Now, the only question is if I send a piece of you back to the Duchess as a message that she should stay out of my business. Damn northerner needs to stay out of Texas’s business.”
“Actually, that young woman was the bait and I was the distraction,” Lloyd announces from inside. With a gleeful laugh, he opens one of the doors and yanks it back when the gang shoots at him. “Well shit. That was my favorite power window button. Anyway, people make that mistake all the time. You see, bait draws you in and, at least here, allows the real predators to follow you back to the previously hidden hideout. Not even a sign to help us out, which is very rude and unaccommodating. Now, the distraction’s job is to keep you looking in one direction while a mischievous maiden of mayhem prepares her new toy somewhere else. Don’t bother running, boys, because she’ll take that as an insult.”
Top Hog and his men turn toward the hole in the wall, which has exposed them to the large parking lot. The sun forces them to squint at the lone figure standing behind a loaded mini-gun, the weapon glinting in the midday light. Clouds move across the sky, which makes it easier for the gang to identify the denim jacket and blonde hair of their enemy. They take a few shots at the distant woman, but their bullets either miss completely or bounce off several riot shields that are strapped to the weapon. A slamming car door causes them to jump, but they turn in the wrong direction and are unable to stop Lloyd from racing toward the prisoner. Wearing orange pants from his time as a prisoner and a red shirt with a lightning bolt, the black-haired serial killer seems like an obvious target as he scoops up the young woman and dives behind a box of grenades. Suddenly afraid for their lives, Top Hog and his men attempt to scatter and hunt for cover.
“I hate moving targets,” Cassidy growls.
And don’t forget how it all started in
CROSSING BEDLAM!
Also on sale for 99 cents!
About the Author:
Charles Yallowitz was born and raised on Long Island, NY, but he has spent most of his life wandering his own imagination in a blissful haze. Occasionally, he would return from this world for the necessities such as food, showers, and Saturday morning cartoons. One day he returned from his imagination and decided he would share his stories with the world. After his wife decided that she was tired of hearing the same stories repeatedly, she convinced him that it would make more sense to follow his dream of being a fantasy author. So, locked within the house under orders to shut up and get to work, Charles brings you Legends of Windemere. He looks forward to sharing all of his stories with you, and his wife is happy he finally has someone else to play with.
Blog: www.legendsofwindemere.com
Twitter: @cyallowitz
Facebook: Charles Yallowitz
Website: www.charleseyallowitz.com<
Thursday – A Little Personal – Mystery Thriller Week Activities – Facebook Chat with John W. Howell
There are a number of activities taking place for Mystery Thriller Week. Here is the link for a listing of today’s events. You can also use this link going forward on all events from now until February 22. https://mysterythrillerweek.com/online-calendar-of-events/
I will be leading a discussion on Facebook. The subject will be Character Participation in Story Development. I hope to have a lively interchange on how characters can influence the storyline.
The discussion begins at 9:00 EST and runs until 10:00 EST. Hope to “see” you there. Here is the link.
PAY-IT-FORWARD DAY #RRBC
This is #RRBC Play it Forward Day and Jan Sikes posted this today. I am most grateful for her support. Thanks, Jan
Wednesday Story Day – AKA Hump Day
It’s Wednesday Story Day time again. Last week we thought we were going to have a little excitement between Alice and Lucas. They arrived at Lucas’s place, and just when there might have been something happening, Alice got a phone call. She had to rush off but not before we all learned Lucas is not experience in being with women. Let’s go back and see what is next in this saga.
“Thanks for the ride Alice.”
“You’re welcome Lucas.”
“What did you mean back there when you said ‘give me a rain check?”’
“I meant that I have to run right now, but I want to pick up where we left off. I would appreciate it if you would clean up your place, though.”
“My place? Oh, you mean the dishes and stuff.”
“Exactly. Just wash them and put those clothes away.”
“I didn’t realize that was why you had to leave.”
“It’s not. I just think it would be more romantic if your place didn’t look like a sty.”
“How about going to your house.”
“That will never happen, Lucas. Let me put it this way. If you want to get laid I would clean your home and maybe take a bath yourself.”
“Yes, Ma’am. I see what you are saying.”
“Now get out of this car. I have to take care of this phone call.”
“Alice?”
“What Lucas.”
“I think I love you.”
“OMG. Please get a grip. You don’t love me you are just hot and bothered is all. You are filled with lust.”
“How do you know the difference?”
“Right now I don’t have the time for this counseling session but let me leave you with this. Love is in the heart. Lust is in the pants.”
“I think I have both.”
“I’m sure you think so Lucas. Go put your head under the garden hose. I’ll come by tomorrow. Now please get out.”
“Till tomorrow then.”
“And clean up that dump. Bye Lucas.”
