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.

In a Small Compass, on Lisa Burton Radio

~ John W. Howell ~ 2 Comments

A terrific interview on Lisa Burton Radio of Karen Oberlaender’s character James Ferris Wheeler. Looks like a super book from a super person.

coldhandboyack's avatarEntertaining Stories

Welcome to another edition of Lisa Burton Radio. I’m your host, Lisa the robot girl, and with me today is author, James Ferris Wheeler. “Welcome to the show, James.”

“Thank you, Lisa. I feel very honoured to be invited by a charming celebrity like you.”

“Why, thank you. I understand that you just ordered a new suit. Can you tell our listeners why?”

“It is still hard to believe, Lisa. You must know, my previous books, well – they are good, and they sell. And I always craved for a little fame. What the readers say: ‘Great books. Who wrote them? Sorry, that name slipped from my mind.’ After years of writing one book after the other – my latest novel, “Dagger in the Rock” was nominated for the MFBS Award! The Most Fascinating Books Society is very fastidious and secretive about their nominations.”

“How exciting. This award sounds like…

View original post 1,284 more words

Thursday – A little Personal Our Justice Kindle Edition on Sale Jan 12 to Jan 19th

~ John W. Howell ~ 19 Comments

Our Justice

Our justice is available from  January 12th to January 19th on Amazon.

Here is the link for the $0.99 US

Here is the link for the £0.99 UK

The blurb

The terrorist leader and financier Matt Jacobs figured out a plan to eliminate the President. He is relying on John Cannon’s stature as a hero to help him carry it off. John finds himself walking the fine line of pretending to help Matt while trying to figure out a countermeasure to the plan.

The third book in the John J. Cannon Trilogy brings together two strong wills for a showdown. The question to be answered is who will feel the satisfaction that the achievement of justice delivers? John, Matt or neither?

The trailer https://youtu.be/1lrO7JYZy4M

Wednesday Story Day – AKA Hump Day

~ John W. Howell ~ 50 Comments

Hump Day

 

It is Wednesday Story Time again, and last week we left Alice and Lucas getting ready to jump in Alice’s car for a trip to Lucas’ house. It appeared that the two of them were going to buy some gin and do who knows what once they got to Lucas’ place. I don’t know about you, but I think this could get out of hand real fast. Let’s go back to Mrs. Murphy’s and see what these guys are doing.
“Come on Lucas get in my car.”
“Just a second. I need to put these brushes into some water. I’ll be right there. Look who’s driving up.”
“Oh, my it’s that fool, Gibson.”
“The Sheriff? What does he want?”
“I have no idea, Lucas. Do your brushes. I’ll see what he wants.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Don’t call me Ma’am. Makes me feel old. I said to call me Alice.”
“Yes, ma’am I mean Alice.”
“Now go along.”
“Well, well, well. As I live and breathe, it’s Alice Weston. How are you, Alice.”
“For heaven’s sake Seth. I just saw you a while ago. What are you doing here?”
“I wanted to check and see if that boy uh—”
“Lucas. His name is Lucas.”
“Oh yeah. I just wanted to see if he went ahead and started painting without permission.”
“Well, as you can see, I’m here, and I have given him the approval to proceed.”
“So everything is on the up and up?”
“Yes, of course. Why wouldn’t it be on the up and up as you say?“
“Have you seen the widow Murphy today?”
“No. She’s at the store.”
“Yeah, that’s what uh— “
“Lucas.”
“Yeah, that’s what the kid said. I have never known the widow to go off for so long.”
“How long?”
“Well, he said she just left over an hour ago.”
“Doesn’t seem so long.”
“I guess you are right. You have time for lunch?”
“You know I don’t have time for lunch, Seth. Not now not ever.”
“You know, Alice that high and mighty act might go well in town, but I know you from the ground up so you can spare me the airs.”
“Fine Seth. What else can I do for you.”
“You might just be in a position one of these days to beg for a favor.”
“Yeah, that will be the day.”
“Okay, Alice have it your way. I’ll see you.”
“Bye Seth. Don’t let the screen door hit you.”
“Very amusing, Alice. Also Before you get any funny ideas with that kid, you better check his ID.”
“Ha ha ho ho, Seth. You are so funny.”
“Having sex with a minor is a felony, Alice. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
“What I love is you always have your mind in the gutter, Seth. I shouldn’t be surprised by that remark.”
“Suit yourself, Alice. Suit yourself.

Tuesday Anything Possible – $0.99 Sale on Our Justice from Jan 12 to Jan 19th #RRBC

~ John W. Howell ~ 40 Comments

51bypm1jgll-_uy250_

Advance notice:

I will be running a Kindle  $0.99 US and a £0.99 UK  sale on Our Justice from January 12th (Thursday) until January 19th (Thursday). I will also be featured on EReader News Today on Friday the 13th. (Hmmm)

This will be the first sale of Our Justice, and  I have extended it to accommodate a promotion on BookGoodies as well. So here is hoping all who want to get the book will do so in this period.

I will run another announcement on Thursday.

 

Update on Naked Alliances by S.K. Nicholls

~ John W. Howell ~ 6 Comments

Just want to add my voice to the promotion of Susan Nicholl’s book Naked Alliances. I have read and reviewed this book and can say it is a fun read all the way through. At $0.99 it is a steal.

S.K. Nicholls's avatarS.K. Nicholls

Rant: Don’t expect me to follow you back if you don’t have a “Follow me by Email” option on your blog. I read my email several times a day. I never go into my Reader. I love engaging with my audience. Make it easy for me. Rant Over. (Notice the new message in the side bar.)

Okay, now that we’ve gotten that out of the way…I have news:

Naked Alliances is going on sale for $0.99 on January 15th. This is coinciding with an ENT promo which will start the same day.

download-1

I’ve never promoted a book in this genre. The historic fiction did well with ENT. I understand that FaceBook, where ENT gets most of its traffic from, has a high population of females 35-55 years of age. I’m curious to see how Naked Alliances does there.

Don’t despair if you miss that sale. I tried to get the…

View original post 231 more words

Top Ten Things Not to Do at the Beach in Freezing Weather

~ John W. Howell ~ 54 Comments

Cold temps

 

The inspiration for this list is two-fold. One, we have had two nights of sub-freezing temperatures with daytime highs in the 30’s. Two, we have some people from up North who visit each winter. They are called “Winter Texans” and continually provide examples of what not to do. I hope you enjoy the list.

10 If the temperatures at the beach are below freezing, do not insist on wearing shorts and flip-flops. If you do, at best folks will think you are nuts. At worst, your blue knees and feet will frighten small children. (I know it’s 40 below in Minot. That is about the same temperature as 29 on the beach.)

9 If the temperatures at the beach are below freezing, do not think a beach fire will offset the cold. If you do, at best one side of you will be thawed. At worst, those winds will whip embers into the bed of your pickup to meet up with that gas can you keep there. (You don’t even have a boat so what’s up with the gas can Dudley?)

8 If the temperatures at the beach are below freezing, do not think the sixty-degree water will warm you if you go in. If you do, at best you’ll get the surprise of your life. At worst, you will need to call 911 and have the EMS crew standing by with thermal blankets. (Also the institution will be nice and cozy while you are under psychological observation, right Buford?)

7 If the temperatures at the beach are below freezing, do not try to salvage your vacation. If you do, at best all the games and beach toys will be useful someday. At worst, your family will not speak to you for a month. (It only took three hours to get their body temperatures back to normal, Idiot.)

6 If the temperatures at the beach are below freezing, do not think that tent is going to keep you warm. If you do, at best you’ll find a nice motel room after two hours. At worst, the thirty miles per hour wind will relocate your tent to the next county. (Hard to sleep with no shelter huh Bunky?)

5 If the temperatures at the beach are below freezing, do not think that water in your camper tank will not freeze. If you do, at best you’ll need to wait for a drink. At worst, your tank which was a one piece is now two. (Amazing about that wind chill isn’t it, Camper Dan)

4 If the temperatures at the beach are below freezing, do not try to interest everyone in smores. If you do, at best the attractiveness of frozen smores is at best marginal. At worst your youngest got his tongue stuck on the metal marshmallow roasting fork. (The fire department wasn’t amused and the CPS officer wants to ask you some question about child abuse. Ferd)

3 If the temperatures at the beach are below freezing, do not try to cut the line at the packed coffee-house. If you do at best, you will be asked to leave. At worst, the guy you cut ahead of is Tiny the WWF champ who just left his anger management class after receiving an F on his final exam. (Looks like you might need some help, Buster)

2 If the temperatures at the beach are below freezing, do not rent a golf cart thinking it a good way to stay warm while on the beach. If you do, at best you’ll wish you had heavier coats. At worst, you will try to return the cart only to find the fee is nonrefundable. (Looks like you spent about a hundred dollars an hour for something you should not have rented in the first place.)

1 If the temperatures at the beach are below freezing, resist the temptation to cruise the beach in your big ‘ole dually pickup truck. At best, you will not see anything. At worst, you will spew enough diesel smoke to take out a pack of seagulls. (Why not just stay in your travel trailer and wait until tomorrow when it will be eighty degrees)

Views of the Neighborhood

~ John W. Howell ~ 52 Comments

It is time to change my header on Fiction Favorites. I have some photos that could be in contention for the job. Rather than me making the selection, I thought it might be fun to show you the candidates and let you choose the most favored. There is a poll at the bottom for you to use to record your choice. So here they are. One thing that struck me as I lined these photos up was how different the same position on the beach (looking East) is in reality

The first is a long shot of a stormy day. Candidate #1

Header picture

This is a shot of the sun breaking through the clouds. Candidate #2

img_0569

A picture of an isolated thunderstorm. Candidate #3

Header Picture

The sunrise in late fall.Candidate #4

fullsizeoutput_3aa

A cold day with blowing sand Candidate #5

fullsizeoutput_3ae

As always, thank you for your help. The winner will be posted on the header next week.

Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt “Coat” #SoCS, #JusJoJan

~ John W. Howell ~ 56 Comments

 

SOCS

Just Jot it January

 

It is Stream of Consciousness Saturday time again. This week’s prompt is “Coat.” It is also Just Jot is January and this post counts in both. That’s good since I have missed all the prompts so far. If you would like to participate in either go to Linda Hill’s post and read all about it. Here is the link. https://lindaghill.com/2017/01/06/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-and-jusjojan-jan-717/

Coat by John W. Howell © 2017

“What are you doing?”

“Putting on a coat.”

“I can see that. I’m talking about those gloves, the cap, scarf, and Uggs.”

“Hello. This is the middle of winter and we’re going out.”

“I know but you look like you live in Minnesota. ”

“I can’t help it. The Arctic Vortex has hit us.”

“Well, it’s a little colder than normal but hardly worth dressing  like you’re competing in the Iditarod.”

“Speak for yourself flip-flop man. I see you are wearing shoes.”

“Well yeah. we are going out to dinner and I don’t think the restaurant folks would appreciate me walking in with flip-flops. Besides these are boat shoes. Hardly good in the snow.”

“I don’t care. I’ve been cold for two days and I’m not taking it anymore.”

“Cold for two days? Are you sure you don’t have the flu or something?”

“I don’t have anything but goosebumps.”

“The Arctic Vortex has just been here since yesterday. Why have you been cold for two days.”

“You know as well as I the air conditioner was not working right. It was stuck on cool. The house was 65 degrees.”

“I know. Why didn’t you open the door and let in some warm air?”

“You know how the humidity ruins the furniture.”

“Well, it is now fixed.”

“And it is still 65 degrees.”

“Turn on the heat.”

“What? Turn on the heat so early in the season? No way.”

“You know how ridiculous this conversation sounds to the folks up North don’t you?”

“They are lucky.”

“How so?”

“When it is time to be cold it is cold. Makes planning easier.”

“I see. Let me help you with that coat. I certainly hope no one reads this. We will be the laughing-stock.”

Friday John Ku – AKA TGIF

~ John W. Howell ~ 52 Comments

TGIF

 

It looks like we survived the New Year’s celebrations and are close to the end of the work week. Since this was a short week we probably have a little energy left that we can invest in a terrific weekend. I know this week was quite stress-free for me. I managed to get my next book off to the beta readers and the edits to My GRL back to the editor. I think it as a good week. Sometimes working in a vacuum it is hard to say whether the week was good or not.  This is why having a goal or two established for the week gives you a measure of your movement. Now that these two tasks are accomplished I can turn back to getting my next book finished. Knock wood the first draft should be done by the end of April. This week’s John Ku talks about goals. I hope you have a great weekend.

Goals by John W. Howell © 2017

Once they are written,

It is hard to ignore them. . .

Goals are persistent.