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.
Friday again. Boy what a week in the financial market. It was one for the record books and not at all enjoyable. I now realize why I don’t like to go to Las Vegas and put my hard-earned money down and watch it being swept away. It sucks when money disappears. (Okay, okay it’s on paper and not real money) I hope everyone who is determined to continue the carnage in the stock market has a nice weekend. Maybe then they will come to work Monday with the idea of buying instead of selling. I for one decided to sit this whole mess out. I don’t need to sell stocks and so maybe when the time comes when I do the market will return to normal. Either that or maybe I can take up collecting aluminum cans. Heaven knows there are enough left on the beach. This week’s JohnKu talks about concern around money. Hope you like it.
A couple of weeks ago I did a post that had the tail end of a freighter moving through the Corpus Christi ship channel on the way to pick up some oil. I wasn’t quick enough to get a good picture. You can go HERE to see it if you want. I was finally successful yesterday in getting a couple of shots of a freighter just as it entered the channel from the Gulf. Here is one picture.
Notice how high the ship rides in the water. This shows you the boat is empty.
The ship’s name is Cape Bird and this photo shows you the bow wave. Usually, there are dolphins swimming in the bow wave playing a game of racing the ship. There were none when I took the photo.
Here is a closer photo as the ship passes and begins to move further into the channel on its way to pick up oil.
I took this final shot which includes a couple of old salts pondering what they should have for lunch. “How about fish fellas?”
“So what do you do?” “I’m a writer.” “No I mean what do you do for money?”
Wednesday Story Day again. Last week we left poor Charlotte calling for Bob to come out and help her with Robert. (If you just joined this craziness you have to know Bob has an alternate personality named Robert, who is obsessed with him and Bob’s mother. All is clear right? Good). We need to get back since it is clear Robert is getting a little (Understatement) carried away. He still sees Charlotte as his mother Melissa with whom he has admitted to an unhealthy attraction. Buckle up kids here we go.
“Robert I demand that you let go of my arm.”
“Yeah, mommy and whatcha going to do if I don’t?”
“Why do you keep calling me mommy?”
“Because you are our mama.”
“I’m Charlotte Robert. I’m not your mother.”
“You can keep fooling Bob, but I know the truth.”
“So Robert tell me the truth.”
“You keep telling Bob you are a teacher hired by our mother.”
“Yes, that’s true.”
“It’s a lie. You are our mother and you are trying to sabotage Bob’s writing.”
“And if I were your mother, why would I want to do that?”
“Because you know Bob has written a story about you and what you did to us when we were younger. You can’t find the story to destroy it, so you think the next best thing is to make sure Bob has no confidence in himself to publish it.”
“This sounds like a madman’s tale. Tell me who is going to listen to a couple of crazy personalities? You are split personalities and in anyone’s book totally nuts.”
“Then why are you so worried.”
“I’m not worried Robert. In fact, I’m telling you to let me go or something bad is going to happen to you.”
“You can’t scare me, Melissa.”
“How did you know it was me.?”
“Your eyes have a slight shade of green that gets darker when you are Melissa and not Charlotte.”
“So where does this leave us?”
“I think you are going to die.”
“Over my dead body. Excuse the joke Robert but you don’t have what it takes to kill me.”
“Why not keep shooting off your mouth and see.”
“Shut up Robert now. Let me go or I will have to use this.”
“You have a gun. Quell dramatic. Go ahead shoot your son.”
“Don’t think I won’t?”
“Now I have the gun, mom. Pretty dumb to take your eyes off me.”
“Let her go, Robert.”
“Bob, How the hell?”
“I said let her go, or you’ll get shot.’
“You know you are talking to yourself right?”
“I said let her go.”
“Not on your life Bob.”
“Oh, my gosh Bob you just shot Robert.”
“And myself mom.”
“Oh, my poor boy.”
“Mom?”
“Yes, my son.”
“You’re a sick puppy you know.’
“I know son, and I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. Me finally finding some peace is the way it should end. I hope you get some help.”
“Bob. I never meant to hurt you. Bob? You’re gone aren’t you?”
“He’s gone, mom.”
“Robert? How are you?”
“I think I’m going to go too.”
“No Robert. Please don’t leave me alone.”
“Bob was right you know.”
Right? About what?”
“You need help. You’ve destroyed our lives as well as your own. I need to go now. Bye, mom.”
“Please forgive me. Robert talk to me. Please say something. Robert, my love come back. I can make this okay. Robert?”
I am pleased to have Larry Hyatt visit Fiction Favorites. Larry is the Spotlight Author for Rave Reviews Book Club. Go here to see the rest of his schedule
Author Bio:
Larry Hyatt has written radio comedy, sketch comedy and plays, produced television and radio, worked as a creative director for an arts and entertainment magazine, and published numerous humorous articles and essays. Originally from New Orleans he’s a graduate of the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts and attended Loyola University’s School of Music as a vocalist, went into radio broadcasting, has been a nightclub in house entertainer (Where he did theatre in a bar), produced and hosted television shows for LCN-TV, and started an entertainment magazine called the “The Tri-Parish Navi-Gator,” featuring theatre,music, dining and the arts in South Louisiana. He hosts “Larry Hyatt is the Morning” on C-96.7 KCIL Radio in Houma, La.
Book Blurb: How to Reach for the American Dream… (And not get it), is the fictional, comedic account of the life of an entertainer who from childhood had what it took to “make it.” You’ll laugh, cry, and cheer him on as he struggles to achieve what only a select few can through his television kid show debut, glee clubs, remedial college studies, gaining weight as a “starving” artist, dating women out of his league, nightclub entertainer, and romps through radio, television, and publishing.
If you are lucky enough to be chosen as a “SPOTLIGHT” AUTHOR, here is what you and your book will receive:
1) A one-week long blog tour on several blogs, set up by Rave Reviews Book Club;
2) A press release that you can submit to your local hometown newspapers & radio (if you so choose);
3) A PDF flyer that you can print and post in local businesses and bookstores promoting your status as a “SPOTLIGHT” AUTHOR of Rave Reviews Book Club;
4) A “WHO’S ON THE SHELF” Interview hosted by our very own President, Nonnie Jules right here on the Rave Reviews Bookshelf! These are so much FUN and heavily promoted!
5) A special “LIVE” BlogTalk Radio Interview/RAVE WAVES/Bring On The Spotlight with Author and Host, John Fioravanti!
6) Tweets and RTs promoting you and your book heavily during your “SPOTLIGHT” week from the RAVE REVIEWS BOARD MEMBERS, the RAVE REVIEWS Tweet Support Team and other club members, as well as Facebook blasts on club member walls; Pinterest and Instagram posts, etc;
7) A “SPOTLIGHT” on our site, with your photo, book cover, blurb and buy links, directing and encouraging the masses to purchase/read and post reviews of your book;
8) After your “SPOTLIGHT” week is over, you will get a listing on our Past “SPOTLIGHT” Authors page IF you are in good standing with the club.
Now, I know you’re wondering how you can become one of our “SPOTLIGHT” AUTHORS. Well, have you joined yet? Membership in our book club is the only way to the awesome title of “SPOTLIGHT” AUTHOR!!!
As you may know, I have become enamored by the talent of Keith Channing. He has a weekly prompt named Kreative Kue, which runs on Mondays. Here are the instructions from Keith for the prompt. “Using this photo as inspiration, write a short story, flash fiction, scene, poem; anything, really; and either put it (or a link to it) in a comment or email it to me at keithkreates@channing.fr before 6pm on 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.”
His advice. “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 website, next Monday.” Here is the photo.
I am so pleased to participate in the Angela B Chrysler blog tour. The tour has over One Hundred and Twenty authors over a thirty-five day period. You can find my feature and interview HERE. To see the rest of the participants and post location, you can go HERE. If you would like to see, all the giveaways visit this SPOT.
It is a tremendous event, and I have to thank Angela for setting it up.
The inspiration for this list came from observing everyday life and watching others fall into a dark pit for no other reason than attempting to answer a dangerous, politically incorrect or impossible question.
Top Ten Questions You Should Never Answer
10 If you are asked, “How do I look?” do not answer the question. If you do, at best you only have a 50% chance of being right which is also a 50% chance of being wrong. At worst, the person who asked the question knows they look awful and now picks a fight with you for misleading them. (Your credibility is now null and void. Good luck with the comforting an old friend excuse.)
9 If you are asked, “Have you been drinking?” do not answer. If you do, at best your answer will not be credible. At worst, if you do answer yes you might have some explaining to do and if you answer no you better be telling the truth. (So what was it that made you trip over the footstool on your way to bed?)
8 If you are asked, “Where did this new car dent come from?” do not answer. If you do, at best your “I don’t know,” will require the need to relay your exact itinerary for the day. At worst, you will be forced to endure an agonizing lecture on how to park and drive a car to prevent it from being dented. ( Lesson one: Shopping carts are car magnets)
7 If you are asked, “Would you like to donate to an organization,” do not answer. If you do, at best you will sound mean-spirited if you say no. At worst, those around you will take into account your clothes and appearance before deciding you must be the winner of the cold heart person of the year award. (They will talk out loud while they deliberate)
6 If you are asked, “Would you mind watching our dog for a few hours?” do not answer. If you do, at best your friendship will be made or lost on the answer. At worst, little Fido happens to have a rare spastic colon that unfortunately for you just decided to attack the poor thing in your white living room. (Which the owners totally forgot to mention.)
5 If you are asked, “Would you like that order supersized?” do not answer. If you do, at best you will hate yourself either way. At worst, it will be a week or two before the supersized feeling has worked its way out of your mind and onto your body. (No is the hardest word.)
4 If you are asked, “What size do you wear?” do not answer. If you do, at best your underestimate will be a laughable moment for the store personnel. At worst, the continued suggestion that you try a larger size will point out how much you have been kidding yourself on the need for reform. (A terrible realization after all.)
3 If you are asked, “Is this seat taken?” do not answer. If you do, at best a yes answer will eventually be proven wrong making you a petty unsociable. At worst, the person will decide to take the seat no matter what you say and will now consider you a nut case if you said yes. (If you said no you have invited company who will talk your ear off for the next ten stops.)
2 If you are asked “Where are you from?” do not answer. If you do, at best the person asking is from the same place, and you now have a new unwanted BFF. At worst, the new BFF decides to go through the list of possible people each of you knows, and you realize that it might be hours before the list is complete. (And because you answered the question you are too polite to tell the person to bug off.)
1 If you are asked “Would you like to go out?” do not answer without thinking. If you do and say yes, at best you’ll need to follow through no matter how dim the prospect. At worst, you say no and unbeknownst to you the person asking is a certified psychopath who made the decision to stop taking the medication that has helped keep the aggressive tendencies in check. (You now have a spurned non-medicated psychopath wanting to walk you home.)
Today’s view shows the fact that weekends are beginning to wind down. All the schools in Texas will be in session starting Monday so not too many families will be able to get away from school activities to go to the beach. As you can see the winds are relatively calm and the seas as well. You can see the yellow flowers to the left and a few on the right. The morning glories have all but disappeared.
Last week’s photo.
Nice to have the RV on the road. Have a great week!
Another work week in the history book (almost). Friday feels so good and we can take a little time to give ourselves a bit of a break over the weekend. At least those of us who have a paycheck issued by the company can take a break from that process. if we write and work for a paycheck the break then becomes more time to write. Although we can’t completely fall into a state of relaxation, at least the tasks are different from each other. If you enjoy writing then the break from a job is an opportunity to do what you enjoy. (Of course, you know all about this write on my free time stuff.)
Today’s JohnKu is about doing what you enjoy when you have an opportunity.
