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.

Thursday- A Little Personal – Rave Waves BlogTalkRadio #RRBC

August 20, 2015August 17, 2015 ~ John W. Howell ~ 7 Comments

Today I am happy to host an interview on Rave Waves BlogTalk Radio/Spotlight Honors with Rachel Pruchno the author of Surrounded By Madness: A Memoir of Mental Illness and Family Secrets. Tune in at 11:00 CDT today. Here is the link: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/ravereviewsbookclub/2015/08/20/rrbc-rave-waves-blog-talk-radio-spotlight-honors-with-guest-rachel-pruchno-1 You can also go to Twitter #RRBCSpotlightHonors and be part of the show with questions for Rachel. Click live after the hashtag. You can also visit Rachel on Facebook and on twitter @RachelPruchno

Rachel Pruchno is Director of Research at the New Jersey Institute for Successful Aging and Endowed Chair, Professor of Medicine at Rowan University’s School of Osteopathic Medicine. She earned her Ph.D. in Human Development and Family Studies at Penn State University. Dr. Pruchno has been the Principal Investigator on numerous research grants funded by the National Institute of Mental Health, the National Institute of Aging, the National Institute of Nursing Research, the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, the Retirement Research Foundation, and the Cleveland Foundation. For more than 3 decades, Dr. Pruchno’s research has focused on issues regarding mental health and families. She has published more than 70 peer-reviewed articles in scientific journals, 10 invited book chapters, and an edited book. She has served as Editor-in-Chief of The Gerontologist, a leading scientific journal, since 2011. In March 2014, Dr. Pruchno published her book, “Surrounded By Madness: A Memoir of Mental Illness and Family Secrets.”

Book Blurb:

“What was the likelihood my adopted daughter would have my father’s hazel eyes and my mother’s mental illness?”

In this fiercely candid memoir, Dr. Pruchno, a scientist widely acclaimed for her research on mental illness and families, shows how mental illness threatened to destroy her own family. Not once, but twice.

As a child, she didn’t understand her mother’s episodes of crippling sadness or whirlwind activity. As a mother, she feared her daughter Sophie would follow in the footsteps of the grandmother Sophie never knew.

Unraveling the mysteries of her mother’s and daughter’s illnesses, Pruchno fought to preserve her marriage and protect her son. But it was not until she came to terms with her own secrets that she truly understood the destructive and pervasive effects mental illness has on families.

Surrounded by Madness is transforming. It will empower families to stop hiding and start talking when mental illness strikes.

Wednesday Story Time – AKA Hump Day

August 19, 2015August 17, 2015 ~ John W. Howell ~ 26 Comments

Wednesday story time again. Last week we left Charlotte talking to Bob, who still seems to think she is his mother. They got into a discussion about the word that Robert (for you late comers Robert is another personality of Bob’s) called him. Bob didn’t want to say the word but described it as a modern word for what Oedipus did back in Homers time. We need to get back there before Charlotte implodes.

“So why do you think Robert called you that word.”

“I think he knows deep down that some of my problems stem from an Oedipus complex.”

“Did you sleep with your mother?”

“No. Not that I remember anyway. I think it’s a more latent desire.”

“Ew. Bob. You are conscious of this desire?”

“I don’t think so, but something gives me a hint now and then.”

“What do you mean something?”

“I can’t explain it. It is a feeling kinda like a dream feeling.”

“Let me talk to Robert.”

“Hello, Charlotte. It’s me, Robert.”

“Okay, Robert what the hell are you doing?”

“Doing? Whatever do you mean?”

“You are planting some evil thought in Bob’s mind, and you know it.”

“Oh, you mean the sleeping with mommy stuff?”

“Exactly. That stuff.”

“I’m just playing with him. He’s such a wimp. He believes anything I tell him.”

“I’m going to ask you a question, and I want the truth. Agreed?”

“Sure. I mean agreed.”

“Did you sleep with Bob’s mother?”

“Er. Depends on what you mean by sleep?”

“Oh my gosh.”

“Oh, I wouldn’t get all twisted. Yes, I slept with her but that is what we did went to sleep.”

“Tell me more.”

“She came home one night. I think Bob and I were about nineteen or so. She was drunk out of her mind. We were in bed and she just pushed into the bed.”

“What did she do?”

“Aw, nothing. She told us she loved us and wanted a kiss. I immediately took cover. Bob gave her a kiss.”

“What kind of kiss?”

“A little peck on the cheek. My god, you have a dirty mind.”

“I didn’t say anything. I just asked what kind of kiss?”

“Well, Bob gave her this little peck. He is such a wimp. I jumped in and planted a real kiss on her drunken ass. Well, I mean on her lips.”

“Then what happened?”

“Ah, she kinda made a grab for me but passed out.”

“So you wanted to do more?”

“What the hell is it to you? You come around here making trouble. You’ve got Bob upset and now accuse me of something terrible with my mother. You need to take it back.”

“Robert you are hurting my arm. Please let go.”

“Sure mommy. I’ll let go. After you give me what you owe me.”

“Bob please help me.”

“Charlotte I feel so weak. Robert won’t let me out.”

“Oh, my gosh.”

S M Spencer Author of Destiny – Book One of the Absent Shadows Trilogy #RRBC

August 18, 2015August 17, 2015 ~ John W. Howell ~ 18 Comments

I am pleased to welcome S M Spencer to Fiction Favorites today. She is the author of Destiny, which is book one of the Absent Shadows Trilogy and she is on a 4 Wills Publishing Absent Shadows Tour. Welcome to Fiction Favorites,

Hello, and thanks for stopping by on my blog tour! I would like to thank John for having me here, and also 4Wills Publishing for organizing this tour for me. To see all the stops on the tour, check out their website:

www.4willspublishing.wordpress.com/upcoming-events/

HOW I CHOOSE POINT OF VIEW

A lot has been written about the various POV options, as well as the pros and cons of each. I’ve Googled the topic, read articles and a multitude of chapters in editing books and even so I find some of the discussions can get rather confusing. So, how do I go about choosing between the various POV options? Well, let me start with a simple definition and then I’ll tell you how I do it.

Works of fiction are narrated by a person (or sometimes an animal) that is telling the story. Point of view (“POV”) is, put simply, the perspective from which that narrator speaks.

So, who is the narrator of any given story? Is it a single character from within the story, or is the story told by more than one character? Or is the narrator not part of the story at all? Is the story to be told by an omniscient being with knowledge and understanding of all the characters? The decision as to who the narrator is determines whether there is a single viewpoint or a dual, multiple or omniscient viewpoint. The type of narrator can be first person (“I”) or third person (“he” or “she”).

So, armed with a definition, how did I choose? I put on my reader hat and thought about what books I’ve really enjoyed as a reader, and then I went back and had a look at how those books were written.

Take the Janet Evanovich books for example. Stephanie Plum is a sassy bounty hunter who I found it incredibly likable. These books are written in first person single viewpoint, giving us narrative like this snippet from Two for the Dough: “It was late October, and Trenton was enjoying the death throes of Indian summer. Ranger and I were squatting behind a hydrangea bush at the corner of Paterson and Wycliff, and we weren’t enjoying Indian summer, each other’s company, or much of anything else.” And it’s not just me that finds the character Stephanie Plum works well—the twenty-second installment of the series, Tricky Twenty-Two, is due for release later this year.

Another style of first person, first person present, is gaining popularity and can be found in books such as Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games. That book starts off with this: “When I wake up, the other side of the bed is cold. My fingers stretch out, seeking Prim’s warmth but finding only the rough canvas cover of the mattress.” Everything that happens is happening right now—in the present—as the story is being told. I’ve read a few books written in this fashion, and while I find that the writing can seem somewhat abrupt initially, if the story is good enough I do settle into the style. However, I suspect it must take a great deal of concentration to consistently write in this style without slipping up.

I found a really interesting example of the use of first person in a book called Mudbound, by Hillary Jordan. In this story, there are several narrators, and each is written in the first person. Each chapter is clearly marked with the name of the protagonist whose voice we are hearing. The story progresses smoothly, changing between the six main characters without a hitch. This style provides incredible insight into each of the main characters, allowing the reader to really identify with each character. I would love to write a book using this method at some stage when I have the right story for it.

If you don’t want to write in first person, as in “I”, then there is third person. Narrated by “he” or “she” and considerable use of the character’s name, third person can have single, dual or multiple viewpoints. Third person dual viewpoint is often used for contemporary romance books as it allows for a much greater development of the hero. This provides greater insight into the feelings and motivations of both characters, not just the female protagonist.

Third person, multiple viewpoints is the technique used in Robin Cook’s Harmful Intent, an intense medical thriller. The story switched between the various characters flawlessly, providing the reader with insight into the motivation and personality of all the key characters—the good guys, the bad guys and the ones you aren’t sure about until the end. The POV changes weren’t always in new chapters either, but they were clearly identified by spacing, and use of the characters names in the course of the narration.

So, having said all that, how do I choose the POV for a particular story?

I answer the following questions. Is it best for the story to unfold through the eyes of one main character, knowing that the reader will only know what this main character knows? Or will the story work better if told from two or more viewpoints? Then I decide whether I would prefer to write in first person or third person. Again, going back over books I’ve read and liked helped with both decisions.

Another key factor for me in determining the POV to use is to keep the reader’s best interests in mind. It is crucial that the reader never be in doubt as to who is telling the story.

In writing the Absent Shadows trilogy, I chose a single point of view, being that of the main character, Lili. This was her story, told from her perspective entirely. As many of the other characters in the story were not human, I felt it best for the reader to see them as Lili saw them rather than to delve too deeply into their thoughts, desires, and motivations.

However, I am employing other POV’s with my current works in progress. One is a contemporary romance and is written in third person dual viewpoint. The other, which I am still struggling to categorise, is currently being written in third person with multiple viewpoints.

My advice to others would be to read articles and books to expand your knowledge but above all, keep it simple, and trust your instincts.

S M Spencer’s first series is called Absent Shadows Trilogy. To find out more about the series, and obtain free samples of each of the books, visit Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=series_rw_dp_labf?_encoding=UTF8&field-collection=Absent%20Shadows%20Trilogy&url=search-alias%3Ddigital-text

You can also follow her on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/SMSpencer.writer for advice about upcoming promotions as well as updates on the books she’s currently working on.

Her twitter handle is @SMSpencerAuthor

About the Author:

S M Spencer was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area of California. As a young teenager, she was introduced to the world of romantic suspense through the works of authors such as Daphne du Maurier and Mary Stewart. These books stirred in her a passion that would last a lifetime: to become a writer.Feeling the need to experience life before embarking on a writing career, Ms. Spencer completed a business degree. Her career eventually landed her in Melbourne, Australia, where she has lived ever since.

SM Spencer now writes from her home in a semi-rural part of Australia, where she lives with her husband, horses, cats, and dogs.

Destiny Excerpt:

Sometimes, when something bad happens, time seems to slow to a crawl.

Like that time, I was running to visit my friend who lived down the street. I was only about ten at the time, but it seemed like it was yesterday. I remember exactly how it felt as I ran down that street toward her house. And how, when I was only part way there, I stepped on an acorn and my foot rolled out from under me. As I fell, the pavement got closer and closer to my face—in horrible slow-motion. I hit the ground with my hands stretched out in front of me, scraping the skin off both palms. They barely bled but man they hurt like crazy.

Yes, I could replay that memory like a slow-motion movie in my head even now—years later.

But this … well, this wasn’t like that.

What happened next was like a series of still photos. Tom flew out of the bedroom in a blur, but stopped just long enough for the image of his face to be burnt into my mind. His eyes were no longer soft brown, but were instead a glowing red, and his normally tanned complexion was now pallid grey. But what really stood out was the blood that ran down from the corner of his mouth.

Then I heard Sam’s voice—loud and harsh. ‘Go!’

Tom was gone and I heard the door slam.

I closed my eyes for no more than a long blink—it couldn’t have been more than a second—but when I opened them, Sam was in the bedroom, bending over Claire. Was he doing something to her neck? She was so still.

I ran to the doorway but stopped short of going in. I couldn’t draw a breath to scream or talk. I just stood there, frozen.

Tuesday – Anything Possible – Prompt from Keith Channing

August 18, 2015August 17, 2015 ~ John W. Howell ~ 18 Comments

Keith Channing has a prompt each week he calls Kreative Kue. He posts a picture and has these instructions. “ 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.” Here is the link to his post http://channing.info/wp/2015/08/17/kreative-kue-38-2/

This week’s photo.

“I’m telling you I know this area, and you can find a reasonably priced home. All you have to do is keep looking.”

“Well, you’re my real estate agent. Why don’t you show me some things?”

“That’s why we’re here.”

“In a shopping center in front of a barber shop.”

“Now you have to keep an open mind.”

“Open mind about what?”

“About living in a barber shop.”

“You have to be kidding me.”

“Are you allergic to hair?”

“That’s not the point. Why do you think I should live in a barber shop?”

“Well for one thing this is Florida, and your budget is pretty small. Besides I think I can get the owner to knock off some of the rent if you agree to sweep up at night.”

“This is ridiculous. Where do you live if I may ask?”

“You’re in my house.”

“This van?”

“Well, it’s better than a barbershop. I even have a pet whatchamacallit bird out for a walk right now.”

“I need a new agent.”

“No, you need a ton more money.”

Top Ten Things to Never Ever Say Out Loud

August 17, 2015August 16, 2015 ~ John W. Howell ~ 43 Comments

I've Got a Big Mouth — I’ve Got a Big Mouth Photo http://www.winwes.com

This list was inspired by hearing many things said in an out loud voice that would have been better kept to the inside. Hope you like it.

Top Ten Things to Never Ever Say Out Loud

10 Never say out loud, “When is your baby due?” If you do, at best the person will give you a time of expected delivery but a frown for asking a personal question. At worst, you will be apologetic for making the assumption of motherhood when, in fact, the person has a different condition that the non-recognition of same requires numerous hits about your head and body. (And you thought that umbrella was on account of the rain forecast)

9 Never say out loud, “Do you smell something?” If you do, at best those around you will wrinkle their nose and assume you are an animal. At worst, big Brutus who is behind you will think you are making fun of the fact that he works on an oil rig that will become apparent to you on your way to the ER. (Brutus has some sensitivity about smelling like oil although he has not mastered the art of bathing)

8 Never say out loud, “It’s my turn.” If you do, at best you will have someone choosing to disagree. At worst, the crowd behind you in line will sense the insecurity of such a statement and push forward in an attempt to eliminate your position in line. (You should not say it even if the clerk asks “Who’s next?”)

7 Never say out loud, “My you have a healthy appetite” If you do, at best you will call attention to the fact that the person ate quite a bit. At worst, you will demonstrate your lack of social grace and someone might hand you a well-deserved knuckle sandwich. (Which will be 100% fat-free.)

6 Never say out loud, “Is that appropriate wear for a date?” If you do, at best you might be responsible for the opening salvo of a great teen war. At worst, you might be told that what is worn is no body’s business and what are you going to do about it. (The next move and ultimate fault for the episode is yours.)

5 Never say out loud, “You out of razors?” If you do, at best there will be some additional comment about you not liking a particular look. At worst, you will come to understand that razor use is now part of certain banned behaviors of a back to nature group. (That you had no idea existed before now.)

4 Never say out loud, “I hear you’re in Weight Watchers.” If you do, at best you can expect an unwelcome comment about your weight. At worst, you could be on the receiving end on an invitation to engage in an unnatural act with yourself. (And we are not talking about spanking.)

3 Never say out loud, “Did you have a choice of color?” If you do, at best the subject of your humor will not laugh with you. At worst, you might be on the receiving end of some very critical comments about your lavender colored Ford Focus. (And you know you had a choice.)

2 Never say out loud, “Your children are certainly a handful aren’t they?” If you do, at best you will have precipitated a great test of will on the part of the parent. At worst, you will understand what it is like to pick on a baby bear cub. (Running up a tree is probably the best solution.)

1 Never say out loud. “You don’t eat meat. What’s wrong with you?” If you do, at best those who don’t eat meat will avoid you like the plague. At worst, several members of the Professional Vegan Wrestler Society will provide a free message, and you will agree there is nothing wrong with people who choose to avoid eating meat. (Admit it you never felt so relaxed and possibly so paralyzed.)

Sunday – Fifty-Two Views of Gulf

August 16, 2015August 16, 2015 ~ John W. Howell ~ 18 Comments

Now we are talking. This week’s shot finally captured the elusive RV camping site. This one is fairly typical. You have your three pick-up trucks, a tent for the young-uns, and the palatial RV for the oldsters. The generator (that you can’t hear) sound is picked up by the Gulf breezes and carries right into one’s ear way back off the beach. The water is calm and you can also see the yellow and white flowers. The two on foot are neighbors going down to the beach to secure a spot before the next RV pulls in. It is a beautiful day.

Last week’s photo.

Stream Of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt – “ay”

August 15, 2015August 14, 2015 ~ John W. Howell ~ 36 Comments

It is Stream of Consciousness Saturday again. This week we have a new badge which was established by pitting several bloggers against each other in mortal combat. It was agreed in advance the last one standing would establish the badge for the rest. Since all manners of contests cause me to break out in a rash I did not participate. I do think all the competitors did an excellent job. Special congratulations to Hope Floats for the winning design.

This week’s prompt is “ay.” We are to use a word that ends in ay. If you would like to participate go to Linda Hill’s blog and read about the rules. Here is the link. http://lindaghill.com/2015/08/14/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-august-1515/ My interpretation follows.

“So tell me again what the guy said to you.”

“He said, ‘Aye matey, you’ll make a fine seaman.’”

“Give me a little more context here. Why would he say that?”

“Well, I asked if he was looking for employees.”

“Employees? On a ship?”

“He was standing on the corner. He had a parrot on his shoulder, and one leg was wooden. He was holding a sign that read Crew members needed. Good, pay.”

“And you decided to talk to him?”

“Aye. I mean yes. I asked him what would be the duties of a crew member.”

“This is getting worse. What did he say?”

“He mentioned manning the sails, swabbing the deck, and boarding other ships.”

“Boarding other ships? The person was a pirate?”

“Nay me hardy. The person was a sea, captain.”

“Nay? Are you nuts? You have a job and a good home.”

“That’s today. What about the future?”

“What possible future could there be in the pirate business?”

“He offered me an eighth split.”

“Split of what.”

“The bounty. You know gold, silver, and jewels.”

“Have you been watching Pirates of the Caribbean again?”

“You gave it to me for my birthday.”

“Yes, I know. I didn’t think it would be a gateway to your delusions.”

“I don’t have a delusion. In fact I gotta go I’m due at the gangway in a half hour.”

“I think I need a jug of Chardonnay.”

Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF

August 14, 2015August 13, 2015 ~ John W. Howell ~ 22 Comments

Friday YAY. Yes, I’m glad it is here. I spent most of the week working on the various cover submissions for the second book in the John Cannon Trilogy titled His Revenge. It is a daunting task in that I had four designers competing for the business. They came up with over 60 designs, and I must say all the artists were good. I will withhold final judgment on the service until I have the finished product. So far I have been pleased with the results. As a reminder, you can still vote for the cover that you think works by going to this link. http://99designs.com/book-cover-design/vote-uyatn3

I will say one designer took me to a final design and then had to change it because he was not authorized to use the graphic he presented. That was not forgivable as far as I’m concerned. Total time waste. The design was great and in the final four, and then it disappeared and he substituted another. This week’s JohnKu is about honesty. I hope you like it.

Believing the words,

Based on the integrity. . .

At last finding none.

On Tour – Jason Zandri -Author of “I, Hero: Nathan Returns” #RRBC

August 13, 2015August 13, 2015 ~ John W. Howell ~ 28 Comments

I am pleased to welcome Jason Zandri to Fiction Favorites. Jason is on tour to promote his book I, Hero: Nathan Returns. Jason, welcome.

Thanks, John. It is with great pleasure that I introduce to everyone, via the blog tour, the very first look at “I, Hero: Nathan Returns”.

I, Hero: Nathan Returns – Excerpt I

PROLOGUE

The morning sun rose over the horizon and immediately began to heat the crisp morning air.

A middle-aged woman sat on a park bench with a small, mixed breed dog on a leash. The dog sniffed around at the grass to the left rear of the bench and the woman turned her back to face her dog.

She was holding her smart phone and had ear buds in her ears. She listened to music that played while an older gentleman with white hair, dressed in a long suit coat, came along. He moved alongside the park bench in the grassy area off the paved path. The smaller dog immediately tugged on the leash to see the other dog.

The woman casually lifted her hand to her left ear, dropped the ear bud out of it, and glanced over at the pure-bred Labrador Retriever. “We might as well be having that affair we’re always accused of, meeting up like this as often as we do,” she said quietly without taking her attention off her dog.

“It’s better that the talk is of an affair that we’re not having than what we’re actually doing,” the man replied, turning his back towards her and allowing the dog to move him a couple of steps away. “Status and update?” he asked plainly.

“We still have no way to track him,” she said while getting up from the bench to pick up after the dog. She took the opportunity to scan the area for other people. There were none. “His powers… change, for a lack of better description. We are following a given signature then it disappears entirely. When it does come up again it registers differently. We track that for a while and then he just falls off the radar.” She dropped the small bag into a nearby pail and walked her dog near his so they could sniff each other. “He generally seems to head west before he drops out of sight. We’ve eliminated California, Oregon, and Washington because of the number of occasions he disappears heading east from those states. Intelligence is liking Nevada, but it’s still too loose and just a guess.”

“Do you think it’s deliberate? Do you think he knows we are trying to track him and he is masking his movements?” he asked tugging slightly at his dog’s leash.

“I can’t know for certain,” she said looking up at him and smiling slightly. She reached into her coat pocket to make sure her identification badge was still there. “His movements are too casual; if I had to guess I would say ‘no’. He’s young, not skilled or trained, and he trusts easily. Why his signature disappears and then shows up differently is something we haven’t figured out. It does repeat; there are times it matches prior signatures and we have a catalog of nine distinct ones to date, but why they are constantly changing is another unknown. We also see no detectable pattern in the changes. It appears random.”

“We know Senator Kelly is the direct link between Nathan and the President; have we had any luck with that route?” the man asked looking directly at the woman.

“No. He’s tight-lipped, he won’t budge, and he has to be the cleanest politician I’ve ever seen too; we can’t even find anything to leverage on him,” she said withdrawn.

“Everyone has a closet and there are always skeletons. I don’t want to have to go that way with him, but if I have to I will, even if I have to fabricate something. We need to figure out what is going on. It’s a matter of national security,” the man said looking over at his dog as it began doing its business in the grass.

The woman glanced over and then tended back to her dog. “I’ll put some more people on it but eventually it’s going to leak. The people like Nathan; once it gets out that the CIA and Homeland are trying to track him it’s not going to be good.”

“The CIA and Homeland are not tracking him,” the man responded matter of factly.

“Yes, two rogue groups within each organization are; without authorization, and without Presidential backing. That will go over so much better with the public,” she said in a sarcastic tone. “Is it such a smart idea to engage tonight on World News with Mark Daniels?”

“America’s Roundtable is the place for a discussion like this,” the man turned and stepped over to her near the edge of the paved walkway. “The top thirty-five most populous cities in the United States, with a total population that exceeds 40 million souls. Offshore, shell companies, buying, leasing, or otherwise occupying property in the dead center of each of those cities. We have been stymied on just about every legal front, trying to gain access to some of those locations, and others that we have been able to access have not produced anything worthwhile to date.”

She looked up at him with a steely look in her eyes. “I am as much a Patriot as you are. Have you ever considered that there is no conspiracy there? Even if there is one, how can you be so sure it has to do with him? Nathan has no income that we’ve been able to detect. We have no idea where he lays his head at night. As far as food goes, there are millions of families that would offer him dinner, if he even needs to consume food anymore with respect to the powers he has. He just doesn’t have the means for anything nearly as grand as what you’re assuming, based on all of our intelligence.”

“You’re naïve, Jane,” the man said in a stern tone. “His capabilities are unmatched. There are governments that would pay a fortune to exploit them. He has a commodity that no one else can provide in his abilities.” The man tugged at his dog slightly to bring him out of the grass and onto the paved path. “Everyone has a price and everything can be bought.”

“Said the man who has brokered his share of said deals,” Jane replied plainly. She pulled the other ear bud out and put the unit in her purse.

“It is exactly because of that, I know something is going on. I will get to the bottom of it,” he said as he took a couple of steps away from her.

“If you are right about this, then hopefully the people will understand the need for some of the illegal activity…”

“We are covered under the Patriot Act,” he said, stopping his departure abruptly and cutting her off mid-sentence.

“That’s a load and you know it, but if it helps you sleep at night, so be it. Sooner or later it’s going to surface, whether we want it to or not, Congressman Johnson, and I hope you’re ready for that.”

“I’ll be ready because there is just no way I’m that far off base on this. Those properties in those cities… they all tie back to Nathan somehow and I am going to figure it out. All that power he has and it’s not enough. Now he’s involved with something in the middle of all those cities…all those lives. I will find out what that is,” he said turning to walk away.

Jane turned back to where the Congressman was exercising his dog. “You going to pick that up?” she asked plainly.

“The park has paid caretakers; they’ll tend to it,” he said without turning around.
About I, Hero: Nathan Returns

Nathan is back in New York City; the place where it all started, nearly one year later. While he has been away, he has been establishing a base of operations and trying to follow the direction his life has taken – making a difference and answering the call for help where and when he is needed.

He has returned to this birthplace of his powers with more questions of why he is on the path he is on and what is expected of him.

During a dangerous rescue, his powers dissipate, and leave him critically vulnerable.

He connects back with old friends who help him rediscover the man he used to be to in order to help him be the man he has become and the man who he must be.

Magical forces come into play, pulling on nature itself, which introduces an unexpected challenge to Nathan while he is at this perilous juncture.

The pendulum swings even farther out of alignment; it is up to Nathan to respond before forces are set into motion that cannot be countered.

I, Hero: The Beginning – Links to Excerpts

“I, Hero – The Beginning” – Excerpt I http://bit.ly/1MKrwsF
“I, Hero – The Beginning” – Excerpt IIhttp://bit.ly/1CCp4Sl
“I, Hero – The Beginning” – Excerpt IIIhttp://bit.ly/1HlZEYo
“I, Hero – The Beginning” – Excerpt IVhttp://bit.ly/1CwNg3l

I, Hero: Nathan Returns – Links to Excerpts

COMING ON DAYS FIVE AND SIX ON THE TOUR!

Books and links

Before Another Sunset (The Sunset Series Book 1)
http://www.amazon.com/Before-Another-Sunset-Series-Book-ebook/dp/B00T11GKYE

Another Sunset (The Sunset Series Book 2)
http://www.amazon.com/Another-Sunset-Book-2-ebook/dp/B00QD2FQU8/

I Hero: The Beginning
http://www.amazon.com/I-Hero-Beginning-Jason-Zandri-ebook/dp/B00Y3LA41M/

I Hero: Nathan Returns
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B011AOPE64

As Life Goes: Elementary
http://www.amazon.com/Life-Goes-Elementary-Jason-Zandri-ebook/dp/B00ZXVB7SK/

As Life Goes: The End of the Innocence – (expected November 2015)
As Life Goes: The Reunion – (expected April 2016)
As Life Goes: The Wedding (expected July 2016)
As Life Goes: The Funeral (expected October 2016)

I Hero: Untitled Book 3 (Expected first half 2016)
I Hero: Untitled Book 4 (Expected second half 2016)
I Hero: Untitled Book 5 (Expected first half 2017)

Social Media links

Twitter – @GUNDERSTONE https://twitter.com/gunderstone/
Facebook Author page – https://www.facebook.com/jzandri
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonzandri
Google+ – https://plus.google.com/+JasonZandri/
Author blog – The GUNDERSTONE Review https://gunderstone.wordpress.com/

ABOUT JASON ZANDRI

Jason has been working in the information technology field in one form or the other since 1996. He is currently employed full time at Bloomberg LP as a Systems Engineer in the R&D group. Jason lives in Wallingford Connecticut, with his wife Renata. He is the father to four children, three boys and 1 girl – 11 years (Andrew), 9 years (Angela), 7 years (Adam) and 6 years old (Alex).

“This tour sponsored by 4WillsPublishing.wordpress.com.”

Thursday – A Little Personal

August 13, 2015August 12, 2015 ~ John W. Howell ~ 25 Comments

I thought I would give a view of our shipping channel which I took this last week.

This is a large oil tanker moving toward the Port of Corpus Christi to pick up a load of Oil that has come from the Eagle Shale oilfield. This is oil that has been extracted from the shale by the process called fracking. This fracking process is responsible for the low price of oil these days. It is not because of the abundance of oil from the process but the decision of OPEC to reduce the price of oil to make this process too expensive to be practical. The potential for fracked oil was over 30% of the use in the US. That strategy is working since exploration and building of new facilities has been slowed considerably.

On the left is the tail end of a ferry that connects our island to the mainland. The ferry cuts across the shipping channel and usually has to yield to the large tankers.

You can see the ferries better with this longer shot. Also, you can see a drilling platform to the right. These are built locally and then shipped all over the Gulf. This one has been brought back for rehab and retrofit for another deployment.

Here is a picture taken from this same spot of a platform heading out to sea after it was manufactured. This was taken a couple of years ago.