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.

Wednesday Story Day – AKA Hump Day

August 12, 2015August 11, 2015 ~ John W. Howell ~ 23 Comments

Wednesday Story Day again. Last week we had another confusing session with Robert, Bob and Charlotte. Bob finally came back, and he and Charlotte were discussing his delusion. Charlotte asked him if he knew her, and he said he did but called her mother. I almost don’t want to go back there but since it is Wednesday, I guess I’m forced. You go ahead of me okay?

“Yes, Charlotte you know you are my mother.”

“Bob for heaven sakes what will it take to convince you I’m not your mother?”

“Charlotte you can talk all you want and you can make me out to be crazy, but I know you are my mom.”

“How do you know that?”

“You and my mother have never been in the same place at the same time.”

“Bob, please. There are hundreds of people who I’ve never been in the same place with them.”

“None who have an interest in seeing me fail.”

“Why do you think I want you to fail? I’m your mentor. Your mother hired me to help you publish your book.”

“The same book that will show you to be a fraud? Mother.”

“Bob. You quit that. I’m not your mother.”

“Sure Mother.”

“I’m warning you, Bob.”

“Oh yeah and what are you going to do?”

“Robert. Come back.”

“Yes, Charlotte I’m here.”

“Is there a way for you to reason with Bob?”

“I could hurt him.”

“How would you do that?”

“I can call him names.”

“Thanks, Robert. Let me see Bob again.”

“Yes, mother.”

“I’m not your mother.”

“Robert called me a name.”

“And let me guess. It hurt?”

“Yeah, how did you know?”

“He told me. What was the word?”

“I can’t say. It’s a bad word.”

“Can you spell it?”

“No, it is too bad for that.”

“Give me a hint then.”

“It’s a modern word describing what Oedipus did.”

“Oh, my gosh.”

Cover Poll for MY Next Book – You can Help!

August 12, 2015August 12, 2015 ~ John W. Howell ~ 28 Comments

Uncle John Needs You. I have engaged 99 Designs to create a cover for the sequel to My GRL titled His Revenge. ( to be released later in the Fall) As part of the process, I would like to engage you to provide your opinions. It is real easy. All you have to do is click this link and vote on three covers using one to five stars on each. This is a thriller so the cover needs to convince you to want to find out more about what is going on.

Here is the link. http://99designs.com/book-cover-design/vote-uyatn3

I appreciate your help

Tuesday – Anything Possible

August 11, 2015August 10, 2015 ~ John W. Howell ~ 25 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/2015/08/10/kreative-kue-37/

Here is this week’s photo and my interpretation below it.

“For heaven’s sake can’t you see I’m on holiday?”

“Yes, sir but you see my wife here just absolutely adores your work.”

“She does? Hello, I’m Reggie. What’s your name?”

“My name is Helen Mr. Trueforth.”

“Oh please call me Reggie.”

“Oh, I can’t do that.”

“Why not?”

“You are the Prime Minister and a star and it wouldn’t be right.”

“Star? Well, I like the sound of that. Don’t you men?”

“Mr. Trueforth?”

“Yes, son what is it?”

“About that autograph?”

“Oh yes, it would be my pleasure. What do you have for me to sign?”

“A petition sir.”

“Oh, I would be delighted. I even have a new pen. Here you are. What is the petition against or for?”

“Your removal sir.”

“Oh. Well, I certainly wish you luck. Come on men let’s go play volleyball.”

Ten Things Not to Do On a Monday

August 10, 2015August 8, 2015 ~ John W. Howell ~ 42 Comments

This list was inspired by facing Monday over 3800 times so far. Each and everyone was a little different, and it was not because of the day but rather because of the day before. Hope you enjoy it.

Ten Things Not to Do On a Monday

10 On Monday, do not bustle into the office as if you don’t have a hangover. If you do, at best you will broadcast your desperate condition. At worst, you may just burn out by ten o’clock and will have a rough time explaining how you managed to sleep at your desk until after everyone went home. (And you were drooling too)

9 On Monday, do not go into your boss’s office with a demand for higher pay. If you do, at best you can expect a locked door next time. At worst your boss is fighting a bad headache, and you are now considered a pain in another part of the body. (We are too gentrified to mention what that part is)

8 On Monday, do not get near fellow workers. If you do, at best they will thank you for moving further away given the garlic fumes from your midnight Caesar salad that surround you. At worst, you will confirm to them you just had to have one more round of fire water before last call at 2:00 am. (Funny how two hours of sleep and gallons of coffee won’t get rid of the alcohol vapor)

7 On Monday, do not use a laser pointer during your presentation. If you do, at best your shaking hands will be magnified by the frantic little dot moving around the screen. At worst, you will accidentally point the laser out the window just in time to catch the eye of a 747 pilot on final approach to the airport. (The next thing you will face is an interrogation by Homeland Security)

6 On Monday, do not volunteer to be homeroom, parent. If you do, at best the kids will whisper to the teacher you smell funny. At worst, as you realize you need to visit the restroom, quick you stumble over little Johnny sliding into the hallway and involuntarily render the trip to the restroom redundant. (You also notice how each child can say “eeewww” at a different pitch. (And you thought there would be no teaching moment out of the situation)

5 On Monday, do not meet with friends unless they were with you the night before. If you do, at best they will not understand your current state. At worst, since they are friends, you can expect an interdiction even though you think you will live. (As luck would have it you decided you were going to live after that first glass of wine)

4 On Monday, do not operate any dangerous equipment. If you do, at best you will harm the machinery and not yourself. At worse, you will be screaming for help as the piece of equipment you forgot to turn off heads down the street. (Don’t worry a runaway steamroller can’t cause much harm)

3 On Monday, do not walk the dogs. If you do, at best you will forget where you live. At worst, the dogs will sense some weakness and will take the opportunity to haul you on your stomach through the neighborhood in pursuit of the neighbor’s cat. (Too bad you put on your best outfit for the presentation this morning)

2 On Monday, do not take the carpool to work. If you do, at best you will be asked a hundred questions about your appearance. At worst, your fellow carpoolers will decide to let you off after a couple of miles, and you’ll have to make your way to work anyway. (And you thought that dime store cologne was going to cover up your night before reek)

1 On Monday, do not get out of bed. If you do, at best your college try will get you an F. At worst, you will expose yourself to any one of the nine things on this list. (Trust me it is safer in bed)

Sunday – Fifty Two Views of the Gulf

August 9, 2015August 9, 2015 ~ John W. Howell ~ 26 Comments

As you can see, the wave action is back. The wind has been consistent at about 15 MPH for the last four days. The wind seems to naturally lead to higher waves and since last week there were almost none I guess you can correlate wind velocity with wave action (DUH. Big science going on here). The yellow flowers are barely visible and the purple morning glories have been replaced by white. Don’t ask me why cause I don’t know why. High today about 90 degrees which are 10 degrees cooler than inland. The nice thing about the gulf it keeps you cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. The water is 88 degrees today.

Last week’s photo

you can see the lack of waves. Have a good week.

Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt “Enthuse”

August 8, 2015August 7, 2015 ~ John W. Howell ~ 32 Comments

It is “Steam of Consciousness Saturday time again. This week’s prompt is “enthuse.” It can be used with a prefix or suffix. I was trying to think of a prefix but could not come up with one so I’ll go with the original and suffixes. If you would like to join in go to Linda Hill’s site and learn more. Here is the link http://lindaghill.com/2015/08/07/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-august-815/ Here is my interpretation of the prompt.

“All right team we are going to practice our enthusiasm today.”

“Oh goody, I just love to enthuse before lunch.”

“Who said that?”

“I did.”

“So what’s wrong with enthusiasm? We all need it sometimes.”

“Oh, nothing is wrong with enthusiasm. I just don’t think it is something you can just gin up at will. You either are enthused, or you’re not. You can’t make it up.”

“Nonsense. Enthusiasm is like any other emotion. You can practice being enthusiastic and before you know it you are enthused.”

“I’m sorry I just don’t believe its right.”

“ENTHUSE.”

“Wait. You scared me.”

“Do it.”

“Yay.”

“Bigger. Put your heart into it.”

“Yay?”

“Come on you wimp. Push it.”

“Yay!”

“Better. One more time with gusto.”

“YAY!!”

“Now you are talking. You sound enthusiastic. How do you feel?”

“Enthused sir.”

“Now that’s what I’m talking about now. Carry on enthusiastically.”

“Yes, sir. May I be excused?”

“Excused? What for may I ask?”

“I want to prevent enthuse in my pants, sir.”

The Offer (TPL Story)

August 7, 2015 ~ John W. Howell ~ 8 Comments

Although I’m a little late in this reblog I was honored to go with Professor V J Duke of The Punchy Lands to try and hoodwink Mr. Manahanny into selling his paper. All good fun and Thank you Professor for the opportunity.

Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF

August 7, 2015August 6, 2015 ~ John W. Howell ~ 27 Comments

Friday is finally here. I don’t know about you, but it seemed to be a pretty long week. I was full of productivity this week. I got my manuscript for His Revenge off to the editor. I will be holding my breath until the surgical procedure is finished. I also launched a cover design contest and so far the covers look amazing. My last beta readers checked in and between being too busy and having computer troubles I learned a lesson about reliability. In spite of some participation disappointments, the beta results were very good, and I’ll run with what I have. The beta reader situation gave rise to this week’s JohnKu. It is about expectation and I hope you enjoy it.

Reaching out for help,

The expectation runs high. . .

Trumped by agenda.

Thursday – A Little Personal – My Second Post Oct. 2012

August 6, 2015August 4, 2015 ~ John W. Howell ~ 19 Comments

Linda Hill nominated me for the First Post honor. The idea is to go back to your first post and then publish it again.

The rules are:
Copy-paste, link, pingback, etc. your first post.

Identify the post: introduction, story, poem.

Explain why it was your first post.

Nominate five other bloggers.

Since I have been honored before I decided I would publish my second post which was a brief discussion of the author William F. Buckley. I decided to re-post this under my personal banner this time because the post was a little embarrassing. This was my second post since I was doing a series on authors and William F. Buckley was one of my favorites.

Before I get to the post here are my mentions.

GREAT ESPIONAGE STORIES FROM AN UNUSUAL SOURCE

October 29, 2012 · by John W. Howell · in Favorite Fiction · 2 Comments ·Edit

1/21/1988 President Reagan meeting with William F Buckley in oval office (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

William F. Buckley known more for his conservative view of politics, his acerbic wit, and his own television show was also very talented in crafting entertaining and well thought out espionage novels. He established the hero Blackford Oakes, a Yale-trained CIA agent, who started as a newbie on the East West bloc and rose to a senior field operative. Buckley, who was described by the New York Times as the Waugh of suspense fiction, taught me in his many novels that there is no need to be confined to single dimensional thoughts or career. His lesson to me in short – when you aspire to do more you will. Buckley wrote his stories in the 80s but they are still worth a read today. His titles include Saving the Queen; Stained Glass; Marco Polo, If You Can; Who’s on First; The Story of Henri Tod and See You Later Alligator.

Wednesday Story Day – AKA Hump Day

August 5, 2015August 3, 2015 ~ John W. Howell ~ 33 Comments

Wednesday story time again. Last week we left Robert and Charlotte after Robert discovered the person he was talking to was not Bob’s mother but Charlotte. I know all this seems a bit confusing but I think Charlotte can straighten it out for us. Let’s go to her and continue where we left off. You’ll recall Robert was so confused that he used Charlotte’s favorite expression, “Oh my gosh.”

“Don’t be too confused Robert it is quite simple really.”

“Maybe simple for you but I’m totally in the dark as to what is going on.”

“Robert you are an alter ego of Bobs.”

“What does that mean?”

“Bob made you up to cope with the life he could not control.”

“How could that be? I’m right here. I’m not made up.”

“Trust me for a minute. Bob used you to fight his battles and wanted you to hurt his mother. The problem you have right now is Bob didn’t give you any information about he was believing I was his mother when in fact I’m not.”

“You say this is simple. I still don’t understand.”

“Okay let me try another path. If you were sent to pick up a package at the store and no one told you what the package looked like you would grab any old thing.”

“Okay, I’m beginning to understand. Bob has in his head you as his mother.”

“Right.”

“Why did he do that?”

“Because he is a little ill and has delusions.”

“Damn. I could have hurt you.”

“That is true, but it didn’t happen.”

“Charlotte?”

“Yes, Robert.”

“It’s Bob. I told Robert to take five.”

“How are you, Bob?”

“Real sorry right now.”

“Why?”