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.

Stream of Consciousness Saturday

April 25, 2015April 24, 2015 ~ John W. Howell ~ 14 Comments

SOC Badge by: Doobster at Mindful Digressions

Stream of Consciousness Saturday time again and this week’s prompt is “Very/Very.” If you would like to participate in this fun, please visit http://lindaghill.com/2015/04/24/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-april-2515/. Here is my interpretation.

“The guy said what to you?”

“He said, ‘very very.’”

“What the hell did that mean?”

“I’m not sure, but he had a pretty big gun pointed at my face.”

“What did you do?”

“I said, ‘very very merry merry.’”

“Oh, my gosh. Then what happened?”

“Nothing.”

“Nothing? You’ve got to be kidding.”

“Well, he did mutter ‘very very merry merry carry carry.’”

“Wait, what. Why did he do that?”

“I’m not sure, but he had a little smile on his face. I think it was becoming a game, so I said, ‘very very merry merry carry carry hairy hairy.’”

“Wow, that was good. What then?”

“He told me I was disgusting and walked away.”

“Seriously.”

“I’m here aren’t I?”

Never say never: get Occasional Soulmates for free next weekend

April 24, 2015 ~ John W. Howell ~ 2 Comments

This is a five-star read and it won’t cost a thing next weekend. I would go get one.

WHAT THE HELL

I know, I know. I said I’d never do it. Early in my self-publishing experiment, I declared (at least I think I did) that I’d never give my books away as a promotion. The very idea repelled me. I gagged at the notion that people would grab the thing by the hundreds for free but they wouldn’t pay the 99 cents I usually ask in a promo. Yet, it seems to be the case that self-publishing ebooks is almost dependent on the freebie.

What changed my mind, you ask? Well, for one thing, sales of Occasional Soulmates have been (sob sob) disappointing. My experience this time around has driven home the fact that you have to market constantly, you have to spend quite a bit of money, and you have to obsess over the selling of a book to give it any kind of life on the charts. Possibly I…

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Friday JohnKu -AKA – TGIF

April 24, 2015April 23, 2015 ~ John W. Howell ~ 20 Comments

Friday again. Seems just like it was Friday a short while ago but of course I’m not getting up and hitting the outside world. I don’t have to struggle to get to work and when there struggle with co-workers and well-meaning (I’m sure) bosses. Time becomes a relative thing since I don’t have a clock that needs attention. The only thing scheduled in a typical day that serves to get me out of bed is potty and breakfast for the dogs and pacifying for the cats at 6:30 AM. The rest of the day is pretty much on the pet schedule. Let’s see there is beach walk at 8:30 followed yard sun bath at 12:30. Then there is brushy at 3:15 and another beach walk at 4:00. This routine demands dog dinner at 5:00, the yard at 6:30 and final potty call at 9:30.

Come to think about it, I am a slave to the pets and my schedule looks every bit as complex as when I worked in organized commerce. Today’s JohnKu (a term coined by Words4jp) talks about life’s schedule.

Beating the deadline,

Receives high praise, compliments . . .

Till the product fails.

Thursday – A Little Personal

April 23, 2015April 22, 2015 ~ John W. Howell ~ 18 Comments

There were some unusual things on several bike rides this week. I thought you might enjoy me sharing them with you. There is no continuity in these photos, so I guess I will just call this the ramblings of an old geezer.

We have a colony of cutter ants that live under the dune boardwalk. What you are seeing is the workers carrying pieces of clover that other ants cut back to the nest. The ants heading to the left of the photo are holding the leaves by their hind legs. The ants going to the right are heading for a clover pick up. Okay, so maybe a bit strange but I thought it interesting.

I showed a picture of a Coast Guard helicopter before but here is an army helicopter on patrol during a rainstorm. These things fly over the beach every two hours.

Here is a Monday morning photo. Notice the trash cans maybe twenty paces in the background. There are signs warning no glass bottles on the beach but my belief is anyone who would leave this kind of thing is too stupid to read. (Yes I picked them up and threw them in the can)

When I was taking the photos of the buildings around town, I had the dogs with me. They were nice enough to pose for a photo. I didn’t realize it, but the professional photographer is in the glass reflection. So I guess we could call this “Lucy and Bailey in relief with a dope.”

Wednesday Story Day – AKA- Hump Day

April 22, 2015April 21, 2015 ~ John W. Howell ~ 22 Comments

Wednesday Story Day again. Happy hump day and I hope the rest of the week goes like you want it to go. Last week we left Charlotte and Bob in Charlotte’s office. Charlotte just got off the phone with Melissa Bob’s mother and learned that Melissa has some information about Charlotte, which Charlotte doesn’t want others to know. Melissa more or less told Charlotte that helping Bob was quid pro quo for keeping her mouth shut. Let’s rejoin Charlotte and Bob and the point where Charlotte suggested starting to read the first chapter of My Struggles, which is Bob’s book.

“Okay, you want me to read it aloud to you?”

“I think that would be the best way Bob since your handwriting is something you can interpret more quickly than I.”

“Sounds good. Here I go. It was a dark and swarmey er stormy night when I was borned,”

“Excuse me Bob but that should be the word born. When I was born. For now, we’ll not go into the fact that was born is passive voice.”

“Born is present tense. I was not born today but twenty-five years in the past. Borned. What the heck is passive voice anyway?”

“Trust me Bob born is correct. Let’s move on. Passive voice is less preferred than active. You have a lot of passive voice and it slows the reader down.”

“Ahem, I don’t understand active voice. Let me continue reading. The nurse took my little hand that was brand new as was the rest of me and lifted me up from all the yucky stuff that usually comes with being borned.”

“Bob let me interrupt again. I love the idea of describing things as you go along. I think the reader would get you are a newborn given you are describing the night of your birth. You don’t have to say brand new and that ‘rest of me business.’ Also lifted is good enough. We will assume it is up.”

“Gee Charlotte you are picking my writing apart. I thought the idea of being new could be essential to what comes next.”

“Okay, Bob. What’s next?”

“The nurse threw me into a sink filled with water and made me cry until my voice went hoarse.”

“How do you know she did this Bob and how do you know your voice went hoarse?”

“My mom told me.”

“Well, then we should add something like according to my mom. A baby doesn’t make a credible narrator.”

“Why not?”

“Cause babies can’t remember things like the first day.”

“I do.”

“You do what?”

“Remember being put into the sink.”

“Oh, my gosh. I need a drink.”

“Here’s some water.”

Special Guest – #RRBC President Nonnie Jules on her Celebrating Poetry as Love Tour

April 21, 2015April 20, 2015 ~ John W. Howell ~ 38 Comments

Please welcome Nonnie Jules on her Celebrating Poetry as Love Tour stop with me today. As you know, I am a member of Rave Reviews Book Club and so glad to be able to participate in spreading the word about Nonnie’s new co-authored book. Nonnie is a wonderful supporter of indie authors and an excellent leader of the over five hundred member Rave Reviews Book Club organization. Nonnie, Fiction Favorites is yours.

Thank you all for allowing me to celebrate INTERNATIONAL POETRY MONTH with you by sharing excerpts from my first co-authored poetry book, “IF ONLY THERE WAS MUSIC…” The Poetry of Forbidden Love. Here is a bit of the book’s introduction below:

“Ever read poetry that was so soothing, so mellow, and just so perfectly sweet, you felt it should have been a love song? “IF ONLY THERE WAS MUSIC…” is just that kind of poetry…but it’s also poetry written about forbidden love.

Back in the summer of 2014, I was approached by an up-and-coming author by the name of Giani Jordan. Giani said that he had been following my writing for over a year and was extremely impressed. He was reaching out to me because he wanted to collaborate on a poetry book. Well, since I didn’t know Giani and wouldn’t attach my name or my writing with just anyone, I asked if he would send me a few samples of his work, and he did. I was blown away by the intensity and the depth of this man’s writing, and wanted to know more about this person he clearly was in love with and was writing so fervently about.”

In summation, Giani was in love with a woman {Christine}, who belonged to another, and to make this situation even more complicated, he, himself was also involved in a relationship.

The “snippet” of poetry which you are about to read below, is {Christine’s} response to Giani’s apology for his temper, which just might have cost them their love. This is also a treat for today’s host as this piece has not yet been published! You guys are so lucky! Take a peek:

“BROKEN”

There are no words to take away the pain

Of your hateful words, slung yet again

Your venomous tongue, your vile spew

Has removed my heart, so far away from you.

Last night I willed them, but no tears would come

I told myself, “This time I’m done!”

I wanted to cry, I missed you so

But realized it just might, be time to let go.

I held your hand, in the palm of mine

I tried my damnedest to still the time.

Rewind the clock, to go back a day

So you could take, all my pain away.

I love you still and always will

But the road to getting back seems all uphill

I will not call, I won’t make one move

Because repairing us, is now up to you…

If you’d like to read similar delightful poetry, I invite you to pick up your own copy of “IF ONLY THERE WAS MUSIC…” The Poetry of Forbidden Love on Amazon. I’d also like to invite you to follow this tour in its entirety as each day, at each stop, you will find more and more of these love songs without music, and even more reasons to fall in love with your lover, and Poetry, again. If you aren’t in love when you start reading this book, you will go seeking a love afterwards.

Please visit my complete tour line-up HERE, and at each stop that you leave a comment (including this one), your name will be entered that number of times, into a random drawing for a $25 Amazon Gift Card!!!

Thanks to my awesome host for today and thanks for stopping by, dear Guests. I hope to see you every day throughout this amazing tour to help keep Poetry alive!!! Always remember, that Love IS Poetry…they’re truly one in/and the same.

Author Bio:

Nonnie Jules is a mom, a wife, an author and also President of Rave Reviews Book Club. Her passion is children and her advocacy lies in supporting others and encouraging others to do the same. She has authored other fine books such as: “The Good Mommies’ Guide to Raising (Almost) Perfect Daughters,” “DAYDREAM’S DAUGHTER, NIGHTMARE’S FRIEND (A Novel),” and “Sugarcoatin’ Is For Candy & Pacifyin’ Is For Kids!”

Although Poetry should be celebrated every day of the year, the month of April has been set aside specifically to lift it up, and so this is why Nonnie has embarked on this blog tour to keep it alive and bring awareness to the fact that Poetry is a great medium for release and expressions of all kinds.

PURCHASE LINKS:

THE GOOD MOMMIES’ GUIDE TO RAISING (ALMOST) PERFECT DAUGHTERS: www.amazon.com/dp/B00CP62O56

DAYDREAM’S DAUGHTER, NIGHTMARE’S FRIEND: www.amazon.com/dp/B00GLM2VVM

SUGARCOATIN’ IS FOR CANDY & PACIFYIN’ IS FOR KIDS: www.amazon.com/dp/B00IRIA014

CONTACT:

Twitter: @NonnieJules

Blogs:

www.BooksByNonnie.wordpress.com

www.Nonniewrites.wordpress.com

www.AskTheGoodMommy.wordpress.com

www.RaveReviewsByNonnieJules.wordpress.com

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

Tuesday – Anything Possible – Short Story

April 21, 2015April 20, 2015 ~ John W. Howell ~ 17 Comments

I found this helmet while walking on the beach last week. Like most things, it prompted a story.

“Hey you there.”

“What do you want?”

“You know hanging off that structure is dangerous?”

“Yeah, but you ought to see the view from up here.’

“Look you there I’m ordering you to come down.”

“So who are you?”

“I’m the platform foreman that’s who. You come down before you fall into the Gulf.”

“I’ve been working drilling rigs for twenty years and never fell once.”

“There’s always the first time.”

“I’m not kidding you I think I can see land from up here.”

“Impossible land is over sixty miles away.”

“Well, one thing is sure.”

“What’s that?”

“If I did fall I could never swim that far.”

“You would never live through the fall. That’s two hundred feet to the water.”

“Yeah, I know. Whoa, it sure is windy up here. There goes my hat.”

“That’ll cost you twenty bucks now get down here.”

“Man that is a long way down. Okay, my hat convinced me. I’m coming down.”

“Watch that first step.”

Top Ten Writing Things Not to Discuss with Anyone Who’s Not a Writer

April 20, 2015April 19, 2015 ~ John W. Howell ~ 30 Comments

This list has as inspiration personal experience in trying to discuss writing with non-writers. Hope you enjoy

Top Ten Writing Things Not to Discuss with Anyone Who’s Not a Writer

10 If you are a writer, do not discuss how hard it is to write. If you do, at best you get an eye roll. At worst, you be talking to someone who has to disarm bombs for a living and will laugh out loud in your face.

9 If you are a writer, do not discuss your characters as if they are real. If you do, at best you will find people avoiding you. At worst, you will be talking to someone who has an imaginary friend that they believe would be a perfect protagonist for your next book.

8 If you are a writer, do not discuss your latest plot breakthrough. If you do, at best you will be given laundry to do. At worst, the entire family will suddenly disappear knowing you can’t wait to tell them how you solved the plot hole.

7 If you are a writer, do not discuss your latest review. If you do, at best you will be talking to someone who could care less. At worst, you could be talking to a person who just finished your book and had not thought of the negative points brought up by the reviewer and has to leave quickly to downgrade their review on Amazon.

6 If you are a writer, do not discuss your book with friends. If you do., at best they will all pledge to read and review your book that you know they won’t. At worse, you will tell some spoilers and the person you are regaling with the tale now has no reason to buy and read the book.

5 If you are a writer, do not discuss how hard it is to market your book. If you do, at best the person you are talking to will not understand anything you are saying. At worst they may ask, “who forced you to write the damn thing anyway?” A

4 If you are a writer, do not discuss your book with your spouse or partner. If you do, at best you will get a smile and a head nod. At worst, you might get some advice that you know you are not going to follow and someday you will have to pay the piper when it is clear you did not take the advice.

3 If you are a writer, do not discuss your royalty arrangements. If you do, at best you will confirm your writing is a hobby. At worst, you will confirm for others that you have completely lost your mind in pursuing a writing career.

2 If you are a writer, do not discuss word counts. If you do, at best the person who is listening to your minimum production will be polite enough not to walk away. At worst, you will be talking to someone who thinks one hundred of anything is a lot and will be blown away with your thousands they will expect you to buy dinner.

1 If you are a writer, do not discuss formats, downloads, Amazon, Createspace, cover art, fonts, or KDP. If you do, at best the person will be so impressed they won’t fall asleep immediately. (only temporary, however) At worst, your conversation will be interrupted by a phone call even if you didn’t hear the phone ring.

Sunday – Fifty-Two Views of the Gulf.

April 19, 2015April 18, 2015 ~ John W. Howell ~ 17 Comments

Here is the number three view of the gulf. As you can see if you look at number two below very little has changed. We still have cloudy skies and rain. The lack of Footprints is a clue the rain washed them away. Saturday morning was a frog strangler with lightning and thunder to rattle grandma’s teeth. One loud clap of thunder and a lightning bolt brought all four animals into the bed. Each wanted to be closer to me than the next. Hopefully next week we will have beautiful blue and sunshine.

Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt Piece/Peace

April 18, 2015April 18, 2015 ~ John W. Howell ~ 15 Comments

It is Stream of Consciousness Saturday and the prompt for this week is Piece/Peace. We can use them separately or in a combo. If you would like to know more go to Linda G. Hill’s site Here is my contribution.

“Hello, you have reached Millennium Link Phone company.”

“Hello, I would like to discontinue my service.”

“Please listen carefully as our menu has changed. If you want new service press one. If you would like more products press two. For billing questions, please press three. For all other calls, please stay on the line. So we may better serve you please say or enter your twenty four-digit account number. If you don’t have it, please say, “I don;t have it” or press one.”

“I don’t have it.”

“That’s okay we’ll try another way. Please enter your nine-digit social security number. If you don’t have, it say, “I don’t have it” or press one.”

“I don’t have it.”

“That’s okay we’ll try another way. Please say your eight digit password that was given to you when you signed up for the service. If you don’t have, it say, “I don’t have it “or press one”

“I don’t have it.”

“That’s okay, we’ll try another way. Please say anything that you might have.”

“Peace and love.”

“I’m sorry but there is no account with the words peace and love. Let’s try another way. When someone cuts you some cake we say that is a________.”

“Piece.”

“Yes, sir. Please stay on the line while we transfer you to someone who is live but not necessarily in a position to help you much. If you would like to participate in a short fifty question survey after the call, please press one for yes and two for no.