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

~ John W. Howell ~ 23 Comments

 

This post is to try to fulfill the prompt “side” which was presented today (Friday) on Linda Hill’s blog: http://lindaghill.wordpress.com/2014/07/18/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-july-1914/  Here it is:

 

 

Side by John W. Howell copyright 2014

“Give me a side of potatoes.”

“Sorry sir the potatoes re extra.”

“How much extra?”

“One dollar.”

“One dollar. I could go to the market and buy a pound of potatoes for a dollar.”

“Well sir you might just want to do that. I’ll hold your burger order till you get back.”

“I love a burger flipper with an attitude. I want the manager.”

“You and me both. Have you met the manager. What a knockout.”

“Listen kid I don’t have much more time for your stand-up audition. Call me the manager.”

“Okay you are the manager. How may I help you your highness?”

“See this fist. I may just have to come over the counter and give you a knuckle sandwich.”

“That will count as a side and will be a dollar as well.”

“What will count as a side?”

“The sandwich you mentioned. I’m not sure knuckle is on the menu, but all our sandwiches with a burger are extra.”

“Okay who can I talk to?”

“Given your state of agitation I might suggest a psychologist.”

Friday JohnKu and TGIF

~ John W. Howell ~ 11 Comments

Looks like Friday has hit us once again. It is a very good thing to be smacked by good ol Friday since the weekend is to follow shortly. I guess the best part of Friday is the realization that within a few hours the choices of what to do are right in your hands. During the work week, many of the choices we have are regulated by what needs to be done at work. The weekend gives us a little more freedom, but yet choices may be limited by other factors. The list of things that have to be done around the house is one thing that limits our ability to choose to do something more pleasant. The end result of working is certain neglected jobs at home that need to be done. Some of these jobs include the laundry, the garden, the lawn, the kids events, the visit of the parents, the pet walk, the cooking, the painting, the windows, the cleaning and on and on. It is a wonder we can get any relaxing done.  Todays JohnKu (a term coined by Words4jp) talks about our two priorities work and life. I hope you like it.

Work and Life by John W. Howell

Work is number one,

Taking away most of time . . .

Life needs proper chance.

Wednesday Story Day

~ John W. Howell ~ 15 Comments

 

Wednesday story day again. This week’s story is based on some of my experiences in writing query letters to agents. I have to admit for the most part the responses I had from agents were cordial and for the most part to the point, although one hundred percent of the letters I sent out were not answered. Of those that were answered one hundred percent were rejections. I thought it would be fun to create a situation where a writer wanted to be represented by an agent and would go to extraordinary means. Here is the story titled Query.

Query by John W. Howell © 2014

“So you might as well have a seat. We don’t normally see people, but since you have been sitting in the lobby for three days we thought we would make an exception in your case.”

“I really appreciate it. I am anxious to get representation and didn’t think my query letter was actually reviewed.”

“Did you get an answer?”

“Yes. Here it is.”

“Let me look. I see I responded to your query and let you know your story was not one which we wanted to represent.”

“That’s what the letter says and why I’m here. Here is a copy of the query I sent.”

“ Let me review it for a moment. Okay, I am ready. So what do you want to know?”

“Why was my story not worth representation?”

“Well, you see that’s the tough part. Some in the firm actually liked your story as you described it.”

“Why reject it then?

“If you look at the first line of your letter you’ll see the word capitulate is misspelled.”

“Yes I see that now. How does that matter.”

“Believe me with the number of queries we get even one misspelled word is enough to say to us that you are not very particular about your work. Also look at the second line. There is a comma missing between two separate thoughts in a sentence.”

“Let me guess. Not very particular about my work. Right?”

“Yes. I have to say also although some of my colleagues liked your query, I personally don’t like these kinds of stories so I would find it hard to sell a publisher on your book.”

“You need to like something in order to sell it? Do you like all your client’s books?”

“Well to be honest No. I am partial to some though.”

“So how do you sell the books you don’t like?”

“They are usually by best-selling authors so it is a no-brainer.”

“I am beginning to understand. You take sure things. You take no risks. An unknown like me would certainly be a risk.”

“Well, that about sums it up.”

“Okay, I think I have taken enough of your time. Thank you Frank.”

“You are welcome Mr. Vonnegut. I certainly hope you don’t give up on your quest to be published. I wish you the best of luck.”

My GRL by John W. Howell

~ John W. Howell ~ 3 Comments

Great review by Teri Polen. Thank you so much Teri

Teri Polen's avatarBooks and Such

rosies-book-review-team-1

My GRL is the story of John J. Cannon, successful San Francisco lawyer, who takes a well-deserved leave of absence from his firm. He travels to a small Texas fishing town and buys a boat, unaware that his new purchase, renamed My GRL, had already been targeted by a terrorist group. John’s first inkling of a 20488718problem is when he wakes up in the hospital. He learns he was found unconscious next to the dead body of the attractive young woman who sold him the boat in the first place. John now stands between the terrorists and the success of their mission. – Goodreads.com

I’ve had this book in my TBR pile since it was released, so when I saw it was part of Rosie’s Review Challenge, I knew now was a perfect time to read it.

I wouldn’t say that I judge a book by its cover (literally), but covers…

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Rhani D. Chae Blog Tour

~ John W. Howell ~ 7 Comments

Please welcome Rhani D, Chae to Fiction Favorites. She is here to discuss her book Shadow of the Drill and give some insights on her character Decker. Rhani you have the floor.

 

The character of Decker came about in a sort of left-handed way. I was working on a different novel (I can’t remember a thing about it now), and I called a friend for help with a character’s name. I wanted a one-word name that readers would associate with that character, kind of like when people hear the name ‘Rambo,’ a specific image comes to mind. I told her that the character was very tough, very macho, and I wanted the name to somehow reflect that. She gave me a couple that just didn’t click with me, and I think it frustrated her that her suggestions didn’t work with what I was trying to do. She finally shouted ‘Black & Decker’, and that was pretty much the end of the call.

 

It wasn’t remotely what I was looking for – wasn’t even a name – but the more I thought about it, the more it started to take shape. Black & Decker made power tools, including drills. An electric drill is efficient, getting the job done quickly and with no wasted effort. An enforcer who handled business the same way might be nicknamed the Drill – especially if his name happened to be Decker.

And so the character of Decker was born. A blend of the enforcers that I had known in my younger days, he’s a man who has no time for what he considers ‘high school’ methods of getting a message delivered. Instead, he primarily uses torture to gain information, make a point, or as a form of retribution. Not because he enjoys it, but because people tend to fear prolonged physical pain more than almost anything else, which makes it a highly effective tool. His way of doing things has made him a legend on the streets that he calls home, which greatly increases his value to an employer.

Of necessity, Decker keeps his heart protected behind thick walls. He loves rarely but with unconditional devotion. He would not hesitate to kill to protect someone that he loves, and he would willingly die for the same reason. He is also a man ruled by logic in a world where emotion has no place. His actions and decisions are calculated with an analytical precision that leaves little to no room for an emotional response, no matter what situation he finds himself in. As the Drill, his loyalty is to those who pay him to get his hands dirty, and to the people who make ‘his’ streets their home. Powered by his personal code of ‘right and wrong,’ he does his best to protect the vulnerable from those who prey upon them.

Though he occasionally thinks about what his life could have been had he been dealt a different set of cards, he has earned his living through violence for more than a decade and doesn’t know how to be anything other than who and what he is.

Shadow of the Drill centers around a man whose life was destroyed by violence, who then embraced violence as a means to a very brutal end. It follows Decker and Rudy as they come face to face with their oldest enemies and attempt to close that chapter of their lives. The book contains graphic violence as well as sexual situations and is not intended for young or easily offended readers. Shadow of the Drill is the first in the Drill series and the second book, Winter of the Drill, will hopefully be completed in the next month or two.

Thank you all so much for allowing me to share a bit of my journey with you today.  To follow the rest of my tour, please visit 4WillsPublishing.  John, you were a great host and thank you so much for having me!

BIO:

RHANI D’CHAE spent her teen years bouncing between WA, OR, and OK, but has lived her adult life in Tacoma, WA. She likes to read, though she doesn’t read as much as she used to due to diabetic vision loss and is a fan of Chelsea Quinn Yarbro, Brian Lumley, and James Clavell. She loves The Walking Dead, and any zombie film with a high-body count. Ms. D’Chae enjoys connecting with people on social networking sites and loves getting feedback from those who have read her work, so please don’t leave without sharing your comments. 

PURCHASE LINKS:

“SHADOW OF THE DRILL” by Rhani D. Chae  www.amazon.com/dp/B00GBHQZZU

 

CONTACT INFO:

Twitter:  @rhanidchae

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/rhani.dchae

Google +:  http://google.com/+RhaniDChae

Website:  www.rhanidchae.com 

Review of Shadow of the Drill at NONNIE’S “RAVE” REVIEWS
***This tour was sponsored by 4WillsPublishing.wordpress.com  To book your own tour, please contact us.***

 

Top Ten List of What Not to do When Creating a Top Ten List

~ John W. Howell ~ 21 Comments

Here is the 54th installment of Ten Top Lists of What Not to Do. I decided to publish this list in case anyone wants to do a Top Ten. If so, contact me at johnhowell.wave@gmail.com

 

 

Top Ten Things Not To Do While Creating Top Ten Lists

10. If you are creating a top ten list, do not wait until the last-minute before publication. If you do, at best you may have to go with nine. At worst, you might get stuck after two items which will lead to severe writer’s block which might transfer to your latest novel.

9. If you are creating a top ten list, do not ask your significant other how they like it. If you do, at best you might get an honest answer. At worst, you may find out your significant other and you have nothing what so ever in common and finally decide to part.

8. If you are creating a top ten list, do not choose a subject which is limited.( like creating top ten lists) If you do, at best you will be hard pressed to think of ten items, At worst, you will make your vulnerability on the subject transparent to everyone and you will be the laughing-stock of the blogosphere.

7. If you are creating top ten list, do not think you are in line for a Pulitzer prize. If you think you are, at best you will have a very bad day when the Pulitzers are announced. At worst you will set yourself up for a monumental disappointment that might cripple you for life.

6. If you are creating a top ten list, do not start if you can’t count to ten. If you do you, at best you may be asking others for help. At worst, you will muddle on with no hope of completing the task and no knowledge of why you will not do so.

5. If you are creating a top ten list, do not start a list at the number one. If you do, at best your readers will not understand the arrangement and complain since everyone knows you count down from ten. At worst, your action could force some fragile individuals to become wards of the state for the next twenty years since you have altered what they perceive as the universal normalcy.

4. If you are creating a top ten list, do not try to fit in some political rhetoric. If you do, at best you may get some opposing comments that are not very pleasing. At worst, you’ll have political trolls after you for the rest of your natural life and the only way to escape is to write under a nom de guerre.

3. If you are creating a top ten list, do not get wrapped up in the serious stuff. If you do, at best you may spend more time researching than the list is worth. At worst you may not do enough research and find yourself on Wikipedia as an example of an idiot.

2. If you are creating a top ten list, try to find some humorous things to say. If you don’t, at best you will collect some mercy likes, but no comments. At worst, you will watch your followers drop like flies at a Raid convention.

1. If you are creating a top ten list, try to remember the previous ten so you don’t end up repeat-ing yourself. If you forget, at best your readers will assume you are a lousy proofreader. At worst, they will come to the conclusion that your drinking problem has gotten to the point of intervention and the sound at the door is the friendly technicians from Sleepy Time Rehab trying to get in with your Demerol shot and the white jacket.

Getting Out – Prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday

~ John W. Howell ~ 13 Comments

The Saturday Stream of Consciousness prompt for this week is “Getting away or Getting out.” I have chosen Getting Out as my subject. This post is part of SoCS:http://lindaghill.wordpress.com/2014/07/11/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-july-1214/

 

Getting Out by John W. Howell Copyright 2014

“When you getting out?”

“What’s it to you?”

“Just curious. That’s all.”

“Yeah well, it’s none of your business. How about you?”

“If when you are getting out is none of my business what makes you think knowing when I’m getting out is any of yours?”

“Oh, I know you are dying to tell me since you  are probably a short timer.”

“Okay, Mr. Genius. I’m getting out tomorrow.”

“Hah. That’s what I thought.”

“Come on tell me.”

“All right, but don’t spread it around since it’s not confirmed yet.”

“Who am I going to tell?”

“getting out is such a good thing you might want to blab it all over the place.”

“I promise. I won’t say a thing.”

“Okay. I get out tomorrow as well.”

“Whoa. So you are short-term too.”

“Well, I hate to tell you, but when one goes the other goes about the same time. You are really pretty dumb sometimes. Twins get out almost together.”

“I never knew that. Of course, I’ve never done this before.”

Friday JohnKu – TGIF

~ John W. Howell ~ 23 Comments

 

Friday finally. Hope your week was a good one. I was sorry to see both daughter and granddaughter leave and as usual the visit was way too short. All is back to normal and the house is quiet again. Can’t say this is a good thing, but it is what normal sounds like. I suppose if the two lived here full-time I would be happy to see them take a trip. All I can do is watch the airplane lift off and look forward to the next time. Daughter did leave the grand dog with us as she takes care of some travels where dogs aren’t welcome. I know she will be back soon. Granddaughter is going off to Mexico for a year. I know she won’t have the opportunity to return for at least that length of time. This week’s JohnKu (term coined by Words4jp) reflects a bit of lonely.

Time to Go…. By John W. Howell

Leaving time creeps in,

While laughter rings throughout home…

Switches smile with frown.

Book review: My GRL by John Howell

~ John W. Howell

Lovely review by S.K. Nicholls author of Red Clay and Roses.

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

I am a serious boat person and love crime fiction so this book had me intrigued from the start. John J. Cannon is an average Joe, an attorney, trying to escape the stress of the Courtroom and office, when he heads to the Texas coast and buys a yacht from a broker who is not entirely on the up and up with him. She ends up dead. Poor John, absorbed with minutia and afflicted with OCD, gets sucked into the middle of a criminal catastrophe. There is one dilemma after another placed in front of him.

This is only the second book I have read that is written in present tense, so it took some adjustment. It is also written in first person, which I felt allowed me to get really close to the protagonist. He’s an endearing fellow who tries to make all that’s going wrong right, trying to…

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