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.

Friday JohnKu – AKA- TGIF Fri-Yay/Good News.

October 6, 2023October 5, 2023 ~ John W. Howell ~ 75 Comments

U.S. Air Force Capt. Joshua Haveman (left) and the splint he made for the injured climber (right) – courtesy of Travis AFB.

Today’s good news story comes from the Good News Network.

Trapped on Tiny Ledge, Fallen Hiker with Mangled Legs Rescued by Off-Duty Air Force Hero

By Andy Corbley Oct 5, 2023

An off-duty Air Force Captain proved himself worthy of rank and regalia after conducting a daring rescue of a fallen hiker on the shoulder of Yosemite’s Half Dome.

Capt. Joshua Haveman, 60th Air Evacuation Squadron, was hiking the famous peak in September when he saw a climber slip in wet conditions and fall perhaps as many as 80 feet down onto a precarious ledge.

Haveman and the other hiker were at a section of the hike where, to pass up solid granite, a series of cables embedded into the rock are necessary for safety and leverage. If they don’t have a harness, rope, and carabiners to secure themselves to the cables, hikers are left simply holding onto or using them as handholds.

Without hesitation, Haveman took action. Faced with harsh winds, slippery rock, and hail, he made a decision to venture outside the permanent cable barriers to reach the fallen climber, Travis Air Force Base wrote in a statement.

His climbing experience and extensive medical training proved invaluable in this life-or-death situation.

“You could see that his legs were not naturally oriented at all, so I started collecting sticks from Sub Dome and started climbing,” Haveman recalled. “Other climbers were concerned for my safety, but the guy was just up there screaming in pain, so I left the cable area and climbed on the ledge.”

Using makeshift splints fashioned from sticks, Haveman provided crucial first aid to the injured climber by securing above and below the tibia/fibula fracture and wrapping his injured ankle with an ace bandage he had in a medical kit he had brought.

To shield the climber from the harsh elements and apparent shock, Haveman covered the climber with his jacket while organizing a call to search and rescue.

“After about 45 minutes, the Park Ranger emergency medical technician came up with a full medical bag, so we were able to use a structural aluminum malleable splint to better stabilize him,” Haveman explained.

“The weather was improving, so more climbers were able to come up and offer their assistance. They took up a collection of supplies that we were able to use to make an improvised pulley system to lower him the 30 feet down to sub dome.”

Ultimately, the climber was medically evacuated via helicopter, receiving the critical medical attention they urgently required. Without Haveman’s swift and selfless actions, the outcome could have been far more tragic.

“I wasn’t sure a helicopter would be able to land with the winds being as strong as they were, so we were preparing to carry him 10 or 12 hours down with a six-man litter,” Haveman said with a pause.

“Apparently, it was this pilot’s first day on the job, and he was amazing! It took him about 15 minutes, but he was able to sit the chopper down, and we were able to get the patient loaded and breathe a sigh of relief.”

It’s safe to say on behalf of the injured climber and everyone else in the country things can only go so wrong when we have people like Capt. Haveman working and walking among us; his bravery and ingenuity are a credit to the Force and the country at large.

The good news here is that Captain. Haveman was in the right place at the right time to save this man’s life. Today’s JohnKu talks about coincidence. I hope you have a wonderful weekend.

When events collide,

Maybe it’s coincidence . . .

Or the hand of fate.

Thursday – A Little Personal – The Day Off.

October 5, 2023October 4, 2023 ~ John W. Howell ~ 97 Comments

“So, what’s going on, Twiggy?

“We got our COVID booster and man, I’m wiped out.”

“Wait a minute. I got the Covid booster. Why are you wiped out?”

“I think it might be a sympathy wipeout.”

“I certainly hope you don’t feel as bad as I do.”

“I think that is a worthy hope.”

“Well, either way, it is comforting having you near.”

“I feel the same.”

“I think we should spend the day on the couch.”

“Sign me up for sure.”

Guest Post – Dan Antion to introduce – Secrets Held Against Evil #newbook

October 4, 2023October 4, 2023 ~ John W. Howell ~ 75 Comments

It is a pleasure to have Dan Antion visit Fiction Favorites, as Dan and I have been following each other since November 2014. I think we all enjoy visiting Dan on his blog, No Facilities. You can go there now if you want to read his introduction post.

In addition, Dan hosts the popular feature Thursday Doors, which has a large following. You can go HERE if you want to learn more about that as well.

So, not only is Dan a talented blogger, but he has written four entertaining books. His visit today is to introduce you to his latest book four, Secrets Held Against Evil.

Book Blurb:

Zach Amsted, his best friend Billy, and FBI Special Agent Thomas Slocum caused a lot of collateral damage as they battled each other and then teamed against Special Agent Grayson Dyer. Many people died. Many others were drawn into a timeline that wasn’t theirs. Zach struggles with the guilt of having disrupted so many lives.

The story was fading away until a young new reporter arrived in Pittsburgh. Rachael “Rascal” Todd was given some old stories to sort through and digs into the mysteries the police and FBI seem content to ignore. Rascal’s investigation brings her into the world Zach had left behind and new enemies.

This time, Zach and Billy must take a back seat as the timeline they started plays out.

Secrets, lies, crimes, social issues, a bit of romance, and the promise of redemption are all in play as Rascal Todd is launched into her career, facing danger and learning lessons they didn’t teach in college. If you like character-driven action, suspense, and a bit of mystery with strong women in leading roles, you will enjoy this book.

Excerpt:

Bernard Bouchard had taken an early retirement from the Chicago Tribune and returned to Pittsburgh to be close to his family. Bored in retirement, he purchased the Courier-Reformeras it entered bankruptcy for the third time…

… When he heard that Rachael Todd was graduating from the University of Georgia, he reached out to his old friend.

“Frank, what are the chances your daughter would like to come work for a struggling paper under the leadership of a broken-down editor whose head is stuck in the past?”

Frank laughed. “As I recall, Bernie, people thought your head was frequently stuck somewhere much less palatable. Rachael is a good fit for you. She’s trapped by the romance of a career that no longer exists. At least she’ll get valuable experience. I’ll have her call you. Just don’t cut her any slack because she’s my kid.”

“Thanks, Frank. I won’t hold that fact against her, either.”

***

Rachael began working the week before Christmas.

“Welcome to the Courier-Reformer, Rachael.”

“Thank you, Mister Bouchard, it’s good to be here.”

“Enough with the mister stuff. Everyone around here calls me Bernie.”

Rachael smiled. “That’ll be hard. I remember you from all those years when you and my dad worked together. It was always Mister Bouchard back then.”

“And as I recall, we called you Rascal.”

Rachael giggled. “You did. All because my brother couldn’t say Rachael.”

“You know, Rascal has a certain panache. You should use that as your by-line. If you’re OK with that, that’s how I’ll introduce you in tomorrow’s editorial.”

“Editorial? Introduction?”

“You’re the first reporter we’ve hired in three years, and the only female on the news staff. I’m going to play this up big. Don’t let it go to your head. I’m still going to drop a pile of cold stories on your desk. So, are you OK with Rascal?”

“I’d like that very much, Bernie.”

Links to Purchase and Trailer

Kindle – https://relinks.me/B0CJ7N6ZGR

Paperback – https://relinks.me/B0CJ49KXN9

Dan’s Author page – https://relinks.me/DanielAntion

The trailer – https://youtu.be/F6wqexT7JBM

Bio

Dan Antion was born and raised in a small suburb of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He has been publishing the popular blog No Facilities since 2011. After a forty-two-year-long career in Information Management, he began pursuing his dream of writing novels.

When he’s not writing, he might be found working around his house, hiding in his wood shop, or exploring historic sites.

Tuesday – Anything Possible – Kreative Kue #401 by Keith Channing.

October 3, 2023October 2, 2023 ~ John W. Howell ~ 58 Comments

In Keith’s words.

“Using this photo (below) as inspiration, write a short story, flash fiction, scene, poem; anything, really; even just a caption for the photograph. Either put your offering (or a link to it) in a comment or email it to me at keithchanning@gmail.com before Sunday evening UK time. If you post it on your own blog or site, a link to this page would be appreciated, but please do also mention it in a comment here. Thank you for taking part.”

If you would like to visit Keith’s post, here is the link. https://keithchanning.wordpress.com/2023/10/02/kreative-kue-401/

The Photo.

“I still don’t get it.”

“They want to take some photos.”

“What for?”

“I think they want to run them in their paper.”

“Seems silly to me.”

“You and I have the same opinion, but we really should play along.”

“Who are these other little weirdos?”

“They are members of the court.”

“Court?”

“You know. The homecoming court.”

“How in the heck did we get wrapped up in this mess.”

“Remember when we first got here, we said we needed to fit in?”

“Yeah, I even said that.”

“Fitting in meant we had to join the festivities.”

“I know that. What I mean is, how did we win the contest? That mess.”

“We were chosen out of al the other candidates.”

“I thought we were just standing with them. Not contestants.”

“It seems everyone thought we were worthy.”

“But there is supposed to be a king and queen.”

“I think they overlooked that part.”

“Well, Lieutenant. As soon as this foolishness ends, we must complete the mission.”

“I know, sir. And we will. There is just one more thing.”

“What’s that?”

“Chocolate cake.”

“What?”

“They are serving Chocolate cake.”

“We are on duty, Lieutenant. Besides, chocolate cake is illegal back home.”

“But we are not home, sir.”

“I suppose one piece won’t hurt.”

“Oh, sir. You are the best.”

“But no more. You know what the next morning feels like after too much.”

“Don’t remind me, sir.”

“Okay, let’s go to the cake bar and relax.”

“After you, sir.”

Top Ten Things Not to Do When Moving

October 2, 2023October 1, 2023 ~ John W. Howell ~ 68 Comments

This post ran on August 14, 2017. If you are moving, it may make sense. Hopefully, it will give a chuckle.

* * *

The inspiration for this piece was the arrival of a new couch and the accompanying rearranging of furniture. Since moving households is something almost everyone faces, I thought it would be fun to recap some things we should avoid doing should a move be necessary. I hope you enjoy the list.

10 If you are moving, do not attempt it alone. If you do, at best, it may take longer than expected. At worst, you could get caught under that heavy dresser and be missing for weeks. (Gotta hope the new tenants will figure out where those screams are coming from, hey, Buster?)

9 If you are moving, do not forget to tip the movers. If you do, at best, that last carton will stay on the truck. At worst, the big guy named Tiny, the WWF champ, will be asking questions about the quality of service. (You hope he puts you down gently, right, Buford?)

8 If you are moving, do not think the movers will understand your attachment to grandma’s hand-me-down table. If you do, at best, that scratch can be covered up. At worst, you can start your first fire with what is left. (Seems like you should have mentioned how fragile it was, Boswell)

7 If you are moving, do not pack the boxes yourself. If you do, at best, there will be a few items broken. At worst, that tinkling noise when you pick up the box marked “crystal” will not be a welcome sound. (Looks like the savings on the cost of packing has gone into the red, Boris.)

6 If you are moving, do not mark the boxes with your own code. If you do, at best, you’ll remember most of the code. At worst, in the rush of the move, you will forget what you meant and take a guess as to where things should go. (Nice to have all your pots and pans in the garage, isn’t it, Bosco?)

5 If you are moving, do not leave the old house without checking to see that everything is out. If you do, at best, you’ll leave behind things that don’t matter. At worst, you’ll wonder what happened to the washer and dryer in transit. (Of course, the movers thought they stayed with the house, Basil.)

4 If you are moving, do not forget to change the water, gas, and electric bills. If you do, at best, it might take you a day or two to remember. At worst, you receive a bill that is ten times your usual usage. (The new people decided they like the air conditioning set at 70 degrees and the lawn watered daily. Guess you should have paid attention, Bentley.)

3 If you are moving, do not think your new neighbors need to give you cookies. If you do, at best, you might be disappointed. At worst, as you mention the oversight, you learn your previous residents were running a crack house. (Looks like it might be a couple of years before anyone trusts you, Bubba.)

2 If you are moving, do not think the movers will place everything as you have it labeled. If you do, at best, you may find some things in unusual places. At worst, you realize after they are gone that your master bedroom furniture is on the patio. (And guess what furniture is in the master bedroom, Burt?)

1 If you are moving, do not think you can challenge your partner on the layout of each room. If you do, at best, you are in for a long day. At worst, combined with the stress of moving, your input might be enough to win you an overnight accommodation in the backyard. ( You could have said something when the plans were drawn up, huh, Butch?)

Views of the Neighborhood – 2nd Annual Cornhole Tournament.

October 1, 2023September 30, 2023 ~ John W. Howell ~ 59 Comments

The term cornhole for the game came to be in Germany in the 1800s. A man invented the game and then took dried kernels of corn to fill the little bags, hence the name. We are attending the second annual cornhole tournament sponsored by the Lakeway Parks and Recreation. We will just eat there since there is a pizza truck at the event. Today’s entertainment is John Denver.

Tell ’em to put your food on my bill.

Picture of an old time school bus

Let’s get on the bus.

The fire department is here to make sure nothing is going to flame up.

A miniature soccer shooting course for the kids.

Four in One Game and Facepainter.

Face painting materials.

Inflatable slide.

Jumbo TV screen.

The tournament grounds.

A couple of targets and a scorekeeper.

Target, bags, and drink holder.

The prizes will go to the winners.

Trophies for (from left) Third, Second, and First place.

A participant warming up. (Red bag at eleven o’clock)

Official measurement.

There’s the truck, so relax and have some food. Listen to the music. I hope you have a fabulous week.

Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt “Hum”

September 30, 2023September 29, 2023 ~ John W. Howell ~ 49 Comments

Last week was a humdinger is the thought as the aroma of a perfect cup of coffee fills the room. A quick sip reminds me that there is an Oscar the Grouch look-alike character living in an urn on the front porch. The temptation to hum the theme from the Good Bad and Ugly is tempered with the need to disarm the security system and have another try at getting rid of the noisy pest.

The tower machine guns are deactivated, the moat screen rolled, the concertina wire retracted, the boiling oil set to standby, the claymore mines detached, The trebuchet reset, the iron gate opened, and the locks and bolts thrown. The front door is open, and yes, the urn is still there.

We all know from reading stories that a rub on a strange urn might produce something. With that learning in mind, my hand quickly rubs a shiny spot on the side of the urn. Like magic, a cloud floats out of the urn, followed by a thing looking similar to Oscar dressed like a genie. He only comes out to the waist and yells, “Okay, you have interrupted my BBQ lunch, so you get three wishes.”

As we have all heard, this wish thing can be tricky, so taking time to think is paramount. After what seems like an hour, the first wish is issued. “I would like this urn to disappear.” There is a sound like “poof,” and it’s gone. The Oscar look-alike is standing on the porch holding a pork chop. “My next wish is to be a New York Times best-selling author for the next twenty years.” The Oscar look-alike nods.”My final wish is that you follow the urn.” The Oscar look-alike holds his hand up. “Hey, governor. If I disappear, that second wish is out of the question.”

Seems to be a fly in the Chardonnay. “So be it. Be gone.” The Oscar look-alike disappears in a cloud; only a fluttering envelope remains. Once landed, it is opened and contains a message from Linda Hill. It reads. Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is: starts with “hum.” Find a word that starts with “hum” or use the word “hum” itself. Send your bonus points to Dan at https://nofacilities.com/ if you use both. Enjoy! If you want to read how others responded to the prompt, visit Linda’s blog. Here’s the link. https://lindaghill.com/2023/09/29/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-sept-30-2023/

“Well, you got the bonus points.”

“Yup. I already requested them from Dan Antion.”

“Good. I hope he doesn’t run out.”

“Nah. Dan has a virtual bonus point printer. He’s like the government.”

“Well, that’s good. Not much to say about your story today.”

“Got rid of the character, which makes me happy.”

“I guess that’s all that counts.”

“That urn’s been on my porch for three weeks.”

“What was up with that best-seller wish?”

“Figured it couldn’t hurt.”

“You don’t feel bad about losing it?”

“You can feel bad about losing something you never had.”

“Ah, a philosophical day today.”

“We’ll just call it a realist day.”

“You know what else is real?”

“Have you called Uber?”

He’s right over there. Look.”

“That’s a tractor.”

“Hey, you know your vehicles.”

“How are we going to fit on that?”

“Snugly. Very snugly in the open air.”

Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF – Fri-Yay/GoodNews

September 29, 2023September 28, 2023 ~ John W. Howell ~ 64 Comments

Today’s good news story comes from the Good News Network. Here it is in its entirety.

Ruben Flowers Jr. and son in 1994 – Southwest Airlines.

Dad Ends Career by Recreating Adorable Photo With Son Who is Now a Pilot at Same Airline–LOOK

By Andy Corbley-Sep 28, 2023

From a Chicago airport comes the beautiful story of a father and son who were able to recreate a special moment to celebrate an even more special one.

Newly-fledged pilot for Southwest Airlines Ruben Flowers III got to ride shotgun on his father’s final flight before retiring, which they memorialized by taking a photo in the same position as one nearly 30 years earlier.

Ruben Flowers Jr. was getting ready for take-off back in 1994 when his son, Flowers III, got to visit the captain. Sitting in the co-pilot’s seat, they snapped a nice photo.

Flowers Jr. flew for Southwest for 30 years, all the while inspiring his three children to take to the skies as well, with Flowers III telling People Magazine it’s the “best office view in the world.

Flowers III was coming to the end of his flight school just as his father was nearing the end of his career, and it was that time when he stumbled across that old family photo and got him thinking of doing something special for his dad.

“It was a dream of mine to make this happen,” Flowers III says. “It was my number one goal to fly with my dad.”

He wasn’t sure whether or not he would complete his flight school before his father’s March 3rd retirement. But fate was on the young man’s side, and on March 3rd as part of a flight from Omaha to Chicago, Flowers II and III sat side by side, pilot and co-pilot, father and son, and snapped the last picture of his dad’s long career.

“I really enjoyed flying with my son,” Flowers Jr. told People. “It was truly a blessing for me. It was just awesome.”

After they landed in Chicago, Flowers III kept on going while his dad went to a retirement reception at the airport to celebrate a beautiful career and a beautiful legacy that continues flying after him.

The good news here is a father inspired his son to follow in his footsteps. Today’s JohnKu talks about leading by example. I hope you have a super weekend.

It takes some hard work,

To provide an example . . .

That youth will follow.

Thursday – A Little Personal – Twiggy Outside.

September 28, 2023September 27, 2023 ~ John W. Howell ~ 109 Comments

Hey, Dad. Open the door. I left Cheeseburger out there.”

“Coming, Little one.”

“Thank heavens it’s still here.”

“Who would take Cheeseburger?”

“That delightful aroma? Any number of wild beasts.”

“I don’t think we have wild beasts around here.”

You-have-got-to-be-kidding-me right now. No beasts?”

“Well, I haven’t seen any.”

“Hello. Earth to Dad. That’s because I patrol the perimeter and stop incursions before they happen.”

“I know you were effective but never gave beasts a thought.”

“Like right now. A Rhino is just waiting for me to go inside before breaching the fence.”

“You sure?”

“If there is anything I’m sure of, it’s Rhino scent.”

“Okay, I’ll take your word. How long are you going to keep watch?”

“The shift whistle just blew. The Rhino and I are off for the day.”

“Shift whistle?”

“Yeah, we put in an honest day of hunter and hunted and then knock off.”

“I never knew it was so organized.”

“The Predator and Prey union is pretty strong. Sure has made my life easier.”

“That’s a good thing then.”

“Sure beats sitting out in the cold and dark waiting for a stupid Rhino to make a move.”

“I can see that. The commissary is open.”

“Hope they have salmon sashimi on the menu today. I have my mouth set for that.”

Tuesday – Anything Possible – Kreative Kue #400 by Keith Channing

September 26, 2023September 25, 2023 ~ John W. Howell ~ 65 Comments

In Keith’s words. “Using this photo (below) as inspiration, write a short story, flash fiction, scene, poem; anything, really; even just a caption for the photograph. Either put your offering (or a link to it) in a comment or email it to me at keithchanning@gmail.com before Sunday evening UK time. If you post it on your own blog or site, a link to this page would be appreciated, but please do also mention it in a comment here. Thank you for taking part.”

You can visit Keith’s post. Here’s the link https://keithchanning.wordpress.com/2023/09/25/kreative-kue-400/

The Photo.