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

September 15, 2023September 14, 2023 ~ John W. Howell ~ 74 Comments

Hearst Owned photo
Rainbow Bridge in Lake Lure, NC.

Today’s Good News story is slightly different from television station WXII Channel 12 Winston-Salem, NC. Here’s the story.

Rainbow Bridge, hidden in North Carolina mountains, helps owners remember pets in a special way.

Rainbow Bridge helps previous pet owners remember their furry friends

LAKE LURE, N.C. —It’s a very special place hidden in a North Carolina mountain that promises grieving pet owners they’ll never be apart from their beloved furry family members.

Pet owners know the special bond that is one-of-a-kind, that creates a special love like no other. The Rainbow Bridge in Lake Lure is an enchanted place that provides love, comfort and a place to grieve during difficult times.

The Rainbow Bridge is hidden in the River’s Edge Dog Garden of the Flowering Bridge in Lake Lure.

About Rainbow Bridge

At the entrance of the colorful, rainbow-painted bridge sits a container that reads, “chains to hang tags and collars” for pet owners to attach memories of their special friends.

The bridge is adorned with collars, tags, and stuffed animals that will never be removed from the bridge. The goal is to honor pets while helping relieve grief while walking the bridge.

Rainbow Bridge Designer

The Rainbow Bridge was created by artist Amy Wald, who lost her dog. She designed the space for owners to happily remember their pets.

“If you look down, you can see paw prints at the start of the bridge. The more you walk, they begin to fade,” Wald said. Click the video to see an interview with Amy Wald.

She said she got the inspiration from envisioning the process of the animals crossing the bridge and then going on into what awaits them on the other side.

Take time on the bridge to think, mourn, or simply just stroll with the good memories you once had with your pets in mind. Once you cross the bridge, a sign reading a version of the Rainbow Bridge poem awaits you, reminding you of the purpose of the bridge and remembering your pet. The original Rainbow Bridge story was written by Edna Clyne of Inverness, Scotland, in 1959, after her Labrador Retriever, Major, passed away, according to the Lake Lure Flowering Bridge site.

Rainbow Bridge Legend

Legend states that when a “pet passes away, they cross the Rainbow Bridge, where they are young, strong, and healthy again. Your pets are free to roam and play without a care. For the most part, pets are content with their new homes over the Bridge, except for one thing: missing the people they once left behind. When you and your furry friend meet again, you cling together and never let each other go. They may be gone physically, but never from your heart. It is then that you finally meet again and cross the Rainbow Bridge together.”

While visiting the Flowering Bridge at Lake Lure, make sure to check out the 2,000 species of plants and gardens.

You can visit the Rainbow Bridge at any time, located at 3070 Memorial Highway, Lake Lure, North Carolina. For more information, visit Flowering Bridge at Lake Lure.

The good news in this story is that someone knew how it felt to lose a pet and designed the bridge to help others through that feeling.

Today’s JohnKu talks about helping others. I hope you have a wonderful week.

We all have feelings,

Some feel for others as well . . .

Grace upon them all.

Thursday – A Little Personal – Twiggy Tours Her Favorite Places

September 14, 2023September 13, 2023 ~ John W. Howell ~ 93 Comments

“Here you are in the sun on your bed. I hear you have a tour planned.”

“Why yes, I do. I thought visiting some of my favorite places would be fun.”

“I’m sure the world is waiting with bated breath. Is this the first stop?”

“Dark sarcasm in the classroom. Yes, this is one of my beds. As you can see, the sun is quite nice here.”

“We got outside pretty fast. This lounge is one of my favorites, too.”

“Under the umbrella is the perfect time for this puppy. Nice when the temps are in the 70s like this morning.”

“What does laying on the concrete do?”

“This is a way to keep cool when those temps get above 90.”

“I’ve seen you on the Lueders a few times.”

“These are great for an afternoon snooze under the shade.”

“I can see that they would be nice and cool.”

“In fact, right now, it feels terrific.”

“Okay, I see we have changed position quickly.”

“We have to keep moving to cover it all. This is at the foot of the primary bed. I think that black background on the bench contrasts nicely with my toast complexion.”

So we are back in the family room.”

“Yup. Here is where my major playtime occurs. There is also another bed in case I get the desire to grab some shuteye.”

“Of course, on the couch.”

“You know you just can’t beat a nice nap on the couch. Really hard to keep your eyes open here.”

“It is a comfortable place for sure., Twiggy. Uh, Twiggy?”

“Ladies and gentlemen, Twiggy has left the building. Could someone get that light?”

“Of course, there is the most favorite spot not yet mentioned by Twiggy. Next to Mom on the couch. Priceless.”

Guest Post – D.L.Finn – Deep in the Forest Where the Poetry Blooms – #newbook

September 13, 2023September 12, 2023 ~ John W. Howell ~ 93 Comments

I am so pleased to have Denise Finn visit the blog today. Denise writes terrific books and also beautiful poetry. She’s here today to tell us about her latest book of poems. Welcome, Denise.

Thank you for having me over to visit today, John. 😊 Today, I’m going to share a couple of poems, a video, and a chance to win a gift card.

Blurb

Embark on a captivating journey with D. L. Finn as she guides you through the intricate landscapes of free verse and symbolic poetry. Hike with her through the magical forest, feel the wind on your face riding on the back of a Harley, or bask on the warm Hawaiian shores. Her search for life’s magic invites the reader to traverse through the four seasons in part one. Emotions, observations, and stories weave through part two’s texture. Whether the words explore a sunset, healing, or magic, each poem flows through moments where poetry blooms.

Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9M14J7M3RU

Excerpts

From Forest

CALL OF THE WILD

I hear him call to me.

A haunting howl echoes in the distance

Gliding over the frozen snow

My reply is muted behind a barrier.

I try to dig…

I try to scratch…

I try to jump.

Around the wooden prison planks.

I’m offered meals.

A small brick house.

Lush, manicured lawn.

I’m cared for—yet unhappy.

My soul runs through the evergreens

Where I can roam uninhibited

Yet, I’m tethered to a fenced space.

Marking my territory in the shadows

I release another guarded bark

Immediately, I’m called back to the lights.

The portal to heat and treats awaits.

Holding my tail high,

I pad across the alpine tundra.

And step within the barriers.

Inside my prison is a crackling fire.

I settle onto the blue foam comfort,

Ears erect, to capture the call of the wild,

I drift off to sleep with my favorite duck chew toy.

Tomorrow I will find a way to escape,

Yes—tomorrow after breakfast.

From The Back of the Harley

TROUBLES

I leave my troubles behind,

Like the carefree youthful happiness,

Of distant summers departed.

When clouds captured imagination.

When ice cream floats were a gourmet treat.

When learning how to ride a bicycle brought joy.

Small, but meaningful moments.

Now, this feeling is found on the back of a Harley.

Unplanned days float by,

Without the troubles of being an adult,

Flying through the mountain highways—I’m grateful.

From Paradise

it was that moment

I swam with ancient wisdom

and understood love

AMAZON UNIVERSAL ORDER LINK

FUN FINN FACTS

We have three indoor cats and a feral. This is the first time in forty years we haven’t had a dog. If we are meant to get another dog it will show up…
I patiently wait for September 1 to start decorating for Halloween.

Giveaway

To celebrate my latest release, I will randomly choose a winner from the comment section for one $5 Amazon Gift Card.

Bio

D.L. Finn is an independent California local who encourages everyone to embrace their inner child. She was born and raised in the foggy Bay Area, but in 1990 she relocated with her husband, kids, dogs, and cats to Nevada City, in the Sierra foothills. She immersed herself in reading all types of books but especially loved romance, horror, and fantasy. She always treasured creating her own reality on paper. Finally, surrounded by towering pines, oaks, and cedars, her creativity was nurtured until it bloomed. Her creations include children’s books, adult fiction, a unique autobiography, and poetry. She continues on her adventure with an open invitation to all readers to join her.

D.L. Finn Links:

Twitter/X

Tuesday – Anything Possible – Prompt – Kreative Kue with Keith Channing

September 12, 2023September 11, 2023 ~ John W. Howell ~ 45 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 site and leave a link to your story. Here is his link. https://keithchanning.wordpress.com/2023/09/11/kreative-kue-398/

The photo

“What a cute puppy.”

“He certainly is. Purebred too.”

“What’s his name?”

“Scruffy.”

“Aw, that’s a cute name. Where did you get him?”

“A friend of mine’s pet had him.”

“Does he live far away?”

“Who?”

“Your friend.”

“Yeah, a little far, why?”

“I’ve been thinking of getting a puppy. How far?”

“234 million miles.”

“Huh?”

“Yeah, he lives on Mars. He sends his puppies here to feed.”

“Feed? What do they eat?”

“Glad you asked. Can you stay for dinner?”

Top Ten Things Not to Do on 9/11

September 11, 2023September 10, 2023 ~ John W. Howell ~ 53 Comments

All ten things are the same today. Do not forget the loss of innocent lives due to the brutal attack on our country by followers of Osma Bin Laden.

Views of the Neighborhood – Inspirational Rocks

September 10, 2023September 10, 2023 ~ John W. Howell ~ 83 Comments

Today, we will go to the Greenbelt to look at a newly installed feature, which is inspirational rocks. We are also going to the Activity Center to see some kids creating rocks. We are being catered by L’oca D’oro of Austin. Our entertainment is Simon and Garfunkel.

Brunch menu

Fresh Mozzarella, blistered shishito, marinated & roasted okra, lemon-tomato curd

Beet Cashew Dip, seeded lavash, sumac

Confit Magic Molly Potatoes, chevre, arugula, blueberry

Panzanella, grilled peach, focaccia, pesto, stracciatella

Polpette, Waygu brisket & heritage pork meatballs,
tomato jam, pecorino, oregano

Bacon, house-smoked thick-cut Iberico pork

Egg Salad Toast, miso, sourdough brioche, chives

Porchetta Sandwich, focaccia, Boggy Creek arugula, olive pesto,
preserved lemon aioli

French Toast Stick, cherry sorghum, raspberries, whipped mascarpone

Spaghetti Cacio e Pepe, pink peppercorn, pecorino Romano

Radiatore, pistachio fonduta, cured & grilled lion’s mane, sunchoke tamari

Spaghetti Carbonara, pancetta, chili crisp, grana padano

Picture of an old time school bus

So get on the bus.

In April 2020, we visited some rocks that had been placed in the Greenbelt by some anonymous folks as a way to cheer up others during the pandemic.

April 2020.

April 2020

Now there is a place where you can leave a rock or take a rock.

The other side of the display.

A close-up of some rocks.

A distance shot of the feature.

Rocks are being made at the Activity Center

The rocks before conversion.

After a child’s hand.

I hope you enjoyed the brief trip. Sit back and enjoy the food and music. I hope you have a super week. Here is Simon and Garfunkel with I Am A Rock

Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt – Mostly/At least

September 9, 2023September 8, 2023 ~ John W. Howell ~ 76 Comments

The soothing cup of coffee reaches my lips. The deep intake of breath brings the healing aroma deep into the lungs. The first sip of the nectar of the gods enters the bloodstream and hits the brain like a free-based drag of heroin. This is legal, is the first thought. Well mostly. At least there will be no arrest for caffeine usage, is the second.

Once the internal conversation over the coffee high is finished, the mind remembers that the security system has been off for a week, and a package from the Warner Brothers President is sitting on the front porch. Looking around the living room shows that no monsters typically lurking outside have made it into the house.

Opening the front door confirms the package is still there and has not been moved. A cautious approach is for who knows what could be in there? There is a tab on the side that says “pull me.” A quick yank and the sides of the box fall down. A large urn with the Warner Brothers logo prominently displayed on the front is inside. The thought of what to do with this monstrosity enters my mind. As if to answer my question, Speedy Gonzoles zips up and hands me a letter and disappears in a cloud of dust.

The letter states that the urn is magic and all that has to be done is give it a rub. There is a P.S. on the letter from Linda Hill. Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday reads: “mostly/at least.” Use one, use ’em both, use ’em any way you’d like. Bonus points if they both appear in your post. Enjoy!

If you want to see what other bloggers have done with the prompt, visit Linda’s blog . Here is the link . https://lindaghill.com/2023/09/08/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-sept-9-2023/

“Mostly you cover the prompt. At least you didn’t go on and on.”

“What do you mean ‘mostly?’

“Well you could have gone into a little detail.”

“Like what?”

“Why would you consider caffein mostly legal.”

“I thought it was a little early in the day for philosophical discussions.”

“Philosophical discussions? About caffeine?”

“See. You don’t get it.”

“Okay explain.”

“Well I could have gone on about the rainforests being replaces by coffee plants or worker being poor;y paid for picking the beans.”

“I see what you mean about too early.”

“I’ll bet you didn’t know that for every cup of coffee drunk the world loses and inch of rainforest.”

“Okay pleals let me change the subject.”

“Okay go.”

“How many Voo Doo Rangers does it take to destroy how much of the rainforest?”

“None and none.”

“Excellent. Let’s give up coffee for Voo Doo Rangers.”

“You already ordered Uber, right?”

“Yeah they are right over there.”

“Which one? The 1960 F100 pickup or the road grinder?”

Photo by Dan Antion – https://nofacilities.com/

“Both.”

“Both why?”

“Cause the grinder only has one seat so one of us will have to stand on the back.”

“I nominate you.”

“Okay going. Then you coming back.”

“Let’s go.”

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

September 8, 2023September 7, 2023 ~ John W. Howell ~ 74 Comments

This week’s good news story comes from (where else) the Good News Network. Here is the story in its entirety.

Hero Neighbor Charges Into Lake to Save 4-Year-Old Boy With Autism

Andy Corbley Sep 7, 2023

A Michigan woman is being hailed a hero after she rescued a 4-year-old autistic boy who jumped into a lake.

Drowning is the leading cause of death among autistic children, but the water would have to make do with frogs and fish after Jessica Bauer and the boy’s Grandma saw him fall in, and the former tossed her smartphone over her shoulder before jumping in.

Ring camera captured the youngster tumbling into a pond and Bauer’s rescue. The young woman has a three-year-old of her own and said the sight of the little boy drowning was frightening, but nevertheless, she told Inside Edition that she didn’t think much at all as she was jumping in.

The mother of the 4-year-old later thanked her hero neighbor. Bauer says the boy she saved is doing fine and is excited to celebrate his 5th birthday.

WATCH the rescue below…

The good news is that a person reacted to the emergency without thinking. Today’s Johnku talks about heroes. I hope you have a wonderful weekend.

Heroes don’t think first,

They respond to what’s needed . . .

Then, do the thinking.

Thursday – A Little Personal – Twiggy

September 7, 2023September 6, 2023 ~ John W. Howell ~ 106 Comments

“Hey, Twiggy, you going to play outside today?”

“Dad, this over 100 degrees is not the best for play.”

“Yeah, I understand. So maybe there is something fun to do inside.”

“One of the best things is a nap.”

“You can always do that. How about playing with chuck-it?”

“That is always fun. Let’s start there.”

“Here you go. A couple of bounces.”

“Hmm. Not sure about this.”

“What’s the matter?”

“It works better in the yard where I have to chase it.”

“We know that. This is an interim accommodation to the weather.”

“I think we should think harder about the accommodation.”

“How about watermelon?”

“Played with that today already.”

“Here is a wide selection. Honey Pot, Mr. Eel, Lamby, and Bee Mine.”

“All good friends, for sure.”

“Yes, good friends. How about good playmates?”

“Hold on, Dad. I have this pesky itch.”

“Where you going?”

“Gonna see if Mom has any ideas. I think we are through here.”

Tuesday – Anything Possible – Prompt – Kreative Kue # 397 by Keith Channing

September 5, 2023September 4, 2023 ~ John W. Howell ~ 58 Comments

I’m happy to welcome Keith Channing back and am so glad he is feeling better.

In Keith’s words. “Using this photo below (taken in Singapore at the end of 1978) 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.” Here is a link to Keith’s post https://keithchanning.wordpress.com/2023/09/04/kreative-kue-397/

The photo.