Category: Uncategorized

Review : Circumstances of Childhood by John Howell

~ John W. Howell ~ 20 Comments

Helen Valentina is a wonderful poet and storyteller. She has given Circumstances of Childhood a warm and thoughtful review which needs to be shared. Helen never fails to move me with her work and now has moved me immensely with this review. Thank you, Helen.

Helen's avatarhelenvalentina

CoC

It’s always a pleasure to read a novel written by John Howell. He has a way of mixing action, thriller level excitement, real world politics, intelligent discourse and detail (much of which feels ripped presciently from today’s headlines), all wrapped up in believable, relatable, and importantly – likeable – characters.  And it’s all his own – the John Howell style – immediate, engrossing and always great fun.

This time the author notes some autobiographical parts, and an homage to great friendships. And this is what surrounds the novel – a great, true friendship from life and beyond life, adding a paranormal element that is warming and comforting rather than frightening or strange.  It is a testament to John’s writing skill that you accept the supernatural premise immediately and naturally. Of course such a strong friendship, which is more like a family tie than just companionship – of course it survives…

View original post 144 more words

Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF

~ John W. Howell ~ 55 Comments

TGIF

 

Spent another week editing and in erudite discussions with the insurance company. We all know about editing, so I will concentrate on the insurance company discussions. I was in Lowe’s picking up drywall screws on Wednesday when my phone rang. I was all excited because my caller id told me it was my adjuster. I had left a message on Monday to the effect of wondering the status of an additional claim I had submitted four weeks earlier. To my surprise, it was not my adjuster at all. It was my new adjuster. NEW ADJUSTER????? What happened to the other guy who never returned my calls, texts, or emails and who I have spoken to only twice in two and a half months of trying to get my home repaired? Oh, he has been transferred to another department. Sure he has. Okay, what about my additional claims? The answer, “What additional claims?”

Ye gods, do something to stop me from getting in my car with a very large baseball bat, driving to Austin, and causing a hurricane on the insurance company headquarters.

I explained the deal. The insurance company had appraised the damage at one price. The contractor bids are coming in at two to three times that price. Wow, was he surprised? I had to ask the question, “If you had 3000 jobs waiting for you would you really do one at a discount?”

He said understood. I sent the paperwork again and just between you and me, I’ll bet I’ll be doing a JohnKu one month from now with the same theme. Speaking of JohnKu, this week’s talks about available resources. Hope you have a great weekend.

Resources by John W. Howell © 2017

Repairs on one house,

Can be negotiated. . .

Not on one thousand.

Circumstances of Childhood by John W. Howell #TuesdayBookBlog #paranormal #familylife

~ John W. Howell ~ 17 Comments

Teri Polen has reviewed Circumstances of Childhood and I want to thank her for this lovely review. You should visit Teri since she is a talented YA author and super reviewer.

Teri Polen's avatarBooks and Such

When a former pro football star and broadcaster, now a Wall Street maven is accused of insider trading, will he be able to prove his innocence and expose those who are guilty?

Greg and his boyhood pal dreamed of big success in professional football and then later in business. Greg was the only one to live the dream. Now the founder of an investment fund Greg is faced with a routine audit finding by the SEC. The audit points to irregularities and all the tracks lead to Greg. The justice department hits him with an indictment of 23 counts of fraud, money laundering, and insider trading. His firm goes bust, and Greg is on his own.

His best friend knows he is innocent but has been ordered under penalty of eternal damnation not to help.

If you enjoy stories of riches to rags, redemption, brotherly love, and a little of…

View original post 100 more words

Smorgasbord Book Promotion – Air Your Reviews – Brigid P. Gallagher, Jacquie Biggar and John W. Howell

~ John W. Howell ~ 4 Comments

Sally G. Cronin has published a review by Karen Ingells on her site under her regular feature Air Your Reviews. I’m sure she would appreciate a visit, and for the record, Sally is an indie author’s best friend and continually promotes and features other author’s work. She is an excellent writer in her own right so while you are there, take a look at her books. Thank you, Sally.

Review: Circumstances of Childhood by John W. Howell

~ John W. Howell ~ 13 Comments

Laurie Bell is an interviewer, a reviewer, and a writer. She has reviewed Circumstances of Childhood and I’m pleased to have you read what she wrote. Thank you, Laurie.

Laurie Bell's avatarRambles, writing and amusing musings

Circumstances of Childhood by John W. Howell

About the Book:

When a former pro football star and broadcaster, now a Wall Street maven is accused of insider trading, will he be able to prove his innocence and expose those who are guilty?

Greg and his boyhood pal dreamed of big success in professional football and then later in business. Greg was the only one to live the dream. Now the founder of an investment fund Greg is faced with a routine audit finding by the SEC. The audit points to irregularities and all the tracks lead to Greg. The justice department hits him with an indictment of 23 counts of fraud, money laundering, and insider trading. His firm goes bust, and Greg is on his own.

His best friend knows he is innocent but has been ordered under penalty of eternal damnation not to help.

If you enjoy stories of…

View original post 142 more words

#BadMoonRising John W. Howell #supernatural #mystery #family

~ John W. Howell

Teri Polen has a feature this month titled ” Bad Moon Rising, ” and she has a different guest each day. Today I’m there, and I hope you visit and have a look around. You won’t be disappointed.

Teri Polen's avatarBooks and Such

Welcome John W. Howell!  I just finished this thought-provoking and very enjoyable read – a blend of mystery, friendship, and family, with a helping of supernatural.  Get your copy now – the price is only 99 cents until November 1st!

I am introducing a new book this month titled Circumstances of Childhood. It is a fictional story of family life.

When a former pro football star and broadcaster, now a Wall Street maven is accused of insider trading, will he be able to prove his innocence and expose those who are guilty?  

Greg and his boyhood pal dreamed of big success in professional football and then later in business. Greg was the only one to live the dream. Now the founder of an investment fund Greg is faced with a routine audit finding by the SEC. The review points to irregularities and all the tracks lead…

View original post 700 more words

Tuesday – Anything Possible – Kreative Kue #142 by Keith Channing

~ John W. Howell ~ 29 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 it (or a link to it) in a comment or email it to me at keith@channing.info before 6pm next Sunday (if you aren’t sure what the time is where I live, this link will tell you). 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 – pingbacks don’t often work.

Go on. You know you want to. Let your creativity and imagination soar. I shall display the entries, with links to your own blog or web site, next Monday.”

The photo.

Kreative Kue #142

Carry out by John W. Howell © 2017

“Yes hello.”

“Yes, this is the Beef-O-Rama. How may I help you?”

“Um okay. Yes, we have carry out.  I think we can handle that. Sure thing. Thanks for calling. We’ll expect you at six o’clock. Goodbye.”

“Who was that?”

“A customer.”

“What kind of customer?”

“A very big customer.”

“What did they want?”

“They wanted to know if our menu was okay for carry out.”

“You told them yes, right?”

“I sure did.”

“And they’ll be here at six o’clock.”

“That’s what they said.”

“Did they order something?”

“Yes, they ordered some steaks.”

“Steaks for carryout. I’m surprised.”

“Well, they said it was a special occasion.”

“I can believe that.”

“Well, I’d better get busy.”

“Busy how?”

“To get their order ready.”

“Wait it’s only one o’clock. What’s the rush?”

“I have to order the meat and potatoes and green beans and then start the prep for the grill. Then I need to hire about twenty people—”

“Hold on. What are you talking about?”

“Oh, I forgot to tell you.”

“What?”

” The order is for a hundred steak dinners.”

“A-a hundred? Who was that the government?”

“Well, not really.”

“Who then?”

“Our neighbor. They are throwing a party.”

“A party? Who for?”

“They didn’t say. I know who it is not for though.”

“Who?”

“You and I. Let’s get to work.”

 

John Howell’s My GRL and Other Stuff

~ John W. Howell ~ 14 Comments

Luanne Castle wrote a lovely review of My GRL. She is also introducing her chapbook of poetry, Kin Types. In addition to the review, there are other fun things to read about today as well. Thank you, Luanne.

Luanne's avatarLuanne Castle: Poetry and Other Words (and cats!)

I read John Howell’s adventure novel My GRL a month and a half ago, but was so busy with promo stuff for Kin Types that I didn’t get a chance to do much besides jot down some thoughts about the book. I’m taking a break now to write my review because his book deserves to be read!

Howell created a page-turning thriller. In the midst of the suspense, the most charming aspect of the story is that the protagonist John J. Cannon is an anti-hero. He’s a lawyer who has taken time off to move to a coastal Texas town and, although he knows very little about boating, buys himself a pretty good sized vessel he names My GRL. John is not necessarily the sharpest, most experienced, or courageous hero. But he’s likeable, the sort of guy you’d like to visit on his boat with a six-pack in your…

View original post 394 more words

It’s Here! My New Book: Time To Lie!

~ John W. Howell ~ 6 Comments

Phil Taylor has a new book out and it looks like it is going to be terrific. Check it out.

Phil Taylor's avatarThe Phil Factor

This is the most excited I’ve been about anything in quite a while! Now available for Kindle, I’m proud to present…

Time to Lie

The truth is just the lie we’ve chosen to believe, and yours may be different than mine.

Remember that time you dated that complete nutcase and said to yourself, I wish Future Me would have come back and warned me about this. Remember when you and your drunk friends said, If it’s such a bad idea, someone would come back from the future and stop us, right before it blew up in your face and got you in trouble? It would be great to have someone from the future to guide your life, wouldn’t it?

Landon Bridges’ life hasn’t always been perfect, but now he’s in college and determined to make a fresh start and transform himself from high school geek to college chic…well less geeky…

View original post 184 more words